Menu Close

Cardigan in Diagonal Rib

Vintage fitted cardigan with diagonal rib patterning

Materials

17 Skeins (1 oz) Lincoln Mills “Daphne” Crochet Wool (used doubled), or alternately
17 Skeins (1 oz) Lincoln Mills Double Crepe “Waratah” Wool (used single)

1 pair each UK No 7/4.5mm/US 7 and UK No 8/4mm/US 6 knitting needles.

Measurements

To fit 40 inch chest. Length from shoulder, 22 inches. Sleeve seam, 21¾ inches.

Tension

(when pressed)- 7 rows to 1 inch; 12 sts (1 pattern) to 2 inches.

Pattern

Back

With No. 8 needles cast on 104 sts and work in ribbing, K1, P1, for 22 rows (3 1/8 inches).

Change to No. 7 needles and begin pattern:

1st Row: Slip 1, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, then knit into back of 1st st, * knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st , releasing both sts together, knit into back of next st, P7, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, * repeat from * to * 10 last 5 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both sts together, knit into back of next st, P1, K1.

2nd Row: Slip 1, K1, * purl 2nd st, then purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P3, K7, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, purl 2nd st, then purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P3, K1.

3rd Row: Slip 1, K1, P1, * knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st, releasing both sts together, knit back of next st, P6, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, then knit into back of 1st st, P1, * repeat from * to * to last 5 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st releasing both together, knit into back of next st, P1, K1.

4th Row: Slip 1, K1, * purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both together, P1, K1, P2, K6, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both together, (P1, K1) twice.

5th Row: Slip 1, P2, * knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both sts together, knit into back of next st, P5, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, then knit into back of 1st st, P2, * repeat from * to * to last 5 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st, releasing both sts together, knit into back of next st, P1, K1.

6th Row: Slip 1, K1, * purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P1, K2, P2, K5, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, P1, K3.

7th Row: Slip 1, P2, * knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st, releasing both together, knit into back of next st, P4, slip needle through 1st st, and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, P3, * repeat from * to * to last 5 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st, releasing both sts together, knit into back of next st, P1, K1

8th Row: Slip 1, K1, * purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P1, K3, P2, K4, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P1, K3.

9th Row: Slip 1, P2, * knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st, releasing both sts together, knit into back of next st, P3, slip needle through 1st st, and knit 2nd st, then knit into back of 1st st, P4, * repeat from * to * to last 5 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st, releasing both sts together, knit into back of next st, P1, K1.

10th Row: Slip 1, K1, * purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P1, K4, P2, K3, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P1, K3.

11th Row: Slip 1, P2, * knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both together, knit into back of next st, P2, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, P5, * repeat from * to * to last 5 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both together, knit into back of next st, P1, K1.

12th Row: Slip 1, K2 into next st, * purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both sts together, P1, K5, P2, K2, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both together, P1, K1, K2 into next st, K1.

13th Row: Slip 1, P3, * knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both together, knit into back of next st, P1, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, P6, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both together, knit into back of next st, P1, K2.

14th Row: Slip 1, P1, K1, * purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both together, P1, K6, P2, K1 , * repeat from * to * to last 7 sts, purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both together, P1, knit to end.

15th row: Slip 1, P3, * knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both together, knit into back of next st, slip needle through 1st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, P7, * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, releasing both together, knit into back of next st, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit
into back of 1st st, K1.

16th Row: Slip 1, P2, * purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both together, P1, K7, P2, * repeat from * to * to last 7 sts, purl 2nd st, purl 1st st, releasing both together, P1, knit to end.

Rows l to 16 complete pattern.

Continue to work, increasing each end of every 12th row until 78 rows and 116 sts (10½ inches).

Begin Armhole Shaping

Cast off 8 sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows, then decrease each end of next and every 2nd row until 88 sts remain.

Work without further decrease until 62 rows in armhole.

Cast off 9 sts at beginning of each of next 6 rows.

Cast off remaining sts

Left Front

With No. 8 needles cast on 54 sts and work in ribbing, K1, P1, for 22 rows.

Change to No. 7 needles and begin pattern.

1st Row: Slip 1, P2, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, * knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, release both sts together, knit into back of next st, P7, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, * repeat from * to * to last st, K1.

Continue to work in pattern, increasing at end of every 10th row until 72 rows (61 sts).

Then decrease 1 st at end of 73rd and 77th rows (59 sts).

When 78 rows, begin armhole shaping:

1st Row: Cast off 8 sts, work to end of row (51 sts).

2nd Row: Work to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 (50 sts).

3rd Row: Slip 1, P2tog, work to last 3 sts, P2tog, K1 (48 sts).

4th Row Work to last 3 sts, P2tog, K1 (47 sts).

5th Row Slip 1, K2tog, work to end (46 sts).

6th Row: Work to last 3 sts, P2tog, K1 (45 sts).

7th Row: Slip 1, P2tog, work to last 3 sts, P2tog, K1 (43 sts).

8th Row: Work to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 (42 sts).

9th Row: Slip 1, P2tog, work to end (41 sts).

Continue to work without further decrease at armhole, but decrease at Front edge in 11th and every 4th row until 28 sts remain and 62 rows in armhole.

63rd Row Cast off 9 sts, work to last 3 sts, P2tog, K1.

64th Row: Work to end.

65th Row: Cast off 9 sts, work to end.

66th Row: Same as 64th row.

Cast off remaining sts

Right Front

Work ribbing the same as Left Front for 22 rows.

Change to No. 7 needles and begin pattern:

1st Row: Slip 1, * P7, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, then knit into back of 1st st, knit into back of 2nd st, then knit 1st st, release both sts together, knit into back of next st, * repeat from * to * to last 5 sts, P4, K1.

Continue to work to correspond with left front, with shaping on reverse side.

Sleeves

With No. 8 needles cast on 58 sts and work in ribbing, K1, P1, for 26 rows, increase 1 st at end of last row (59 sts).

Change to No. 7 needles end begin pattern:

1st Row: Slip 1, P1, * slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, release both sts together, knit into back of next st, P7, * repeat from * to * to last 9 sts, slip needle through 1st st and knit 2nd st, knit into back of 1st st, knit into back of 2nd st, knit 1st st, release both sts together, knit into back of next st, P3, K1.

Continue to work in pattern, increasing each end of every 12th row until 71 sts, then every 8th row until 130 rows and 85 sts

Begin Armhole Shaping

Cast off 8 sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows,
then decrease each end of next and every 4th row until 61 sts,
then every 2nd row until 27 sts,
then every row until 9 sts.
Cast off.

Band

With No. 8 needles cast on 10 sts

1st Row: Slip 1, K1, P1, to last st, K1.

Continue to work in ribbing, making 7 buttonholes at 4th and every 16th row in this way:

Slip 1, K1, P1, K2tog, wool twice round needle, P2tog, K1, P1, K1, and in next row work into back of the 2 made sts the last buttonhole should be made at the 100th row and this strip should now reach the 72nd row of pattern on left front (when pressed).

Continue to work until the band is long enough to go round the fronts of cardigan.

Press work lightly; join shoulder seams; fit in sleeves.

Join side and sleeve seams.

Sew band to front edge and neck of cardigan.

Sew buttons in position on right front.


The original publication of this pattern is in the public domain, however this updated digital version is copyright Sarah Bradberry, July 17th 2012. All rights reserved.