PattiAnn

Cozy meets fabulous in this blanket-style wrap-front cardigan

... with wide ribbed edging and long slim sleeves.

I wanted to work this sweater in an authentic thermal rib - like the stitch pattern in my favorite cross-country long johns. But the only waffly stitch patterns I could find for hand knitters were simulations, with rows of purl stitches, and while they looked nice enough, they weren't a real rib. So I pulled apart my long underwear, got out my magnifying glass, and came up with my own cushy-textured drop-stitch thermal rib. At 9 rows to the inch the gratification isn't instant, but it's deep.

The sleeve caps and armholes are shaped using cable decreases worked into the stitch pattern.

Sweater body is knit in one piece, straight, with set-in sleeves.

I've noticed that a lot of the wrap-front sweaters that I see in stores are constructed by making slits in a rectangle into which sleeves are sewn. They look good, but tend to fall off the shoulders. There's nothing to keep them up. Of course, cutting in for shoulders would seriously reduce the fabric available for a generous front drape. I wanted both, so bound off for shoulders in the back, but in the front, rather than decreasing for the armhole, this sweater has increases. And so, besides staying where it should, the fit is nice and tidy in back, with plenty of volume in front for wrapping or belting or draping fabulously.

To fit chest sizes 33 ¹/₂ (37 ¹/₄, 41, 44 ¹/₂, 49 ¹/₂, 53 ¹/₄)"
0-2" positive ease recommended.

Yarn: 15 (16, 17, 18, 20, 22)) skeins Sunday Knits 5 ply (137 yds / 125 m per 50g skein) Nirvana (92% merino 8% cashmere), Eden (100% merino), Brigadoon (100% merino tweed), or Angelic (75% merino 25% angora). Shown in Nirvana - ocean.

Needles & Notions: Sizes 6 US/ 4 mm and 8 / 5 mm knitting needles; tapestry needle; stitch markers.

Gauge: 18 sts and 36 rows = 4" / 10 cm in pattern stitch using larger needle

Skills used: Ribs, cable decreases, pick up and knit.

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