Drop Shoulder Cardigan

Cast on and Ribbing

Row 1

Cast on 192 stitches with US size 6 (4 mm) circular needles.

Ribbing

Work in [k2, p2] ribbing for 2 in / 5 cm, ending after a WS row. Knit to end of row in stockinette stitch.

Transition to US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles. Begin pattern as follows:

Little Fountain Lace (Flat Instructions)

Row 1 RS

K1, [yo, k3, yo, k1] rep bet brackets to end

Row 2 WS

Purl

Row 3 RS

K2, sl1-k2tog-psso, [k3, sl1-k2tog-psso] rep bet brackets to last 2 st, k2

Row 4 WS

Purl

Next Row

Rep pattern until lower body measures approximately 15 in / 38 cm.

Divide for Sleeves

Next Row RS

Knit 46 stitches. Place the remaining 146 stitches on waste yarn so that they are out of the way as you work the Right front piece.

Next Rows

Working back and forth, continue knitting straight until front piece measures 5.5 in / 14 cm from where you divided the front and back sections. End after a WS row, ready to begin on the RS.

Neck Shaping

Bind off the next 4 stitches in pattern with medium tension (this becomes the centre of the neckline). Knit across the remaining 42 stitches. Turn your work and purl back.

Decrease Row RS

K1, ssk, k to end

Next Rows

Continue in pattern, working a decrease row every 2 rows for a total of 26 rows.

Stitch Checkpoint (1/1)

Right Shoulder: 29 st

Bind Off

Bind off on the next RS row in pattern with medium tension.

Left Shoulder

Leave the middle 100 stitches on the holder (these will become the back stitches). Slide the remaining 46 stitches onto your needles. Beginning on the WS, bind off 4 and purl one row.

Decrease Row RS

Knit to last 3 st, k2tog, k1

Next Rows

Continue in pattern, working a decrease row every 2 rows for a total of 26 rows.

Stitch Checkpoint (1/1)

Left Shoulder: 29 st

Bind Off

Bind off on the next RS row in pattern with medium tension.

Back

Place the back section stitches onto your working needle and continue in stockinette stitch (knit the RS, purl the WS) until back piece is approximately equal to the height of the top of the shoulders on the front section.

Bind off the back section in pattern with medium tension.

Align the front and back sections so the shoulders match on top and the sleeve edges are even. Seam together the shoulder sections to the back section.

Neck

With US size 6 (4 mm) circular needles - or two sizes smaller than you used for the body of the sweater, pick up every stitch around the neckline, ending with a multiple of 4 + 2 for ribbing.

Note

The neckline stitches fall between the first row of neckline decreases on the Left and Right fronts. The button band stitches will be picked up in the next section.

Ribbing Row 1

[K2, p2] repeat between brackets to end of row.

Ribbing Row 2

[P2, k2] repeat between brackets to end of row.

Continue working in ribbing as established until neckline measures 1.5 in / 4 cm

Bind Off

Bind off in pattern with medium tension.

Note

Adjust your bind off tension, and/or the number of stitches you've picked up to create a tighter or looser neckline.

Front Bands

Beginning on the lower right side, pick up three of every four available stitches along the front band (starting at the bottom and working up to the top), ending with a multiple of 4 + 2 for ribbing. Work ribbed band as follows:

Ribbing Row 1

[K2, p2] repeat between brackets to end of row.

Ribbing Row 2

[P2, k2] repeat between brackets to end of row.

Right Band

Repeat these two rows for approximately 0.5 in / 1 cm. On the next RS row, work buttonholes into your ribbing using a (yo, k2tog) spaced evenly along the band. It will go something like this:

Buttonhole Row

K2, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, yo, k2tog, etc…

Space your buttonholes as evenly as possible. It might be helpful to spread out your cardigan on a flat surface and have a play with the placement of your buttons so you know exactly where the holes needs to go.

Next Row

P2, [k2, p2] rep bet brackets to end of row

Next Row

K2, [k2, p2] rep bet brackets to end of row

Repeat these two rows until button band measures a total of 1.5 in / 4 cm. Bind off in pattern with medium tension.

Left Band

On the left front of your sweater, pick up the same number of stitches that you picked up on the other side, but start at the top of the band working down to the bottom. Work ribbing as follows:

Ribbing Row 1

P2, [k2, p2] rep bet brackets to end of row

Ribbing Row 2

K2, [k2, p2] rep bet brackets to end of row

Repeat these two rows until button band measures a total of 1.5 in / 4 cm. Bind off in pattern with medium tension.

Sleeves

With US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles or DPNs, pick up approximately 92 stitches around the arm, ensuring that you've picked them up equally around.

Note

To do this easily, start at the center of the underarm and pick up half the stitches between the underarm and the top center shoulder seam. Then pick up the same number down the other side. If you'd like your sleeve to fit with a bit more room, you may pick up additional stitches as you work around.

When sleeve stitches are on the needle, place a marker at the center of the underarm and knit in the round for 1 in / 3 cm

Decrease Row

K1, k2tog, k to 3 stitches before m, ssk, k1

Continue Sleeve

Continue the sleeve in stockinette stitch (knitting every round), working a decrease row as established above approximately every 0.75 in / 2 cm until sleeve measures approximately 3 in / 8 cm and you have 84 stitches.

Sleeve Ribbing

Transition to needle two sizes smaller and knit one round.

Begin ribbing as follows: [K2, p2] rep to end of round. Continue working ribbing as established until cuff measures 2 in / 5 cm.

Bind off in pattern with medium tension.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Finishing and blocking

Weave in ends and wet block your sweater, pinning flat and turning once as needed until dry. Attach buttons on the left front band to correspond to buttonholes.

Wet block sweater, soaking for at least 20 minutes, then press out excess water and pin flat to dry. Turn as needed for even drying.