purlJam

<pattern>

# SHAWL COLLAR CARDIGAN

A classic beginner-friendly cardigan worked seamlessly from the top down with raglan shaping and an elegant shawl collar. The three-button closure and simple stockinette stitch make this a timeless wardrobe staple.

## SIZES
32-34 (36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50)"
Shown in size 36-38"

## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
**Bust circumference:** 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)" with 2" of ease
**Total length:** 21.5 (22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25.5)"
**Sleeve length:** 17 (17, 17.5, 17.5, 18)" from underarm

## MATERIALS
**Yarn:** 1100 (1300, 1500, 1700, 1900) yards worsted weight yarn
**Needles:** 
- US 8 (5mm) 24" circular needle for yoke
- US 8 (5mm) 32" or 40" circular needle for body
- US 8 (5mm) 16" circular needle for sleeves (or use longer needle and magic loop method)
- US 7 (4.5mm) circular needles for ribbing (optional, for tighter edge)

**Notions:**
- Stitch markers (8 required)
- Stitch holders or waste yarn
- Tapestry needle
- Three ¾" buttons

## GAUGE
18 stitches × 24 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch on US 8 needles

**Important:** Take time to check your gauge. Adjust needle size if necessary.

## ABBREVIATIONS
- k: knit
- p: purl
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- yo: yarn over
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
- ssk: slip, slip, knit (slip 2 sts knitwise one at a time, insert left needle into front of both sts and knit together)
- pm: place marker
- sm: slip marker
- 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)

## PATTERN NOTES
- This cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down
- The shawl collar is created by working extra stitches at each front edge that form wide bands
- Raglan increases are worked every RS row to shape the yoke
- After separating the sleeves, the body is worked in the round to the hem
- Sleeves are worked in the round from the armhole down
- The first and last 7 stitches of each row during yoke form the button bands and remain in garter stitch (knit every row)

## INSTRUCTIONS

### YOKE

**Cast On**
Using long-tail method and 24" circular needle, cast on 58 (62, 66, 70, 74) sts.

[STITCH COUNT VERIFICATION: This creates neck opening of approximately 12.75 (13.75, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5)" which allows for proper neck fit with shawl collar]

**Setup Row (WS):** 
K7 (right front band), pm, p4 (5, 6, 7, 8) [right front], pm, p6 (6, 6, 6, 6) [right sleeve], pm, p24 (26, 28, 30, 32) [back], pm, p6 (6, 6, 6, 6) [left sleeve], pm, p4 (5, 6, 7, 8) [left front], pm, k7 (left front band).

You now have 7 markers placed. The knit stitches at each edge form the shawl collar and button bands.

**Raglan Increase Row (RS):**
K7, sm, *knit to 1 st before marker, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L; repeat from * 3 more times, knit to last 7 sts, k7. (8 sts increased)

[MATH CHECK: 8 sts increased per RS row = 2 sts added to each of 4 sections (right front, back, left front, and 1 st on each side of each sleeve)]

**WS Row:**
K7, sm, purl to last marker, sm, k7.

Repeat these 2 rows **26 (29, 32, 35, 38) times** total.

[STITCH COUNT VERIFICATION:
- Starting sts: 58 (62, 66, 70, 74)
- Increases: 26 (29, 32, 35, 38) × 8 = 208 (232, 256, 280, 304) sts
- Total: 266 (294, 322, 350, 378) sts

Broken down by section:
- Right front band: 7 sts
- Right front: 4+26 (5+29, 6+32, 7+35, 8+38) = 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) sts
- Right sleeve: 6+52 (6+58, 6+64, 6+70, 6+76) = 58 (64, 70, 76, 82) sts
- Back: 24+52 (26+58, 28+64, 30+70, 32+76) = 76 (84, 92, 100, 108) sts
- Left sleeve: 58 (64, 70, 76, 82) sts
- Left front: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) sts
- Left front band: 7 sts
- TOTAL: 7+30+58+76+58+30+7 = 266 (294, 322, 350, 378) sts ✓]

**Raglan depth:** 7.5 (8, 9, 9.5, 10.5)" measured from cast-on edge

### SEPARATE BODY AND SLEEVES

**Next Row (RS):**
K7, sm, k30 (34, 38, 42, 46) [right front], remove marker, place next 58 (64, 70, 76, 82) sts on holder for right sleeve, remove marker, cast on 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) sts for underarm, pm for beginning of round, cast on 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) more sts, k76 (84, 92, 100, 108) [back], remove marker, place next 58 (64, 70, 76, 82) sts on holder for left sleeve, remove marker, cast on 16 (20, 24, 28, 32) sts for underarm, k30 (34, 38, 42, 46) [left front], sm, k7.

