If you have not yet entered into the world of knitting, or just want to make classic knit textures with your hook, this cardi is a fun place to start. Pearly shades of burgundy, wine and rose make these bold stripes and construction truly pop.
Time: 35-55 Hours pattern
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished bust size 33 (39, 45, 45, 51)” to fit bust size 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)” (see figure 1)
1-5“ positive ease recommended.
Shown in finished bust size 39.
Gauge: 21 sts and 20 rows = 4″ [10cm] worked in BLYsl after blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
The Fibre Co Road to China Light (65% alpaca, 15% silk, 10% camel, 10% cashmere); 159 yards [145 meters]/50 grams): RLT140 Moonstone (CC1, 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) balls), RLT050 Agate (CC2, 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) balls), RLT080 Carnelian (CC3, 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) balls), RLT240Z Morganite (CC4 2 (2, 3, 3, 4) balls)
Hook: US size E-4 (3.5 mm).
Notions: Tapestry needle, cloak sweater clip.
Special Stitches
Yarn over Slip Stitch (Ysl): Yo, insert hook in indicated st (or ch), yo, pull through stitch and both loops on the hook.
Yarn over Slip Stitch through the back loop (BLYsl): Yo, insert hook though the back loop in indicated st, yo, pull through all 3 loops on the hook.
Pattern Notes
Body and sleeves are worked flat, side to side.
Body is worked in one piece. Sleeves are worked separately and then sewn into armholes.
Starting chains do not count as a stitch.
Cut yarn when changing colors, if not otherwise indicated.
Pattern
Body
Right Front
With CC1, ch 75 (80, 85, 90, 95).
Set-up Row: Ch 2, Ysl in 3th ch from hook and in each rem ch across, turn. (75 (80, 85, 90, 95) sts)
Row 1 (RS): Ch 2, BLYsl to end, turn.
Rep [Row 1] 9 (11, 13, 13, 15) more times.
With CC2, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC3, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC4, Rep [Row 1] 2 (4, 4, 4, 6) times, no not cut yarn.
Right Armhole
Continuing with CC4,
Row 1 (RS): Ch 2, BLYsl to end, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Ch 2, BLYsl 54 (58, 61, 65, 68), turn. (54 (58, 61, 65, 68) sts)
Row 3: As Row 1.
Row 4: Ch 2, BLYsl to end, ch 21 (22, 24, 25, 27).
Row 5: Ch 2, Ysl in 3th ch from hook and in each rem ch across, BLYsl to end, turn. (75 (80, 85, 90, 95) sts)
Row 6: As Row 1, do not cut yarn.
Back
With CC4, Rep [Row 1] 2 (4, 4, 4, 6) times.
With CC3, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC2, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC1, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC4, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC1, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC2, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC3, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC4, Rep [Row 1] 2 (4, 4, 4, 6) times, no not cut yarn.
Left Armhole
As Right Armhole
Left Front
With CC4, Rep [Row 1] 2 (4 ,4 ,4 ,6) times.
With CC3, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC2, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times
With CC1, Rep [Row 1] 11 (13, 15, 15, 17) times.
Sleeves (make 2)
Part 1 (1/2 underarm)
With CC4, ch 50 (50, 53, 55, 55).
Set-up Row: Ch 2, Ysl in 3th ch from hook and in each rem ch across, turn. (50 (50, 53, 55, 55) sts)
Row 1 (RS): Ch 2, BLYsl to end, turn.
Row 2 (WS): As Row 1.
Row 3: Ch 2, BLYsl to end, ch 21 (22, 24, 25, 27), turn.
Row 4: Ch 2, Ysl in 3th ch from hook and in each rem ch across, BLYsl to end, turn. (71 (72, 77, 80, 82) sts)
Row 5: As Row 1; do not cut yarn.
Part 2: full sleeve
With CC4, Rep [Row 1] 2 (4, 4, 4, 6) times.
With CC3, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC2, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC1, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC2, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC3, Rep [Row 1] 10 (12, 14, 14, 16) times.
With CC4, Rep [Row 1] 2 (4, 4, 4, 6) times, do not cut yarn.
Part 3 (1/2 underarm)
Continuing with CC4,
Row 1 (RS): Ch 2, BLYsl 50 (50, 53, 55, 55) turn. (50 (50, 53, 55, 55) sts)
Rows 2-4:Ch 2, BLYsl to end, turn.
Cut yarn leaving a long tail and sew as indicated in figure 2.
Yoke
With CC4
Set up row-1: with RS facing, join with a sl st at the top right edge of the front part of the body. Ch 2, sc in first st, distribute [ch 1, sc 1] 17 (21, 24, 24, 28) times across the top right front edge, 27 (34, 39, 39, 46) times across the top right sleeve edge, 36 (44, 51, 51, 59) times across the top back edge, 27 (34, 39, 39, 46) times across the top left sleeve edge and 17 (21, 24, 24, 28) times across the top left front edge, turn. (125 (155, 178, 178, 208)) sc and 126 (156, 179, 179, 209) ch.
Set up row-2: Ch 1, sl st tbl in each st and ch to end, turn (249 (309, 355, 355, 415) sl st.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, sl st tbl in each st to end, turn
Rows 2-4: As Row 1.
With CC1
Row 5: Ch 2, BLYsl to end, turn.
Row 6: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next 3 (3, 1, 1, 1) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (208 (258, 296, 296, 346) sts
With CC2
Row 7: As Row 5.
