This comfy cardigan is a relatively quick knit and a delightfully easy pattern for first-time sweater knitters. It’s worked in pieces for the bottom up in a simple Mistake Rib pattern (the 4-stitch pattern repeat is k3, p1 on both right- and wrong-side rows) and features a crewneck and modified drop-shoulder construction.

The hem and cuffs are worked in simple k3, p1 ribbing with slipped stitches that flow organically into the Mistake Rib pattern of the body and sleeves. The same slip-stitch rib pattern is used for the neckband and front bands.

Two hand-dyed yarns are held together throughout this sweater--a laceweight mohair/silk and a fingering weight wool tweed--for a soft and lofty DK-weight fabric.

Finished Sizes: About 37 1/4 (40 1/4, 45 1/2, 50 1/2) (54 1/4, 58, 63 1/4, 69 1/4)“ (94.5 102, 115.5, 128.5 cm) bust/chest circumference, buttoned with 1 1/4” (3.2 cm) front bands overlapped. Sweater shown measures 45 1/2” (115.5 cm) bust/chest circumference, worn with about 6” (15 cm) of positive ease.

Yarn: Yoriko Oki Donegal (85% superwash wool, 15% nylon; 438 yards 400 meters/100 grams): Midnight Peacock, 3 (4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 6) skeins.
Jorstad Creek Isle of Skye Laceweight (70% kid superwash mohair, 30% silk; 460 yards 420 meters/50 grams): #0222 Capriccio Teal, 3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 5, 5, 6) skeins.

Needles: Size U.S. 6 (4 mm) for body and sleeves; size U.S. 5 (3.75 mm) for edgings.

Notions: Removable stitch markers; tapestry needle; 7 (7, 8, 8, 8) (8, 8, 8, 8) buttons measuring about 3/4” (2 cm); sharp-point sewing needle and matching thread for attaching buttons.

Gauge: 21 1/2 stitches and 32 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Mistake Rib pattern with one strand of each yarn held together on larger needles, after blocking.

This project is worked with one strand of each yarn held together throughout.

The stitch patterns in the lower body are arranged to flow continuously across the side seams after the selvedge stitches have disappeared into the seams. Because of this, the Mistake Rib pattern will not match at the shoulder seams. If this is a concern, work the top 1/2” (1.3 cm) of the armholes and all of the shoulder shaping for the back and both fronts in garter stitch to disguise the mismatch.

All length measurements reflect the finished size, after blocking.