My First Cardigan:

Fig 1

Friends,
This month I have not created any new item so let us have some old memories.
This was the first cardigan I have ever knitted.
That was the first year of my marriage in 1979-80, I was searching a job and also have much time at home. So I decided to knit a sweater for myself (it is better to experiment on our self). As I have already posted about my aunty or my guide in knitting, I asked her and she suggested me to knit a coat type cardigan. Actually in those days girls didn't use to wear dresses with collar, but I always used to like collar dresses so I decided to knit this coat type cardigan.

Those old days photo was not with me so bear with this today's photo because the cardigan is still in good condition but the colour is  only fed up.

The sweater was knitted in 6 parts, two front parts, one back, two sleeves and collar. Being old coat type design, it has no increase or decrease of stitches in the body part.

Fig 2

The pattern of this cardigan is known as shell design.
Pattern: CO 25 sts. Work all even rows as purl.
Row 1: P 2, k 1, YO k 1, p 7,  p3tog, p 7, k 1, YO k 1, p 2
Row 3: P 2, k 2, YO k 1, p 6,  p3tog, p 6, k 1, YO k 2, p 2
Row 5: P 2, k 3, YO k 1, p 5,  p3tog, p 5, k 1, YO k 3, p 2
Row 7: P 2, k 4, YO k 1, p 4,  p3tog, p 4, k 1, YO k 4, p 2
Row 9: P 2, k 5, YO k 1, p 3,  p3tog, p 3, k 1, YO k 5, p 2
Row 11: P 2, k 6, YO k 1, p 2,  p3tog, p 2, k 1, YO k 6, p 2
Row 13: P 2, k 7, YO k 1, p 1,  p3tog, p 1, k 1, YO k 7, p 2
Row 15: P 2, k 8, YO k 1,  p3tog, k 1, YO k 8, p 2

Repeat these 30 rows till the required height.

Material: Vardhaman knitting yarn 350 gm, knitting needle UK 12 no and UK 10 no
Final Size: Chest 34", height 25", Sleeves length 24", armhole 7"
Gauge: 20 sts x 25 rows form 3" x 3" in the pattern design.

Left Front Side : CO 81 sts using UK 12 no needle. (81= 10 button band + 25 pattern + 23 pattern + 23 pattern). In between two pattern strips 2 purl sts will be common, hence 25+23+23.
Work ribbing as follows.
Row 1: (p 1, Sl 1 as purl) repeat
Row 2: All purl.
Work ribbing for 2".
Transfer the work to UK No 10 needle.
Then work as above pattern except 10 sts as ribbing again.
After 17",  bind off 5+3+2+1 on WS successively. (70 sts)
Work 1" more then bind off 10 sts from neck side on RS then again 5 sts on RS  from neck side (55 sts). Bind off 1 st in alternate RS from neck side till 25 sts remain for shoulder.
Right Front Side: CO 81 sts on No 12 needle.  (81= 23 pattern + 23 pattern + 25 pattern + 10 button hole band). Work as Left front side.
Back Side: CO 121 sts. again on no 12 needle. After ribbing shift to UK No 10 needle.
Shell pattern is also worked on back side (121= 2 for stockinette st +25 pattern +23 pattern +23 pattern +23 pattern +23 pattern +2 stockinette st).

Fig 3

Work till the height from beginning is 17". Bind off 4+3+2+1 on both sides successively. There are 101 sts.
Decrease 1 st after every 6 rows on both RS and WS. Repeat this 4 more times.(now there are 91 sts)
Work till the height from beginning is 24". Then work 25 sts as per pattern, Bind off 41 sts, Join new yarn to the next st. Work these 25 sts as per pattern
Sleeves: Sleeves are worked separately starting from rib stitch.
CO 55 sts using the smaller needle (12 no). Rib stitch 1x1 for 2".
Transfer to no 10 needle. Then only one strip of the shell pattern is taken in the middle and other stockinette st. (15 stockinette st + 25 sts for pattern + 15 sts for stockinette st)
Increase: After every 5 rows increase one st at both ends. Repeat this 5 more times. (Total sts 67)
Work like this till the height from the beginning is 17".
Bind off 5+3+2+1 from both RS and WS (total sts 45)
Decrease one st on both ends after every 4 rows till there are 15 sts.
*Bind off 5, work remaining as per pattern* Twice. Bind off  last 5 sts.

Make one more sleeve like this.

Collar: Pick up 96 sts round the collar.
Row 1: (k 1, p 1) repeat till end, last k 1.
Row 2: (p 1, k 1) repeat till end, last p 1
For the round up shape of the collar,
Increase the stitches: On each RS increase 1 st on both ends of the collar, on WS work as per pattern.
Continue this increase till 7 sts are increased.
Now work 2 rows without increase or decrease in 1x1 ribbing then start decreasing stitches.
Decrease the stitches: On each RS decrease 1 st on both sides of the collar and work WS as per pattern. Continue this till all 7 sts are decreased again.
 Thus for collar 30 rows have been worked.
Bind off all sts.

Finishing: Sew all parts properly.