INTRODUCTION: This design is the last in a series where I worked with yarn dyers to create colorway(s) based on themes inspired by the names of my three cats. Lunar Revel shawl was for Diana, Luna Rising sweater was for Luna, and this last design, Fox Spirit Cardi, is for Ahri. Ahri is a name of a video game character my husband plays, League of Legend. It is a character based on the folklore of the nine-tailed fox. Fox spirit myths vary between different cultures. My focus is stories I grew up hearing about the Chinese fox spirits, 狐狸精 or 九尾狐狸. There are many stories of fox spirits in ancient China, most known for being sly creatures that transformed into women to seduce unfaithful men and eat their souls. In some folklore, fox spirits were celestial beings that lived in the Palace of the Sun and Moon, or messengers that communicated with the Queen Mother of the heavens, as a helping spirit to guide the deceased to heaven, an auspicious omen, instead of the soul eating demons other folklores described. Thank you, Onyx Fiber Arts, for collaborating with me on this design!

CONSTRUCTION: top-down cardigan with circular yoke shaping with open front, slipped stitch detail, balloon sleeves, no seaming.

SKILLS: slip stitches, yoke increases, sleeve cuff decreasing, pick-up stitches, knitting flat and in the round.

NEEDLES: US 10 / 6.0 mm circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge

● Choose circular needle length according to chest circumference.

● Use smaller needles for bottom hem or sleeve cuffs if desired.

● Going down needle size to obtain gauge can condense your rows in stretch. Keep in mind for body length!

NOTIONS: stitch markers, tapestry needle, measuring tape, gauge ruler if needed

GAUGE: 16 sts & 20 rows/rnds per 4” / 10 cm in stockinette with MC (bulky weight) after blocking

YARN: MC is Bulky weight, CC is Worsted weight

Samples knit in:

MC: Onyx Fiber Arts, Bulky Base, 100% Superwash Merino, 106 yards/100 grams, 3 Ply, Color: “Indi”,

CC: Onyx Fiber Arts, Worsted Base, 100% Superwash Merino, 218 yards/100 grams, 4 Ply, Color: “Ahri”

Adding/reducing length to body and sleeves will change yarn usage.

MC: (570, 600, 640) 690, 750, 810 {880, 960, 1050} yds / (521, 549, 585) 631, 686, 741 {805, 878, 960} m

CC: (180, 190, 210) 230, 250, 280 {310, 350, 400} yds / (165, 174, 192) 210, 238, 256 {283, 320, 365} m

SIZES: (1, 2, 3) 4, 5, 6 {7, 8, 9}

SEE TABLE FOR FINISHED MEASUREMENTS (worn with 6” to 8”/15 cm to 20 cm of positive ease at chest).

PATTERN NOTES:

This design can be worn with 6” to 8”/15 cm to 20 cm of positive ease at chest but this guideline can help you find the ease that is right you!

1. Measure around your chest at the fullest/widest point.
2. Grab one of your favorite cardigan silhouettes. Measure flat, at about 1”/ 2.5 cm below the armhole. Multiply by 2 to get the top’s circumference.
3. (Top Circumference – Full Chest = Ease) If negative number, that’s negative ease. If it is a positive number, that’s positive ease.

Sample photographed is size 3 with 6” of positive ease at chest.

Pattern has been test knitted. Pattern tech edited by Chaitanya Muralidhara. Examples of other knitters who have knit this pattern during test knit are in the Blog.

Look up hashtags on Instagram with #foxspiritcardi and #tinatseknits to share your progress and FOs and to find other projects! Also tag me @tina.say.knits.