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# STRIPED SLOUCHY CREW-NECK CARDIGAN

A relaxed-fit cardigan in luxurious 8-ply (worsted) cashmere, worked flat in pieces and seamed. Navy forms the main background, accented with delicate stripes of dark grey and burnt orange. Designed for beginners — straightforward stockinette with simple stripe changes.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** 8-ply (worsted weight) 100% cashmere, approximately 200 m / 50 g per skein.
- **MC (Main Colour):** Navy — 900 / 1000 / 1100 / 1200 / 1350 m
- **CC1:** Dark Grey — 100 / 120 / 140 / 160 / 180 m
- **CC2:** Burnt Orange — 100 / 120 / 140 / 160 / 180 m

**Total approximate yardage:** 1100–1700 m depending on size.

**Needles:**
- 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight or circular needles — for main fabric
- 3.75 mm (UK 9 / US 5) straight or circular needles — for ribbing and button bands

**Notions:**
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- 6 buttons, approximately 18–20 mm
- Sewing needle and matching thread

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## TENSION (GAUGE)

**20 sts × 26 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** in stockinette stitch on 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.

*Take time to check your tension — it is essential for correct fit.*

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## SIZES

Pattern is written for sizes **XS (S, M, L, XL)**.

| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit bust (cm) | 82 | 92 | 102 | 112 | 122 |
| Finished bust (cm) | 92 | 102 | 112 | 122 | 132 |
| Finished bust (in) | 36¼ | 40¼ | 44 | 48 | 52 |
| Total length (cm) | 60 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 68 |
| Sleeve length (cm) | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 |
| Upper arm (cm) | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 |

Designed with approximately **10 cm (4 in) of positive ease** for a slouchy fit.

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **k2tog** — knit two stitches together (1 st decreased)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (1 st decreased)
- **BO** — bind off (cast off)
- **CO** — cast on
- **MC** — main colour (Navy)
- **CC1** — contrast colour 1 (Dark Grey)
- **CC2** — contrast colour 2 (Burnt Orange)
- **rep** — repeat
- **rem** — remaining
- **beg** — beginning
- **St st** — stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS)

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## NOTES

- **Stripe Sequence (32-row repeat):**
  - Rows 1–20: MC (Navy)
  - Rows 21–22: CC1 (Dark Grey)
  - Rows 23–26: MC
  - Rows 27–28: CC2 (Burnt Orange)
  - Rows 29–32: MC
  - Repeat from Row 1.

- When changing colours, **carry the unused yarn loosely up the side edge**. Twist yarns every 2 rows to avoid long floats. Always begin a new colour on a RS row.

- Begin the stripe sequence after the ribbed hem on all pieces, so stripes line up at the side seams. Sleeves and body should start the stripe pattern from Row 1 simultaneously.

- All decreases are worked 1 stitch in from the edge for tidy seams.

- Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise on front edges (where button bands will be picked up) for a neat selvedge — optional but recommended.

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## BACK

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, **CO 92 (102, 112, 122, 132) sts.**

**Ribbing:**
- Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
- Row 2 (WS): *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
- Rep Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures 6 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. **Begin Stripe Sequence** and work in St st (k on RS, p on WS).

Continue straight until back measures **40 (41, 42, 43, 44) cm** from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping

- BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. *(84, 94, 104, 114, 124 sts)*
- **Dec row (RS):** k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. *(2 sts decreased)*
- Work 1 WS row.
- Rep last 2 rows **3 (4, 5, 6, 7) more times**, ending with a WS row.

**Stitch count:** 84 − 2×(4) = 76 / 94 − 2×5 = 84 / 104 − 2×6 = 92 / 114 − 2×7 = 100 / 124 − 2×8 = 108.

→ **76 (84, 92, 100, 108) sts remain.**

Continue straight in St st with stripe sequence until armhole measures **20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder Shaping
- BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of next 4 rows.
- BO rem **48 (52, 56, 60, 64) sts** for back neck.

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## FRONTS

*Make 2: one Left Front and one Right Front (mirror images). Shaping instructions are written for the **Left Front**; for the **Right Front**, reverse all shaping (work armhole shaping at the end of RS rows / beginning of WS rows for the side edge, and neck shaping at the opposite edge).*

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, **CO 48 (53, 58, 63, 68) sts.**

**Ribbing:**
- Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1; rep from *, ending k1 (p1 if odd count differs — just maintain k1, p1 rib).
- Continue in 1×1 rib for 6 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. **Begin Stripe Sequence** and work in St st.

