purlJam

<pattern>

# LADIES' SLOUCHY BUBBLE CARDIGAN

A relaxed-fit raglan cardigan worked seamlessly from the top down, featuring a textured bubble stitch pattern and cheerful four-colour stripe sequence. The slouchy silhouette and playful texture make this an engaging intermediate knit.

## SIZES
To fit bust: 81-86 (91-97, 102-107, 112-117, 122-127) cm / 32-34 (36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50)"

Finished bust measurement (buttoned): 91 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm / 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)"

Length from back neck: 60 (62, 64, 66, 68) cm / 23.5 (24.5, 25, 26, 26.75)"

Sleeve seam: 45 (45, 46, 46, 47) cm / 17.75 (17.75, 18, 18, 18.5)"

*Cardigan is designed to be worn with 5-7 cm / 2-3" positive ease for slouchy fit.*

## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: DK weight yarn (light worsted)
- **Colour A (Main Colour)**: 450 (500, 550, 600, 650) m / 492 (547, 601, 656, 711) yds
- **Colour B**: 200 (225, 250, 275, 300) m / 219 (246, 273, 301, 328) yds
- **Colour C**: 150 (175, 200, 225, 250) m / 164 (191, 219, 246, 273) yds
- **Colour D**: 150 (175, 200, 225, 250) m / 164 (191, 219, 246, 273) yds

**Total yardage**: 950 (1075, 1200, 1325, 1450) m / 1039 (1175, 1312, 1449, 1586) yds

**Needles**: 
- 4.0mm (UK 8, US 6) circular needle, 80cm/32" length for body
- 4.0mm (UK 8, US 6) circular needle, 40cm/16" length or DPNs for sleeves
- 3.5mm (UK 9/10, US 4) circular needle, 80cm/32" length for button bands

*Or size needed to obtain correct tension*

**Notions**:
- 6-7 buttons, approximately 2cm/¾" diameter
- Stitch markers (4 in contrasting colour for raglan lines, additional as needed)
- Scrap yarn or stitch holders
- Tapestry needle

## TENSION (GAUGE)

20 sts × 24 rows = 10cm/4" in Bubble Stitch pattern using 4.0mm needles, after blocking

22 sts × 28 rows = 10cm/4" in stocking stitch using 4.0mm needles (for reference)

**CRITICAL**: Take time to check your tension. The bubble stitch pattern creates a denser, slightly compressed fabric compared to stocking stitch. Measure over a blocked swatch in pattern.

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k**: knit
- **p**: purl
- **st(s)**: stitch(es)
- **RS**: right side
- **WS**: wrong side
- **m**: marker
- **pm**: place marker
- **sm**: slip marker
- **inc**: increase
- **dec**: decrease
- **kfb**: knit into front and back of stitch (1 st increased)
- **M1L**: make 1 left (lift strand between sts from front to back, knit through back loop)
- **M1R**: make 1 right (lift strand between sts from back to front, knit through front loop)
- **k2tog**: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk**: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **MB**: Make Bubble (see Special Techniques)
- **rep**: repeat
- **rem**: remain(ing)
- **cont**: continue
- **beg**: begin(ning)
- **patt**: pattern

## SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

### Make Bubble (MB)
1. (K1, yo, k1, yo, k1) all in next st – 5 sts made from 1 st
2. Turn work, p5
3. Turn work, k5
4. Turn work, p5
5. Turn work, pass 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th sts over first st and off needle, k remaining st
6. Continue in pattern

*This creates a textured bobble/bubble. Pull yarn firmly when completing to ensure bubble sits neatly on RS of work.*

### Raglan Increases
**Right Front/Back Raglan Line**: K to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L
**Left Front/Back Raglan Line**: K to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L  
**Sleeve Raglan Lines**: Work same as above

*Each increase round adds 8 sts total (2 sts at each of 4 raglan lines)*

## STRIPE SEQUENCE

The stripe sequence repeats throughout the cardigan. Each stripe is worked for the number of rounds/rows indicated:

- **Colour A**: 8 rounds/rows
- **Colour B**: 4 rounds/rows
- **Colour C**: 4 rounds/rows
- **Colour D**: 4 rounds/rows

**Total repeat**: 20 rounds/rows

**IMPORTANT**: When changing colours, twist yarns at WS to avoid gaps. Carry unused colours loosely up the inside of work. For neat transitions, work first round of new colour in stocking stitch (all knit on RS/rounds) before resuming bubble pattern.

Begin pattern with Colour A.

## PATTERN STITCH: BUBBLE STITCH

**Worked flat (button bands and yoke while working flat):**

**Row 1 (RS)**: Knit all sts  
**Row 2 (WS)**: Purl all sts  
**Row 3 (RS)**: K3, *MB, k5; rep from * to last 3 sts, MB if enough sts remain, k to end  
**Row 4 (WS)**: Purl all sts

Repeat Rows 1-4 for pattern.

