This is a new version of my Oak leaves cardigan, with a slightly different arrangement of leaves, designed specifically for heavier weight yarn. It will work well with either Dk or worsted weight yarn.

It is a sweet and simple top-down cardigan with cap sleeves and buttons in the yoke section. Trailing stems wind their way down each side of the front, with oak leaves branching off all the way down. The leaf motif is repeated around the yoke. Beads at the ends of the stems add a bit of sparkle, or you can use bobbles instead. The pattern can easily be adapted to add long sleeves or buttons all the way down.

If you already own the pattern for the first version, you will get this one half price.

Overview
The cardigan starts at the neckline and increases gradually down the length of the yoke. The sleeves are then cast off and the back and fronts joined at the armpit. From then on it’s all straight! Buttonbands and edgings are knitted as you go, so once you get to the bottom, there’s nothing left to do except weave in ends and sew on buttons. There is no seaming involved. There are charts for the leaf motif and the yoke section, the remainder of the pattern is written.

Sizes and yarn requirements
Small: bust 81-86cm/32-34”. Approximately 650m/720 yards of dk weight yarn.
Medium: bust 91.5-96.5cm/36-38”. Approximately 700m/770 yards of dk weight yarn.
Large: bust 101.5-106.5cm/40-42”. Approximately 900-1000m/990-1100 yards of dk weight yarn.
Extra large: bust 112-117cm/44-46”. Approximately 1100-1200m/1200-1300 yards of dk weight yarn.

Other weights of yarn can be used, from sport to worsted, so long as you can get the gauge required and the fabric desired. A yarn with high wool content will work best for blocking and showing the cables.

Materials

• 4.5mm (US 7) circular needle or size required to obtain gauge (you can use long straight needles if you prefer, but they may get very crowded towards the end of the yoke).
• Up to 10 stitchmarkers (2 are handy, the rest are optional).
• Cable needle
• Three buttons
• 24 beads and a suitable crochet hook for placing them if you wish to add beads.
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Skills required
Simple lace stitches (yarn overs, 2- and 3- stitch decreases, increases), cabling, reading charts, beading with a crochet hook (tutorial link provided, or you can work bobbles instead, for which instructions are provided).

A special thank you to my lovely testers for this pattern: Cornflowerknits, tysya,houndsmum and liber.