A hand-knit casual cardigan worked in reverse stockinette with minimal finishing.

THE STORY
I’m a huge fan of that one perfect cardigan that you can throw on to go to the grocery store, to sit and knit in all day, or even pull on over a cute summer dress when the evenings turn cool. You know… one of those “everyday” kinda cardigans!

MATERIALS

• Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silky Victoria (sport weight; 85% Polworth wool, 15% silk; approx. 695 yds/635 m per 8.5 oz / 241 g), 3 (3, 3, 3)3, 4, 4 skeins: ‘Motley Hue’

OR

• 1545 (1640, 1730, 1885)2010, 2240, 2400 yds / 1413 (1500, 1582, 1724)1838, 2049, 2195 m of sport weight yarn
• US 4 (3.5 mm) 40” / 100 cm circular needle for Hem and Pockets, and additional needles of same size for small circumference knitting for the Cuff (9“ circs, DPNs or Magic Loop)
• US 5 (3.75 mm) 40” / 100 cm circular needle for the Body, Pockets and Collar and additional needles of the same size for small circumference knitting for the Sleeves (9” circs, DPNs or Magic Loop)
• Additional Large size needles for 3-Needle Bind Off
• Additional Small size needles (2) for placing pocket stitches on hold
• Ring / fixed stitch markers (2)
• Locking / removable stitch markers (2)
• Lengths of smooth waste yarn (5 pieces, approx. 1 yd / 1 m in length each)
• Row counter (optional)
• Tapestry needle

PROJECT GAUGE
23 sts and 32 rows = 4” / 10 cm over reverse stockinette worked flat on Larger needle, taken after blocking

FINISHED SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4)5, 6, 7:
40 (42, 44, 47)50, 54, 57” / 102 (107, 112, 119.5) 127, 137.5, 145 cm Body / Bust circumference with no overlap of Fronts

To fit actual bust circumference:
32 (34, 36, 39)42, 46, 49”/ 81 (86, 91.5, 99)106.5, 117, 124.5 cm Bust circumference.
To be worn with up to 8”/20.5 cm positive ease. Sample is a size 5, modeled with 8”/20.5 cm positive ease.

NOTES

• This cardigan is worked flat, from the bottom-up, and features a dropped shoulder, a faux side seam under each arm and requires very little finishing! Once the entire Body, Collar and Pockets are complete, stitches are picked up along the edge of the armholes and are worked outwards, in the round.
• Due to the cardigan being worked in reverse stockinette, it is recommended to use small circumference circular needles when knitting the Sleeves to avoid any potential laddering when beginning the rounds with a purl stitch. The sample was knit using a 12” / 30.5 cm circular at the top of the sleeves and adjusting to a 9” / 23 cm circular as the circumference became smaller than was comfortable for the longer needle. If you have worked reverse stockinette in the round using DPNs, Magic Loop or 2 circulars and have not experienced a tension issue, you may disregard this note.
• Written instructions are provided for the entirety of the cardigan; there are no charts.
• This cardigan has very little finishing. All edges are designed to be rolled edges. A small amount of grafting is required at the back of the Collar; the sides of the Pockets are seamed to the cardigan. Links to video tutorials are provided for each of these techniques within the pattern.
• Adjust needle sizes as necessary to match gauge. The Smaller needle should be approximately 1 US needle size / 0.25 -0.5 cm smaller than the large needle when gauge is met.