A Mingled Yarn

This is the perfect little top for spring and summer: fun to knit and easy to wear. It’s named after the heroine of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, who dresses as a boy to escape from an evil duke and hides out in the forest of Arden. The play is full of lush natural imagery, and I’ve tried to capture some of that in the leafy motif that adorns this cardi.

SIZE
S [M, L, 1X, 2X] (shown in size M)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 32.5 [36.5, 40.5, 44.5, 48.5] inches
Hip: 36.5 [40.5, 44.5, 48.5, 52.5] inches
Side length: 13.5 [14, 14.5, 15, 15.5] inches
Sleeve length: 3.5 [4, 4.25, 4.5, 5] inches
Upper arm: 12 [13, 14, 15, 16] inches

MATERIALS
Knit Picks Shine Sport [60% cotton, 40% modal; 110 yds per 50g skein]; color: green apple; 7 [8, 9, 10, 11] skeins

1 set US #4/3.5mm straight or circular needles
1 set US #3/3.25mm straight or circular needles

stitch markers
stitch holders
tapestry needle
4 5/8″ buttons
2 yards of 1/4″ wide ribbon

GAUGE
24 sts/30 rows = 4″ in stockinette stitch on larger needles

STITCH PATTERNS

Raveling leaves pattern
(worked over 20 sts)

Row 1: P2, K9, YO, K1, YO, K3, Sl 1 – K2tog – PSSO, P2.
Row 2 and all WS rows: K2, P16, K2.
Row 3: P2, K10, YO, K1, YO, K2, Sl 1 – K2tog – PSSO, P2.
Row 5: P2, K3tog, K4, YO, K1, YO, K3, [YO, K1] twice, Sl 1 – K2tog – PSSO, P2.
Row 7: P2, K3tog, K3, YO, K1, YO, K9, P2.
Row 9: P2, K3tog, K2, YO, K1, YO, K10, P2.
Row 11: P2, K3tog, [K1, YO] twice, K3, YO, K1, YO, K4, Sl 1 – K2tog – PSSO, P2.
Row 12: K2, P16, K2.
Rep rows 1-12 for patt.

(adapted from Vogue Stitchionary Volume One)

Purl dot pattern
(worked over 4 sts)

Row 1: K1, P1, K2.
Row 2 and all WS rows: P all sts.
Rows 3 and 7: K all sts.
Row 5: K3, P1.
Row 8: P all sts.
Rep rows 1-8 for patt

PATTERN

Back

Using larger needles, CO 110 (122, 134, 146, 158) sts. Work in 1×1 rib as foll:

Row 1: (P1, K1) to end of row.
Rep row 1 three more times.

Next row (RS): K14 (9, 12, 9, 13), *[pm, work Row 1 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, pm, K11 (8, 10, 7, 8)], rep from * 1 (2, 2, 3, 3) times, pm, work Row 1 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, pm, K14 (9, 12, 9, 13). You will have 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) reps of raveling leaves patt between markers.

Next row (WS): P14 (9, 12, 9, 13), *[slm, work Row 2 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, slm, P11, (8, 10, 7, 8)], rep from * 1 (2, 2, 3, 3) times, slm, work Row 2 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, slm, P14 (9, 12, 9, 13).

Cont in patt as set, until work meas 2” from beg, ending with a WS row.

Dec row (RS): K1, SSK, work in patt to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Work 7 rows even.

Rep last 8 rows 5 more times. 12 sts dec. 98 (110, 122, 134, 146) sts rem.

Work even until piece meas 9” from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

Eyelet row (RS): K4 (5, 1, 2, 3) *[K3, YO, K2tog], rep from * to last 4 (5, 1, 2, 3) sts, end K4 (5, 1, 2, 3).
Next row (WS): P all sts.

Next row (RS): K1, work Row 1 of purl dot patt to last st, end K1.
Next row (WS): P1, work Row 2 of purl dot patt to last st, end P1.

Cont in patt as set until work meas 13.5 (14, 14.5, 15, 15.5)” from CO edge, or to desired length, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes:

BO 5 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 88 (100, 110, 120, 130) sts.

