Cardigan Classic

Knit this classic Fair Isle cardigan in King Cole 4-ply wool for all the family, adding different coloured highlights to suit. It’s an exclusive Fran Francis design.

** Fairly easy for knitters with some experience.

This pattern is suitable for standard gauge punchcard or electronic machines with a ribber. If you don’t have a ribber, work ribs in mock rib.

King Cole Anti-tickle 4-ply Wool. (Yarn Guide No. 11.)

1 x 500g cone in Anthracite (MC).

1 x 500g cone in Aran (A).

1 x 50g ball in Turquoise (B).

6 buttons.

Finished garment in second size weighs 535g.

For a list of the abbreviations we use, our Yarn Guide and mock rib instructions, please look under Pattern Information in Contents list on page 3.

To fit bust: 82 [87, 92, 97] cm, 32 [34, 36, 38] in.

Actual size: 112 [117, 122, 128] cm, 44 [46, 48, 50 1/2] in.

Length to shoulder: 62.5 cm, 24 1/2 in.

Sleeve seam: 43.5 [43.5, 44.5, 44.5] cm, 17 [17, 17 1/2, 17 1/2] in.

Instructions are written for the first size, larger sizes follow in brackets. If only one figure is given, it applies to all sizes.

30 stitches and 39 rows to 10 cm, 4 in measured over Fair Isle pattern (tension dial approximately 8). For perfect results, please check your tension carefully.

We used knit side of knitting as right side of garment. Before knitting, prepare any punchcards or electronic sheets needed, from the chart provided. Note that punchcard patterns, as shown, may have to be repeated until the card is a suitable length for knitting. Knit two colour Fair Isle rows with first colour given in back feeder 1/A to knit background and second colour given in front feeder 2/B to knit contrast pattern.

Fair Isle Pattern

K 2 rows B only (st st), 2 rows MC only (st st), 6 rows MC/A, 2 rows MC only (st st), 2 rows B only (st st), 2 rows MC only (st st), 4 rows A only (st st), 28 rows A/MC, 4 rows A only (st st) and 2 rows MC only (st st). These 54 rows form pattern.

With carriage at right and using MC, cast on 170 [178, 186, 194] sts at centre in 1x1 rib. * K 5 tubular rows. Carriage is at right. Set carriage for 1x1 rib knitting. Set RC at 000. Using MT-5••/MT-5••, K 38 rows. Transfer sts for st st. Insert card and lock on first row. Set RC at 000. Using MT, K 2 rows. Release card and cont in Fair Isle patt *. K 212 rows. RC shows 214. Place marker between sts 27 and 28 at left and right of centre 0. Cast off.

With carriage at right and using MC, cast on 85 [89, 93, 97] sts at right of centre 0 in 1x1 rib. Work as for back from * to *. ** K 94 rows.

Shape Front Edge

Dec 1 st at left edge of next and every foll 4th row until 58 [62, 66, 70] sts rem. K 13 rows. Cast off **.

With carriage at right and using MC, cast on 85 [89, 93, 97] sts at left of centre 0 in 1x1 rib. Work as for back from * to *. Work as for right front from ** to **, reversing shapings by reading right for left.

With carriage at right and using MC, cast on 76 sts at centre in 1x1 rib. K 5 tubular rows. Carriage is at right. Set carriage for 1x1 rib knitting. Set RC at 000. Using MT-5••/MT-5••, K 30 rows. Transfer sts for st st. Insert card and lock on first row. Set RC at 000. Using MT, K 2 rows. Release card and cont in Fair Isle patt. Shape sides by inc 1 st at each end of next and every foll 3rd row until there are 82 sts, then on every foll 4th row until there are 150 sts. K 1 [1, 5, 5] rows. RC shows 146 [146, 150, 150]. Cast off.

With carriage at right, push 12 Ns on each bed to WP for double rib/full needle rib knitting. Using MC, cast on. K 5 tubular rows. Carriage is at right. Set carriage for double rib/full needle rib knitting. Set RC at 000. Using MT-5•/MT-5•, K 6 rows. * Make a double eyelet buttonhole over centre 2 Ns on each bed. K 31 rows. Rep from * 4 times more. Make another buttonhole over same Ns as before. K until long enough to go along right front edge, across back of neck and along left front edge. Transfer sts to main bed. Cast off.

With wrong side facing, pin out all pieces to measurements given. Press carefully, following instructions on cone band.

Join shoulder seams. Set in sleeves, matching centre to shoulder seams. Join side and sleeve seams. Sew front border into position. Sew on buttons.

A = 56.5 [59, 62, 64.5] cm

B = 8 cm

C = 54.5 cm

D = 18 cm

E = 24.5 cm

F = 28 [29.5, 31, 32] cm

G = 25 cm

H = 6.5 cm

I = 37 [37, 38, 38] cm

J = 50 cm

MC: Main Colour (Anthracite)

A: Contrast Colour 1 (Aran)

B: Contrast Colour 2 (Turquoise)

MT: Main Tension

RC: Row Counter

K: Knit

sts: stitches

Ns: Needles

WP: Working Position

st st: Stocking stitch

inc: increase

dec: decrease

foll: following

rem: remain