When I received the lovely Rios yarn in the Piedras colorway, I knew my original plan (a cabled cardi) wasn’t an option. I needed to find a stitch pattern that would highlight and utilize the gorgeous variegation of the yarn, something that would make the yarn, not the stitch patterns, the star.

With its short sleeves, nipped in waist and nubby textured fabric, this cardi makes a fantastic transitional piece from summer to fall. Wear it with jeans for a casual look, or pair it with a skirt. You can easily layer a coat over it if need be.

Pattern Notes
The sweater body is knit from the top down. Fronts and back are joined at the armholes and continued in one piece to the bottom edge.

The sleeves are worked by picking up stitches around the armhole, working short rows for the cap shaping, then continuing in the round to the wrist.

Yarn
Malabrigo Rios, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 210 yds / 100g, 4 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9) skeins, Piedras

Notions
(6) stitch markers, yarn needle, stitch holder or spare needles, waste yarn, (6) 1” / 25mm buttons, (6) Size 4 snaps, approx 0.5in / 1.5cm (see here: http: //www.dritz.com/brands/showcase/details.php?ITEM_NUM=80-4-1)

Skills
Picking up stitches, short rows, knit, purl, decreases, increases

Thank you to my tech editors, KT Vaughan & Ashley Knowlton.