Next row (RS): K2, SSK, patt to last 4 sts, K2tog, K2. Work 1 row even.

Rep last 2 rows 3 (6, 10, 11, 15) more times. 80 (86, 88, 96, 98) sts rem.

Work even until armhole meas 7 (7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5)”, ending with a WS row.

Next row (RS): K across 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) sts, place on holder; BO center 36 (40, 40, 46, 46) sts, K across rem 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) sts, place on holder.

Left Front

Using larger needles, CO 55 (61, 67, 73, 79) sts. Work in 1×1 rib as foll:

Row 1: (K1, P1) to last st, end K1.
Row 2: P1, (K1, P1) to last st.
Rep rows 1 and 2 once more.

Size S only
Next row (RS): K18, pm, work Row 1 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, pm, K17.
Next row (WS): P17, slm, work Row 2 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, slm, P18.

Sizes M, L, 1X, 2X only
Next row (RS): *[K8 (9, 11, 13), pm, work Row 1 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, pm], rep from * once, end K5 (9, 11, 13).
Next row (WS): P5 (9, 11, 13), *[slm, work Row 2 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, P8 (9, 11, 13), slm], rep from * once.

Cont in patt as set, until work meas 2” from beg, ending with a WS row.

Dec row (RS): K1, SSK, work in patt to end. Work 7 rows even.

Rep last 8 rows 5 more times. 6 sts dec. 49 (55, 61, 67, 73) sts rem.

Work even until piece meas 9” from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

Eyelet row (RS): K2 (2, 3, 1, 4), *[K3, YO, K2tog], rep from * to last 2 (3, 3, 1, 4) sts, end K2 (3, 3, 1, 4).
Next row (WS): P all sts.

Next row (RS): K 0 (2, 0, 2, 0), work Row 1 of purl dot patt to last st, end K1.
Next row (WS): P1, work Row 2 of purl dot patt to last 0 (2, 0, 2, 0), end P0 (2, 0, 2, 0).

Cont in patt as set until work meas 13.5 (14, 14.5, 15, 15.5)” from CO edge, or to desired length, (same length as back piece), ending with a WS row.

Shape armhole:

Next row (RS): BO 5 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts, work in patt to end. 44 (50, 55, 60, 65) sts rem. Work 1 row even.

Next row (RS): K2, SSK, patt to end. Work 1 row even.

Rep last 2 rows 3 (6, 10, 11, 15) more times. 40 (43, 44, 48, 49) sts rem.

Work even until armhole meas 3 (3.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5)”, ending with a RS row, then begin neck shaping as foll:

Next row (WS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts, patt to end. 34 (37, 37, 41, 41) sts rem. Work 1 row even.
Next row (WS): BO 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) sts, patt to end. 31 (34, 34, 37, 37) sts rem.
Next row (RS): Patt to last 4 sts, K2tog, K2. Work 1 row even.

Rep last 2 rows 9 (11, 10, 12, 11) more times. 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) sts rem. Cont on rem sts until armhole meas 7 (7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5)”. Place sts on holder.

Right Front

Using larger needles, CO 55 (61, 67, 73, 79) sts. Work in 1×1 rib as for left front.

Size S only
Next row (RS): K17, pm, work Row 1 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, pm, K18.
Next row (WS): P18, slm, work Row 2 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, slm, P17.

Sizes M, L, 1X, 2X only
Next row (RS): K5 (9, 11, 13), *[pm, work Row 1 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, pm, K8 (9, 11, 13)], rep from * once.
Next row (WS): *[P8 (9, 11, 13), slm, work Row 2 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, slm], rep from * once, end P5 (9, 11, 13).

Cont in patt as set, until work meas 2” from beg, ending with a WS row.

Dec row (RS): Work to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Work 7 rows even.

Rep last 8 rows 5 more times. 6 sts dec. 49 (55, 61, 67, 73) sts rem.

Work even until piece meas 9” from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

Eyelet row (RS): K2 (3, 3, 1, 4), *[K3, YO, K2tog], rep from * to last 2 (2, 3, 1, 4) sts, end K2 (2, 3, 1, 4).
Next row (WS): P all sts.

