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# TITLE: THE OXFORD HERRINGBONE CABLED CARDIGAN

A professional, top-down raglan cardigan featuring a sophisticated blend of heavy cabling and structural ribbing. This design features a fitted silhouette, a deep shawl collar, and a zip-front closure.

### MATERIALS
*   **Main Colour (MC):** 800 (900, 1000, 1100, 1200) metres of Worsted weight wool.
*   **Contrast Colours (CC1-6):** 120 metres each (Optional: For a "Tonal" look, use shades of the same colour for different cable motifs; otherwise, work all in MC).
*   **Needles:** 4.5mm (US 7) circular needles (80cm and 100cm) and DPNs for sleeves.
*   **Ribbing Needles:** 3.75mm (US 5) circular needles.
*   **Notions:** 8 stitch markers, cable needle, tapestry needle, 50-60cm separating zipper, sewing thread and needle.

### GAUGE (Tension)
20 stitches and 26 rows = 10cm (4") in Chart A (Cable Pattern) using 4.5mm needles, after blocking.
*Note: It is vital to wash and block your swatch as cables expand significantly.*

### SIZES
*   **S:** 90cm (35.5") 
*   **M:** 100cm (39.5")
*   **L:** 110cm (43.5")
*   **XL:** 120cm (47")
*   **2XL:** 130cm (51")
*All sizes designed with 2-5cm positive ease for a fitted look.*

### ABBREVIATIONS
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **pm/sm:** place marker / slip marker
*   **M1L/M1R:** make one left / make one right (raglan increases)
*   **C4F:** Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle.
*   **C4B:** Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle.
*   **T3L:** Slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front, p1, k2 from cable needle.
*   **T3R:** Slip 1 st to cable needle, hold in back, k2, p1 from cable needle.

### NOTES
1. The cardigan is worked from the top down, seamlessly.
2. All measurements are metric (cm).
3. The shawl collar is worked by picking up stitches after the body is complete.
4. **Colorwork Integration:** Although designed for a single colour, the charts are presented in a Fair Isle format. If using multiple colours, maintain "Yarn Dominance" by holding the cable-strand to the left.

### CHARTS

**Chart A: The Central Braid (12-st repeat)**
Row 1 (RS): p2, k8, p2.
Row 2 (WS): k2, p8, k2.
Row 3: p2, C4B, C4F, p2.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

**Chart B: Side Twists (4-st repeat)**
Row 1: p1, k2, p1.
Row 2: k1, p2, k1.
Row 3: p1, C2F (k 2nd st, then 1st st), p1.

*Reading Charts: Read RS rows right-to-left; WS rows left-to-right.*

### YOKE
Using 3.75mm needles, cast on 76 (80, 84, 88, 92) sts. Do not join.
Work 4 rows in 1x1 ribbing. Switch to 4.5mm needles.

**Set-up Row (RS):**
- Right Front: k2, p2, pm.
- Sleeve 1: k10, pm.
- Back: p2, [Work Chart A], p2, [Work Chart B], p2, pm.
- Sleeve 2: k10, pm.
- Left Front: p2, k2.
*(Note: Math check - Stitches should be divided to allow for 8 raglan markers: 2 for each front, 10 per sleeve, remaining for back).*

**Raglan Increase Row:**
*Knit to 1 st before marker, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L.* 
Repeat at all 4 raglan lines (8 sts increased).
Continue in patterns as established. Work raglan increases every RS row 28 (32, 36, 40, 44) times.
*Stitch count check: Total 300 (336, 372, 408, 444) sts.*

### BODY
**Separate Sleeves:**
Place sleeve stitches on waste yarn. Cast on 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) sts for each underarm.
Join front and back. 
Work even in cable patterns until body measures 25cm from underarm.

**Waist Shaping:**
Decrease 1 st at "side seams" every 6th row, 4 times.
Work even for 5cm.
Increase 1 st at "side seams" every 6th row, 4 times to return to original count.
Continue until body measures 40cm (or desired length).
Switch to 3.75mm needles. Work 6cm in 2x2 ribbing. Cast off loosely in pattern.

### SLEEVES
Transfer sleeve sts to 4.5mm DPNs. Pick up underarm sts.
Work in Chart B on the centre of the sleeve, remaining sts in stocking stitch.
Decrease 1 st every 8th row until 42 (44, 46, 48, 50) sts remain.
Work until sleeve measures 46cm.
Switch to 3.75mm needles. Work 6cm in 2x2 ribbing. Cast off.

### BUTTON_BANDS (Zipper Facings)
With 3.75mm needles, pick up 3 sts for every 4 rows along the left front edge. 
Work 4 rows in stocking stitch (this creates a "flap" to hide the zipper tape).
Cast off. Repeat for the right front.

**Shawl Collar:**
With 3.75mm needles, pick up sts starting from the bottom right front, around the neck, to the bottom left front.
Row 1: 2x2 ribbing.
Use short rows to build height at the back of the neck:
Short Row 1: Rib to 10 sts past centre back, turn.
Short Row 2: Rib to 10 sts past centre back, turn.
Continue, working 5 more sts each turn until the collar reaches the desired width (approx 12-15cm at the back).
Work 2 rows across all sts. Cast off very loosely.

### FINISHING
**Float Management & Blocking:**
- If you used multiple colours for the cables, ensure floats are caught every 4 sts. 
- Block the garment to measurements, pinning cables flat to show detail.
- **Zipper Installation:** Pin the zipper behind the front bands. The stocking stitch "flap" should sit between the zipper teeth and the wearer. Sew in place using a backstitch and matching thread.
- Weave in all ends on the WS.

**Technical Editor's Note:** Ensure the zip length matches the front opening exactly. If the knit is longer than the zip, adjust the ribbing length before casting off.