Wrapped V Tie-Front Cardigan

A seamless top-down raglan cardigan in worsted weight, with a deep V-neck that closes with an I-cord tie at the base of the V.

Skill level: Intermediate

Sizes

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL) To fit chest 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52)"

Finished Measurements

The design has 2–4" of positive ease.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight, approx. 1100 (1250, 1400, 1550, 1700) yd / 1006 (1143, 1280, 1417, 1554) m.
• Main needles: US 8 (5 mm) 32" circular, plus DPNs or a 16" circular for the sleeves.
• Ribbing needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) 32"+ circular and DPNs.
• Notions: 4 stitch markers (1 in a contrasting color), 2 removable markers, waste yarn, and a tapestry needle.

Gauge

18 sts and 26 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 8, after blocking.

Knit a swatch at least 6" square, wash it, and block it. Gauge is critical:

• If you have more stitches than stated, try a larger needle.
• If you have fewer stitches, try a smaller needle.

Abbreviations

YOKE

Using US 8 circular and a long-tail cast-on, cast on 50 (50, 46, 46, 46) sts as follows:

• Right front: cast on 1, pm.
• Right sleeve: cast on 8 (8, 6, 6, 6), pm.
• Back: cast on 32, pm.
• Left sleeve: cast on 8 (8, 6, 6, 6), pm.
• Left front: cast on 1.

Check: 1 + 8 + 32 + 8 + 1 = 50 ✓ (for S and M); 1 + 6 + 32 + 6 + 1 = 46 ✓ (for L, XL, and 2XL).

Setup row (WS): Purl.

Row 1 (RS, raglan + neck increase):

• K1, M1L (neck increase).
• *Knit to m, M1R, sm, M1L; repeat from * 3 more times.
• Knit to last st, M1R, k1 (neck increase).
• Total: +10 sts.

Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl, slipping markers.

Row 3 (RS, raglan increase only):

• *Knit to m, M1R, sm, M1L; repeat from * 3 more times.
• Knit to end.
• Total: +8 sts.

Row 4: Purl.

Repeat Rows 1–4 a further 11 (12, 13, 14, 15) times. This gives 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) raglan increase rows and 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) neck increases per side. You will have worked 48 (52, 56, 60, 64) rows after the setup row, ending with a WS row.

Stitch counts: 266 (284, 298, 316, 334) sts total.

Front check (S): 1 + 24 raglan + 12 neck = 37 ✓

The yoke should measure approx. 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9.25, 9.75)" from the cast-on. Place a removable marker at each front edge on the last row. These markers mark the base of the V, where the ties will be attached.

DIVIDE BODY AND SLEEVES

Division row (RS):

1. Knit the right front, removing the marker.
2. Place the 56 (60, 62, 66, 70) right sleeve sts on waste yarn.
3. Using the backward-loop method, cast on 4 (8, 12, 16, 20) underarm sts.
4. Knit the back.
5. Place the left sleeve sts on waste yarn.
6. Cast on 4 (8, 12, 16, 20) underarm sts.
7. Knit the left front, removing the markers as you go.

Body: 162 (180, 198, 216, 234) sts. Check (S): 37 + 4 + 80 + 4 + 37 = 162 ✓ Check (2XL): 49 + 20 + 96 + 20 + 49 = 234 ✓

BODY

Work stockinette flat (no further neck shaping; the fronts now run straight) until the body measures 12 (12.5, 13, 13.5, 14)" from the underarm, ending with a WS row.

Change to US 7. All body counts are even, so the rib is the same on every row.

Rib row (every row): *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.

Work 2" in rib. Bind off loosely in pattern.

SLEEVES (both alike)

1. Return the 56 (60, 62, 66, 70) sleeve sts to the US 8 DPNs or 16" circular.
2. Beginning at the center of the underarm, pick up and knit 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) sts along the underarm cast-on.
3. Knit the sleeve sts.
4. Pick up and knit 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) more sts from the underarm cast-on.
5. Pm and join to work in the round.

Sleeve total: 60 (68, 74, 82, 90) sts. Check (S): 56 + 2 + 2 = 60 ✓

Knit 6 rnds.

Decrease rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 (–2 sts).

Work the decrease rnd every 10th (8th, 7th, 6th, 6th) rnd a total of 8 (11, 13, 15, 17) times.

Final sleeve count: 44 (46, 48, 52, 56) sts.

• S: 60 – 16 = 44 ✓
• M: 68 – 22 = 46 ✓
• L: 74 – 26 = 48 ✓
• XL: 82 – 30 = 52 ✓
• 2XL: 90 – 34 = 56 ✓

Knit even until the sleeve measures 15 (15.5, 16, 16, 16.5)" from the underarm.

Change to US 7. Work k1, p1 rib for 2". Bind off loosely in pattern.

FRONT BAND

With RS facing and the US 7 long circular, begin at the lower right front hem. Pick up and knit sts as follows:

• Straight front edges: 3 sts for every 4 rows.
• V edges: 5 sts for every 6 rows.
• Back neck and sleeve tops: 1 st per cast-on st.

Continue up the right front, around the neck, and down the left front.

Target totals: approx. 68 (70, 74, 76, 78) sts along each straight front, 40 (42, 42, 45, 48) along each V edge, and 48 (44, 44, 44, 44) across the back neck and sleeve tops.

Adjust as needed to reach an odd total of 265 (269, 277, 287, 297) sts. Check (S): 2 × (68 + 40) + 48 = 264, then +1 = 265 ✓

Row 1 (WS): P1, *k1, p1; repeat from * to end. Row 2 (RS): K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until the band measures 1.25", about 9 rows. Bind off loosely in pattern.

There are no buttonholes: the front edges meet edge-to-edge and close with ties.

TIES (make 2)

1. With US 7 DPNs, cast on 4 sts.
2. Work I-cord: *k4, slide the sts to the other end of the needle without turning, pull the yarn snug; repeat from * until the cord measures 14".
3. To finish, k2tog twice, pass the first st over the second, and fasten off.

Attaching: Find the base of the V, which is level with the removable markers. Sew one tie securely to the inner edge of each front band at this point, then remove the markers.

Optional: Add a second pair of 10" ties to the inside, joining the left band to the right underarm, for a more secure wrap.

FINISHING

1. Close any gaps at the underarms.
2. Weave in all ends.
3. Wet-block to the finished measurements, laying the bands flat and the ties straight.
4. Tie the ties in a bow at the V to wear.