Row 8: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next 4 (6, 2, 2, 4) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (174 (216, 247, 247, 289) sts
With CC3
Row 9: As Row 5.
Row 10: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next 6 (6, 1, 1, 1) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (146 (181, 206, 206, 241) sts
With CC4
Row 11: As Row 5.
Row 12: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next 2 (1, 2, 2, 1) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (122, 151, 172, 172, 201) sts
Follow your size specific instructions.
For sizes 32, 36:
With CC3
Row 13: As Row 5.
Row 14: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next 2 (1, x, x, x) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (102, 126, x, x, x) sts
With CC2
Row 15: As Row 5.
Row 16: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next 2 (6, x, x, x) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 8; rep from * to end of row, turn (92, 114, x, x, x) sts.
With CC1
Rows 17-18: As Row 5.
For size 40:
Continue with CC4:
Row 13: As Row 5.
Row 14: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, 4, x, x) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, 144, x, x) sts
With CC3
Row 15: As Row 5.
Row 16: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, 4, x, x) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 8; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, 130, x, x) sts.
With CC2
Row 17: As Row 5.
Row 18: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, 2, x, x) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 14; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, 122, x, x) sts.
With CC1
Rows 19-20: As Row 5.
For size 44:
Continue with CC4:
Row 13: As Row 5.
Row 14: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, x, 4, x) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, x, 144, x) sts
With CC3
Row 15: As Row 5.
Row 16: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, x, 4, x) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 8; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, x, 130, x) sts.
With CC2
Rows 17-18: As Row 5.
With CC1
Rows 19-20: As Row 5.
For size 48:
Continue with CC4:
Row 13: As Row 5.
Row 14: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, x, x, 3) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 4; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, x, x, 168) sts
With CC3
Row 15: As Row 5.
Row 16: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, x, x, 8) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 8; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, x, x, 152) sts.
With CC2
Row 17: As Row 5.
Row 18: Ch 2, BLYsl in each of the next x (x, x, x, 8) sts, *BLYsl2tog, BLYsl 14; rep from * to end of row, turn (x (x, x, x, 143) sts.
With CC1
Rows 19-20: As Row 5.
Fasten off.
Borders
Sleeves
With CC4
Set up Rnd-1: With RS facing, join with a sl st at the beginning of Row 1. Ch 2, sc in first st, distribute [ch 1, sc 1] 31 (38, 43, 43, 50) times across the row, sl st to join, turn. (32 (39, 44, 44, 51)) sc and 33 (40, 45, 45, 52) chs.
Set up Rnd-2: Ch 1, sl st tbl in next st and in each ch-1 sp to end, sl st to join, turn (65 (79, 89, 89, 28) sl st.
Rnds 1-4: Ch1, sl st tbl to end, sl st to join, turn.
With CC1:
Rnds 5-6: Ch 2, BLYsl to end, sl st to join, turn.
With CC2:
Rnds 7-8: Rep Rows 5-6.
With CC3
Rnds 9-10: Rep Rows 5-6.
With CC4
Rnds 11-14: Rep Rnds 1-4.
Hem
With CC4
Set up Row-1: With RS facing, join with a sl st at the bottom edge of the left front. Ch 2, sc in first st, distribute [ch 1, sc 1] 17 (21, 24, 24, 28) times across the left front edge, 36 (44, 51, 51, 59) times across the back edge, and 17 (21, 24, 24, 28) times across the right front edge, turn. (71 (87, 100, 100, 116)) sc and 72 (88, 101, 101, 117) ch.
Set up Row-2: Ch 1, sl st tbl in next st and in each ch-1 sp to end, turn143 (175, 201, 201, 233)) sl st.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, sl st tbl in next st to end, turn
Rnds 1-4: Ch 1, sl st tbl to end, turn.
With CC1:
Rnds 5-6: Ch 2, BLYsl to end, turn.
With CC2:
Rnds 7-8: Rep Rows 5-6.
With CC3
Rnds 9-10: Rep Rows 5-6.
Front bands (make 2)
With CC4
Set up Row-1: With RS facing, join with a sl st at the bottom edge of the left front. Ch 2, sc in first st, distribute [ch 1, sc 1] 38 (41, 43, 46, 49) times across the front edge, turn. (39 (42, 44, 47, 50)) sc and 40 (43, 45, 48, 51) ch.
Set up Row-2: Ch 1, sl st tbl in next st and in each ch-1 sp to end, turn. (79 (85, 89, 95, 103)) sl st.
Rep Rows 1-10 (as in Hem)
Final border
With CC4 and RS facing, join with a sl st at the bottom edge of the left front band.
Rows 1-4: Ch1, [sl st tbl across to corner, 2 sl st tbl in corner st] 6 times, across hem, right band, yoke and left band, turn,
Finishing
Weave in all ends and block.
Attach cloak sweater clip at the top of the front borders.
What is a Sep-up Row, referenced in Body and Sleeves? Is that a typo and meant to be Set-up Row?
Hi Gail, sorry about that! This is a typo and should be Set-Up row. We’ve corrected it above. Thank you! – Nicola, Editor
Please let me know if any of you find a good substitute for this yarn. At $20, a hank, I can’t afford it. I will do the same. Thank you!
Hi Michele! I suggest taking a look at YarnSub for substitutes! https://yarnsub.com/yarns/the_fibre_company/road_to_china_light
Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor
This is absolutely gorgeous. I can’t wait to make it!