A pretty little cardigan is a staple for every woman's wardrobe, especially when it has a touch of lace and beautifully shaped open front.

The cardigan is knit from the top-down, with the V-neck shaping worked along the way, as increases are made along the raglan "seams". A lovely leaf lace panel is centered down the back. The body is then joined together, leaving the sleeve stitches on hold. The front pieces are then decreased to complete the shaped front, ending in a ribbed border.

The sleeves are then knit in the round and tapered to the wrists, with long ribbed cuffs. The remaining ribbed borders and V-neckline border are then picked up and knit to finish.

The sample here is knit in an incredibly soft merino yarn from Malabrigo, called Arroyo. It comes in the gorgeous hand-dyed hanks you expect from Malabrigo. This is a perfect pattern for these masterfully variegated yarns, as the patterning compliments the color variations in the yarn (vs. competing!).

For the OPTIONAL Top-Down Cardigan Techniques PDF Download, please visit this page. Written instructions are included in this pattern, but the OPTIONAL download may be helpful to some.

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Finished Blocked Bust Measurements: (based on back width): 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52)" [81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132) cm]; TO FIT SIZES: XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X) or Bust Sizes 28-20 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50)" [71-76 (81.5-86.5, 91.5-96.5, 101.5-106.5, 112-117, 122-127) cm].

Skill Level:  

Yarn Used: Malabrigo Arroyo (100% Pure Superwash Merino Wool); 3.5 oz/100g [335 yds/305 m] per hank: 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) hanks in Color #045 Chircas.

Gauge(s):
Pattern Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4" [10 cm] in St st, blocked.
Yarn Label Gauge and Information: A sport-weight merino with a suggested gauge of 20 - 22 sts = 4" [10 cm] on size 4-6 needles [3.5-4 mm].

Approximate Total Yardage Required: 1015 (1105, 1230, 1370, 1500, 1665) yds [928 (1010, 1125, 1253, 1372, 1522) m].

Some suggested yarn substitutes to try:
MadelineTosh Tosh Sport, Lorna's Laces Shephard Sport Multi, MadelineTosh Pashmina, The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport, Rohrspatz & Wollmeise Blend
If you have a yarn substitute to suggest for this project, email us!

Knitting Needles Used: Size 7 [4.5 mm] 24" [60 cm] or longer circular knitting needle OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE; Size 7 [4.5 mm] set of DPNs or 9" [23 cm] circular needles (for working SLEEVES in the round) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE. 

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