Knit Chunky Cardigan KAL - Week 1

Week 1 - Gauge Swatch & Casting on

It's time for December's Knit Along (KAL)! If you haven't joined my Facebook CAL/KAL group, go join now! Click here to join!

I'm posting the first week's KAL a little earlier in case folks need to grab supplies.

Skip to Week 2: Separating Sleeves and Knitting Body

Skip to Week 3: Sleeves

Can't work on it this month? Save it on Ravelry

When I first taught myself to knit, my ultimate goal is to knit garments. Now, I know there are a lot folks out there that feels the same way I do about seaming garments. They're not all bad but I'd like to use alternatives if I can!

I'm not near where I want to be as a designer but I really love it and I continue to explore different methods of garment designing. One of my favorites (so far) is the Top-Down Raglan style tops. I love seamless knitting.

This Knit Chunky Cardi was my first raglan style cardigan pattern to be released. I feel that it's a great beginner's pattern so it is the perfect KAL project.

Now let's talk about how this pattern is constructed. You cast on and starting knitting from the top (Collar). Then you work the Yoke which starts to separate the body and the sleeves. That's what we will work on first! To give you an idea of sizes, Here is the schematics in sizes XS (S, M, L, XL).

Bust: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46)"

Sleeves: 17 (19, 21, 23, 25)"

If you don't match the schematics on the pattern, Measure yourself and write down those numbers so you can customize to your needs!

Measure around your neck (or a sweater) for the desired collar size.

Multiply this number by your "sts per inch"

That's how many stitches you want to cast on for the collar to start with.

This is my GAUGE: 4" = 8 Stitches & 13 Rows.

How to Knit and Measure a Gauge Swatch

Now let's talk about what you'll need!

MATERIALS

US 15/10mm Circular Needles, 32" or longer

US 13/9mm Circular Needles, 16" or Double Pointed Needles

Stitch Markers (Make your own with this DIY Video)

Yarn Needle

Scrap Yarn

ABBREVIATIONS rs – Right Side

ws - Wrong Side

co – Cast on

st(s) – Stitch(es)

k – Knit

p – Purl

pm – Place Marker sm – Slip Marker yo – Yarn over tbl – Through back loop

k2tog – Knit 2 stitches together rem - Remaining rep – Repeat st st - Stockinette Stitch (k on rs, p on ws)

Let's get started!

SIZES XS (S, M, L, XL)

Start with your size 15 needles.

We will cast on starting at the collar. Co 28 ( 31, 34, 36, 40) sts

Collar

Row 1- 4: k all sts. This will be your Garter Stitch Collar. You can make it wider if you'd like.

Yoke Now, we're going to start increasing for the body and sleeves. We're going to start with the Right Front.. See image below. The red circles are where you place your markers.

Row 1 (rs): k5 (5, 6, 6, 7), pm, - This is your front right.

k4 (5, 5, 6, 6), pm - This is your sleeve k10 (11, 12, 12, 14), pm, - This is your back

k4 (5, 5, 6, 6), pm, - This is your other sleeve k5 (5, 6, 6, 7)​ - This is your front left

If you are a beginner, you may grab 2 stitch markers to help mark your garter band. The first & last 5 stitches mark your garter stitches.

Row 2 (and all wrong side rows): k5, pm, p all sts until last 5 sts, pm k5.

Rows 3: [k until 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sm, k1, yo] 4x. k rem sts.

Rep rows 2 & 3 for 10 (12, 13, 15, 16) more times or until you have 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) sts for front or back (not including sleeve sts).

Note: Try it on as you knit to see how you like the fit. You can stop increasing sooner or keep increasing based on your exact size.

How to customize this fit:

Let's say you want a 36" bust fit & you have 12 sts for the front/back

Multiply 36 x 2 (my gauge: sts per inch) = 72 sts

Difference in sts 72

Now find out the difference in sts you'll need to achieve your bust size

72 - 12 (beginning sts count) = 60 sts

You increase 2 sts every other row.

Divide the 60 sts by 2 = 30

You want to repeat rows 2 & 3 (knit and purl) THIRTY times (60 rows).

Join me next week when we will separate the sleeves and body and knit the rest of the body!

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