The Hennessey Houndstooth Cardigan is knitted top down in the round and steeked. With a recommended positive ease of 2-6 inches / 5-15 cm on the body, it has a fitted look and feel with slight balloon sleeves. It has a raglan construction with short rows for neck shaping. After the remainder of the yoke, the work is separated into body and sleeves. A faux seam is worked along the raglan, sides of the body and underside of sleeves to add structure.

This is an intermediate level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are the knit stitch, purl stitch, increasing and decreasing stitches, working in the round, a tubular cast on and off, stranded colourwork, steeking and picking up stitches.

The yoke is fully charted for each size and in order to set up the colour work pattern, you do need to be able to read a chart. However, all the instructions, apart from the colourwork set up, are written out.

Sizes – Finished bust measurements of 31, 36 (39, 42, 47) 50, 56, 59, 65 inches / 77, 90 (98, 105, 118) 125, 140, 148, 163 cm

Recommended Ease – Between 2-6 inches / 5-15 cm

Gauge – Approximately 22 stitches and 22 rows to 4 inches / 10 cm in pattern in the round on 4.5mm when blocked (US 10.5) needles (or another size to get the gauge)

Yarn – DK weight yarn of 200m/100g

For the main colour, used for the ribbing as well as the houndstooth pattern, you will need about 525, 580 (640, 695, 750) 800, 860, 920, 980 meters and for the contrast colour, used only in the houndstooth pattern, you will need about 450, 500 (550, 600, 650) 700, 750, 800, 850 meters.

The sample version is in Wooly Knit Warth Mill Yarn. You can use any non-superwash DK, ideally woollen spun for the steek stability.

Needles – 3.5mm & 4.5mm (US 4 & 7) circular needles (40 cm cable to start, up to 80/100 cm for the yoke/body) and DPN’s or magic loop for the sleeves (or another size needle to get the gauge, making sure that you still go down one size of needle for the ribbing).

Notions – Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holder or scrap yarn to hold stitches on, a 3mm crochet hook, 8 20mm buttons.