Treeline Striped Cardigan

This winter I have been struck with Striping Fever!  I think I was inspired first by the Quilts of Gees Bend, which I go back to again and again for their wealth of color, pattern, and spontaneity.  This time, it was the stripes that got me.  It got me knitting.  

I'm a girl who never says no to more color or pattern, but I was a little timid about launching into some kind of technicolor fair isle fantasy.  I designed this sweater to show off the incredible range of color in just one shade of Manos del Uruguay yarn with a small stripe pattern.  For me, this is restrained, austere, grown-up, but I think it really showcases the incredible blues that I saw in the Gee's Bend denim and corduroy quilts. -- Isabelle

 

Materials and Notes

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

 

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Adult Small (Adult Medium/Large):
Chest: 34(38) inches
Length from bottom edge to top of shoulder: 20(23) inches
Length from cuff to armhole:  15(21) inches

GAUGE
4 stitches per inch, in stockinette stitch
 

 
MATERIALS
 

YARN
8 Manos del Uruguay worsted weight merino wool yarn: 4 skeins Powder(C) and 4 skeins Coffee (G)
3 balls Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Villain

NEEDLES
US size 8 32-inch circular needles; I use Addi Turbos
US size 8 8-inch Clover circular needles or double-pointed needles  

NOTIONS 
4 stitch markers
yarn needle
crochet hook, 5 mm, for picking up stitches 
8 buttons 0R 20-inch zipper OR snap tape for closure (I used organic cotton snap tape, which can easily be dyed to match your sweater) 

NOTES

For the sake of simplicity, and because you may not want to use the same colors I chose, the pattern refers to Color 1 (which is one strand Manos del Uruguay, Powder) and Color 2 (one strand Manos del Uruguay, Coffee, and one strand Rowan Kidsilk Haze, Villain, knit together).

This pattern employs a neat technique for knitting stripes in stockinette stitch that are only one row high, but aren't in the round.  The entire body of the sweater as well as the border is knit this way. 
This is how it works: 
Row 1:  on the Right Side of the work, knit across with  Color 1.
Row 2:  on the Right Side of the work (this is possible because you are using a circular needle), knit across with color 2.   
Row 3:  on the Wrong Side of the work, purl across with Color 1.
Row 4:  on the Wrong Side of the work (this is possible because you are using a circular needle), purl across with Color 2.

For help measuring your gauge, visit our Swatch Tutorial.

This pattern uses two different kinds of decrease techniques, defined below, which are illustrated in our Decrease Tutorial.

ABBREVIATIONS
BO    bind off
CO    cast on
K      knit
Kf&b  increase one stitch by knitting into the front and back of the first stitch
K2tog    decrease one stitch by knitting two stitches together
P      purl
p2tog    decrease one stitch by purling two stitches together
pm    place marker
RS    right side, or outside of garment
ssk   decrease one stitch by slipping two stitches from left to right needle one at a time as if to knit, then slip both stitches back to the left needle at the same time; knit the two together and transfer to right needle as usual.
WS     wrong side, or inside of garment

Download the Pattern

Here's the free downloadable pattern! 

Treeline Striped Cardigan Pattern pdf

Sleeves

This project begins with the sleeves.  I find that if I knit the sleeves of a sweater first, the rest of the sweater zips along much faster.  I realize that this is a total mind game, but that doesn't stop me!  So here we go with the sleeves:

SLEEVES (MAKE TWO)

With Color 2 and short circular needles or dpn, CO 32(38) stitches.  Join into a round, taking care not to twist stitches. Place a marker at the beginning of the round.
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Continue k1, p1 ribbing until sleeve measures 3 inches, about 18 rounds.

STRIPES IN THE ROUND
Now we introduce Color 1.  Leave a 6-inch long tail of Color 1, just as if you were starting a new ball of yarn.  Do not break yarn for Color 2.
Round 1 (with Color 1): Knit.
Round 2 (with Color 2): Knit.
Repeat these rounds 2(3) times more (for a total of 6 (8) rounds).

