People often ask me what to pack when they come to visit in the San Francisco Bay Area. The short answer is always “layers!”

I’m always looking for a light cardigan to throw on when I step out of the house, something that is big, breezy, and cozy, but won’t fight with the sleeves of whatever shirt I’m wearing or get too much in the way. I like this style for the ease of construction and a generous fit that works with a lot of body types.

Sempervirens, meaning ‘evergreen’, is the specific epithet of the Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens. The Coast Redwood is endemic to northern California and southern Oregon, and these breathtaking trees are some of the largest, oldest living things on earth.

Construction Notes
This loose, oversized cardigan is worked from the top down in one piece. It begins much like a top-down shawl with a garter tab, just at a larger scale (you’ll start by knitting a tiny garter stitch scarf from a provisional cast-on). See the last photo for a visual explanation of the construction set-up.

This pattern has been fully tech edited.

Yarn
Miss Babs Katahdin
100% Superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool; 1750 yd/15.5 oz (1600 m/439 g) skeins

1 (1, 2) skein(s), shown in Sempervirens.

Or approximately 1400 (1600, 1800) yards/1280 (1460, 1650) meters fingering weight yarn

Finished Measurements
Sizes S (M, L)
Bust 48 (56, 64)”/122 (142, 162) cm

Shown in 56”/142 cm, to be worn with at least 8-12”/20-30 cm of ease.

Needles
US 5/3.75mm 40” (100 cm) or longer circular (recommended for large number of stitches as sweater is knit flat) or size to obtain gauge

Spare double-pointed needle in a similar size

Spare circular needle in a similar size (used as stitch holder)

Gauge
Unblocked: 24 stitches and 48 rows to 4”/10 cm square in garter stitch.

Blocked: 23 stitches and 46 rows to 4”/10 cm square in garter stitch.

Blocked: 23 stitches and 38 rows to 4”/10 cm square in Dot Stripe pattern.

Blocked: 23 stitches and 32 rows to 4”/10 cm square in Traveling Leaf pattern.

Notions
Crochet hook, size F-5 (3.75 mm) or G-6 (4 mm)
Removable stitch marker/safety pin
Smooth waste yarn
Stitch holders
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

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