Next row (RS): K1, work Row 1 of purl dot patt to last 0 (2, 0, 2, 0) sts, end K 0 (2, 0, 2, 0).
Next row (WS): P 0 (2, 0, 2, 0), work Row 2 of purl dot patt to last st, end P1.

Cont in patt as set until work meas 13.5 (14, 14.5, 15, 15.5)” from CO edge, or to desired length, (same as back and left front pieces), ending with a RS row.

Shape armhole:

Next row (WS): BO 5 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts, work in patt to end. 44 (50, 55, 60, 65) sts rem.
Next row (RS): Work to last 4 sts, K2tog, K2. Work 1 row even.

Rep last 2 rows 3 (6, 10, 11, 15) more times. 40 (43, 44, 48, 49) sts rem.

Work even until armhole meas 3 (3.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5)”, ending with a WS row, then begin neck shaping as foll:

Next row (RS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts, patt to end. 34 (37, 37, 41, 41) sts rem. Work 1 row even.
Next row (RS): BO 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) sts, patt to end. 31 (34, 34, 37, 37) sts rem. Work 1 row even.
Next row (RS): K2, K2tog, patt to end. Work 1 row even.

Rep last 2 rows 9 (11, 10, 12, 11) more times. 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) sts rem. Cont on rem sts until armhole meas 7 (7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5)”. Place sts on holder.

Sleeves (make 2)

Using larger needles, CO 68 (74, 80, 86, 92) sts. Work in 1×1 rib as for back piece.

Next row (RS): K24 (27, 30, 33, 36), pm, work Row 1 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, pm, K24 (27, 30, 33, 36).
Next row (WS): P24 (27, 30, 33, 36), slm, work Row 2 of raveling leaves patt over next 20 sts, slm, P24 (27, 30, 33, 36).

Cont in patt as set, inc 1 st at each end of needle on next and every foll 8th (10th, 10th, 10th, 12th) row 3 times. 6 sts inc. 74, (80, 86, 92, 98) sts.

When work meas 3.5 (4, 4.25, 4.5, 5)” from CO edge, begin cap shaping as foll:

BO 5 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beg of next two rows. 64 (70, 74, 78, 82) sts.

Dec 1 st at each end of needle on next and every foll alt row 16 (16, 18, 18, 20) times. 32 (38, 38, 42, 42) sts rem. Then dec 1 st at each end of needle on every row for 4 (6, 6, 8, 8) rows. 24 (26, 26, 26, 26) sts rem. Cap should meas about 5 (5.5, 6, 6, 6.5)”. BO all sts.

Finishing

Block pieces to finished measurements.

Using three-needle bind-off, seam front pieces to back piece at shoulders. Set sleeves into armholes. Seam sleeve and side seams.

Left front band: with RS of left front piece facing you, using smaller needles, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows down opening edge of left front piece, keeping track of how many sts you pick up (so you can match it on right front). Work in 1×1 rib for 5 rows. BO in rib.

Right front buttonhole band: with RS of right front piece facing you, using smaller needles, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows up opening edge of right front piece, making sure to match the number of sts picked up for left front band. Work in 1×1 rib for 1 row. On second row of rib, place 4 buttonholes evenly spaced along purl dot section of front piece (above the eyelet row). I used 2-stitch buttonholes according to these instructions here. Work 3 more rows of rib. BO in rib. Do not cut yarn.

Neckband: using same yarn from right front band, with RS of garment facing you, pick up and knit 2 out of every 3 sts along neckline, including tops of front bands, making sure to pick up an odd number of sts, and making sure to pick up the same number of sts along right and left front neck edges. Work in 1×1 rib, beg and ending with a P st on WS and a K st on RS, and slipping first st of each row, for 5 rows. BO in rib.

Attach buttons to left front band opposite buttonholes. Thread ribbon through eyelets, tie at center front, and trim ends to desired length. Weave in ends. Your Rosalind is ready to wear!