Whether it’s January or July, when the sun sets in the desert of the American Southwest, the temperature plummets. Pull on the Desert Nights Cardigan to keep warm when the mercury drops. The yoke, hem, and cuffs of this cardigan feature a hand-dyed yarn worked in motifs that look like stranded colorwork but are actually a mosaic stitch pattern, so you get all the results of colorwork with none of the extra effort.

Difficulty Intermediate

Finished Size 30 (33, 37, 40.5, 44.5, 48)“ bust circumference. Cardigan shown measures 33”; modeled with 1” of positive ease.

Yarn Malabrigo Yarn Finito (100% superfine merino wool; 200 yd / 1.75 oz): #063 natural (cream; MC), 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9) skeins; #862 piedras (orange; CC), 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins.

Needles Sizes 3 (3.25 mm) and 4 (3.5 mm): 32” circular. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Markers; stitch holders; tapestry needle.

Gauge 26 sts and 36 rows = 4” in St st on larger needle; 26 sts and 51 rows = 4” in charted patt on larger needle.

Notes This cardigan is worked back and forth in one piece to the underarm and then the fronts and back are worked separately. The sleeves are worked back and forth from the bottom up. A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches.