NEW FREE PATTERN: Cables & Garter Cardi

As promised, here is the new pattern. It has not been tested (except by me), so please send me any errors and I will correct asap if needed.

CABLES & GARTER CARDI
(For the Ravelry .pdf version, click here: download now)

MATERIALS:
• 3 balls Lion Brand Wool Ease (197 yds/85 grams each) or other worsted weight yarn in Forest Green Heather
• 3 buttons (1 ⅛”)
• 8 stitch markers
• Tapestry needle & scissors
• US 8 24” circular needle
• US 7 24” circular needle

GAUGE: 17 sts and 36 rows per 4” in garter on US8 needles

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Bust (bottom of garter section) = 29” around
Cables and Garter Body = 33” around
Length = 23”

Note: I have only made the one size. To increase to a larger size, you might try increasing in the garter stitch section until desired bust width. Then, increase for underarm sts as written, as well as evenly around to accommodate the number of chart pattern repeats needed to achieve desired body measurements. Each complete chart pattern repeat will add approx. 3” around.

ABBREVIATIONS:
CO: Cast on
BO: Bind off
K: Knit
P: Purl
k2tog: Knit two together
M1: Make 1 (I used the backward loop cast on)
C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip next two stitches to cable needle and hold to back. Knit next two stitches. Knit two stitches from cable needle.
C4F (Cable 4 Front): Slip next two stitches to cable needle and hold in front. Knit next two stitches. Knit two stitches from cable needle.

CABLES & GARTER CARDI PATTERN

YOKE:

With larger needles, cast on 82 stitches. Work 3 rows in garter stitch.

Row 4 (setup row): k 14, pm, k1, pm, k 11, pm, k1, pm, k 28, pm, k1, pm, k 11, pm, k1, pm, k 14.

Row 5 (increase row): *k to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, slip marker, m1* Repeat * * 3 times, k to end.

Row 6 (WS buttonhole row): k 3, BO 3 sts, k to end.

Row 7: (RS) *k to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, slip marker, m1 (two stitches
added)* Repeat * * 3 times, k to bound off sts. CO 3 sts, k to end.

Row 8 (WS): knit all sts.

Row 9 (increase row): *k to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, slip marker, m1* Repeat * * 3 times, k to end.

Repeat rows 8 and 9 six times.

Then, work rows 6 and 7 to make second buttonhole.

Repeat rows 8 and 9 six more times.

Then, work rows 6 and 7 to make third buttonhole. [Buttonholes completed]

Repeat rows 8 and 9 until 242 sts total.

Work one more row 8 (WS).

BO sleeve sts purlwise (on RS).

Remove all markers.

BODY:

Increase row for underarm sts (WS): *Knit to bound off sleeve sts. CO 12 sts.* Repeat ** once. Knit to end.

Begin cables and garter pattern (see chart and notes at botton before beginning!).

Row 1 (RS): Knit 7 (pm), *K2, P2, 6-stich cable pattern, P2, K2, K3*. Repeat ** until 21 sts remain (i.e., last pattern repeat plus garter stitch band). For last pattern repeat: K2, P2, 6-stich cable, P2, K2 (pm), K7.

Row 2 (WS): Knit 7, *P2, K2, 6-stich cable pattern, K2, P2, K3*. Repeat ** until 21 sts remain (i.e., last pattern repeat plus garter stitch band). For last pattern repeat: P2, K2, 6-stich cable pattern, K2, P2, K7.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 following 6-stitch cable pattern over 8 rows until desired length. End with a Row 1.

HEM:

Switch to smaller needles.
Decrease row: K2, *K7, k2tog, K6, K2tog*. Repeat ** until last 9 stitches. K9.

Note: If you do not switch to smaller needles or do the decreases, your hem will flare because the garter stitches have a wider gauge than the corresponding cable stitches above.

End with 10 rows (or desired amount) of garter stitch for hem.
BO all stitches. Weave in any ends and sew on buttons.


Cables & Garter Stitch Pattern Notes (worked over multiples of 17 sts):

Notes:
(1) All rows begin and end with 7 knit stitches to form the garter stitch buttonband. It helps to mark these with stitch markers.
(2) Body pattern is worked over multiples of 17 stitches (on RS): 2 stockinette, 2 reverse stockinette, 6-stich cable, 2 reverse stockinette, 2 stockinette, 3 garter.
(3) Chart shows complete pattern on RS. All odd rows are RS. Below is a close-up of how these stitches will look once knit. Area in red represents the complete chart below.

Chart Abbreviations:


(Click to enlarge chart)

Spring!

Free Doughnuts

I was sleeping over at my friend Jenny's house and her grandma was over. We were all telling stories and I told one that our neighbors had told us about when these newspaper people were trying to interview anarchetists. Jenny's little sister, Emmy, said,"What's an anarchist??" Jenny's grandma was explaining that anarchy is just chaos, no rules,etc.. Emmy who is in second grade, looked enthusiastic, and said,"That means free doughnuts!!!" Jenny's grandma luaghed and said," People have been looking for a defionition of anarchy, and there you have it! Free doughnuts!!"

But It's Thirsty!

Ginny and I were playing outside today when all of a sudden, she starts doing the potty dance. I said, "Ginny, let's get inside to the bathroom." She replied, "No, I want to pee on the grass". Ummm...you can't Ginny. Her reply? "But, it's thirsty!!!"

New Pattern...Coming Soon!

I've been working on a new pattern tentatively called the "Cables and Garter Cardi". It's my first sweater pattern starting from scratch with a sketched design...


lots of math do-overs...


and a first time making charts.




The work in progress:


Come back soon for the complete pattern and let me know what you think!

Forearms and Four Arms

We were playing on Wii Fit Plus today, and Aaron was doing the Plank Challenge, which is when you put your forearms down and lift your legs like this: /. Its really hard, and Aaron kept putting his forearms down before they said so, so the trainer kept saying,"Please put your forearms down." Aaron was getting really mad. I was getting impatient, too and said, "Just restart it and put your forearms down!" By then Aaron was really mad, and yelled at me, "I don't have four arms!!"