**Worked in the round (body and sleeves):**

**Round 1**: Knit all sts  
**Round 2**: Knit all sts  
**Round 3**: K3, *MB, k5; rep from * to last 3 sts, MB if enough sts remain, k to end  
**Round 4**: Knit all sts

Repeat Rounds 1-4 for pattern.

**Note on Bubble Placement**: The bubble pattern is designed to be flexible at raglan increases. On increase rounds, work increases in knit sts and maintain bubble placement as established, shifting as needed. Bubbles should appear staggered across the fabric.

## BUBBLE STITCH CHART

**Chart A: Bubble Stitch Pattern (6-st repeat × 4 rows/rounds)**

```
Row/Rnd 4: □ □ □ □ □ □  |
Row/Rnd 3: □ □ □ ● □ □  |  6-st repeat
Row/Rnd 2: □ □ □ □ □ □  |
Row/Rnd 1: □ □ □ □ □ □  |
          [────────────]
```

**Key:**
- □ = Knit on RS/all rounds; Purl on WS
- ● = MB (Make Bubble)

**Reading the chart:**
- When working flat: RS rows read right to left, WS rows read left to right
- When working in the round: All rounds read right to left
- The 6-st repeat is worked after initial setup sts
- Bubbles offset by 3 sts creates staggered texture

## COLOUR SEQUENCE CHART

**Chart B: 20-Round Stripe Repeat**

```
Round 20: DDDD │
Round 19: DDDD │ Colour D (4 rounds)
Round 18: DDDD │
Round 17: DDDD │
─────────────────
Round 16: CCCC │
Round 15: CCCC │ Colour C (4 rounds)
Round 14: CCCC │
Round 13: CCCC │
─────────────────
Round 12: BBBB │
Round 11: BBBB │ Colour B (4 rounds)
Round 10: BBBB │
Round 9:  BBBB │
─────────────────
Round 8:  AAAA │
Round 7:  AAAA │
Round 6:  AAAA │
Round 5:  AAAA │ Colour A (8 rounds)
Round 4:  AAAA │
Round 3:  AAAA │
Round 2:  AAAA │
Round 1:  AAAA │
```

Work through all sections (yoke, body, sleeves) following this 20-round repeat sequence.

## NOTES

1. **Cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down.** Begin at back neck, use raglan increases to shape yoke, separate sleeves at underarm, then work body and sleeves separately.

2. **Stripe sequence** begins with Colour A and repeats throughout. Track your place in the sequence carefully at sleeve separation.

3. **Bubble pattern** creates a textured, slightly denser fabric. The pattern accommodates raglan increases—work increases in knit stitches and adjust bubble placement as needed to maintain staggered effect.

4. **Slouchy fit** is achieved through positive ease. Choose size based on actual bust measurement plus 5-7 cm/2-3" ease.

5. **Button bands** are picked up and worked after body is complete, in moss stitch for stability.

6. **Blocking** is essential for bubble stitch patterns. Steam block lightly or wet block, being careful not to flatten bubbles completely.

7. **Stitch counts** are provided throughout for verification. Check your work at key points.

## PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

### YOKE

**Cast On:**

Using 4.0mm circular needle and Colour A, cast on:  
**59 (63, 67, 71, 75) sts**

*Math check: These sts distribute as follows for raglan construction:*  
- Right Front: 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts
- Right Sleeve: 7 (7, 7, 7, 7) sts  
- Back: 21 (23, 25, 27, 29) sts
- Left Sleeve: 7 (7, 7, 7, 7) sts
- Left Front: 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts
- Plus 4 raglan m sts (1 st each side of 2 markers) = 8 extra sts included in total

**Set-up Row (WS)**: Purl all sts.

**Next Row (RS - establish raglan lines)**: 
K8 (9, 10, 11, 12) [right front], pm, k1, pm, k7 [right sleeve], pm, k1, pm, k21 (23, 25, 27, 29) [back], pm, k1, pm, k7 [left sleeve], pm, k1, pm, k8 (9, 10, 11, 12) [left front].

*4 raglan markers placed, with 1 st between each pair of markers representing raglan line*

**Increase Row 1 (WS)**: Purl all sts (no increases on WS).

**Increase Row 2 (RS - Bubble Pattern Row 1)**: 
*K to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L; rep from * 3 more times, k to end.  
**67 (71, 75, 79, 83) sts** [8 sts increased]

**Row 3 (WS)**: Purl all sts.

**Increase Row 4 (RS - Bubble Pattern Row 3)**: 
K to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L, k1, *MB, k5; rep from * adjusting for raglan line markers (work raglan increases as: k to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L), maintaining bubble pattern between increases, end k to end.  
**75 (79, 83, 87, 91) sts** [8