purlJam

<pattern>

# FLUTTERY PEPLUM CARDIGAN

A charming cropped cardigan featuring a flared peplum hem and delicate pointelle lace details on the sleeves and lower edge. The slim-fitting body and bracelet-length sleeves create a feminine, vintage-inspired silhouette perfect for layering.

## SIZES
Small (Medium, Large, X-Large)

**Finished Bust Measurements:** 34 (36, 40, 44)" with fronts overlapped
**To fit bust sizes:** 32 (34, 38, 42)"
*Designed with approximately 2" positive ease*

Sample shown in size Medium.

## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Approximately 900 (1000, 1150, 1300) yards worsted weight yarn
- Sample uses [Your Yarn Choice] worsted weight

**Needles:** 
- US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles for flat knitting, or size needed to obtain gauge
- US 6 (4 mm) straight needles for ribbing

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

## GAUGE
20 sts × 26 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked

**TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE** - Proper gauge is essential for correct fit.

## ABBREVIATIONS
- k: knit
- p: purl
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- yo: yarn over
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- pm: place marker
- sm: slip marker
- inc: increase by knitting into front and back of stitch
- BO: bind off
- CO: cast on

## PATTERN NOTES

**Construction:** This cardigan is worked bottom-up in pieces (back, left front, right front, sleeves), then seamed. The peplum flare is created by starting with extra stitches at the cast-on edge and decreasing to the waist. Button bands are picked up and knitted after assembly.

**Pointelle Pattern** (multiple of 4 sts + 1)
- Row 1 (RS): K1, *yo, ssk, k2; repeat from * to end.
- Row 2 (WS): Purl.
- Row 3: K1, *k2, k2tog, yo; repeat from * to end.
- Row 4: Purl.

Repeat Rows 1-4 for pattern.

**Body Length:** Measured from high point of shoulder = 20"
- Peplum section: 4"
- Body to underarm: 8.5"
- Armhole depth: 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5)"
- Shoulder height: 0.5"

**Bracelet Sleeves:** Designed to end approximately 2-3" above wrist (12" sleeve length).

## INSTRUCTIONS

### BACK

**Peplum Section:**
With smaller needles, CO 113 (117, 129, 141) sts.

Work in 1×1 rib:
- Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
- Row 2 (WS): *P1, k1; repeat from * to last st, p1.

Repeat these 2 rows once more (4 rows total).

Change to larger needles.

Work Pointelle Pattern (Rows 1-4) three times (12 rows total, approximately 1.75").

**Shape Peplum:**
Next Row (RS): Knit.
Next Row (WS): Purl.

Continue in stockinette stitch and work decreases as follows:
- Decrease Row (RS): K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. [2 sts decreased]

Work Decrease Row every 6th row 11 (11, 12, 13) times more. 
**Math check: 113 - (12 × 2) = 89 sts for Small**

**Stitch count after decreases:** 89 (93, 103, 113) sts

Continue even in stockinette until piece measures 12.5 (12.5, 13, 13)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armholes:**
BO 5 (6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. [79 (81, 89, 97) sts]

Decrease Row (RS): K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

Work Decrease Row every RS row 4 (4, 5, 6) more times. 
**Math check: 79 - (5 × 2) = 69 sts for Small**

[69 (71, 77, 83) sts]

Continue even until armhole measures 6.5 (7, 7.5, 8)", ending with a WS row.

**Shape Shoulders:**
BO 6 (6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 4 rows. [45 (47, 49, 51) sts]

BO 6 (7, 7, 7) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. [33 (33, 35, 37) sts]

BO remaining 33 (33, 35, 37) sts for back neck.

### LEFT FRONT

**Peplum Section:**
With smaller needles, CO 57 (61, 65, 71) sts.

Work in 1×1 rib for 4 rows as for back.

Change to larger needles.

Work Pointelle Pattern (Rows 1-4) three times (12 rows total).

**Shape Peplum:**
Work in stockinette stitch with decreases:
- Decrease Row (RS): K2, ssk, knit to end. [1 st decreased]

Work Decrease Row every 6th row 11 (11, 12, 13) times more.
**Math check: 57 - 12 = 45 sts for Small**

[45 (49, 52, 57) sts]

Continue even until piece measures 12.5 (12.5, 13, 13)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armhole:**
BO 5 (6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next RS row. [40 (43, 45, 49) sts]

Purl 1 WS row.

Decrease Row (RS): K2, ssk, knit to end.

