purlJam

# COUNTRY MEADOW STRIPED CARDIGAN

A classic beginner-friendly cardigan featuring cheerful country-inspired stripes in blue, yellow, and green. This flattering design works up quickly in worsted weight yarn and is perfect for layering on breezy spring days or cool summer evenings.

## MATERIALS

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (10-ply) yarn, approximately:
  - Colour A (Sky Blue): 400-600m (440-660yds)
  - Colour B (Buttercup Yellow): 350-550m (385-605yds)
  - Colour C (Meadow Green): 350-550m (385-605yds)
  - Total: approximately 1100-1700m (1210-1870yds)

- **Needles:** 
  - 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) circular needle, 80cm (32") long for body
  - 5mm (UK 6, US 8) circular needle, 80cm (32") long for ribbing (or size needed to obtain tension)
  - Set of 4.5mm double-pointed needles (or long circular for magic loop) for sleeves

- **Notions:**
  - 5-6 buttons, 20mm (¾") diameter
  - Stitch markers
  - Tapestry needle for seaming
  - Stitch holders or waste yarn

## GAUGE (TENSION)

20 stitches and 26 rows = 10cm (4") in stocking stitch on 4.5mm needles

**IMPORTANT:** Take time to check your tension. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct tension.

## SIZES

**XS (S, M, L, XL)**

**Finished Bust Measurements:**
- 86 (96, 107, 117, 127)cm / 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)"

**To Fit Bust:**
- 76-81 (86-91, 97-102, 107-112, 117-122)cm / 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48)"

**Finished Length:**
- 56 (58, 60, 62, 64)cm / 22 (22¾, 23½, 24½, 25¼)"

**Sleeve Length (adjustable):**
- 43 (44, 45, 46, 47)cm / 17 (17¼, 17¾, 18, 18½)"

**Ease:** Designed to be worn with 10cm (4") positive ease

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **CO** = cast on
- **k** = knit
- **p** = purl
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **RS** = right side
- **WS** = wrong side
- **st st** = stocking stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS)
- **k2tog** = knit two stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
- **ssk** = slip, slip, knit (slip 2 sts knitwise, insert left needle through front and knit together)
- **m1L** = make 1 left (lift bar between sts from front to back, knit through back loop)
- **m1R** = make 1 right (lift bar between sts from back to front, knit through front loop)
- **pm** = place marker
- **sm** = slip marker
- **rep** = repeat
- **cont** = continue
- **beg** = beginning
- **rem** = remaining

## NOTES

1. **Stripe Pattern:** The cardigan is worked in a simple stripe sequence that repeats throughout. Carry yarn loosely up the side when not in use.

2. **Stripe Sequence (12 rows):**
   - 4 rows Colour A (Blue)
   - 4 rows Colour B (Yellow)
   - 4 rows Colour C (Green)
   - Repeat these 12 rows throughout

3. **Construction:** This cardigan is worked flat in separate pieces (back, two fronts, and two sleeves), then seamed together. Button bands are picked up and worked after assembly.

4. **Changing Colours:** When changing colours, twist the new yarn around the old yarn on the wrong side to prevent gaps. Leave 15cm (6") tails for weaving in.

5. **Ribbing:** The 2×2 rib creates a neat, non-rolling edge. Ensure your cast-on is not too tight.

6. **Seaming:** Use mattress stitch for invisible seams on stocking stitch sections.

## BACK

Using 5mm needles and Colour A, CO 86 (96, 108, 118, 128) sts.

**Ribbing:**
Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 (0, 0, 2, 0) sts, k2 (0, 0, 2, 0).
Row 2 (WS): P2 (0, 0, 2, 0), *k2, p2; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-2 for 6cm (2½"), ending with a WS row.

**Body:**
Change to 4.5mm needles.

Beginning with Colour A and working in stripe pattern as outlined in Notes, work in st st (knit on RS, purl on WS) until piece measures 35 (36, 37, 38, 39)cm / 13¾ (14¼, 14½, 15, 15¼)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Armhole Shaping:**
Continuing in stripe pattern, BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [78 (86, 96, 104, 112) sts]

Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep these 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) more times. [68 (74, 82, 88, 94) sts]

Cont even in stripe pattern until armhole measures 21 (22, 23, 24, 25)cm / 8¼ (8¾, 9, 9½, 9¾)", ending with a WS row.

**Shoulder and Neck Shaping:**
Next row (RS): K19 (21, 24, 26, 28) sts, place centre 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts on holder for back neck, join second ball of yarn and k19 (21, 24, 26, 28) sts.

Working both sides at once with separate balls of yarn:
BO 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows (at armhole edges).
BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
BO rem 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts each shoulder.

## LEFT FRONT

Using 5mm needles and Colour A, CO 44 (48, 56, 60, 64) sts.