[STITCH COUNT: 7 + 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) + 16 (20, 24, 28, 32) + 76 (84, 92, 100, 108) + 16 (20, 24, 28, 32) + 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) + 7 = 182 (202, 222, 242, 262) sts for body]

**Important:** The marker placed at center underarm indicates the beginning of the round for body. The front band stitches (first 7 and last 7) will now be joined.

### BODY

**Next Round:**
K7 [left front band], knit to last 7 sts, k7 [right front band - these sts will become continuous].

You are now working in the round. The 14 sts that formed the button bands will create a steek or overlap. For beginner-friendly construction, we'll work these as an overlap:

**Setup for Stockinette Body:**
K to last 7 sts, turn work (you will work back and forth over these 7 sts for button band).

Actually, let me revise for TRUE in-the-round construction:

**Body Setup:**
The body is now joined in the round. However, since this is a cardigan, we need to maintain the opening. Work as follows:

**Round 1:** K7 [right front band], k30 (34, 38, 42, 46) [right front], knit across back and underarm stitches to left front, k30 (34, 38, 42, 46) [left front], k7 [left front band].

**Continue working back and forth as follows:**
**RS Rows:** K7, knit to last 7 sts, k7
**WS Rows:** K7, purl to last 7 sts, k7

Work even in this manner until body measures **13.5 (14, 14.5, 15, 15.5)"** from underarm, or 1.5" less than desired length.

### BUTTONHOLES

On the next RS row, work buttonholes evenly spaced on the right front band (for women) or left front band (for men):

**Buttonhole Row (RS):**
K2, [yo, k2tog, k1] 3 times (3 buttonholes made), knit to last 7 sts, k7.

**Next Row (WS):**
K7, purl to last 7 sts, k7.

### HEM RIBBING

Change to US 7 (4.5mm) needles if desired for a tidier edge.

**Ribbing Row 1 (RS):** K7, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 7 sts, k7
**Ribbing Row 2 (WS):** K7, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 7 sts, k7

Repeat these 2 rows for 1.5", maintaining garter stitch on 7-st bands at each end.

Bind off all sts in pattern.

[FINAL BODY LENGTH: 13.5 (14, 14.5, 15, 15.5)" + 1.5" ribbing = 15 (15.5, 16, 16.5, 17)" from underarm]

### SLEEVES (make 2)

With RS facing and using 16" circular needle (or longer needle for magic loop), begin at center underarm.

**Setup:**
Pick up and knit 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) sts from half of underarm cast-on, pm, pick up and knit 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) remaining underarm sts, knit 58 (64, 70, 76, 82) held sleeve sts. 
Total: 74 (84, 94, 104, 114) sts

Pm and join for working in the round. The marker indicates beginning of round at center underarm.

**Work even in stockinette stitch (knit every round) for 6 rounds.**

**Decrease Round:**
K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)

Repeat decrease round every **8 (7, 7, 6, 6) rounds** a total of **10 (12, 13, 15, 16) times.**

[STITCH COUNT: 74 (84, 94, 104, 114) - 20 (24, 26, 30, 32) = 54 (60, 68, 74, 82) sts remain]

[LENGTH VERIFICATION: 6 + (10-1)×8 = 78 rounds = 13" for size 1
6 + (12-1)×7 = 83 rounds = 13.75" for size 2
Pattern continues similarly]

Work even until sleeve measures **15.5 (15.5, 16, 16, 16.5)"** from underarm, or 1.5" less than desired length.

### CUFF RIBBING

Change to US 7 (4.5mm) needles if desired.

**Ribbing Round:** *K2, p2; repeat from * around.

Repeat this round for 1.5".

Bind off all sts in pattern.

[FINAL SLEEVE LENGTH: 15.5 (15.5, 16, 16, 16.5)" + 1.5" = 17 (17, 17.5, 17.5, 18)" ✓]

### FINISHING

Weave in all ends. Block cardigan to measurements, allowing shawl collar to fold naturally. Sew buttons opposite buttonholes on left front band (or right front band for men's version).

## SCHEMATIC

**BODY:**
- A. Bust circumference: 36