Simple, basic sweater with unfaced front edges and optional i-cord edging. Both Fronts and the Back are knit together in one piece up to the armhole, meeting at Center Front. Seed stitch keeps the bottom edge flat. Back Neck Shaping, to prevent shoulder seams riding on the upper back and hiking up the front bottom edge. “Swing Jacket” styling with sloping increases from bust to bottom edge along invisible side seams. Buttons are not included, but I have added a button and a buttonhole loop at mid-chest on one of my much older versions of this basic sweater.

Any fingering / sock weight yarn (or combination of finer yarns) may be used, but I chose to knit this cardigan with heavenly rayon which is both ultra soft and has an amazingly silky drape after washed and dried. I have worked with both woven and knit rayons for over 40 years, most often exposing it to multiple extended stays in the hottest water. I do this for 2 reasons, the most important of which is to achieve maximum shrinkage before cutting and sewing finished garments and thus prevent any future shrinkage. The 2nd reason is that I most often hand-dye the fabric or yarn and need to use HOT water. My experience has been that rayon shrinks virtually not at all horizontally, but consistently shrinks about 12% in length (or more, in knits, depending on the stability of the gauge). As with ALL yarns, it is especially important to swatch rayon and then wash and dry it once or TWICE to achieve the most dependable gauge for the life of the garment. The results are well worth it. I used Rayon “RicRac”, or “Seed”, fingering / sock-weight yarn (1,000 yds per lb with a gauge of 18 sts x 31 rows = 3”).

Detailed instructions include measurements to allow for customized personal fit, if desired.