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Knit the Miya Cashmere Cardigan

Wrap yourself in handmade luxury with this project that teaches you how to knit the Miya cashmere cardigan.

This cardigan is soft and sweet, and the perfect way to complete any spring or autumn outfit. Show off your skills by creating this handsome article of clothing fitted perfectly to your body.

This project is taken from MODE at Rowan Pure Cashmere, Quail Studio, RRP £12.99, available online, from the Online Yodomo Bookshop & from all good bookshops.

Please note that this project is for experienced knitters. If you're not yet a knitter, or if you'd like to refresh your skills, take a look at our various knitting courses and kits that will help you become an expert.

This size chart below will help you determine the size of your garment, and consequently the amount of yarn you'll need.

Size chart indicating how much yarn is needed for each size

NEEDLES

1 pair 4mm (no 8) (US 6) needles

TENSION

23 sts and 32 rows to 10cm/4in measured over P2, K1 Rib using 4mm (US 6) needles

EXTRAS

Stitch holders
Stitch markers
3 buttons

BACK

Using 4mm (US 6) needles, cast on 89 [99: 111: 123: 129: 139: 151: 159: 171] sts.
Row 1 (RS): K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows set pattern.
Work in rib patt for 8cm, increasing 11 [10: 10: 7: 13: 12: 12: 13: 13] sts evenly spaced across last WS row.
100 [109: 121: 130: 142: 151: 163: 172: 184] sts.
Row 1 (RS): K1, *P2, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *K2, P1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows set pattern.
Work in pattern until back meas 29 [29: 29: 30.5: 30.5: 30.5: 32: 32: 33] cm, ending with a WS row.
Shape armholes
Cast off 3 [4: 5: 6: 8: 8: 10: 10: 12] sts at beg of next 2 rows, 3 sts at beg of the foll 2 [2: 2: 4: 4: 6: 6: 8: 8] rows,
2 sts at beg of foll 4 [4: 6: 4: 6: 6: 6: 6: 8] rows, dec 1 st each side every alt row 4 [5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 8: 8: 8] times.
72 [77: 81: 86: 90: 93: 97: 100: 104] sts.
Cont straight until armhole meas 18 [19: 20: 21.5: 23: 24: 24: 25: 26.5] cm, ending with a WS row.
Cast off all sts.

Pattern note – slip first stitch on opening edge on both fronts throughout

Model wearing cashmere knit cardigan in light rosy beige

LEFT FRONT

Using 4mm (US 6) needles, cast on 39 [45: 51: 55: 61: 67: 73: 79: 85] sts.
Row 1 (RS): K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows set pattern.
Cont in rib patt as set for 8cm, increasing 9 [9: 9: 11: 11: 11: 11: 11: 11] sts evenly spaced across last WS row,
but do NOT increase over the first 8 sts. 48 [54: 60: 66: 72: 78: 84: 90: 96] sts.
Next row (RS): K1, * P2, K1; rep from * to last 8 sts, [P1, K1] to end.
Next row (WS): [P1, K1] 4 times, P1, *K2, P1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows set pattern.
Cont in patt as set until Left Front meas 12 [12: 13: 16: 16: 16: 18: 19: 21.5] cm, ending with a WS row.
Shape V-neck and armhole
Dec row (RS): Patt last 11 sts, K2tog, K1, [P1, K1] 4 times. 47 [53: 59: 65: 71: 77: 83: 89: 95] sts.
Cont in patt for 13 [9: 9: 7: 7: 5: 5: 5: 5] rows straight.
Rep last 14 [10: 10: 8: 8: 6: 6: 6: 6] rows 6 [9: 9: 11: 12: 15: 15: 18: 18] times more, AT THE SAME TIME, when Left Front meas 29 [29: 29: 30.5: 30.5: 30.5: 32: 32: 33] cm from beg, ending with RS facing for next row and work armhole shaping (while cont neck shaping) as foll:
Next row (RS): Cast off 3 [4: 5: 6: 8: 8: 10: 10: 12] sts, patt to end.
Cont to cast off from armhole edge, 3 sts 1 [1: 1: 2: 2: 3: 3: 4: 4] time(s), 2 sts 2 [2: 3: 2: 3: 3: 3: 3: 4] times, dec 1 st every alt row 4 [5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 8: 8: 8] times. 27 [28: 30: 32: 33: 33: 35: 35: 37] sts.
After all neck and armhole dec’s have been worked, cont straight until armhole meas 18 [19: 20: 21.5: 23: 24: 24: 25: 26.5] cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
Next row (RS): Cast off 19 [20: 22: 24: 25: 25: 27: 27: 29] sts for shoulder, patt to end.
Place rem 8 sts on a holder.

Place markers on front ribbed band for 3 buttons, the first one 1.5cm from cast-on edge, the last one 1.5cm from start of V-neck, and the 3rd one evenly between.

model wearing knit cardigan in a  light rosy grey

RIGHT FRONT

Using 4mm (US 6) needles, cast on 39 [45: 51: 55: 61: 67: 73: 79: 85] sts.
Row 1 (RS): P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows set pattern.
Cont in rib pattern for a further 2 rows.

