A lacy diamond stitch knits up boldly in this cozy, wear-with- everything, open cardigan. The lace design is showcased on the fronts and the back, with side sections and sleeves in solid Stockinette stitch.

Cardigan is knit from the bottom up with only minor seaming. Sleeves are each knit in the round from the bottom up. Then, the body and sleeves are joined together at the underarm. Yoke decreases are worked up to the neckline, creating the look of 2-stitch raglan seams. At the top, the neckline is finished with a folded-over, ribbed collar.

A simple grafting stitch is used to join the top and bottom half of each underarm and the collar is whip stitched in half on the inside.

Full sleeves are gathered at the cuffs and allow you to wear this cardigan over many sleeve styles. Ribbed front bands are then picked up and knit to finish.

Sample is knit with one strand of sport-weight alpaca and one strand of a brushed alpaca silk (an Aran/worsted weight) held together throughout. This cardigan can also be knit with a single strand of an Aran-weight yarn.

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Finished Knit Bust Measurements: 35 ½ (39, 44, 47 ½, 51, 56, 59 ½)” [90 (99, 112, 120.5, 129.5, 142, 151) cm]. TO FIT SIZES: XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X) or Bust Sizes 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54)" [71-76 (81.5-86.5, 91.5-96.5, 101.5-106.5, 112-117, 122-127, 132-137) cm]. There is ~ 6-7 ½” [15-19 cm] of positive ease.

Skill Level: Intermediate 2

Yarn Used: Held together throughout: Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca Mix (100% Alpaca; 1.76 oz/50g [182 yds/166 m] per ball): 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) balls in Color #0618 Nougat AND Garnstudio DROPS Brushed Alpaca Silk (77% Alpaca/23% Silk; .88 oz/25g [153 yds/40 m] per ball): 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11) balls in #5 Beige. 

Gauge(s):
Pattern Gauge: 10 sts = 3” [7.5 cm] and 20 rows = 4" [10 cm] in St st on larger needle, blocked.
Yarn Label Gauge and Information: An aran-weight yarn in a wool/alpaca blend (a sport-weight, the Alpaca Mix, and a worsted-weight yarn, the Brushed Alpaca Silk, were held together throughout for the sample).

Approximate Total Yardage Required: 660 (780, 875, 1055, 1155, 1405, 1550) yds [604 (713, 800, 965, 1056, 1285, 1417) m] of a single-strand yarn or per strand if holding 2 strands together. Yarn labels suggested gauges: Alpaca Mix suggested gauge is 23 sts = 4" [10 cm] on size 3–4 [3.25-3.5 mm] needles. Brushed Alpaca Silk suggested gauge is 17 sts = 4" [10 cm] on size 8 [5 mm] needles.

Some suggested yarns to try:
If you have a yarn substitute to suggest for this project, email us!

Knitting Needles Used: Size 10 ½ [6.5 mm] 32-40" [80-100 cm] circular needle OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE; Size 10 ½ [6.5 mm] 9" [23 cm] circular needle or set of DPNs OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE for working SLEEVES in the round (or you can use the longer circular needle and magic loop method); Size 10 [6 mm] 32-40" [80-100 cm] circular needle OR .5 mm smaller than main needle for Collar and Ribbed Front Edges.

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