INCREASE ROUND
Next round:  Kf&b, k to 2 stitches before end of round, kf&b, knit last stitch.     

Continue to work in this manner, increasing one stitch on either side of the marker every 6(8) rounds 9(8) times more, until there are 50(54) stitches on the needle.  

Continue knitting (no more increases) until the sleeve is 17(20) inches long.  

Here's what it looks like in progress, resting color on the left and active color on the right as you knit it.

Because you are knitting stripes that are only one row tall, there is a very slight, almost negligible, jog in the color from one row to the next.  The jog becomes more visible with wider stripes of two or more rows.  If you want to eliminate this interruption, you can read a good summary of Meg Swansen's Jogless Jog on NonaKnits.

As you twist the yarn the same way at the beginning of each round, it makes a nice neat detail on the inside of the knitting:

Final Round (with Color 1):  Knit to end of round, remove marker, K 3(4).

Place previous 6(8) stitches on a holder. Break yarn, leaving a tail.

Set aside the first sleeve and make a second one the same as the first.

Cardigan Body

BOTTOM BORDER RIBBING

With Color 2, CO 136(152) stitches onto circular needle.

Row 1:  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) to end of row, ending on a k1.
Continue K1, P1 Rib until body measures  2(3) inches; ending on a wrong side (WS) row.


BEGIN BODY STRIPES
Rows 1 and 2 are both worked on the Right Side (RS) of the garment:
Row 1 (with Color 1):  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice,  k to last 6 stitches, then (p1, k1) three times.
Row 2 (with Color 2):  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice,  k to last 6 stitches, then (p1, k1) three times.

Rows 3 and 4 are worked on the Wrong Side (WS) of the garment:
Row 3 (with Color 1):  Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice,  k to last 6 stitches, then (k1, p1) two times, k1, slip 1.
Row 4 (with Color 2):  Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice,  k to last 6 stitches, then (k1, p1) two times, k1, slip 1.

Repeat Rows 1 through 4, working two rows on the RS and two on the WS as established, until piece measures 14(16) inches, or desired length to underarm.

 

YOKE PREPARATION  

Next Row (with Color 1 on the RS):   Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice,  then k 31(34), place previous 6(8) stitches on a holder, k 68 (74), place previous 6(8) stitches on a holder, k 25 (28), then (p1, k1) three times.

Ready to Join

Now we join together the sleeves and the body with just one row of knitting.  This is one of my favorite parts about knitting in the round (even though this is a cardigan, which is knit back and forth, not actually in a round).

JOIN SLEEVES TO BODY

Joining Row (Color 2 on the RS):  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, k 25 (28) across the right front panel, place marker,  k 44(46) across right sleeve, place marker, k 62 (68) across back, pm, k 44 (46) across left sleeve, place marker, k 25 (28) of left front, (p1, k1) three times.
You will have 212 (228) stitches, divided by four markers indicating the front and back of the shoulders (which is where all the action takes place). Color 2 is at the left front edge.

The next two rows are worked on the WS:
Row 1(with Color 1): Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, p to last 6 stitches, (k1, p1) two times, k2.
Row 2(with Color 2): Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, p to last 6 stitches, (k1, p1) two times, k2.

Yoke

BEGIN RAGLAN SHAPING

Row 1 (with Color 1 on the RS): Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, *k to 2 stitches before marker, ssk, slip marker, k2tog, repeat from * 3 more times, k to last 6 stitches, then (p1, k1) three times.  204(220) stitches remaining.
Row 2 (with Color 2 on the RS): Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, k to last 6 stitches, then (p1, k1) three times.
Row 3 (with Color 1 on the WS): Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, p to last 6 stitches, (k1, p1) two times, k2.
Row 4 (with Color 2 on the WS): Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, p to last 6 stitches, (k1, p1) two times, k2.

