Quite a few people have asked for the pattern for the blue cardi that Monkey so rakishly sports in Issue One. It’s a great practice pattern actually, and is a good one to do if you’re about to embark on a larger top-down project such as Maude and just need to build a little confidence in the construction technique.
You’ll need one ball of DK yarn, 4mm circular needles (60cm long is a good length) and a suitably fashion-conscious Monkey. Follow these instructions alongside the Simply Seamless article in Issue One and you’ll have your cardi made in no time at all.
Abbreviations: inc - increase by knitting front and back; pm - place marker; sm - slip marker; rm - remove marker; rs - right side; ws - wrong side;
Yoke
Cast on 24 stitches, knit 1 row. Next row (ws): k5, pm, k3, pm, k8, pm, k3, pm, k5. Increase row: *knit to last st before marker, inc, sm, inc, repeat from * for three remaining markers, knit to end. Next row (ws): k2 (for front band), p to last 2sts, k2. Work the increase row and the next row 6 more times, you will have 22sts in the back between the two markers.
Body
Next row: k to next marker, rm, slip sleeve stitches onto waste yarn using a darning needle, rm, cast on 4 sts for underarm using backwards loop method, k across back and repeat for other sleeve, k to end. Next row (ws): k2, p to last 2sts, k2. Next row: knit. Continue to work the body in stocking stitch with 2 garter stitches at each front edge for 6 more rows, finish with a rs row. Next 2 rows: knit. Cast off lower edge.
Sleeves
Slip the held sts back onto the needles from the waste yarn. Rejoin yarn and pick up and knit 4sts from the underarm. Using Magic Loop method, work in the round and knit 6 rounds. Next round: purl. Next round: knit. Cast off cuff edge. Repeat for second sleeve.
Finishing
Monkey has a squishy head so I didn’t bother with a proper buttonhole - I just sewed right through the two layers (!). If you have more concern for your loved ones, you can make an eyelet buttonhole every so often down the front garter edge by working yo, k2tog.
Darn in all your ends and, if your Monkey is the fussy kind, block lightly.
