ALDER CARDIGAN

 

The play of light and shadow on alder leaves, the richness of their texture, the beauty both of the foliage of the alder tree as a whole and of each individual leaf inspired the design of this cardigan. The accent balloon sleeves are balanced with the comfortable straight lines of the body. Two types of ribbing and seed stitch add to the textural interest of the sweater. Wide sleeves with fitted cuffs - a favorite! - make it a great layering piece, and buttons allow it to be worn both open as a classic cardigan or buttoned as a pullover. 

Alder Cardigan is knit seamless from the top down with raglan shaping. The button band is worked at the same time with the seed stitch body. Shoulders are completed in the seeded rib which flows into the patterned balloon sleeves. The sleeves feature traveling stitches and only require various increases and decreases for the stitch pattern.

 
 

YARN

  • Sample sweater yarn: DK from Knitted Wit (100% superwash merino, 280yds / 256m, 100g / 3.5oz),
    in color Black Magic

  • OR 1185 (1235, 1400, 1455, 1635, 1680) (1750, 1940, 2000, 2140, 2240)yds / 1085 (1130, 1280, 1330, 1495, 1535) (1600, 1775, 1830, 1955, 2050)m of DK weight yarn

  • Recommended: solid, semi-solid or kettle dyed to show more details of the stitch patterns

NEEDLES

  • Swatch to determine needle size that helps to fit the
    gauge; needle size below are a suggestion

  • US 6 / 4mm for the body

  • Body: circular needles on 32" / 80cm cable or long single pointed needles

  • Sleeves: circular needles for the magic loop method,
    a set of dpns, or other needles suitable for working small circles in the round

GAUGE

  • 21sts and 36 rows in 4" / 10cm in Seed Stitch, blocked

  • 24sts in Seeded Rib, blocked

NOTIONS

  • 6 stitch markers

  • 12 (13, 14, 15, 15, 16) (16, 17, 18, 19, 19) removable markers
    or pieces of waste yarn

  • Stitch holders

  • Tapestry needle

  • Waste yarn or spare cable(s) for holding sleeve stitches

  • 4 buttons (sample sweater used 1" / 2.5cm in diameter)

SIZES A (B, C, D, E, F) (G, H, I, J, K)

  • Finished chest 33.1 (36.2, 39.4, 42.5, 45.7, 48.8) (52, 55.1, 58.3, 61.4, 64.6)" / 84 (92, 100, 108, 116, 124) (132, 140, 148, 156, 164)cm

  • Check schematic on the next page for additional measurements 

  • Sizes listed are actual finished sweater measurements. Choose the size that is approximately 4" / 10cm larger than your chest circumference

  • Model has 37" / 94cm chest and is wearing size D