Buttonhole row (RS): Patt 3 sts, cast off 3 sts, patt to end. On foll row, cast on 3 sts over cast-off sts.
Rep buttonhole row twice more, opposite markers on Left Front.
Cont in K1, P1 Rib until 8cm from beg, and inc 9 [9: 9: 11: 11: 11: 11: 11: 11] sts evenly spaced across last
WS row, but do NOT decrease over the last 8 sts. 48 [54: 60: 66: 72: 78: 84: 90: 96] sts.
Next row (RS): [K1, P1] 4 times, K1, *P2, K1; rep from * to end.
Next row (WS): *P1, K2; rep from * to last 9 sts, P1, [K1, P1] 4 times.
Last 2 rows set patt.
Cont in patt as set until Right Front meas 12 [12: 13: 16: 16: 16: 18: 19: 21.5] cm, ending with a WS row.
Shape V-neck and armhole
Dec row (RS): [K1, P1] 4 times, K1, SKP, patt to end. 47 [53: 59: 65: 71: 77: 83: 89: 95] sts.
Cont in patt for 13 [9: 9: 7: 7: 5: 5: 5: 5] rows straight.
Rep last 14 [10: 10: 8: 8: 6: 6: 6: 6] rows 6 [9: 9: 11: 12: 15: 15: 18: 18] times more, AT THE SAME TIME,
when Right Front meas 29 [29: 29: 30.5: 30.5: 30.5: 32: 32: 33] cm from beg, ending with WS facing for next
row and work armhole shaping (while cont neck shaping) as foll:
Next row (WS): Cast off 3 [4: 5: 6: 8: 8: 10: 10: 12] sts, patt to end.
Cont to cast off from armhole edge, 3 sts 1 [1: 1: 2: 2: 3: 3: 4: 4] time(s), 2 sts 2 [2: 3: 2: 3: 3: 3: 3: 4] times, dec 1 st every alt row 4 [5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 8: 8: 8] times. 27 [28: 30: 32: 33: 33: 35: 35: 37] sts.
After all neck and armhole dec’s have been worked, cont straight until armhole meas 18 [19: 20: 21.5: 23: 24: 24: 25: 26.5] cm, ending with WS facing for next row.
Next row (WS): Cast off 19 [20: 22: 24: 25: 25: 27: 27: 29] sts for shoulder, patt to end.
Place rem 8 sts on a holder.

Close-up of Miya cashmere knit cardigan

SLEEVES

Using 4mm (US 6) needles, cast on 45 [45: 45: 47: 47: 47: 51: 51: 53] sts.
Row 1 (RS): K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows set pattern.
Work in rib pattern for 10cm, increasing 1 [1: 1: 2: 2: 2: 1: 1: 2] st(s) on last WS row. 46 [46: 46: 49: 49: 49: 52: 52: 55] sts.
Row 1 (RS): K1, *P2, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *K2, P1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows set pattern.
Work in rib and inc 1 st each side (working inc’d sts into patt) every row 6 times, then every foll alt row 7 times.
72 [72: 72: 75: 75: 75: 78: 78: 81] sts.
Cont in rib for 4 [4: 8: 8: 10: 10: 6: 4] rows straight.
Inc 1 st each side on next row. 74 [74: 74: 77: 77: 77: 80: 80: 83] sts.
Work 15 [11: 7: 5: 3: 3: 3: 3: 3] rows straight.
Rep last 16 [12: 8: 6: 4: 4: 4: 4: 4] rows 3 [6: 9: 11: 16: 18: 19: 21: 22] times more. 80 [86: 92: 99: 109: 113: 118: 122: 127] sts.
Cont straight until sleeve meas 43 [46: 46: 46: 47: 47: 47: 48: 48] cm, ending with a WS row.
Shape sleeve head
Cast off 3 [4: 5: 6: 8: 8: 10: 10: 12] sts at beg of next 2 rows, 3 sts at beg of the foll 2 rows, 2 sts at beg of foll 2 [2: 2: 2: 4: 4: 4: 4: 2] rows, dec 1 st each side every alt row 17 [19: 21: 23: 24: 26: 26: 28: 31] times, then cast off 3 sts at beg of foll 4 rows.
Cast off rem 18 [18:18: 19: 19: 19: 20: 20: 19] sts.

MAKING UP

Press by blocking out each piece of knitting and following the instructions on the ball band, press the garment pieces, omitting the ribs. Tip: Take special care to press the edges, as this will make sewing up both easier and neater. If the ball band indicates that the fabric is not to be pressed, then covering the blocked out fabric with a damp white cotton cloth and leaving it to stand will have the desired effect. Darn in all ends neatly along the selvedge edge or a colour join, as appropriate.

Join shoulder seams.

Neckband
With RS facing and using 4mm (US 6) needle, cont rib across 8 sts on left front holder. Cont in rib until piece fits along one half of back neck. Place sts on holder. Work in same way, using 8 sts from right front holder. Join open sts tog at centre back neck. Sew sides of neckband along cast-off sts of back neck.
Sew in sleeves.
Join side and sleeve seam.

Miya Cardigan template

Congratulations on completing your Miya cardigan! We hope you enjoyed making it, and that you'll feel luxurious and cosy in it. We'd love to see your creation, so be sure to upload an image of what you've made and tag @yodomo.co or hashtag #yodomomakes, and we'll share it with our community.

Want to knit even more luxurious and fashionable cashmere goods? Pick up a copy of MODE at Rowan Pure Cashmere today.

MODE at Rowan book cover.

MODE at Rowan Pure Cashmere, Quail Studio, RRP £12.99, available online & from all good bookshops.

Discover even more free creative craft projects from our publisher partners here.