The First Cardigan is raglan V-neck cardigan design which is knitted seamlessly from the top-down. It is designed to feature a relaxed, oversized fit and balloon sleeves.

The First Cardigan is a sister design to The First Sweater - available to purchase here: link text

From 12.12.22 - Save £2 when you purchase both patterns in the same transaction - both patterns for £11

About
The body of the cardigan is knitted using stockinette stitch and the sleeves feature Half Fisherman’s Rib stitch. The body of the cardigan is worked flat and the sleeves and picked up and worked in the round. The yoke is knit back and forth and shaped using raglan increases, with lifted increases worked at the same time to shape the V-neck. The button band is worked in double knitting.

This pattern has been professionally graded into 12 sizes to fit bust circumference from 75cm (30in) to 160cm (64in).

The First Cardigan has been designed with an average of 9cm (3.5in) positive ease at the bust built into each size, however ease can be easily adjusted by knitting a smaller or larger size.

The difficulty of this pattern is rated as ‘intermediate’. Techniques used in this pattern include

• knitting flat/in the round
• increasing
• picking up stitches
• double knitting
• making button holes
• stockinette stitch
• half fisherman’s rib

Additional gauge information
Please note that the designer’s tension is tighter than average. The sample cardigan gauge was knitted using 4mm needles. The needles required to achieve gauge during the test knit generally ranged from 3mm-4mm.
You are strongly advised to knit a gauge swatch prior to commencing this garment as if you have an average tension you may need to size down your needle choice.

Sizing
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

To fit chest circumference:
75 (80, 85, 90, 95, 100) (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160)cm
30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) (44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)in

Approximate cardigan circumference:
84 (89, 94, 99, 104, 109) (119, 129, 139, 149, 159, 169)cm
33.5 (35.5, 37.5, 39.5, 41.5 43.5) (47.5, 51.5, 55.5, 59.5, 63.5, 67.5)in

Length:
56 (56, 56, 56, 57, 57) (57, 57, 57, 57, 57, 57)cm
22.5 (22.5, 22.5, 22.5, 22.75, 22.75) (22.75, 22.75, 22.75, 22.75, 22.75, 22.75)in

Yarn Requirements
The cardigan is knitted in a strand of fingering weight yarn held together with a strand of lace weight yarn.
The yarn used to make the sample is:

1x strand of Filcolana Arwetta Classic (80% super-wash merino, 20% nylon, 210m/230yd per 50g)
1x strand of Filcolana Tilia (70% mohair, 30% silk, 210m/230yd per 25g) or any equivalent mohair

Estimated Yardages are as follows (please note that estimates were made using sample yarn above - if you use a different yarn the quantities may vary)
Size: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

Filcolana Arwetta
Skeins 6 (6, 7, 7, 7, 8) (9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 11)
Grams 283 (296, 312, 330, 344, 361) (404, 431, 452, 474, 494, 517)
Meters 1190 (1245, 1310, 1385, 1445, 1515) (1695, 1810, 1900, 2075, 2170)
Yards 1300 (1360, 1435, 1520, 1580) (1660, 1860, 1985, 2080, 2180, 2270, 2380)

Filcolana Tilia
Skeins 6 (6, 7, 7, 7, 8) (9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 11)
Grams 142 (149, 156, 165, 173, 180) (201, 216, 227, 237, 248, 259)
Meters 1195 (1250, 1310, 1385, 1455, 1510) (1690, 1815, 1905, 1990, 2085, 2175)
Yards 1305 (1370, 1435, 1520, 1590, 1655) (1850, 1985, 2090, 2180, 2280, 2385)

NB - the length and sleeve length of this sweater are entirely customisable. Please note that if you wish to add length to the body or sleeves you may require more yarn than the amounts given

Yarn alternatives
During the test-knit several knitters used alternatives to the above yarns:

• Fingering weight: Knitting for Olive Merino, Filcolana Alva, Lang Jawoll, Cascade Heritage Sock, Pascuali Pinta, Sandnes Garn Tynn Peer Gynt, Holst Supersoft, Sandes Garn Alpakka Silke, Mayflower Easy Care, Nutiden

• Lace Weight: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair, Drops Kid Silk, Isager Mohair, Kremke Merino Cobweb, Sandnes Garn Tynn Silk Mohair, Drops Alpaca Silk, Mayflower Kid Silk

• Single Strand: Woollentwine BFL/Masham DK, Mondial Extra Fine, Drops Nord, Heirloom Merino