Continue straight until front matches back to underarm, **40 (41, 42, 43, 44) cm** from CO edge, ending with a WS row (RS row for Right Front before the next instruction).

### Armhole Shaping (Left Front — shaping at side/right edge of RS row)
- BO 4 sts at beg of next RS row. *(44, 49, 54, 59, 64 sts)*
- Work 1 WS row.
- **Dec row (RS):** k1, ssk, k to end. *(1 st decreased)*
- Work 1 WS row.
- Rep last 2 rows **3 (4, 5, 6, 7) more times.**

→ **40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts remain.**

Continue straight until armhole measures **13 (14, 14, 15, 15) cm**, ending with a RS row.

### Neck Shaping (Left Front — neck edge at beginning of WS row)
- **Next row (WS):** BO 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) sts at neck edge, p to end. *(32, 34, 36, 38, 40 sts)*
- **Dec row (RS):** k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. *(1 st decreased)*
- Work 1 WS row.
- Rep last 2 rows **escept** until **21 (24, 27, 30, 33) sts** rem.
  - That is, work neck-edge dec 11 (10, 9, 8, 7) more times every RS row, then every other RS row as needed. *(For beginner ease: dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row until correct shoulder count is reached.)*

Continue straight until armhole measures the same as back to shoulder, ending with a WS row (RS row for Right Front).

### Shoulder Shaping
- BO **7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts** at beg of next RS row (armhole edge).
- Work 1 WS row.
- BO rem **14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts.**

*Verify: 7 + 14 = 21 ✓ / 8 + 16 = 24 ✓ / 9 + 18 = 27 ✓ / 10 + 20 = 30 ✓ / 11 + 22 = 33 ✓*

**Right Front:** Work as Left Front, reversing all shaping.

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## SLEEVES (make 2)

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, **CO 42 (44, 46, 48, 50) sts.**

**Cuff Ribbing:** Work 1×1 rib (as Back) for 7 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. **Begin Stripe Sequence** and work in St st.

### Sleeve Shaping
- **Inc row (RS):** k1, M1, k to last st, M1, k1. *(2 sts increased)* (M1 = pick up bar between sts and knit through the back loop.)
- Work inc row every **8th row 10 (10, 11, 11, 12) times** total.

→ **62 (64, 68, 70, 74) sts on needle.**

*Verify: 42 + 20 = 62 ✓ / 44 + 20 = 64 ✓ / 46 + 22 = 68 ✓ / 48 + 22 = 70 ✓ / 50 + 24 = 74 ✓*

Continue straight until sleeve measures **45 (46, 47, 48, 49) cm** from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping
- BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. *(54, 56, 60, 62, 66 sts)*
- **Dec row (RS):** k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Work 1 WS row.
- Rep last 2 rows until **22 (22, 24, 24, 26) sts** rem.
- BO 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows.
- BO rem **10 (10, 12, 12, 14) sts.**

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## BUTTON BANDS

Block all pieces gently to measurements. Sew shoulder seams using mattress stitch.

### Button Band (Left Front for women's; choose your preferred side)

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, RS facing, pick up and knit approximately **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the left front edge — roughly **120 (124, 128, 132, 136) sts** (count is flexible; aim for an even number + 1).

Work in 1×1 rib for 2.5 cm. BO loosely in pattern.

### Buttonhole Band (Right Front)

Pick up sts as for Button Band.

Work 1×1 rib for 1 cm, ending with a WS row.

**Buttonhole row (RS):** Work 4 sts in rib, *[BO 2 sts, work 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) sts in rib]*; rep from * 4 more times, BO 2 sts, work in rib to end. *(6 buttonholes total.)*

**Next row (WS):** Work in rib, casting on 2 sts over each gap.

Continue in rib until band measures 2.5 cm. BO loosely in pattern.

### Neckband

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, RS facing, pick up and knit sts evenly around neckline: along right front neck shaping, across back neck, and down left front neck shaping. Pick up approximately **90 (94, 98, 102, 106) sts**.

Work 1×1 rib for 2.5 cm. BO loosely in pattern.

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## FINISHING

1. Sew sleeve cap into armhole using mattress stitch, easing as needed.
2. Sew side seams and underarm sleeve seams in one continuous line where possible.
3. Weave in all ends on the WS, paying special attention to colour-change edges.
4. Sew buttons onto Button Band, opposite buttonholes.
5. Wet-block the finished cardigan: soak gently in cool water with wool wash, press out excess water, lay flat to measurements, allow to dry fully.

Enjoy your soft, slouchy striped cashmere cardigan!