a top down compound raglan cardigan
with beginner-friendly intarsia design and techniques

Inspired by the generous blooms of magnolia trees I encountered in the past year of traveling, the intarsia motifs on the sleeves of Nola are designed to be bold and beginner-friendly. Knitted with bulky weight yarn, the motifs work up easily with a big impact on a minimal cardigan but relatively few bobbins and stitches to manage. An absolute beginner of intarsia can work part of the motifs using duplicate stitch, all explained in the instructions.

You will find that the modified raglan shaping keeps the cardigan on your shoulders comfortably and will stay in place when you button it up. The button band is knitted top-down as you go and finished with neat edges. There is no need to pick up stitches to add the button band.

I hope that you take delight in making and wearing Nola, a lovely nickname for magnolia.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knitted.

Instructions are available in English and Spanish.

Pattern is also availble on yamagaraknits.com which accepts payment through Paypal and Stripe.

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE

Size 1 (2, 3, 4) 5 (6, 7, 8, 9)

99 (106.5, 112.5, 129) 135.5 (149, 156.5, 169, 175.5) cm /
39 (42, 44½, 50¾) 53¼ (58¾, 61½, 66½, 69)“ finished bust circumference

The samples are knit in Size 2 and worn with
+ 20 cm / 8” ease at bust. Suggested ease: + 15-25 cm / 6-10”.

YARN

SAMPLE 1 (regular sleeve)

MC Bulky weight

Biches & Bûches Le Coton & Alpaca
(90 m / 98 yds per 50 g skein, 66% GOTS cotton and 34% Super Fine Alpaca)
Sample colour: Off White / Écru

605 (685, 735, 835) 885 (975, 1045, 1140, 1205) m /
660 (750, 800, 915) 970 (1065, 1145, 1245, 1320) yards
7 (8, 9, 10) 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) skeins

CC Bulky weight

Biches & Bûches Le Coton & Alpaca
(90 m / 98 yds per 50 g skein, 66% GOTS cotton and 34% Super Fine Alpaca)
Sample colour: Dark Blue Black / Bleu Noir Foncé

65 m / 75 yds for all sizes. 1 skein

SAMPLE 2 (wide sleeve)

MC Bulky weight
Woolfolk Luft
(100 m / 109 yds per 50 g skein, 55% Ovis 21 Ultimate Merino® and 45% Organic Pima Cotton)
Sample colour: L9

600 (670, 720, 815) 865 (945, 1015, 1100, 1160) m /
655 (735, 790, 890) 950 (1030, 1110, 1205, 1270) yards
6 (7, 8, 9) 9 (10, 11, 11, 12) skeins

CC Bulky weight
Woolfolk Luft
(100 m / 109 yds per 50 g skein, 55% Ovis 21 Ultimate Merino® and 45% Organic Pima Cotton)
Sample colour: L7

55 m / 60 yds for all sizes. 1 skein

NEEDLES

One 5 mm / US 8 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer.
One 5.5 mm / US 9 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

GAUGE (after blocking)

16 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette stitch with 5.5 mm / US 9 needle

NOTIONS

Removable stitch markers, stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, tapestry needle for weaving in ends. 3 buttons of diameter 20-25 mm / ¾-1”. Choose buttons that go through your buttonholes rather snugly.

NOTES AND TECHNIQUES

Nola is a top-down compound raglan cardigan with simple intarsia knitting on the sleeves. Instructions are provided for regular sleeves and wide sleeves. Knitting begins from the back of the cardigan with the neckband. Stitches are picked up from the neckband to begin the yoke with compound raglan shaping. After the sleeves and body are divided, the body is worked to the hem. The sleeves, set aside at the underarm, are worked flat to the wrist with intarsia knitting. After the cuff is done, the ends of intarsia knitting are weaved in before the sleeve is seamed from the cuff to underarm using mattress stitch.

The intarsia pattern on each sleeve is worked from charts. A beginner in intarsia knitting may omit the ring (in MC) in the centre of each flower motif as the ring can be “embroidered” afterwards. For this, simply work the entire flower motif only with the CC, omitting the ring. This reduces the number of yarn ends to deal with, making intarsia knitting easier. After the sleeves are done, and before seaming them, add the ring in MC using duplicate stitch. Refer to linked tutorials in the pattern on basic intarsia knitting and duplicate stitch to understand the techniques.

SPECIAL THANKS

Deep gratitude to a team of kind and committed test knitters who offered their time and resources to work through the pattern to make sure that it is as clear and error-free as possible: Elaine, Camay, Lindi, Helanna, Emilie, Helle, Qiu Fang, Roby, Anita, Monica, Uiko, Ayumi, Nicole, Marianne, Akiko and Shiho.

Thank you Ale Moricz for translating the pattern to Spanish.

Special thanks to Naoko Ogawa (Strands of Life) for tech editing, Biches & Bûches and Woolfolk Yarn for yarn sponsor.