**Ribbing:**
Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to last 0 (0, 0, 0, 0) sts.
Row 2 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-2 for 6cm (2½"), ending with a WS row.

**Body:**
Change to 4.5mm needles.

Beginning with Colour A and working in stripe pattern, work in st st until piece measures 35 (36, 37, 38, 39)cm / 13¾ (14¼, 14½, 15, 15¼)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Armhole Shaping:**
Next row (RS): BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts, knit to end. [40 (43, 50, 53, 56) sts]
Next row (WS): Purl.

Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end.
Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep these 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) more times. [35 (37, 43, 45, 47) sts]

Cont even until armhole measures 14 (15, 15, 16, 17)cm / 5½ (6, 6, 6¼, 6¾)", ending with a RS row.

**Neck Shaping:**
Next row (WS): BO 10 (10, 12, 12, 12) sts, purl to end. [25 (27, 31, 33, 35) sts]

Next row (RS): Knit.
Next row (WS): P1, p2tog, purl to end.

Rep these 2 rows 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) more times. [19 (21, 24, 26, 27) sts]

Cont even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder, ending with a WS row.

**Shoulder Shaping:**
At armhole edge, BO 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts once, then 6 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts once.
BO rem 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts.

## RIGHT FRONT

Using 5mm needles and Colour A, CO 44 (48, 56, 60, 64) sts.

**Ribbing:**
Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-2 for 6cm (2½"), ending with a WS row.

**Body:**
Change to 4.5mm needles.

Beginning with Colour A and working in stripe pattern, work in st st until piece measures 35 (36, 37, 38, 39)cm / 13¾ (14¼, 14½, 15, 15¼)" from cast-on edge, ending with a RS row.

**Armhole Shaping:**
Next row (WS): BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts, purl to end. [40 (43, 50, 53, 56) sts]

Next row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep these 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) more times. [35 (37, 43, 45, 47) sts]

Cont even until armhole measures 14 (15, 15, 16, 17)cm / 5½ (6, 6, 6¼, 6¾)", ending with a WS row.

**Neck Shaping:**
Next row (RS): BO 10 (10, 12, 12, 12) sts, knit to end. [25 (27, 31, 33, 35) sts]

Next row (WS): Purl.
Next row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Rep these 2 rows 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) more times. [19 (21, 24, 26, 27) sts]

Cont even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder, ending with a RS row.

**Shoulder Shaping:**
At armhole edge, BO 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts once, then 6 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts once.
BO rem 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts.

## SLEEVES (make 2)

Using 5mm needles and Colour A, CO 40 (44, 44, 48, 48) sts.

**Ribbing:**
Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-2 for 6cm (2½"), ending with a WS row.

**Body:**
Change to 4.5mm needles.

Beginning with Colour A and working in stripe pattern, work in st st, AT THE SAME TIME, inc 1 st each end on 5th row, then every 6th (6th, 6th, 6th, 6th) row 10 (11, 13, 14, 16) more times. [62 (68, 72, 78, 82) sts]

Work increases as follows:
Inc row (RS): K1, m1R, knit to last st, m1L, k1.

Cont even until piece measures 43 (44, 45, 46, 47)cm / 17 (17¼, 17¾, 18, 18½)" from cast-on edge, or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.

**Sleeve Cap Shaping:**
BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [54 (58, 60, 64, 66) sts]

Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row (WS): Purl.

Rep these 2 rows 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) more times. [28 (30, 30, 32, 32) sts]

Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row (WS): P1, p2tog, purl to last 3 sts, ssp, p1.

Rep these 2 rows 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) more times. [16 (18, 18, 20, 20) sts]

BO 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows. [8 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts]

BO rem sts.

## BUTTON BANDS

**Seaming First:**
Block all pieces to measurements. Using mattress stitch, seam shoulders. Set in sleeves. Seam sleeve and side seams.

**Button Band (for Left Front on women's garment, Right Front for men's):**

With RS facing, using 5mm needles and Colour A, pick up and knit 88 (92, 96, 100, 104) sts evenly along front edge from bottom to neck edge.

Row 1 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to last 0 (0, 0, 0, 0) sts.
Row 2 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-2 twice more (6 rows total).

BO all sts in pattern.

**Buttonhole Band (for Right Front on women's garment, Left Front for men's):**

Mark button placement on Button Band with 5 (5, 6, 6, 6) markers. Place first marker 2cm (¾") from bottom edge, last marker 2cm (¾") from top neck edge, and space remaining markers evenly between.

With RS facing, using 5mm needles and Colour A, pick up and knit 88 (92, 96, 100, 104) sts evenly along front edge from neck to bottom edge.

Row 1 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 3 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Row 4 - Buttonhole Row (RS): Work in rib, and at each marker placement work: k2tog, yo to create buttonhole.

Rows 5-6: Work in established rib pattern.

BO all sts in pattern.

**Neckband:**

With RS facing, using 5mm