Coastal Blue Cardigan

Materials:

• Sheep(ish)™ by Vickie Howell (85 g/3 oz, 153 m/167 yds)
• Sizes 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) and 5.5 mm (U.S. 9) knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) circular knitting needle, 32" [81.5 cm long]
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle

GAUGE
18 sts and 23 rows = 4" [10 cm] in stitch pattern using larger needles.

ABBREVIATIONS
Beg = Begin(ning)
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
M1-L (Make One-Left) = Insert left needle from front to back into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the first st on the left needle. Knit this strand through the back loop
M1-R (Make One-Right) = Insert left needle from back to front into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the next stitch on the left needle. Knit this strand through the front loop
P = Purl
Pat = Pattern
Rep = Repeat
Ssk = Slip next 2 stitches knitwise one at a time. Pass them back onto left-hand needle, then knit through back loops together.
WS = Wrong side
Yo = Yarn over needle

INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Body of garment is worked in one piece beginning at lower back, dividing at shoulders and ending at lower front. Sleeves are worked separately

Large Rib (multiple of 7 plus 5):
Row 1 (WS): P5, *k2, p5, rep from * across.
Row 2 (RS): K5, *p2, k5, rep from * across.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 for Large Rib.

Opework Rib Pattern (multiple of 7 plus 5):
Row 1 (RS): K5, *yo, k2tog, k5, rep from * across.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K5, *k2tog, yo, k5, rep from * across.
Row 4: Purl.
Rep Rows 1-4 for Openwork Rib Pat.

2x2 Rib (multiple of 4 plus 2):
Row 1 (WS): P2, *k2, p2, rep from * across.
Row 2 (RS): K2, *p2, k2, rep from * across.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 for 2x2 rib.

BODY
With larger needles, cast on 89 (96, 110, 117, 131, 138) sts.  Rep Rows 1 and 2 of Large Rib twice, then rep Row 1. Beg Openwork Rib Pat and work even until piece measures 23¼ (23½, 23¾, 24, 24¼, 24¼)" [59 (59.5, 60.5, 61, 61.5, 61.5) cm] from beg, ending with a WS row.

Shape neck
Next row (RS): Work in pat across 28 (30, 36, 39, 46, 49) sts, k2tog, k2 for right front, join new ball of yarn and cast off next 25 (28, 30, 31, 31, 32) sts for back, k2, ssk, pat to end for left front— 31 (33, 39, 42, 49, 52) sts each front.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: On right front, work in pat across 27 (29, 35, 38, 45, 48) sts, k2tog, k2; on left front, k2, ssk, pat to end--30 (32, 38, 41, 48, 51) sts rem for each front.
Next row: Purl. Mark this row as shoulder.
Work even until piece measures 7" [18 cm] above back neck cast off.
Inc row (RS): On right front, work in pat to last 2 sts, M1-L, k2; on left front, k2, M1-R, pat to end. Maintaining pat, rep inc row every 4 rows 0 (0, 2, 4, 0, 3) times, every 6 rows 11 (15, 14, 13, 16, 14) times, then every 8 rows 3 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times--45 (48, 55, 59, 65, 69) sts each front. Work even until front measures same as back from shoulder to beg of rib, ending with a WS row.
Next row (RS):  On right front, (k5, p2) 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 9) times, k3 (6, 6, 3, 2, 6); on left front, k3 (6, 6, 3, 2, 6), (p2, k5) 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 9) times.
Work in Large Rib for 5 rows. Cast off in pat.

SLEEVE

With pair of needles, cast on 47 (54, 54, 61, 68, 68). Work Large Rib for 2", ending with a WS Row. Change to Openwork Rib Pat, inc 1 st each end of row every 6th row 7 times working added sts into pat — 61 (68, 68, 75, 82, 82) sts. Work even until piece measures 10¾ (10¾, 10¼, 10½, 9½, 9¾)" [27.5 (27.5, 26, 26.5, 24, 25) cm], ending with a WS row. Cast off all sts.

FINISHING

Matching center st of sleeve to shoulder marker, sew sleeves to body.  Sew sleeve and side seams.

Front Band
With RS facing, using circular needle, beg at right front lower edge, pick up and k258 (262, 266, 270, 270, 274) sts up right front, around back neck and down left front. Do not join. Work in 2x2 rib for 5 rows, ending with WS row. Cast off in rib.