My knitting over the last year has been as much for my mental health and comfort as for designing. The act of knitting gave me comfort and the act of giving allowed me to think about others outside of myself. This is where Spring Greens came from.

My mother ADORES emerald green. In fact, last summer as I walked up to her house I saw 3 cardigans drying on chairs outside in identical green colours. It planted the seed in my head for the perfect gift for her. I went in search of the perfect green colour in a warm yarn. I settled on Lamb’s Pride Shepherds Worsted and the mohair content give it just that extra bit of warmth.

As this cardigan is intended for my mother (who is somewhat smaller than me) but I’m the one that’s modelling it’s got a little less ease than intended. I think it looks best just a tiny bit looser.

This cardigan was designed to be a comfort knitting project for me, I was designing it on the fly, keeping the details simple and the cardigan wearable. I started with a gauge swatch (how else could it have fit?) and a few basic numbers and wrote the pattern down as I worked. The neck is completely shaped using German Short Rows and worked from the top down. I kept it fairly snug fitting so that it would be warm.

From there I used a basic kfb raglan seam. It’s easy to work, and I like the simple, elegant end effect. Finally, I did add a little waist shaping. My mother is small, and having a little shaping is really flattering on a cardigan! For those of you looking for the pattern details, keep scrolling!

Pattern Details

SIZES

To Fit Actual Bust Circumference Up To: 32 (35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 51, 54, 56, 59)”/ 81.5 (89, 96.5, 104, 112, 119.5, 129.5, 137, 142, 150) cm.

1-3”/2.5-7.5 cm of positive ease recommended.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust Circumference: 33 (36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 52, 55, 57, 60)”/ 84 (91.5, 99, 106.5, 114.5, 122, 132, 140, 145, 152.5) cm, buttoned

Length: 23.75 (24, 24.75, 25, 25.25, 25.75, 26, 26.75, 27, 27.25)”/ 60.5 (61, 63, 63.5, 64, 65.5, 66, 68, 68.5, 69) cm, measured at back

Size 36” / 91.5cm modeled with approx. 1” / 2.5 cm of positive ease.

YARN

Aran/worsted weight yarn approx. 887 (950, 1034, 1090, 1164, 1263, 1330, 1422, 1494, 1565) yds/ 808 (865, 942, 993, 1060, 1150, 1211, 1295, 1360, 1425) m

Sample Shown In: Brown Sheep Company ‘Lamb’s Pride Worsted’ (85% Wool, 15% Mohair 190 yds / 173 m per 4 oz /113 g); colour: #M147 (Emerald Green):  4 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) skeins

NEEDLES & NOTIONS

US size 8 / 5 mm circular needles, 40”/ 100 cm long (or longer for larger sizes)

US size 8 / 5 mm dpns if magic loop not being used for sleeves

Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, as every knitter’s gauge is unique.

Stitch markers, waste yarn, tapestry needle, 9 buttons approx 1”/ 2.5 cm diam.

GAUGE

16 sts and 24 rows / rnds = 4″/ 10 cm in St St

17 sts and 24 rows / rnds = 4″/ 10 cm in Ribbing

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Where To Buy

You can find Spring Greens in my online store here and on Ravelry here.

I don’t stock this yarn but I think that Studio Donegal Soft Donegal would work very nicely also.

For 10% off the pattern until the end of February use SPRING10 on both websites.