Royal English Tea Cardigan

Using 4½ mm needles and D, cast on 23 sts. Beg K row, work in stocking stitch for 10 cm (4 in), ending after a P row and inc 4 sts evenly across last row. Slip these 27 sts on a spare needle and leave.

Using 4½ mm needles and D, cast on 109 (115; 121; 127; 133; 139) sts.
1st Row – K1, (P1, K1) to end.
2nd Row – K2, (P1, K1) to last st, K1.
3rd Row – As 1st.
Break D.
Change to patt
NB:- Carry colour not in use loosely up side of work, joining in L and D as required on the first 4 rows.
1st Row (RS) – In L, K2, (P1, K1) to last st, K1.
2nd Row – In D, P1, (sl1 purlways, P1) to end.
3rd Row – In D, K1, (P1, K1) to end.
4th Row – In L, P2, (sl1 purlways, P1) to last st, P1.
These 4 rows form patt. **
Cont in patt until back measures 33 cm (13 in) measured through centre of work, ending after a WS row.

NB:- Helpful Hint: When a slip stitch falls on edge st, this stitch should be purled.
Keeping patt correct, cast off 7 (8; 8; 9; 10; 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of next 5 (5; 5; 7; 7; 7) rows, then on every foll alt row until 79 (83; 87; 89; 93; 97) sts rem.
Cont straight until back measures 50 (51; 52; 53; 54; 56) cm, 19¾ (20¼; 20¾; 21; 21½; 22) in from beg, ending after a WS row.

Commencing with 53 (55; 59; 61; 65; 67) sts, work as back to **.
Cont in patt until front measures rows 11 cm (4½ in) from beg, ending after a WS row.

Next Row – Patt 16 (17; 19; 20; 22; 23), * slip next 27 sts on a stitch holder, and in place of these, patt across a group of lining sts, patt to end.
Cont straight in patt until front measures same as back to armhole shaping, ending at side edge.

Cast off 7 (8; 8; 9; 10; 10) sts at beg of next row. Dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 5 (5; 5; 7; 7; 7) rows, then on every foll alt row until 38 (39; 42; 42; 45; 46) sts rem.
Cont straight until front measures 44 (46; 47; 47; 47; 48) cm, 17½ (18; 18½; 18½; 18½; 19) in from beg, ending at front edge.

Cast off 9 (9; 10; 10; 11; 12) sts at beg of next row. Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 3 rows, then on every foll alt row until 23 (24; 25; 26; 27; 28) sts rem. Cont straight until front measures same as back to shoulder shaping, ending at armhole edge.

Cast off 8 (8; 8; 9; 9; 9) sts at beg of next and foll alt row. Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 7 (8; 9; 8; 9; 10) sts.

Work to match right front but noting that pocket will be –
Patt 10 (11; 13; 14; 16; 17), work as right pocket row from * to end.

Commencing with 45 (47; 49; 49; 51; 53) sts, work as back to **. Cont in patt shaping sleeve by inc 1 st at each end of next row, then on every foll 6th (6th; 6th; 4th; 4th; 4th) row until there are 51 (69; 79; 63; 71; 85) sts, then on every foll 8th (8th; 8th; 6th; 6th; 6th) row until there are 75 (81; 85; 91; 95; 101) sts, taking extra sts into patt. Work straight until sleeve measures 44 cm (17½ in) at centre, ending after a WS row.

Cast off 7 (8; 8; 9; 10; 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of next row, then on every foll 4th row until 51 (55; 59; 63; 65; 71) sts rem, then on every foll alt row until 33 (35; 37; 41; 41; 45) sts rem, finally dec 1 st at each end of every row until 23 (25; 27; 31; 31; 35) sts rem. Cast off.

Using 3¼ mm needles and D, cast on 18 sts.
Work 6 rows in g st. Cast off loosely knitways.

First join shoulders. Using 3¼ mm needles and D, RS facing, K up 25 (25; 26; 28; 32; 33) sts evenly round right front neck, K across sts of back, finally K up 25 (25; 26; 28; 32; 33) sts evenly round left front neck.
83 (85; 89; 93; 103; 107) sts. Work 6 rows in rib as on back.
Cast off evenly in rib.

Using 3¼ mm needles and D, RS facing, K up 109 (112; 114; 114; 114; 117) sts evenly along right front edge.
1st and 2nd Rows – K.
3rd Row – K3, * cast off 2 sts, K12 (13; 13; 13; 13; 13) – including st on left needle after cast-off; rep from * 6 times more, cast off 2 sts, rib to end.
4th Row – K casting on 2 sts neatly in each place where sts were cast off.
5th and 6th Rows – K. Cast off evenly knitways.

Omitting buttonholes work as right border.

Press work lightly following pressing instructions on the ball band. Sew down pocket linings on WS and tops on RS. Join side and sleeve seams. Sew in sleeves. Sew upper pocket tabs in place as in photograph. Sew on buttons to left front border, and remaining 4 on pocket tops and tabs as in photograph. Press seams.