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I took my inspiration for the Ancient Shores cardigan from the distinctive banded iron formations (BIF’s) visible along the shores of Lake Superior, around Nipigon, Ontario. These rocks are the remnants of ancient oceans formed during the Paleoproterozoic period (between 2.5 and 1.8 billion years ago), before oxygen levels on the Earth increased. Forces on the rock layers have transformed them into strikingly beautiful stripe and mosaic patterns.

The Ancient Shores cardigan (“sweater coat”) blends timeless design with practicality. The textured pattern stitch is based on a garter and slip stitch repeat that can be worked in any standard worsted weight yarn. It’s easy to learn, knits up quickly, and best of all - colour changes involve a minimum number of ends to sew in afterwards!

The body is knit flat, bottom-up, in one piece. All upper body shaping is seamless, except for two short underarm seams. The sleeves are knit circular and joined to the body at the underarm. The shawl collar is shaped with German short rows. Inset pockets are optional. The pattern includes a schematic, written instructions, and a charted stitch pattern. Suggested online tutorials are listed for techniques referenced in the pattern.

SIZES
Adult unisex sizes - 1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7,) (8, 9, 10); equivalent to Women’s XS (S, SM, M) (ML, L, 1X) (2X, 3X, 4X) and Men’s - (XS, S, SM) (M, ML, L) (1X, 2X, 3X)
Finished chest measurements (worn closed): 87.5 (95.25, 103, 109.25) (118.25, 125.75, 132) (139.75, 147.5, 158.75) cm /
35¾ (37¼, 41, 44) (47½, 50½, 53¼) (55½, 59, 63½) ins.
The sample garment (size 3) is worn with positive ease of 10-15 cm / 4-6 ins. Sweater body and sleeve lengths are adjustable.

MATERIALS
Yarn:
I recommend a worsted weight wool, cotton, or quality wool-acrylic blend with good stitch definition to show up the textured pattern stitch. The sample garment uses:
MC – Berrocco Vintage – 52% acrylic, 40% wool, 8% nylon (100 g/3.5 oz, 200 m/218 yds) – Twilight (col 51184)
CC - Malabrigo Rios – 100% superwash merino wool (100 g/3.5 oz, 192 m/210 yards): CC1 – Pocion (col 139), CC2 – Zarzamora (col 863)
Approximate amounts required:
MC - 4 (5, 5, 6)(6, 7, 7)(8, 8, 9) skeins
CC1 & CC2 each - 2 (2, 2, 3)(3, 3, 4)(4, 4, 5) skeins
Meters:
MC - 800 (900, 1000, 1100)(1200, 1300, 1400)(1500, 1600, 1700)
CC1 and CC2 each - 275 (325, 375, 425)(500, 575, 625)(700, 775, 850)
Yards:
MC - 870 (985, 1090, 1200)(1300, 1420, 1300)(1640, 1740, 1860)
CC1 and CC2 each - 300 (355, 410, 465)(550, 630, 685)(770, 850, 930)

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
4 mm (US 6) circ. needle (80 cm)
5 mm (US 8) circ. needle (40 cm, 60 cm, 80 cm)
set of 4 mm (US 6) double-pointed needles (dpns)*
set of 5 mm (US 8) double-pointed needles*
stitch markers
st holders or spare yarn
tapestry needle to weave in ends
5 buttons (2.5 cm/1 in diameter)
* 32” circular needle may be used instead of dpns if using the Magic Loop method for working sleeves

KNITTING GAUGE (unblocked)
24 sts and 36 rows to 10 cm/4 ins measured over textured stitch pattern using 5.0 mm (US 8) needle.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• standard cast-on and bind-off
• backward cast-on
• joining and working in the round (sleeves)
• raglan and V-neck shaping
• picking up sts (front bands)
• German short rows

KNITTING LEVEL
Intermediate