Dare to Make It Knit-Along: An Easy Little Cardi
November 25th, 2008 in patterns & designs, fashion, knitting, holidays
Tina Hilton, contributor
25 users recommend
Making a fitted sweater is easier than you think and is so figure flattering.
Photo: Tina Hilton
Even if you are a brand-new knitter barely out of your first project, this stylish Fitted Knits Mini Cardi project offers valuable tips and techniques to transform you into an accomplished knitter. On trend and made up quickly, this easy sweater is a good skill builder with darts and shaped sleeves. This pattern is originally from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel, courtesy of North Light Books, and comes to us courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn free pattern site.
A knit-along is defined by Larissa and Martin Brown, authors of Knitalong, of as “an event where people get together and knit for a common purpose.” Usually it’s a way for people to get together and knit the same project either in person or online. Knit-alongs can be as simple as getting together at your LYS to knit preemie caps for the hospital or as wide-reaching as joining a Ravelry group to knit with 1001 Socktoberfest knitters around the world.
Our knit-along welcomes all levels of knitters to join in making the Mini Cardi and to share your progress and ask questions. I will address your comments, suggestions, and questions at least once a day, so check back often.
Have fun and tell your friends!
Supplies
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Chunky yarn = a fast project! |
Yarn
• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick
Main color: Two balls for size small; three balls for sizes medium and large; four balls for size extra-large. I used Denim.
Contrasting color: Two balls are enough for all sizes. I used Snapdragon.
Other good yarn choices include the 100% wool Big Wool by Rowan or the wool/acrylic blend Yukon by Plymouth.
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The yarn color choices were inspired by designer Alvin Valley from the Pantone Fashion Color Report—Fall 2008. |
Needles
• Size US 13 (9mm) 24-inch or 29-inch circular needle or size to achieve gauge
• Size US 10-1/2 (6.5mm) straight or circular
• Size US 9 (5.5mm) circular needle in any length
Notions
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders
• Tapestry needle
• Three 2-inch buttons
• Sewing needle and thread to match button/button band
Abbreviations
CC: contrasting color
inc: increase
K2tog: knit 2 together
Kfb: knit in front and in back of stitch
MC: main color
Rep: repeat
Sl: slip
St st: stockinette stitch
RS: right side
Ssk: slip, slip, knit
St(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side
yo: yarn over
Stitchionary
RLI: Inc 1 st in next st by inserting tip of right needle into back of st 1 row below on left needle and knitting into it to create a right-leaning inc.
LLI: Inc 1 st in next st by inserting tip of left needle into back of st 1 row below on right needle and knitting into it to create a left-leaning inc.
Gauge
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Obtaining the correct gauge promises a well-fitting garment. |
Eight sts and 13 rows = 4 inches (10cm) in St st on largest needles. PLEASE take the little bit of extra time to make a GAUGE SWATCH. When you match the gauge in the pattern, your sweater will be the size indicated in the pattern and you will have enough yarn to complete it. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4-inch (10cm) square, switch to a smaller size needle; if you come up with more stitches and rows, try a larger size needle.
Sizes
Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large
Finished sizes 38 (44, 49, 55) inches [97 (112, 125, 140) cm]
Part One
The Mini Cardi is knit from the top down, so this week we will begin by knitting the top portion of the sweater called the yoke, down to where you will separate for the sleeves. The sweater will be made in a size small with the instructions following for medium, large, and extra large.
Size Small
Cast on 30 sts with MC and largest needle. The long-tail cast-on (aka double cast-on) is good for this project as long as you remember to keep it relaxed. It has a nice elastic edge that accommodates picking up stitches, which we will need to do later on. To determine how much yarn you will need for the long tail, multiply the number of stitches you will be calculating by 1 inch. So for the size small, 30 inches will be more than plenty to complete the cast-on. I hate getting to the last five stitches of a cast-on and find out I've run short of yarn. It's better to have a little yarn left over than to have to rip it out and start all over.
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Position the tail of the yarn over your thumb and the working yarn over your index finger. |
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The right needle goes under the loop on the thumb. |
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Then slip the right needle under the loop on the index finger and slip it through the loop you created on your left thumb. |
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Drop the thumb out of the loop and pull the tail yarn to tighten up the stitch. |
Row 1 (RS): k1, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k4, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k16, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k4, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k1-38 sts.
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If you don't have stitch markers on hand, use a loop of contrasting colored yarn. |
Row 2 and all WS Rows: Purl.
Row 3: Kfb, [knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo] 4 times, knit to last st, kfb-48 sts.
Rows 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13: Rep row 3-98 sts.
Row 15: [Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo] 4 times, knit to end-106 sts.
Row 17: Rep row 15-114 sts.
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A yarn over is an increase stitch that creates a hole for a lacy effect. |
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For a ssk, slip 2 stitches as if to knit, then insert the left needle into them from the front. Wrap the yarn around the right needle and pull it through the loop. |
Note: Both ssk and k2tog are decrease stitches. Ssk will appear as a left slant in the pattern, and k2tog will appear as a right slant. Combining these decreases with the ssk on the left and the k2tog on the right will make a pleasing symmetrical pattern.
Row 19: Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k9 ssk, k2tog, k9, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k15, ssk, k2tog, k15, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k9, ssk, k2tog, k9, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, knit to end-116 sts.
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The yarn-over stitches create an interesting pattern. |
Size Medium
With MC and largest needle, cast on 38 sts.
Row 1 (RS): k1, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k6, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k20, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k6, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k1-46 sts.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: Kfb, [knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo] 4 times, knit to last st, kfb-56 sts.
