Sizes: 35" (38" - 41" - 44" - 48" - 53" - 57" - 61") finished garment chest measurement
This basic easy cardigan is hand knit with common worsted weight yarn. To use a heavenly drapey rayon yarn, see my Simple Basic Cardigan at https://www.conniehester.com/simple-basic-cardigan.htm .
Fronts and back are knit in one piece up to the armholes. The front edges are not faced, but rather have an optional i-cord edging. I say optional since front edges will roll under without any edging, effectively hiding raw edges. I still apply the i-cord myself, because it does give more structure to the edges. Cuff edges have i-cord edging as well.
Fronts meet at center front. While there are no buttons, I have added a button and a buttonhole loop at mid-chest on one of my older versions of this basic simple sweater. There is back neck shaping so that shoulder seams do not slide to the upper back and hike up the front bottom edge. Seed stitch keeps the bottom edge flat. "Swing jacket" styling includes sloping increases from the bust down to the bottom edge for a little shaping.
The best fitting garments are those which fit at the shoulders. Detailed instructions include finished (washed and dried) measurements throughout which allow for any adjustments in the overall fit. This hand knit basic cardigan with shawl collar is also an excellent candidate for employing bust darts for a more custom tailored fit. Contouring with short rows and/or vertical bust darts can create the ultimate in fitted knit apparel. Refer to my Knitting Bust Darts Tutorial at https://www.conniehester.com/knitting-bust-darts.htm .
At left is a variation using this Basic Worsted Cardigan pattern as the outer shell of a fur or fleece fabric lined jacket. I knit the outer shell one size larger than my preferred size/ease (as listed on this pattern). I altered the larger size to maintain my preferred shoulder width and preferred sleeve length, though. I cut the lining (I used "Sew Lush" here.) to fit the outer shell and tacked it into place at center back neck, shoulder at neckline, top and bottom armhole, cuffs, and along entire front edge. I added a 30 mm (1 1/8") snap closure.
Any worsted weight yarn which produces gauge will work for this knitted sweater, including any combination of finer yarns which together constitute the worsted weight gauge below.
Knit gauge in Stockinette Stitch is 5 stitches x 7 rows = 1 inches on Size 7 US needles.
Required Yardage: 1010 [1050, 1225, 1370, 1530, 1705, 1890, 2050] yds.
KNITS:
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