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# NORDIC FUSION CABLED CARDIGAN

**TITLE:** The Nordic Fusion Cardigan
**DIFFICULTY LEVEL:** Intermediate

### MATERIALS
*   **Yarn:** Worsted weight wool (approx. 200m per 100g).
    *   **Main Colour (MC) - Charcoal Grey:** 800 (900, 1000, 1100, 1200) metres.
    *   **Contrast Colour 1 (CC1) - Cream:** 150 (180, 200, 220, 250) metres.
    *   **Contrast Colour 2 (CC2) - Deep Red:** 120 (130, 140, 150, 160) metres.
*   **Needles:**
    *   4.5 mm (UK 7) circular needles, 80 cm and 100 cm lengths.
    *   3.75 mm (UK 5) circular needles for ribbing and collar.
*   **Notions:** 8 stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, tapestry needle, 50-60 cm separating zipper.

### GAUGE (TENSION)
20 stitches and 26 rows = 10 cm (4 inches) in both Stocking Stitch and Stranded Colourwork on 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.
*Note: Ensure you swatch the colourwork; many knitters find they need to go up one needle size for the stranded sections.*

### SIZES
S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
*   **To fit bust:** 82-86 (92-97, 102-107, 112-117, 122-127) cm.
*   **Finished Bust (Closed):** 92 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm.
*   **Length to shoulder:** 58 (60, 62, 64, 66) cm.

### ABBREVIATIONS
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **RS/WS:** Right Side / Wrong Side
*   **M1L/M1R:** Make 1 Left / Make 1 Right (increases)
*   **C4F:** Cable 4 Front (Slip 2 sts to cable needle at front, k2, k2 from cable needle)
*   **pm/sm:** place marker / slip marker
*   **MC/CC:** Main Colour / Contrast Colour

### NOTES
1.  The cardigan is worked flat from the top down.
2.  When working Fair Isle, carry the yarn not in use loosely across the back. Catch floats longer than 5 sts.
3.  Cables are worked on the front panels and along the raglan lines.
4.  Maintain colour dominance: hold the CC below the MC for a clearer motif.

### CHARTS
**Chart A: 8-st Fair Isle Repeat**
Row 1: (MC) 3, (CC1) 2, (MC) 3
Row 2: (MC) 2, (CC1) 4, (MC) 2
Row 3: (MC) 1, (CC1) 6, (MC) 1
Row 4: (CC1) 8
Row 5: (MC) 1, (CC1) 6, (MC) 1
Row 6: (MC) 2, (CC1) 4, (MC) 2
Row 7: (MC) 3, (CC1) 2, (MC) 3

**Chart B: 4-st Cable (worked in MC)**
Row 1 (RS): k4
Row 2 (WS): p4
Row 3: C4F
Row 4: p4

### YOKE
Using 3.75 mm needles and MC, cast on 64 (68, 72, 76, 80) sts. Do not join.
Row 1 (WS): p1, (k1, p1) to end.
Work 4 rows in 1x1 rib. 

**Set-up Row (RS):** Switch to 4.5 mm needles.
k10 (Front), pm, k8 (Sleeve), pm, k28 (32, 36, 40, 44) (Back), pm, k8 (Sleeve), pm, k10 (Front).

**Raglan Increase Row (RS):**
*k to 2 sts before marker, M1R, k2, sm, k2, M1L* repeat at each marker, k to end. (8 sts increased).
**WS Row:** p all sts, slipping markers.

**Incorporate Cables:**
On the next RS row, start **Chart B** on the 4 sts centered at each raglan marker (2 sts before, 2 sts after).
Continue Raglan Increases every RS row 24 (28, 32, 36, 40) times total.

**Incorporate Fair Isle (Chart A):**
When yoke reaches 12 cm from cast-on, work Rows 1-7 of Chart A across all stitches *except* the 4-st raglan cables. Maintain raglan increases during colourwork by using the dominant colour of the chart row for the new stitches.

*Total stitches after increases: 256 (292, 328, 364, 400) sts.*

### BODY
**Separate Sleeves:**
Next row (RS): k to first marker, remove marker, place 56 (64, 72, 80, 88) sleeve sts on holder, cast on 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) sts for underarm, k to next sleeve marker, repeat for second sleeve, k to end.
*Body total: 156 (180, 204, 228, 252) sts.*

Work even in Stocking Stitch and MC until body measures 30 cm from underarm.
Work Chart A (Fair Isle) Rows 1-7 once.
Switch to 3.75 mm needles.
Work 1x1 rib for 5 cm. 
Cast off loosely in rib.

### SLEEVES
Transfer held sleeve sts to 4.5 mm needles. 
Pick up 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) sts at underarm. pm for start of round.
Work in the round.
Decrease Row: k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.
Repeat Decrease Row every 8th round 8 times.
Work even until sleeve measures 42 cm from underarm.
Work Chart A.
Switch to 3.75 mm needles. Work 5 cm 1x1 rib. Cast off.

### BUTTON_BANDS (ZIPPER FACINGS)
*Note: Although called button bands in the template, we are creating a facing for the zipper.*
With RS facing and 3.75 mm needles, pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows along the left front edge.
Knit 3 rows in Garter Stitch. 
**Next Row (WS):** k to end.
**Next Row (RS - Folding Row):** p to end.
Knit 3 rows in Garter Stitch.
Cast off.
Repeat for Right Front edge.
*This creates a small channel; the zipper will be sewn between the garment edge and this facing.*

**SHAWL COLLAR:**
With 3.75 mm needles, pick up 120 (126, 132, 138, 144) sts around the entire neckline, including the tops of the zipper facings.
Row 1: k1, p1 rib to end.
Work Short Row shaping:
Row 2: Rib to last 10 sts, turn.
Row 3: Rib to last 10 sts, turn.
Continue in this manner, turning 5 sts earlier each time until 40 sts remain in the centre.
Next row: Rib to end across all sts.
Work in rib for 10 cm total (measured at the widest point).
Cast off very loosely in rib.

### FINISHING
1.  Weave in all ends.
2.  Block the garment to measurements, pinning cables flat and ensuring the Fair Isle bands are not puckered.
3.  **Zipper Insertion:** Pin the zipper tape behind the front edge. Flip the "Zipper Facing" over the tape and sew through all layers (front edge, zipper tape, and facing) for a clean, sturdy finish.
4.  Ensure the high shawl collar sits upright.

**Math Validation:**
*   Initial neck: 64 sts. 
*   Increases: 24 repeats x 8 sts = 192 sts added. 
*   Total Yoke: 64 + 192 = 256 sts.
*   Sleeve Separation: 256 - (2 x 56 sleeve) + (2 x 6 underarm) = 156 body sts. 
*   Matches Size S specifications.*