Rows 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15: Rep row 3-116 sts.
Row 17: [Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo] 4 times, knit to end-124 sts.
Row 19: Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k10, ssk, k2tog, k10, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k17, ssk, k2tog, k17, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k10, ssk, k2tog, k10, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, knit to end-126 sts.
Row 21: Rep row 17-134 sts.
Row 23: Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k11, ssk, k2tog, k11, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k18, ssk, k2tog, k18, yo, k1, sl marker, k1, yo, k11, ssk, k2tog, k11, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, knit to end-136 sts.
Size Large
With MC and largest needle, cast on 46 sts.
Row 1 (RS): k1, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k8, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k24, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k8, yo, k1 place marker, yo, k1-54 sts.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: Kfb, [knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo] 4 times, knit to last st, kfb-64 sts.
Rows 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17: Rep row 3-134 sts.
Row 19: Kfb, knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k11, ssk, k2tog, k11, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k19, ssk, k2tog, k19, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k11, ssk, k2tog, k11, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, knit to last st, kfb-138 sts.
Row 21: Rep row 3-148 sts.
Row 23: Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k12, ssk, k2tog, k12, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k20, ssk, k2tog, k20, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k12, ssk, k2tog, k12, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, knit to end-150 sts.
Size Extra Large
With MC and largest needle, cast on 54 sts.
Row 1 (RS): k1, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k10, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k28, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k10, yo, k1, place marker, yo, k1-62 sts.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: Kfb, [knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo] 4 times, knit to last st, kfb-72 sts.
Rows 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19: Rep row 3-150 sts.
Row 21: Kfb, knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k13, SSK, k2tog, k13, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k22, ssk, k2tog, k22, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k13, ssk, k2tog, k13, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, knit to last st, kfb-154 sts.
Row 23: Rep row 3-164 sts.
Row 25: Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k14, ssk, k2tog, k14, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k23, ssk, k2tog, k23, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, k14, ssk, k2tog, k14, yo, k1, sl marker, yo, knit to end-166 sts.
Row 27: [Knit to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl marker, yo] 4 times, knit to end-174 sts.
Check back on December 4th for part 2.
After you make this project, show off your work to other members!
Post your project in the gallery
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Comments (21)
Posted: 6:50 pm on January 7th
cast on is 54 sts.
I used the 46sts - will make adjustments on my sheet re.
the change since I am attempting to make the large size.
I did a little research in some of my old books that I kept when I firt started knitting years ago. Put them aside for my crochet. Some are over 20 yrs old, none mentioned the loose yarn when you Yo and then purl on the second row.
Hope my next attempt comes out OK. Thanks
Posted: 10:37 am on January 7th
First thing you need to do is to verify that you have the proper number of stitches on the needle according to the size you are making. At the end of row 1 for a size small you should have 38 stitches, medium 46, large 54 & x-large 62. If you have more than that number, you should unknit, cast on the correct number of stitches and do your row 1 again. Or if you did have the correct number of stitches upon completing row one, you may be referring to the yarn over stitch that indeed looks different that the rest of your stitches and may look "loose" to you. Don't worry, just stick your needle right in there and fearlessly perform a normal knit stitch.
Hope this solves the puzzle for you - Tina
Posted: 4:25 pm on January 6th
ran into a a wee problem (I think).
On Row 2 Purl when I come to the k1 yo, k1, place marker there ia loose yarn as if I missed a stitch and I am at loss
in what to do with the loose yarn. Did I do something wrong
in row 2? I am a newbie sort of in knitting, i have been crocheting for years and just start back knitting.
To make the question short - is there suppose to be loose yarn when you do the yo ? Puzzle and thank for any help
Irey
Posted: 1:54 pm on January 6th
Part two posted on December 4th, part three on December 11th and the fourth and final set of instructions will post on December 18th. Hop you have fun making it!
Posted: 2:36 pm on December 15th
Posted: 10:25 am on December 7th
It will look so cute on you. Please share the finished product with us. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Posted: 3:07 pm on December 3rd
Thanks for your patience. The printing issue has been resolved and you should now be able to print up the pattern without incident. Let me know if you need anything else. Happy knitting.
Michaela
Posted: 2:25 pm on December 2nd
I have asked our tech dept to take a look and see what the problem might be--we will post an 'all clear' within a day or so. Sorry that you are having trouble.
Michaela
Posted: 8:46 pm on December 1st
little goodie printed.( How to Make It knit-Along; An Easy
Little Cardi)
I have tried just about everything I could think of in attempting to print the instructions.
Six pages come out with only page l printed with the Title
and picture of the yarn. I have wasted about 30 or more sheet of paper. Any help will be appreciated.
Posted: 3:19 pm on December 1st
I just picked up some Lion Brand Thick n Quick in Charcoal and Claret (for the trim) and tonight I'm casting on!
Posted: 2:05 pm on December 1st
Prints the first page only.
I have the yarn and would like to make this.
Posted: 10:57 am on December 1st
Posted: 7:06 am on December 1st
I, like Jennifer am a novice at knitting but you make it so.... easy to get started. I love the style and the color choices. I always enjoy your postings. Keep them coming.
Posted: 2:16 pm on November 30th
Otherwise, you rock.
Posted: 5:08 pm on November 29th
Posted: 9:29 am on November 29th
The most important thing is to make sure you take the necessary time to make gauge swatches to test they yarn and needle size combinations.
Posted: 8:55 am on November 28th
Posted: 8:54 am on November 28th
Posted: 2:38 pm on November 26th
Posted: 7:00 pm on November 25th
Posted: 12:47 pm on November 25th