Josefien Cardigan uses a rich mix of traditional stranded colourwork motifs, put together to make a pretty and striking patchwork. By keeping the body and sleeves in two complementary colours, this design really allows you to experiment with any colour combination at the yoke. Bobble stitch is used to decorate the neckline and cuffs. The cardigan is knitted in the round from the bottom up in 3 pieces: the base + 2 sleeves. These are then put on one needle so that the yoke can be knitted in one piece. Instructions will also work if you wish to knit a pullover.

Level of difficulty and skills required

Intermediate. A fairly challenging project that requires chart-reading skills and assumes knowledge of stranded knitting. The cardigan is worked in the round so you will need to know how to knit, cut and secure a steek. Other stitches you’ll need to know are: cable cast-on, bobble, ribbing and garter. You will also need to know how to do short rows (although clear instructions for these are included, it’s helpful if you know the ‘Wrap and Turn’ method), make buttonholes and finish off by grafting under the arms at the end.

Yarn

Look for a super fine (1) or fingering-weight yarn that knits to 28 stitches in 10 cm on 2.75 mm (US 2, UK 12) needles. I prefer a non-superwash wool that will bloom and blend with the other yarns around it once washed. My sample cardigan uses 2 strands held together of Z. Hinchcliffe & sons Lambswool yarn, (2/17nm; 2-ply; 100% wool) in “tartan red” and “Ecru”. Available at Uppingham yarns (wools.co.uk).
Other suggested yarns: Jamieson’s Spindrift; Rauma Finull; BC garn ‘Bio Shetland’; Knitting For Olive ‘Merino’; Isager ‘Tvinni’

Meterage needed

336 (425, 586, 750) m / 367 (364, 640, 820) yards of MC
300 (362, 500, 676) m / 328 (395, 347, 739) yards of CC

You will also need about 8 contrasting colours for the yoke. Use oddments of any similar-weight yarn.

Gauge

On 2.75 mm (US 2, UK 12) needles, in pattern and after blocking: 28 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm x 10 cm (4 inches x 4 inches). Or use needles to get gauge (I have a relatively loose tension and many of my testers used 3 mm needles to get gauge).

Materials

1 pair of size 2.25mm straight needles (US 1, UK 13)
1 pair of size 2.75mm straight needles (US 2, UK 12)
1 size 2.75mm circular needle (US 2, UK 12) (at least 80cm long, for ease of working yoke stitches)
or needles to get gauge
1 set of dpns in same needle sizes as used for the body, for the sleeves
8 stitch holders or waste yarn
4 stitch markers
7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) 15mm buttons

Kits for this design in 3 colourways are available to purchase from my website.