Colorful, wonderfully soft yarn, simple stitches, and minimum finishing make this cardigan so special. It’s roomy to make for easy layering, and the turned-up cuffs give some growing room.
Multicolor rayon yarn in alternating rows of single and double crochet form the body, sleeves, and hood. Multiple rows of single crochet form the front bands. Chain hood tie is laced through the row ends around the hood.
Fronts and back are made all in one piece.
Foundation: Using 6/G hook, ch 94 (100, 106). Starting in second ch from hook, work 1 sc in each ch across, turn—93 (99, 105) sc.
Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), sk first sc, work 1 dc in each of next 91 (97, 103) sc, 1 dc in top of tch, turn—93 (99, 105) dc.
Row 2: Ch 1, sk first dc, work 1 sc in each of next 91 (97, 103) dc, 1 sc in top of tch, turn—93 (99, 105) sc.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until piece is 9 1/2" (10", 10 1/2") [24.3 (25.5, 26.7) cm] from beg, ending with dc row, turn.
Divide for fronts and back as foll:
Left front: ch 1, sk first st, work sc across 20 (22, 23) sts, turn. Ch 3, sk first sc, work 1 dc on each of next 18 (20, 21) sc, 1 dc in tch, turn.
Keep patt as established on these 21 (23, 24) sts until front is 4 1/2" (5", 5 1/2") [11.5 (12.7, 14) cm], ending at arm side, turn.
Work patt on 13 (14, 15) sts for 2 rows only; fasten off left front.
Right front: join yarn 21 (23, 24) sts in from front edge, and work to correspond to left front.
Back: sk 4 sts from left front, join yarn, and work sc to within 4 sts of right front—43 (45, 49) sts.
Work patt until same length as front to shoulders. Sew shoulder seams.
Starting at top of right front, RS facing you, with 6/G hook, work in sc. Pick up 15 sts along neck to shoulder seam, inc in every other st; pick up 30 sts along back of neck; pick up 15 along other front—60 sts in all for all sizes.
Work in patt (1 row sc, 1 row dc) until hood sides are 9" (9 1/2", 9 1/2 ") [23 (24.3, 24.3) cm] from beg, ending with dc row.
Next row: Sl st across 24 sts, ch 1, work 1 sc in each of next 12 sts, turn.
Working on these 12 sts only to center panel of hood, cont patt until panel is 6" (15 cm); fasten off. Align center panel to sides and sew seams to form hood.
Foundation row: With 5/F hook, ch 33 (35, 37). Work in same patt as body for 6 rows.
Next row: Change to 6/G hook. Inc 1 st each side as foll: ch 1, sk first st, work 2 sc in next st, work sc across to last 2 sts, work 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in top of tch, turn.
Cont to work in patt, inc 1 st each side every eighth row 5 times more—44 (46, 48) sts.
Work even until sleeve is 11 1/2" (12", 12 1/2") [29.3 (30.5, 31.8) cm]; fasten off.
1. Fold sleeves in half, center and pin at shoulder seam, sew in place.
2. Sew underarm seams. Weave in ends, using tapestry needle.
3. Work front bands and hood trim (see below).
4. Using double strand of yarn, ch 150, fasten off. Weave the chain in and out of stitches at the edge of the hood.
5. Sew on buttons to correspond to buttonholes.
Starting at top of left front, RS facing you, with 5/F hook, pick up 54 (56, 58) sts along front edge, ch 1, turn. Work 5 more rows sc on these sts; fasten off.
Join yarn at bottom of right front, pick up 54 (56, 58) sts to top of right front, ch 1, turn. Work 2 more rows of sc on these sts.
Make buttonholes on fourth row as foll: work 1 (2, 3) sc, * ch 2, sk 2, 1 sc in each of next 8 sts, rep from * across, end last rep with 1, (2, 3) sc. On fifth row, work in sc, making 2 sc in each ch-2 sp. Work 2 more rows sc; do not fasten off.
Cont around hood, picking up 30 (32, 34) sts to center panel, pick up 14 in center panel, pick up 30 (32, 34) sts down other side, cont in sc down left front; fasten off.
