I want to continue with my virtual tour through my book, Among Stones. I’m going to introduce you to Liathite and Liathite Jr both together, the big and little version of this cardigan.

This cardigan started with my need for a wearable, flattering and versatile cardigan. This is a cardigan I want to wear every day, it feels and looks good on, it’s neutral enough in design and color that It goes with almost everything and it keeps me warm! I also love zip closures, you can use a little bit of negative ease without having a button front gaping. So a big win.

This is knit from the top down, using raglan shoulder shaping, starting at the neck. The gauge is fairly heavy so it knits up really, really quickly. I wanted to have a few interesting knitterly details so there is a little slip stitch front edge and a plaited cable. You may notice that the cable flows smoothly into the wide ribbing. I think it’s small details like that that make us knitters happy :-) When the body is finished stitches are picked up at the neck and the hood is worked in ribbing. It’s shaped at the back and then short rows and a three needle bind off finish it off.

Here are the full Liathite pattern details:

Gauge
14 sts and 20 rows = 4”/10 cm in St st with larger needle
Four Rib Braid chart meas 3”/7.5cm across with larger needle
18 sts and 22 rows = 4”/10 cm 2×2 Ribbing (relaxed) with smaller needles

All details used in the book are fully explained and links to video/photo tutorials given where necessary.

Now on to the smaller version. This was knit for my youngest son, he kept trying on my version as I was knitting it and asking me if he could have one. I thought the pattern would translate well to a child’s version that would be very unisex. It has all of the same details as the adult version (front cables, raglan shoulders, ribbed hood) but more child friendly. The sizes are given with more positive ease (no children like to be constricted!) and there is obviously no waist shaping. My son just loves this top, I have been trying it hidden in my sample box but he keeps finding it….

So details of Liathite Jr:

SIZES
To fit actual chest up to size: 20 (21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29)”/ 51 (53.5, 56, 58.5, 63.5, 68.5, 73.5) cm
Suggested Ages: 12mts (18 mts, 2 yrs, 4 yrs, 6 yrs, 8 yrs, 10 yrs)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest Circumference: 21.5 (23.75, 24.75, 27.25, 28.25, 30.5, 31.75)”/54.5 (60.5, 63, 69, 72, 77.5, 80.5) cm
Size 28.25” / 72 cm modeled on 6 yr old with approx. 3”/ 7.5 cm of positive ease.
Length: 14 (15, 15.75, 18.25, 19.5, 21, 21.75)” / 35.5 (38, 40, 46.5, 49.5, 53.5, 55) cm not including hood.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Berroco ‘Vintage Chunky’ (50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon; 130 yds/120 m per 3.5 oz / 100g skein); Color: Smoke (6106); 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7) skeins.

Needles & Notions
Size 10 US/6 mm circular needle, 32”/80 cm length (or longer, to suit size made)
Size 9 US/5.5 mm circular needle, 32”/80 cm length (or longer, to suit size made) for ribbing
(Size 10 US/6 mm & 9 US/5.5 mm dpns, if magic loop method is not used for sleeves)
Stitch markers (including 4 split ring), cable needle, waste yarn, tapestry needle, open zip approx. 12.5 (13.5, 14, 16.5, 17.25, 18.75, 19.25)” / 32 (34.5, 35.5, 42, 44, 48, 49) cm long (or longer, can be cut to length).

Gauge
14 sts and 20 rows = 4”/10 cm in St st with larger needle
Four Rib Braid chart meas 3”/7.5cm across with larger needle
18 sts and 22 rows = 4”/10 cm 2×2 Ribbing (relaxed) with smaller needles

I went with zip closures for these cardigans. While it is daunting as a knitter to do I think it makes them very wearable. To sew in the zip, start with it closed and pin both sides of the front in position. Next I opened the zip and basted each side in with some big stitches. This means you can now take out the pins. I sewed the front edge in as neatly as possible and then the back edge. The most important thing with putting a zip in is that you don’t stretch the knitted fabric, once you avoid that everything else is pretty straightforward!

Like these patterns? You can find them in Among Stones, available in both digital or digital/print versions.

Would you like to do a KAL from Among Stones in August? I’ve got some voting going on at my ravelry board here to see what pattern gets knit first!