Gentle Hug Cardigan Novita Natura
Yes, summer is the warmer season in the Nordics as well, but as anyone who’s spent a few summers up here will tell you: the days will come when you’ll need a big warm cardigan. A delightful summer knit - easy and fast - and you’ll stay warm even in the cold northern summer.
Designer
Sari Nordlund
Size(s)
XS(S)M/L(L)XL
Finished dimensions
body circumference 106(114)122(130)138 cm / 41¾(45)48(51¼)54¼ in length 103(105)105(107)108 cm / 40½(41¼)41¼(42¼)42½ in sleeve length 47(48)49(49)50 cm / 18½(19)19¼(19¼)19¾ in
Yarn demand
Novita Natura (015) Lake 650(700)750(800)850 g
Needles and other supplies
Circular needles (80 cm / 32 in) Novita 5 mm (UK 6 / US 8) or size needed for gauge; 4½ mm (UK/US 7) needles for the pockets. For the sleeves: Double-pointed needles 5 mm, if you aren’t using the Magic Loop technique https://www.novitaknits.com/fi/fi/tutorials/villasukan-neulominen/magic-loop-tekniikka-eli-luuppaus
Finished dimensions
body circumference 106(114)122(130)138 cm / 41¾(45)48(51¼)54¼ in length 103(105)105(107)108 cm / 40½(41¼)41¼(42¼)42½ in sleeve length 47(48)49(49)50 cm / 18½(19)19¼(19¼)19¾ in
Stitch patterns Ribbing: Row 1: (WS) *k1, p1*, repeat *–*, k1. Row 2: *p1, k1*, repeat *–* until 1 st remains, p1. Keep repeating rows 1–2. Stockinette stitch: knit the right side rows and purl the wrong side rows. Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rows. Ribbing in the round: *k1, p1*, repeat *–*. Gauge 16 sts and 22 rows in stockinette st = 10 cm / 4 in
Note The cardigan is worked in one piece up to the armholes. The fronts and back are then worked separately. The sleeve sts are picked up from the armholes and the sleeves are worked in the round.
Body
Using the circular needle cast on 207(219)231(243)255 sts and begin ribbing: (WS) p8, *k1, p1*, repeat *–* until 9 sts remain, k1, p8. Keep working 8 sts at both ends in stockinette st. With the other sts work ribbing until the piece measures approx. 8 cm and finish on a WS row.
At both ends keep working 11 sts as established and with the other sts work stockinette st: k8, p1, k1, p1, k50(53)56(59)62, place right side marker, k85(91)97(103)109, place left side marker, work stockinette st to last 11 sts, p1, k1, p1, k8. 85(91)97(103)109 sts in the back, 61(64)67(70)73 sts in each front.
Note: When the piece measures 54(55)54(55)55(56) cm, make pockets: on a RS row k8, p1, k1, p1, k35(37)39(41)43, turn work. WS: p23 and turn work. Switch to the smaller needles and work stockinette st with these 23 sts. Leave the other sts on hold. Work until the pocket measures 26 cm. Switch back to the larger needle and work stockinette st until 23(25)27(29)31 sts remain. Turn work and make the other pocket as established. Work to end of row.
When the piece measures 79(80)79(80)80 cm, separate the fronts and back.
Top right front
With the 61(64)67(70)73 right front sts work as established and begin neckline decreases: on a RS row work the 11 border sts, skp, work to marker. Turn work and leave the other sts on hold. Repeat the neckline decrease every 1 cm 20(20)21(21)22 more times.
Note: When the armhole measures 20(21)22(23)24 cm, on every other row bind off 3x7(8)8(9)10 sts and 1x8(8)10(10)9 sts at the shoulder. After all the decreases there are 11 sts on the needles. Increase 1 st for seaming at the shoulder end. Work as established with these 12 sts. When the back border measures approx. 8,5(8,5)9(9)9,5 cm lightly stretched, bind off.
Top back
Work as established with the 85(91)97(103)109 back sts.
When the armhole measures 20(21)22(23)24 cm, on every other row bind off 3x7(8)8(9)10 sts and 1x8(8)10(10)9 sts at both ends. Bind off the remaining 27(27)29(29)31 sts.
Top left front
Mirror the right front, but work the neckline decreases by k2tog.
Sew the shoulder seams. Attach the back border to the neckline and sew or stitch together the ends. Fold the border the whole way through so that 6 edge sts are on the inside of the piece, loosely stitching the edge to the inside. Sew the sides of the pocket.
Sleeves
Use the 5 mm double-pointed needles, or the circular needle if you’re using the Magic Loop technique, to pick up sts from around the armhole. Begin at the bottom edge and pick up and knit 32(33)34(35)37 sts from the RS of both pieces = 64(66)68(70)74 sts.
