Joy is the type of sweater that one comes back to again and again, satisfying to knit and always wearable, with enough knitting detail to keep the process interesting. While the body is knitted in simple stockinette stitch, a beautiful crossed-stitch detail above the hem, added just for the joy of it, adds a lovely little detail.

I have made a tutorial for the cross stitch detail which you can see here!

Joy begins with casting on just 3 stitches. After working a length of i-cord, it grows seamlessly over shoulders and down the back until coming together for the body. A beautiful crossed-stitch detail is worked above the hem. The sleeves are picked up and knitted to the cuff, which is folded back. There is nothing to sew, and no trims to pick up. Once you cast off your last sleeve, the cardigan is practically ready to wear. The cardigan is open at the front and has spacious upper arms to make wearing layers easy. The length is slightly cropped, but as it is worked top-down, it is easy to work the body as long as you want it to be.

SIZES

1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Recommended ease: 6–8” / 15–20.5 cm of positive ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust Circumference: 37.5 (41.5, 45.25, 49, 52.75, 56.5, 60.25, 64, 67.75)” / 94 (104, 113, 122.5, 132, 141, 151, 160, 169) cm.
Underarm to hem: 9.75 (10, 10.25, 10.5, 11, 11.25, 11.5, 11.75, 12)” / 24.5 (25, 26, 26.5, 27.5, 28, 29, 30, 30.5) cm.
Upper arm: 18.75 (19.75, 20.75, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 26.75)” / 47 (49.5, 52, 55.5, 57.5, 60, 62.5, 64.5, 67) cm.
Sleeve length (without cuff): 12.25 (12.5, 12.5, 13.25, 13.25, 13.75, 13.75, 14.25, 14.25)” / 31 (31.5, 31.5, 33, 33, 34, 34, 36, 36) cm.
Folded-back Cuff length: 5.25” / 13 cm.

MATERIALS

Yarn: 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins of Rockwell by Jill Draper Makes Stuff (100% cormo-merino crossbred wool, 280 yds / 256 m – 113 g), colourway Clear Skies. Or approx. 840 (930, 1015, 1115, 1205, 1290, 1370, 1460, 1545) yds / 770 (850, 930, 1020, 1100, 1180, 1255, 1335, 1415) m of (heavy) DK weight yarn. Note: This yarn is quite thick for a DK yarn, it is close to a worsted weight.

Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm 32” / 80 cm circular needles for main fabric, and US 4 / 3.5 mm 32” / 80 cm circular needles for the rib trims. Or needle size to obtain gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle.

GAUGE

17 sts x 26 rows to 4” / 10 cm on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles in stockinette stitch, after blocking.

This pattern can also be found in issue 9 of Laine Magazine, and I chat about it in Episode 71 of the EastLondonKnit podcast.