purlJam

**TITLE**
**Nordic Bloom: Short Merino Cardigan**
*A modern, top-down Fair Isle cardigan featuring a cropped silhouette, geometric colourwork, and cozy patch pockets.*

**MATERIALS**
*   **Yarn:** Worsted weight 100% Merino Wool (approx. 200m/100g).
    *   **Main Colour (MC):** Cream/Natural - 900 metres (5 balls).
    *   **Contrast Colour 1 (CC1):** Navy Blue - 180 metres (1 ball).
    *   **Contrast Colour 2 (CC2):** Mustard Gold - 150 metres (1 ball).
*   **Needles:**
    *   4.5 mm (UK 7) circular needles (80 cm cable) for Main Body.
    *   4.0 mm (UK 8) circular needles for Ribbing.
    *   4.5 mm and 4.0 mm Double Pointed Needles (DPNs) for sleeves (or use magic loop).
*   **Notions:** 4 Stitch markers (different colour for Beginning of Round), waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle, 5 buttons (20mm).

**GAUGE (TENSION)**
20 stitches and 26 rows = 10 x 10 cm over stocking stitch (stockinette) on 4.5 mm needles, blocked.
*Note: It is critical to check tension over the colourwork pattern. If your colourwork is tight, use a 5.0 mm needle for those sections.*

**SIZES**
**S (Small)**
*   To fit chest: 81–86 cm (32–34 inches).
*   Finished Chest Circumference: 96 cm (37.7 inches).
*   Total Length: 50.5 cm (19.9 inches).
*   Sleeve Length from underarm: 45 cm (17.7 inches).

**ABBREVIATIONS (UK Terminology)**
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **RS/WS:** Right Side / Wrong Side
*   **MC/CC:** Main Colour / Contrast Colour
*   **M1L:** Make 1 Left (lift bar from front to back, knit through back loop)
*   **M1R:** Make 1 Right (lift bar from back to front, knit through front loop)
*   **PM / SM:** Place Marker / Slip Marker
*   **k2tog:** knit 2 together (right leaning decrease)
*   **ssk:** slip, slip, knit (left leaning decrease)

**NOTES**
1.  **Construction:** Worked top-down in rows (back and forth). Sleeves are separated and worked in the round. Button bands and pockets are added at the end.
2.  **Colourwork:** Catch floats every 4-5 stitches to prevent snagging. Maintain loose tension on floats behind the work.
3.  **Short Rows:** This pattern uses German Short Rows to raise the back neck for a better fit (optional but recommended).
4.  **Charts:** Read charts from Right to Left on RS rows, and Left to Right on WS rows. When working in the round (sleeves), always read Right to Left.

**CHARTS**

**Chart A: The Seed (Yoke Motif)**
*Repeat of 4 sts. Work in Stocking Stitch.*
```
Row 4 (CC1):  X . X .  (Navy/Cream/Navy/Cream)
Row 3 (MC):   . . . .  (All Cream)
Row 2 (CC2):  . X . X  (Cream/Gold/Cream/Gold)
Row 1 (MC):   . . . .  (All Cream)
Legend: . = MC, X = Contrast (as noted)
```

**Chart B: The Bloom (Body & Cuff Motif)**
*Repeat of 8 sts. Work in Stocking Stitch.*
```
      8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Row 7: . . X . . X . .  (CC1 Tips)
Row 6: . X X X X X X .  (CC1 Petals)
Row 5: X X . X X . X X  (CC1 Outline)
Row 4: X . . O O . . X  (CC2 Center)
Row 3: X X . X X . X X  (CC1 Outline)
Row 2: . X X X X X X .  (CC1 Petals)
Row 1: . . X . . X . .  (CC1 Base)
Legend: . = MC, X = CC1 (Navy), O = CC2 (Gold)
```

**YOKE**
**Cast On & Neck Shaping**
Using 4.0 mm needles and MC, cast on **78 sts**.
Row 1 (WS): Purl all sts.
Row 2 (RS - Set Up): k2 (Front), PM, k2 (Raglan), PM, k10 (Sleeve), PM, k2 (Raglan), PM, k46 (Back), PM, k2 (Raglan), PM, k10 (Sleeve), PM, k2 (Raglan), PM, k2 (Front).
*[Check: 2+2+10+2+46+2+10+2+2 = 78 sts]*

**Neck Shaping (Short Rows):**
Work back and forth in stocking stitch.
1.  Work across Back, turn work 4 sts past the raglan marker. Make Double Stitch (DS).
2.  Purl back past the other Back raglan marker, purl 4 sts, turn. Make DS.
3.  Work to 4 sts past the previous turn, turn.
4.  Repeat until you have worked over the sleeve stitches.
5.  Resolve double stitches on the next full row.