Work stockinette st in the round.
When the sleeve measures 2(3)3(1)2 cm, decrease 1 st on both sides of the beginning of round: work 1 st, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, skp, k1. Repeat the decrease every 2(2)2(2,5)2 cm 9(10)10(10)11 more times = 44(44)46(48)50 sts.
When the sleeve measures 25(25)26(27)27 cm, work ribbing in the round.
When the sleeve measures 47(48)49(49)50 cm, bind off in pattern.
Knit the other sleeve in the same manner.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Steam and shape.
Finished dimensions
body circumference 106(114)122(130)138 cm / 41¾(45)48(51¼)54¼ in length 103(105)105(107)108 cm / 40½(41¼)41¼(42¼)42½ in sleeve length 47(48)49(49)50 cm / 18½(19)19¼(19¼)19¾ in
Stitch patterns Ribbing: Row 1: (WS) *k1, p1*, repeat *–*, k1. Row 2: *p1, k1*, repeat *–* until 1 st remains, p1. Keep repeating rows 1–2. Stockinette stitch: knit the right side rows and purl the wrong side rows. Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rows. Ribbing in the round: *k1, p1*, repeat *–*. Gauge 16 sts and 22 rows in stockinette st = 10 cm / 4 in
Note The cardigan is worked in one piece up to the armholes. The fronts and back are then worked separately. The sleeve sts are picked up from the armholes and the sleeves are worked in the round.
Body
Using the circular needle cast on 207(219)231(243)255 sts and begin ribbing: (WS) p8, *k1, p1*, repeat *–* until 9 sts remain, k1, p8. Keep working 8 sts at both ends in stockinette st. With the other sts work ribbing until the piece measures approx. 8 cm and finish on a WS row.
At both ends keep working 11 sts as established and with the other sts work stockinette st: k8, p1, k1, p1, k50(53)56(59)62, place right side marker, k85(91)97(103)109, place left side marker, work stockinette st to last 11 sts, p1, k1, p1, k8. 85(91)97(103)109 sts in the back, 61(64)67(70)73 sts in each front.
Note: When the piece measures 54(55)54(55)55(56) cm, make pockets: on a RS row k8, p1, k1, p1, k35(37)39(41)43, turn work. WS: p23 and turn work. Switch to the smaller needles and work stockinette st with these 23 sts. Leave the other sts on hold. Work until the pocket measures 26 cm. Switch back to the larger needle and work stockinette st until 23(25)27(29)31 sts remain. Turn work and make the other pocket as established. Work to end of row.
When the piece measures 79(80)79(80)80 cm, separate the fronts and back.
Top right front
With the 61(64)67(70)73 right front sts work as established and begin neckline decreases: on a RS row work the 11 border sts, skp, work to marker. Turn work and leave the other sts on hold. Repeat the neckline decrease every 1 cm 20(20)21(21)22 more times.
Note: When the armhole measures 20(21)22(23)24 cm, on every other row bind off 3x7(8)8(9)10 sts and 1x8(8)10(10)9 sts at the shoulder. After all the decreases there are 11 sts on the needles. Increase 1 st for seaming at the shoulder end. Work as established with these 12 sts. When the back border measures approx. 8,5(8,5)9(9)9,5 cm lightly stretched, bind off.
Top back
Work as established with the 85(91)97(103)109 back sts.
When the armhole measures 20(21)22(23)24 cm, on every other row bind off 3x7(8)8(9)10 sts and 1x8(8)10(10)9 sts at both ends. Bind off the remaining 27(27)29(29)31 sts.
Top left front
Mirror the right front, but work the neckline decreases by k2tog.
Sew the shoulder seams. Attach the back border to the neckline and sew or stitch together the ends. Fold the border the whole way through so that 6 edge sts are on the inside of the piece, loosely stitching the edge to the inside. Sew the sides of the pocket.
Sleeves
Use the 5 mm double-pointed needles, or the circular needle if you’re using the Magic Loop technique, to pick up sts from around the armhole. Begin at the bottom edge and pick up and knit 32(33)34(35)37 sts from the RS of both pieces = 64(66)68(70)74 sts.
Work stockinette st in the round.
When the sleeve measures 2(3)3(1)2 cm, decrease 1 st on both sides of the beginning of round: work 1 st, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, skp, k1. Repeat the decrease every 2(2)2(2,5)2 cm 9(10)10(10)11 more times = 44(44)46(48)50 sts.
When the sleeve measures 25(25)26(27)27 cm, work ribbing in the round.
When the sleeve measures 47(48)49(49)50 cm, bind off in pattern.
Knit the other sleeve in the same manner.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Steam and shape.
