Soft Focus Cable Sweater

Time: One month Project.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Sizes written as S (M, L, XL, 2X): Finished Bust Size 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)” to fit bust 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)”

Shown in size 36”

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in background pattern after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Pompano (60% Extra Fine Merino Wool, 30% Linen, 10% Bamboo; 137 yards [125 meters] / 1¾ ounces [50 grams]): 30 Coconut Creme (MC 10 (11, 12, 12, 13) balls)

Needles: US size 6 4.0 mm, 24” straight

US size 4 3.5 mm, 24” straight and circular needles

Notions: Markers, removable markers, cable needle, tapestry needle, six 1” buttons

Special Stitches

3/3 RC: Sl 3 to cn, hold to back, k3; k3 from cn.

3/3 LC: Sl 3 to cn, hold to front, k3; k3 from cn.

6/6 RC: Sl 6 to cn, hold to back, k6; k6 from cn.

6/6 LC: Sl 6 to cn, hold to front, k6; k6 from cn.

Pattern Notes

This cardigan is worked from bottom up in 3 pieces, back and 2 fronts then assembled. The sleeves are worked from cuff to the shoulders separately and then joined to the body.

The decreases for the front neckline are taken out behind the cables, so there is no disruption in the cable pattern and they continue uninterrupted all the way to the shoulders.

For the decreases on the right front, work k2tog and on the left side work ssk.

For increases in the last row of ribbing, knit into the yarn between two stitches on the row below.

The button band is worked after fronts and back are joined on the shoulders. When working the fronts, it is a good idea to slip the first stitch of the row on the front edge. It makes it easier to pick up stitches at the front for button band. Since the button band is worked in garter stitch, there is no need to add stitches to compensate for the fronts drawing in.

Pattern

2×2 Ribbing

Multiple of 4+2

Row 1 (RS): * K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 2 (WS): * P2, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.

Repeat rows 1-2 for pattern.

Cable Panel

Panel of 31 sts.

Row 1, 5, 9, 33, 37 (RS): P2, k5, p1, k6, p3, k6, p1, k5, p2.

Row 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (WS): K2, p5, k1, p6, k3, p6, k1, p5, k2.

Row 3, 7, 35, 39: P2, k5, p1, 3/3 RC, p3, 3/3 LC, p1, k5, p2.

Row 11: P2, 6/6 LC, p3, 6/6 RC, p2.

Row 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30: K2, p6, k1, p5, k3, p5, k1, p6, k2.

Row 13, 17, 21, 25, 29: P2, k6, p1, k5, p3, k5, p1, k6, p2.

Row 15, 19, 23, 27: P2, 3/3 LC, p1, k5, p3, k5, p1, 3/3 RC, p2.

Row 31: P2, 6/6 RC, p3, 6/6 RC, p2.

Row 32, 34, 36, 38: K2, p5, k1, p6, k3, p6, k1, p5, k2.

Row 40: K2, p5, k1, p6, k3, p6, k1, p5, k2.

Repeat rows 1-40 for pattern.

Background Pattern

Multiple of 4 sts + 3

Row 1, 3, 5, 7 (RS): Knit.

Row 2, 4: K3, * p1, k3; rep from * to end.

Row 6, 8: K1, p1, * k3, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.

Repeat rows 1-8.

Back

With smaller needles CO 102 (110, 122, 130, 142) sts. Work 2X2 ribbing for 2″. In the last row of ribbing increase 13 sts evenly across row. (115 (123, 135, 143, 155) sts)

Switch to larger needles and work 15 (15, 19, 23, 27) sts in background pattern then cable pattern on next 31 sts, background pattern on next 23 (31, 35, 35, 39) sts, cable pattern on next 31 sts, and work background pattern on last 15 (15, 19, 23, 27) sts.

Work in pattern as established until piece measures 17 (17, 17, 17, 17.5)”.

Armhole: BO 15 (15, 19, 23, 27) st at the beg of the next 2 rows. (85 (93, 97, 97, 101) remaining)

Cont. in pattern as established until piece measures 25 (25, 26, 26, 27)”.

Back neck: Work 34 (34, 34, 35, 36) sts then with another piece of yarn BO next 17 (25, 29, 27, 29) sts and work last 34 (34, 34, 35, 36) sts in pattern as established.

Work both sides at the same time Dec 1 st every other row on the neck side 3 times. (31 (31, 31, 32, 33) sts remains for each shoulder)

BO all sts loosely.

Left Front

With smaller needles CO 50 (54, 62, 66, 70) sts. Work 2X2 ribbing for 2″. In the last row of ribbing increase 8 (8, 4, 4, 4) sts evenly across row. (58 (62, 66, 70, 74) sts)

Switch to larger needles and work cable pattern on first 31 sts and then work background pattern on last 27 (31, 35, 39, 43) sts. Work in pattern as established until piece measures 17 (16, 16, 16, 16.5)”.

V-neck opening: Mark the edge of the v-neckline then work first 31 sts, then beg Dec for the neckline every 4 rows 12 (16, 16, 15, 14) times.

Armhole: When piece measures 17 (17, 17, 17, 17.5)”, BO 15 (15, 19, 23, 27) st on the armhole side. Cont. dec every 4 rows on the neck side until you have 31 (31, 31, 32, 33) sts for each shoulder and front and back are the same length. BO all sts loosely.

Right Front

Work same as left front, reverse cable placement and shaping.

Sleeve (Make 2)

With smaller needles CO 42 (46, 50, 54, 58) sts and work 2X2 ribbing for 2″. In the last row of ribbing increase 11 (15, 11, 15, 19) sts evenly across row. (53 (61, 61, 69, 77) sts)

Switch to larger needles and work first 11 (15, 15, 17, 23) sts in background pattern, next 31 sts in cable pattern and last 11 (15, 15, 19, 23) sts in background pattern. Inc on both sides every 6 rows 19 (15, 20, 19, 19) times 91 (91, 100, 107, 115) sts.

Work even until piece measures 19 (19, 19, 19, 20)”. BO all sts loosely.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams. With smaller circular needles and right side facing and beg at the bottom edge of right front pick up and knit 252 (254, 258, 256, 268) sts along the right front, back neck and left front to the bottom edge.

Rows 1-4: Work garter stitch.

Row 5 (buttonhole row): Using the one-row buttonhole technique, work 6 buttonholes evenly spaced bet the edge of right front and V-neck marker. Cont. working garter stitch for the rest of the row.

Row 6-10: Work garter stitch. BO all sts loosely.

Sew top of the sleeves to armholes. Sew side seams. Sew sleeve seams.

Block cardigan to size.

Sew buttons across from buttonholes.