**Raglan Increases**
Switch to 4.5 mm needles.
Begin working **Chart A** (The Seed). Note: Keep the 2 raglan sts in MC at all times.
*   **Inc Row (RS):** *Work to marker, M1R, SM, k2, SM, M1L; repeat from * 3 more times, work to end. [8 sts increased]
*   **Next Row (WS):** Work in pattern (purl) slipping markers.

Repeat these 2 rows **27 more times**.
*At the same time*, when Chart A is complete, continue in MC until piece measures 21.5 cm from cast-on edge.
*Front Neck Increases:* To create the round neck, cast on 1 st at the beginning of the next 4 rows, then cast on 2 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows (while maintaining raglan increases).

**Final Count before Separation:**
*   Back: 46 + (28*2) = 102 sts
*   Sleeves: 10 + (28*2) = 66 sts
*   Fronts: Approx 50 sts each (varies slightly with neck shaping).
*   Total: Approx 268 sts + raglan sts.

**BODY**
**Separation Row (RS):**
Using MC.
1.  Knit across Left Front to first marker. Remove marker.
2.  Slip next 66 sts (Left Sleeve) onto waste yarn.
3.  Cast on 6 sts (underarm), PM (side seam), cast on 6 sts.
4.  Knit across Back to next marker. Remove marker.
5.  Slip next 66 sts (Right Sleeve) onto waste yarn.
6.  Cast on 6 sts, PM (side seam), cast on 6 sts.
7.  Knit across Right Front.

**Work Body:**
Work straight in MC stocking stitch until body measures 30 cm from underarm.
*[Verification: Top (21cm) + Body (30cm) = 51cm. Allow 4cm for ribbing. Stop at 26cm from underarm.]*

**Lower Body Colorwork:**
Join CC1 and CC2. Work **Chart B** (The Bloom).
*Note: Adjust stitch count on the first row of Chart B if necessary to be a multiple of 8 sts + 2 selvage sts.*
Work rows 1-7 of Chart B.
Work 2 rows MC.

**Hem:**
Switch to 4.0 mm needles.
Row 1 (RS): k2, *k2, p2; rep to last 2 sts, k2.
Work in 2x2 rib for 4 cm.
Cast off loosely in rib.

**SLEEVES**
Transfer 66 sleeve sts to 4.5 mm DPNs or circular needle.
Pick up and knit 6 sts from underarm cast on, PM (new BOR), pick up and knit 6 sts. [Total: 78 sts].

**Decrease Section:**
Work in MC.
Decrease Round: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.
Repeat Decrease Round every 8th round, 9 times.
*[Math: 78 - (9*2) = 60 sts remaining]*
Work until sleeve measures 38 cm from underarm.

**Cuff Colorwork:**
Work **Chart B** (The Bloom). Ensure stitch count is divisible by 8 (decrease 4 sts evenly on first row to get 56 sts if needed).
Switch to 4.0 mm needles.
Work 2x2 rib for 6 cm.
Cast off loosely.

**BUTTON BANDS**
Using 4.0 mm needles and MC:
With RS facing, pick up and knit sts along the Right Front edge (approx 3 sts for every 4 rows).
Work 2.5 cm in 2x2 rib.
**Buttonhole Row (Right Band only):** Spacing evenly, *rib to position, cast off 2 sts, rib to next position*. On next row, cast on 2 sts over the gaps.
Work until band measures 4 cm. Cast off in rib.
Repeat for Left Front (omitting buttonholes).

**Neckband:**
Pick up sts around the neck edge (including tops of button bands). Work 2.5 cm in 2x2 rib. Cast off loosely.

**POCKETS (Make 2)**
Using 4.5 mm needles and MC, cast on 26 sts.
Work 2 rows stocking stitch.
Work **Chart C** (Modification of Chart A - The Seed):
*   Work rows 1-4 of Chart A.
Continue in MC stocking stitch until pocket measures 12 cm.
Switch to 4.0 mm needles, work 2 cm in 2x2 rib.
Cast off.

**FINISHING**
1.  **Blocking:** Soak the cardigan in lukewarm water with wool wash for 20 minutes. Gently squeeze out water. Lay flat to dry, pinning to measurements (Body width 48 cm, Length 50.5 cm). Ensure colourwork lies flat.
2.  **Assembly:** Sew pockets onto the front of the cardigan, approx 5 cm above the ribbing and centered on the front panels.
3.  **Buttons:** Sew buttons to the left band corresponding to buttonholes.
4.  Weave in all ends.