Bella Vita is an lightweight oversized cardigan. It can be worked either in lace weight yarn or fingering weight yarn. The body is worked in one piece from the bottom up and is divided at the armholes with fronts and back worked to the shoulders. After the shoulders are joined with a three-needle bind-off, stitches are picked up around the armhole and the sleeves are worked from the top down. Being worked mostly in Stockinette stitch, it is a perfect mindless knitting project.

MATERIALS

YARN

Lace weight

Shown here: Madelinetosh Tosh Lace (100% Merino; 869 m/950 yds, 113 g/4 oz hank): 2 skeins for all sizes

Yardage requirement: 1260 (1390, 1465, 1540, 1605, 1690) m / 1380 (1520, 1600, 1685, 1755, 1850) yds, including 10% allowance

NEEDLES

3.5 mm / US 4, 80 cm / 32” or longer circular needle; adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

3.5 mm / US 4 needles in your preferred style for small circumference knitting in the round, for the sleeves

3 mm / US 2.5, 100 cm / 40” or longer circular needle, for the band

3 mm / US 2.5 needles in your preferred style for small circumference knitting in the round, for the cuffs

NOTIONS

6 buttons about 12 mm / 0.5” diameter; an extra needle for three-needle bind-off; stitch holder or waste yarn; stitch markers; yarn needle

SIZES

XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X)

Shown in XS, modeled with 48 cm / 19” positive ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust: 127 (137, 142, 148, 153.5, 160.5) cm / 50 (54, 56, 58.25, 60.5, 63)“

This garment is intended to be worn with 45-50 cm / 17.75 -19.75” positive ease. Alternatively, choose size by the sleeve top circumference (value B in the schematic), it should be approximately 5 cm / 2” larger than your upperarm circumference.

GAUGE

24 sts and 34 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needle, blocked.

24 sts and 45 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Seed stitch on smaller needle, blocked.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Decreases, increases, knitting in the round, picking up stitches, short-rows, three-needle bind-off

Questions or comments? Come join my Ravelry group Minimi Knit Design.