Long and Lean Cardi

Materials:

• Simply Soft (170 g/6. oz;288 m/315 yds); Main Color (MC) Victorian Rose (9721)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL - 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, balls
• One pair size U.S. 9 (5.5mm) needles, or size to obtain gauge
• One pair size U.S. 7 (4.5mm) needles
• One circular size U.S. 7 (4.5mm) needle, 29"/73.5cm long
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders
• Yarn needle

GAUGE

In Main Rib pattern, using larger needles, 18 sts and 23 rows = 4"/10 cm

MEASUREMENTS

Bust Measurements
S 38 ins [96.5 cm]
M 42 ins [106.5 cm]
L 46 ins [117 cm]]
XL 50 ins [127 cm]
2XL 54 ins [137cm]

Length Measurements
S 32 ins [81.5 cm]
M 32.25 ins [83 cm ]
L 32.5 ins [82.5 cm]
XL 32.75 ins [83 cm]
2XL 33 ins [84 cm]

ABBREVIATIONS

Beg = beginning
K = knit
P = purl
rep = repeat
ssk = Slip next 2 stitches knitwise one at a time. Pass them back onto left-hand needle, then knit through back loops together.
st(s) = stitch(es)
WS = wrong side

INSTRUCTIONS

PATTERN STITCHES
Beaded Rib (multiple of 5 sts)
Row 1 (RS): K2, p1, k1, *p2, k1, p1, k1, rep from * across, end k1,
Row 2: P4, *k2, p3, rep from * across, p1.
Rep Rows 1-2 for Beaded Rib.

Main Pattern Stitch (multiple of 5 sts)
Row 1 (RS): K2, p1,* k4, p1, rep from * across, end k2.
Row 2: Purl.
Rep Rows 1-2 for Main Patt st.

NOTES

Back and partial fronts are worked together as one piece to armholes.
Wide front ribs that make up most of the front width are picked up and worked later.

HELPFUL TIPS 
Knitting-on Cast On: Make a slip knot on left needle (counts as 1 st) *insert right needle as if to knit, draw the yarn through to make a new st, place new st on left needle, rep from * for each st.

BODY
Picot Cast On--using smaller needle and knitting-on CO, CO 4 sts, BO 1 st, slip st from right needle back to left needle, (CO 6 sts, BO 1 st, slip st from right needle back to left needle) 23 (25, 28, 30, 33) times, CO 2 sts--120 (130, 145, 155, 170) sts.
Work in Beaded Rib until piece measures 6". Change to larger needle and Main Patt st. Work even until piece measures 15" from beg.

Shape Neck
Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, work in patt across to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Rep dec row every 6 rows 14 (13, 8, 9, 4) more times, then every 4 rows 0 ( 2, 10, 9, 17) times; AT same time, when piece measures 24 ½ (24 ¼, 24, 23 ¾, 23 ½)" from beg end with a WS row and divide for armholes as follows:
Mark center 86 (94, 103, 113, 122) sts for back.
RS Row: Work across to first marker and place these sts on holder for right front, BO 1 st for armhole, work across to within 1 st of next marker, place rem sts on holder for left front.

Back: Work even in Main Patt on center 84 (92, 101, 111, 120) back sts until piece measures 3 ½ (4, 4 ½, 5, 5 ½)" above armhole ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders
Next row (RS): BO 27 (29, 31, 33, 35) sts at beg of row. 
Next row (WS): BO 27 (29, 31, 33, 35) sts st beg of row—30 (34, 39, 45, 50) sts.
Sizes Small, XLarge and XXLarge Only, continue across rem sts in patt.
Sizes Medium and Large, work across next 17 (20) sts, purl into front and back of next st, purl across rem sts--30 (35, 40, 45, 50) sts for back neck.
Work in Beaded Rib patt for 4" above shoulder BO, ending with a WS row. BO all sts in patt.

Right Front
With WS facing, reattach yarn at armhole, continue as established dec at neck edge until 2 sts rem. Work even until piece measures 7 ½ (8, 8 ½, 9, 9 ½)" above armhole ending with a WS row.
BO rem 2 sts.

Left Front
With RS facing, reattach yarn at armhole, BO 1 st, work left front as for right front reversing shaping.

Right Front Band
With RS facing, using circular needle, beg at lower edge, pick up and k140 (140, 145, 145, 145) sts, then using knit-on CO, CO 25 sts--165 (165, 170, 170, 170) sts. Beg with Row 2, work beaded rib until band measures 6 (6 ½, 7, 7 ½, 8)", ending with a WS row. BO as follows: BO 2 sts, slip st from right needle to left needle, *CO 1 st, BO 6 sts, slip st from right needle to left needle, rep from * across to last 25 sts, BO 25 sts.

Left Front Band
Using circular needle, CO 25 sts, with RS facing, beg at front neck edge, pick up and k140 (140, 145, 145, 145) sts--165 (165, 170, 170, 170) sts. Work as for right front band, however BO as follows: BO 27 sts, slip st from right needle to left needle, *CO 1 st, BO 6 sts, rep from * across to last 3 sts, end CO 1 st, BO 4 sts.

SLEEVES
With smaller needles, using knit-on CO, CO 4 sts, BO 1 st, slip st on right needle back to left needle, (CO 6 sts, BO 1 st, slip st on right needle back to left needle) 8 (8, 9, 9, 9) times, CO 2 sts--45 (45, 50, 50, 50) sts. Work Beaded Ribbing until piece measures 5", ending with a WS row. 
Change to larger needle and Main Patt st. Work 2 rows even. 
Inc 1 st each end of this row and every 4 rows 0 (7, 6, 12, 17) times, then every 6 rows 10 (5, 6, 2, 0) times working added sts into patt--67 (71, 76, 80, 86) sts.
Work even until piece measures 17 (17, 17 ½, 17 ½,18)" from beg, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

FINISHING
Sew each front band to back shoulder and back neck. Set in sleeves. Sew sleeve seams.
Using yarn needle, weave in ends.

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