I'll Fly Away » Knitting


A perfect piece for layering, this cardigan displays a knit and purl stitch pattern. The asymmetric opening is a new slant on a classic style.

Skill Level
Easy

Sizes
Woman's small (medium, large, extra large, 2X-large) Instructions are given for smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurement
Chest: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50) inches

Materials

* Bulky weight yarn* (143 yds/100g per ball)
o 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) balls turquoise #235
* Size 10 (6mm) straight, 29-inch circular and set of double-pointed needles or size needed to obtain gauge
* Stitch holders
* Size I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook
* 2 (1 1/8-inch) buttons
* Click here for the Measurement Diagram (PDF format)

*Sample project was completed with Encore Chunky (75 percent acrylic/25 percent wool) from Plymouth Yarn Co.

Gauge
14 sts and 20 rows = 4 inches/10cm in pat
To save time, take time to check gauge.

Pattern Stitches
A. Seaweed (multiple of 6 sts + 1, worked in rows)
Row 1 (WS): *P4, k2; rep from * to last st, end sl 1.
Row 2 and all RS rows: K1, knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts as they face you.
Row 3: *P3, k3; rep from * to last st, end sl 1.
Row 5: *P2, k4; rep from *to last st, end sl 1.
Row 7: P1, *k4, p2; rep from * to last 6 sts, end k4, p1, sl 1.
Row 9: P1, *k3, p3; rep from * to last 6 sts, end k3, p2, sl 1.
Row 11: P1, *k2, p4; rep from * to last 6 sts, end k2, p3, sl 1.
Row 12: Rep Row 2. Rep Rows 1-12 for pat.
B. Seaweed (multiple of 6 sts, worked in rnds)
Rnds 1 and 2: *P2, k4; rep from * around.
Rnds 3 and 4: *P3, k3; rep from * to last st.
Rnds 5 and 6: *P4, k2; rep from * around.
Rnds 7 and 8: K1, *p4, k2; rep from * to last 5 sts, end p4, k1.
Rnds 9 and 10: K2, *p3, k3; rep from * to last 4 sts, end p3, k1.
Rnds 11 and 12: K3, *p2, k4; rep from * to last 3 sts, end p2, k1.
Rep Rnds 1-12 for pat.

Pattern Notes
Circular needle is used to accommodate large number of sts. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.
On WS rows, sl last st knitwise wyif.

Body
With circular needle, cast on 127 (139, 151, 169, 187) sts.
Beg pat in rows working even until body measures 14 inches from beg, ending with a WS row.
Divide for fronts & back
Work 35 (39, 41, 46, 49) sts for right front, bind off 8 (8, 10, 10, 10) sts, work 52 (55, 60, 67, 76) sts for back, bind off 8 (8, 10, 10, 10) sts, work rem 24 (29, 30, 36, 42) sts for left front. Place front sts on holders.

Back
With WS facing, attach yarn and work 1 row even in pat.
Next 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) RS rows: Dec 1 st at each armhole edge. (46, 47, 52, 59, 68 sts)
Work even until armholes measure 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) inches, ending with a WS row.
Shape neck
Work 11 (11, 13, 17, 21) sts in pat, attach 2nd ball, bind off center 24 (25, 26, 25, 26) sts, complete row in pat.
Working both sides at once with separate balls of yarn, [dec 1 st at each neck edge] twice, then work 1 WS row. (9, 9, 11, 15, 19 sts each shoulder)
Shape shoulders
At beg of row, bind off [4 (4, 5, 7, 9) sts] twice, then [5 (5, 6, 8, 10) sts] twice.

Right Front
Return right front sts to needles.
With WS facing, attach yarn and work 1 row even in pat.
Next 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) RS rows: Dec 1 st at armhole edge. (32, 35, 37, 42, 45 sts)
Work even until armhole measures 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) inches, ending with a WS row.
Shape neck
Bind off 21 (24, 24, 25, 24) sts, complete row in pat.
Next 2 RS rows: Dec 1 st at neck edge. (9, 9, 11, 15, 19 sts)
Work even until armhole measures 8 (9, 9, 10, 10) inches, ending with a RS row.
Bind off 4 (4, 5, 7, 9) sts at beg of row, then rem 5 (5, 6, 8, 10) sts at beg of next WS row.

Left Front
Return left front sts to needles. With WS facing, attach yarn and work 1 row even in pat.
Next 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) RS rows: Dec 1 st at armhole edge. (21 (24, 26, 31, 38 sts)
Work even until armhole measures 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) inches, ending with a RS row.
Shape neck
Bind off 10 (14, 13, 15, 17) sts at beg of row, complete row in pat.
Next 2 RS rows: Dec 1 st at neck edge. (9, 9, 11, 15, 19 sts)
Work even until armhole measures 8 (9, 9, 10, 10) inches, ending with a WS row.
Bind off 4 (4, 5, 7, 9) sts at beg of row, then rem 5 (5, 6, 8, 10) sts at beg of next RS row.

Sleeves
Using dpn, cast on 42 (48, 48, 54, 54) sts, divided on 3 needles. Join without twisting, mark beg of rnd.
Work even in pat in rnds until sleeve measures 10 inches from beg.
Shape cap
Work to 4 sts before marker, bind off following 8 (8, 10, 10, 10) sts, removing marker.
Maintaining pat and working in rows, dec 1 st at each edge [every RS row] until cap measures 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) inches, ending with a WS row.
Bind off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then bind off rem sts.

Assembly
Block pieces to measurements.
Sew shoulder seams. Set in sleeves.

Button Loops
Make 2 crochet chains each 15 ch long, form into lps.
Referring to photo, sew first lp 1 inch below neck edge of right front. Sew 2nd lp 4 inches below first lp.
Lap right front over left front by approx 2-3 inches at neckline. Sew buttons on left front to match button lps.