Repeat these four rows 1(2) more times. 180(196) stitches remaining.

BEGIN NECK EDGE SHAPING
Row 1 (with Color 1 on the RS):  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, k2tog, *k to 2 stitches before marker, ssk, slip marker, k2tog, repeat from * 3 more times, k to last 8 stitches, k2tog, then (p1, k1) three times. 170(186) stitches remaining.
Row 2 (with Color 2 on the RS):  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, k to last 6 stitches, then (p1, k1) three times.
Row 3 (with Color 1 on the WS):  Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, p2tog, *p to 2 stitches before marker, p2tog, slip marker, p2tog, repeat from * 3 more times, p to last 8 sts, p2tog, then (k1, p1) two times, k1. 160(176) stitches remaining.
Row 4 (with Color 2 on the WS): Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, p to last 6 stitches, then (k1, p1) two times, k1.
Repeat these four rows 3(7) more times. 100(36) stitches remaining.

For Adult Small sweater ONLY, repeat the following four rows 4 times, until 28 stitches remain:
Row 1 (with Color 1 on the RS):  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, k2tog, *k to 2 stitches before marker, ssk, slip marker, k2tog, repeat from * 3 more times, k to last 8 sts, k2tog, then (p1, k1) three times. 160 stitches remaining.
Row 2 (with Color 2 on the RS):  Slip 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, k to last 6 stitches, then (p1, k1) three times.
Row 3 (with Color 1 on the WS):  Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, *p to 2 stitches before marker, p2tog, slip marker, p2tog, repeat from * 3 more times, p to last 6 stitches, then (k1, p1) two times, k1. 152 stitches remaining.
Row 4 (with Color 2 on the WS):  Slip 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, p to last 6 stitches, then (k1, p1) two times, k1.

Now is the perfect time to try on your cardigan.

Collar and Edging

COLLAR AND BORDER

BACK OF COLLAR
Row 1 (with Color 1 on RS):  Slip 1, p1, *(k1, p1) repeat from * to end of row, pick up and knit one stitch at neck edge.
Row 2 (with Color 2 on RS):  Slip 1, p1, *(k1, p1) repeat from * to end of row, pick up and knit one stitch at neck edge.
Row 3 (with Color 1 on WS):  Slip 1, k1, *(p1, k1) repeat from * to end of row, pick up and knit one stitch at neck edge.
Row 4 (with Color 2 on WS):  Slip 1, k1, *(p1, k1) repeat from * to end of row, pick up and knit one stitch at neck edge. 
Repeat Rows 1-4 one more time.  You now have 32(40) sts on the needle.
Break yarn, leaving long tails to weave in later.

PICK UP AND KNIT EDGE STITCHES
With Color 1 at the RS right front edge, pick up and knit one stitch for each row all the way up the right front edge until you reach the collar stitches.  Knit across 32(40) collar stitches with Color 1 yarn, then pick up and knit one stitch for each row along the
left front edge.   You now have both front edges and the collar stitches on the needle, and you are ready to knit the border.  The total number of stitches on the needle will depend on how long you made the body of the cardigan.


KNIT BORDER
Row 1 (with Color 2 on RS): Slip 1, p1, *(k1, p1) repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2 (with Color 1 on WS): Slip 1, k1, *(p1, k1) repeat from * to end of row.
Row 3 (with Color 2 on WS): Slip 1, k1, *(p1, k1) repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4 (with Color 1 on RS):  Slip 1, p1, *(k1, p1) repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat these four rows 2 times.  Work Rows 1 and 2 one more time.
Using Color 2, bind off loosely in k1, p1 Rib.

Try your sweater on right away, without stopping to weave in any ends.

Finishing Bits

Weave in your ends and sew together underarms.
Attach your buttons, zipper, snaps, or strategic safety pins for fastening the front of your cardigan.

Enjoy!