Work Decrease Row every RS row 4 (4, 5, 6) more times.
**Math check: 40 - 5 = 35 sts for Small**

[35 (38, 39, 42) sts]

Continue even until armhole measures 4.5 (5, 5.5, 6)", ending with a RS row.

**Shape Neck:**
Next Row (WS): BO 9 (9, 10, 10) sts, purl to end. [26 (29, 29, 32) sts]

Decrease Row (RS): Knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

Work Decrease Row every RS row 7 (8, 7, 8) more times.
**Math check: 26 - 8 = 18 sts for Small**

[18 (20, 21, 23) sts]

Continue even until armhole measures same as back to shoulder, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Shoulder:**
BO 6 (6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 RS rows. [6 (8, 7, 7) sts]

BO remaining 6 (8, 7, 7) sts.

### RIGHT FRONT

Work as for Left Front, REVERSING all shaping (work armhole shaping on WS rows, neck shaping on RS rows, shoulder shaping on WS rows).

**Peplum decreases:** Work as "knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2" instead.
**Armhole decreases:** Work as "knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2" instead.
**Neck decreases:** Work as "k2, ssk, knit to end" instead.

### SLEEVES (make 2)

**Cuff:**
With smaller needles, CO 41 (41, 45, 45) sts.

Work in 1×1 rib for 4 rows as for back.

Change to larger needles.

Work Pointelle Pattern (Rows 1-4) twice (8 rows total).

**Sleeve Body:**
Work in stockinette stitch and shape sleeve:

Increase Row (RS): K2, inc 1, knit to last 3 sts, inc 1, k2. [2 sts increased]

Work Increase Row every 6th row 0 (2, 3, 5) times, then every 8th row 9 (8, 8, 7) times.
**Math check Small: 41 + (9 × 2) = 59 sts**
**Math check Medium: 41 + (2 × 2) + (8 × 2) = 61 sts**

[59 (61, 67, 69) sts]

Continue even until sleeve measures 12 (12, 12.5, 12.5)" from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Cap:**
BO 5 (6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. [49 (49, 53, 53) sts]

Decrease Row (RS): K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

Work Decrease Row every RS row 10 (10, 11, 11) times more.
**Math check: 49 - (11 × 2) = 27 sts for Small**

[27 (27, 29, 29) sts]

Work Decrease Row every row (RS and WS) 4 times. [19 (19, 21, 21) sts]

BO 2 sts at beginning of next 4 rows. [11 (11, 13, 13) sts]

BO remaining sts.

## FINISHING

### Assembly

Block all pieces to measurements.

Sew shoulder seams.

Set in sleeves, easing sleeve cap into armhole. Sew sleeve seams. Sew side seams.

### Button Band (Left Front for Women)

With RS facing and smaller needles, starting at lower left front edge, pick up and knit approximately 3 sts for every 4 rows along left front edge to neck shaping, then 1 st per BO st along neck edge.

**Approximate stitch count:** 95-105 sts (adjust for your row gauge)

Row 1 (WS): *P1, k1; repeat from * to last st, p1.
Row 2 (RS): *K1, p1; repeat from * to last st, k1.

Repeat these 2 rows once more.

BO in pattern.

### Buttonhole Band (Right Front)

Work as for Button Band, picking up stitches along right front edge.

Work 1 row of ribbing.

**Buttonhole Row (RS):** Work in rib pattern and make 6 evenly spaced buttonholes as follows:
- Work 3-4 sts in rib, *BO 2 sts, work in rib until approximately 14-16 sts from previous buttonhole; repeat from * 4 more times, BO 2 sts, work in rib to end.

**Next Row (WS):** Work in rib, CO 2 sts over each gap using backward loop cast-on.

Work 1 more row in rib.

BO in pattern.

### Neck Band

With RS facing and smaller needles, starting at right front neck edge, pick up and knit:
- Approximately 15-18 sts along right neck edge
- 33 (33, 35, 37) sts across back neck
- Approximately 15-18 sts along left neck edge

**Total approximately:** 63-73 sts

Work 4 rows in 1×1 rib as established.

BO in pattern.

### Final Details

Weave in all ends. Sew buttons opposite buttonholes. Block again lightly if needed.

## SCHEMATIC MEASUREMENTS

**Back:**
- Width at hem: 22.5 (23.5, 25.75, 28.25)"
- Width at waist/bust: 17.75 (18.5, 20.5, 22.5)"
- Width at underarm: 15.75 (16.25, 17.75, 19.25)"
- Armhole depth: 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5)"
- Total length: 20 (20.5, 21, 21.5)"

**Front (each)