A Hybrid Machine and Hand Knitting Pattern

I have been making these cardigans for customers for 10 years, named ”The Original” after the children’s cardigan of the same name, which was the very first design I created for my hand made
knitwear company. The women’s pattern is now available for machine knitters! A few adaptations have been made to make this a comprehensive pattern but I have kept it as similar to the way I make them as possible. A full-on patchwork of different patterns, the all-over Fair Isle fabric gives this cardigan a fitted and structured feel, which is accentuated by its gently tapered waist and cropped length. Experiment by mixing bright colours with neutrals for a truly unique cardigan.

Construction

Knit bottom-up, you will start by knitting 5 Fair Isle panels (back body, 2 x sides and 2 x sleeves) on the machine. Increases are made along the sides of the cardigan to give it a tapered shape. The 5 pieces are then picked up along the tops (leaving a few stitches either side of each panel on hold for the underarm) and
placed on a needle and the yoke is knit back and forth by hand, all in one piece, gradually making decreases as you go to shape the shoulders. Underarm stitches are then grafted together and seams are sewn along the sides of the body and up the sleeves. All ribs are done by hand for the complete hand-crafted look,
but they can easily be done on the machine if you have a ribber. Button bands are made by picking up the sides of the cardigan with smaller needles and knitting in stocking stitch to create a pretty rolled-over edge. If you prefer, it is possible to knit the yoke circularly, with a steek, simply add 5 steek stitches at the
front when you join your pieces.

Materials

1 x pair of 3 mm needles for the yoke.
1 x pair of 2.5 mm needles for the ribbing and
button bands.
Or needles to get gauge.
Stitch holders.
10-14 buttons.

Measurements (Sizes XS (S, M, L)

• Body circumference: 100 (105.7, 112, 120) cm
• Body length (from armpit-bottom edge): 31.6 (35, 35, 38.3) cm
• Sleeve length (from armpit-cuff): 46 (49, 49,53) cm
• Upper Sleeve circumference: 32 (32, 34, 35.5) cm
• Yoke depth (diagonally from neck edge to armpit): 23 (24.5, 26, 28) cm