A couple of years ago I took a small trip to the Jerte Valley in Spain. Between the end of March and the beginning of April, the hills and peaks of this valley look totally pink-and-white thanks to the flowering of more than a million cherry trees.
The memory of those days spent amongst the mountains covered with a blanket of cherry blossoms as far as the eye could see has inspired the Cherry Peaks collection, available for knitting the beautiful “Cherry Peaks hat” , “Cherry Peaks sweater” and for this cardigan you are about to knit.

Cherry Peaks cardigan is a circular yoke that is worked seamlessly from the top down. The neck is worked first, after that, several series of short rows are used for a comfortable and beautifully shaped finish.
The yoke is shaped with increases that are evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the upper body.
Sleeves are then placed on hold and the body is worked toward the hem. The sleeve stitches are then placed on the needles again and worked in the round toward the cuffs.
The cardigan is relaxed fit and as it is knitted top-down lengths are easily adaptable.
The cardigan is steeked. The front steek is not cut open until after the body and sleeves are completed to allow the cardigan to be held together neatly during the knitting of the latter. The garment should be tried on before cutting to ensure a good fit.
Beginner-friendly as you only work with 2 colors at a time.
Please note that the stranded pattern is charted only.

Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Bust circumference of the finished cardigan: 86 (92, 100, 106, 110, 121, 130, 140, 150)cm / 33¾ (36¼, 39¼, 41¾, 43¼, 47¾, 51¼, 55, 59)’’. The cardigan is designed to be worn with approximately 5 cm / 2’’ of positive ease.
Model has 85 cm / 33½’’ bust, stands 164 cm / 64½’’ and is wearing size 2.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
A = Bust circumference
B = Yoke depth
C = Length from armhole to lower edge
D = Sleeves length (from underarm)
E = Cuff circumference
F = Armhole circumference

Yarn
Yarn: Snældan 2 ply 100g = 360 m Sample shown in:
MC - 6 Light Brown 1097 (1179, 1230, 1283, 1349, 1444, 1481, 1520, 1560) m / 1200 (1289, 1345, 1403, 1475, 1579, 1620, 1662, 1706) yards
CC - 1 Natural White 80 (90, 115, 130, 150, 170, 195, 215, 240) m / 88 (99, 126, 142, 164, 186, 213, 235, 262) yards

Needles
3 mm / US 2½ circular needle 24”/60 cm or 32”/80 cm and 3 mm / US 2½ circular or dpns suitable for working small circumferences in the round (sleeves) 2,75 mm / US 2 circular needle 24”/60 cm or 32”/80 cm for ribbing

Notions
2 stitch markers (one different for BOR) • waste yarn for holding the sleeve stitches • tapestry needle to weave in the yarn ends • 8 — 10 buttons 5/8 inch / 1.5 cm diameter (optional you may need 8 — 10 stitch markers to mark the button holes) • 39’’ / 100 cm long decorative ribbon for lining the button/buttonhole bands (optional) • sewing thread for sewing down the cut steek edges • scissors

Gauge
26 sts x 35 rows — 10 cm / 4’’ in stockinette with 3 mm / US 2½ needles, after blocking.
26 sts x 35 rows — 10 cm / 4’’ in colorwork with 3 mm / US 2½ needles, after blocking.