Knitted Fantasy Pattern Cardigan

Size: US 8 / UK 12. 

Materials:  

500 g of yarn (100% acrylic, 283 m / 100 g), knitting needles size 4 mm (US size 6, UK size 8), 7 buttons, 2.5 cm in diameter.  

Ribbing Pattern 2x2: * knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches, repeat from *.  

Stockinette stitch: knit stitches on right-side rows, purl stitches on wrong-side rows.  

Seed stitch:  

Row 1 and all odd-numbered rows: * knit 1, purl 1, repeat from *.  

Row 2 and all even-numbered rows: shift the pattern by knitting over purls and purling over knits.  

Fantasy pattern:  

Work according to the chart, which shows only the right-side rows.  

On wrong-side rows, work the stitches as they appear, and purl all yarn overs.  

Begin with 1 edge stitch, repeat the stitch pattern continuously, end with 1 stitch after the repeat and 1 edge stitch.  

Gauge:  

in Fantasy pattern: 19 stitches x 25 rows = 10 x 10 cm.  

Back:  

Cast on 82 stitches and work 4 cm in 2x2 rib for the hem.  

Continue in the fantasy pattern, increasing 9 stitches evenly in the first row.  

After 52 cm from the cast-on edge, shape the armholes on both sides.  

Begin shaping 5 stitches from the edges by decreasing 1 stitch in every second row 23 times.  

Work decreases as follows:  

At the beginning of the row – knit 1, slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over (left-leaning decrease), yarn over, left-leaning decrease.  

Continue in the fantasy pattern.  

When 5 stitches remain at the end of the row, work as follows: knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 2 stitches together, knit 1.  

After 72 cm from the cast-on edge, place stitches on a stitch holder.  

Right Front:  

Work 6 buttonholes (knit 2 stitches together, yarn over) 4 stitches in from the edge in seed stitch.  

Work the first buttonhole 1 cm from the cast-on edge, then place the others 12 cm apart.  

Cast on 50 stitches: 8 stitches in seed stitch and 42 stitches in 2x2 rib.  

After 4 cm from the cast-on edge, increase 4 stitches evenly in the first row.  

Continue as follows: 8 stitches in seed stitch, 46 stitches in fantasy pattern.  

After 52 cm, shape the armhole on the left edge as for the right side of the back.  

After 72 cm from the cast-on edge, place stitches on a stitch holder.  

Left Front:  

Work as for the right front, but in mirror image and without buttonholes.  

Shape the armhole as for the left side of the back.  

Sleeves:  

Cast on 44 stitches and work 4 cm in 2x2 rib for the cuff.  

Continue in fantasy pattern, increasing 17 stitches evenly in the first row.  

After 38 cm from the cast-on edge, shape the sleeve cap as for the back.  

After 58 cm from the cast-on edge, place stitches on a stitch holder.  

Finishing:  

Transfer all held stitches to the needles in the following order: right front, one sleeve, back, second sleeve, left front.  

Work in seed stitch, decreasing 8 stitches evenly in the first row.  

After 3 cm, work one more buttonhole on the right front in alignment with the previous ones.  

After 4 cm, bind off all stitches.  

Sew the armhole seams, sleeves, and side seams.  

Sew the buttons on the left front to align with the buttonholes on the right front.