Simnia Cardigan by Jan Cullen: A Traditional Yoke Style Knitting Pattern with Sea Shell Skirt Design

Simnia Cardigan by Jan Cullen

Simnia Cardigan is a traditional yoke style with a flared skirt. The patterning on the skirt is reminiscent of sea shells. It is a repeat of six stitches and is easy to memorise. The sleeve and skirt lengths may be adjusted if desired. The cardigan is worked from the top down seamlessly. Initially you will be working flat in rows from the neckband to the sleeve separation. Sleeve stitches are put on hold while you finish the skirt. Then the sleeve stitches are returned to the needles (circular or DPN's) and worked seamlessly to the cuff. There are optional short rows to add shaping to the back of the yoke. The button bands are knitted with the rest of the garment in one piece.

This design has about 5 cm/2 inches of positive ease and is meant to be worn over a babies other garments.

Suggested Yarns

Dia Twist DK by Colour Adventures (100% merino; 229m/250yds in 115g/4.06oz) Dia Sport by Colour Adventures (100% merino; 251m/274yds in 100g/3.53oz) 100% Extra Fine Merino 10/28NM DK Weight by Colourmart (100% merino; 421m/460yds in 150g/5.29oz)

Notions

4 mm (US 6) needles (circular or DPNs for sleeves) 3.25 mm (US 3) needles (circular or DPNs for sleeves) Stitch holders or scrap yarn 4 Stitch markers 4 (or more) buttons - about 1 cm/1%2 inch wide Gauge: 22 sts x 28 rows = 10 cm/4 inches over stockinette stitch on 4 mm/US 6 needles or size required to meet gauge.

Useful Techniques

Cast on methods: knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on Blocking: knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/FEATdiyknitter.html Shortrows: techknitting.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/short rows-method.html

Abbreviations

k - knit p-purl RS - right side WS - wrong side pm - place marker sm - slip marker st/s - stitches w+t - wrap stitch and turn work (See Short Rows in Useful Techniques) YO - yarn over needle, knit this loop on the following round SSK - slip one stitch knitwise, slip next stitch purlwise, and knit both stitches through the back loop M1 - make a new stitch by picking up the running strand from front to back in-between stitches and knitting into the back of it M1L - make a left leaning stitch by knitting into the st below the just knitted stitch on the right hand needle. M1R - make a right leaning stitch by knitting into the st below the next stitch on the left hand needle k3twice - knit each of the next 3 stitches by wrapping the yarn twice around the needle for each stitch. k5twice - knit each of the next 5 stitches by wrapping the yarn twice around the needle for each stitch. Sp3tog - slip each of the next 3 sts purlwise dropping the extra loops, slip them back on to the left needle and purl the 3 sts together. Sp5tog - slip each of the next 5 sts purlwise dropping the extra loops, slip them back on to the left needle and purl the 5 sts together M3 - knit, yarn over, knit - all into the next st (1 stitch is made into 3 stitches) M5 - knit, yarn over, knit, yarn over, knit - all into the next stitch (1 stitch is made into 5 stitches)

YOKE

Using smaller diameter needles and long tail method, cast on 64 (71, 71) stitches. Knit 4 rows. Unisexonly: Buttonhole Row (RS): k1, k2tog, YO, knit to end. Girls only: Buttonhole Row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, YO, SSK, k1. Note: Buttonholes should be made as above on every 10th (12th, 12th) row, i.e.5 (6, 6) garter ridges after the previous buttonhole until you have made 4 buttonholes in total. You will need to keep track of this as you work as no more reminders will be given. Knit 3 rows. Change to larger diameter needles. 40.5 cm/16" size only: Increase row (RS): k4, [k4, M1, k4] 7 times, k4. Total 71sts. Next row (WS): k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3. All Sizes: Row 1(RS): k4, [k5, M1, k4] 7 times, k4. Total 78sts. Row 2 (Ws): k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3. Row 3 (RS): k4, [k3, M1, k4, M1, K3] 7 times, k4. Total 92 sts. Row 4 & all WS rows: k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3. Now you have the option to work short rows as in the box below, if you wish to omit them then go to Row 5 instead.

Short Rows (optional):

Row 4a (RS): knit 63, w+t, p34, w+t, knit to end of row picking up the wrap as you come to it. Row 4b (WS): k3, purl to last 3 sts picking up the wrap as you come to it, k3. Go to Row 7. Row 5 (RS): knit. Row 7 (RS): k4, [k4, M1, k4, M1, k4] 7 times, k4. Total106sts. Row 9 (RS): knit. Row 11 (RS): k4, [k5, M1, k4, M1, k5] 7 times, k4. Total 120 sts. Row 13 (RS): knit. Row 15 (RS): k4, [k6, M1, k4, M1, k6] 7 times, k4. Total 134 sts. Row 17 (RS): knit. Row 19 (RS): k4, [k7, M1, k4, M1, k7] 7 times, k4. Total 148 sts. Row 21 (RS): knit. Row 23 (RS): k4, [k8, M1, k4, M1, k8] 7 times, k4. Total 162 sts. 40.5 cm/16" size only: Work Row 24 (WS) then go to Row 35. 46 & 51 cm/18" & 20" sizes only: Row 25 (RS): knit. Row 27 (RS): k4, [k9, M1, k4, M1, k9] 7 times, k4. Total 176 sts. Row 30 (WS): k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3. 46 cm/18" size: Go to Row 35. 51 cm/20" only: Row 31 (RS): k4, [k10, M1, k4, M1, k10] 7 times, k4. Total 190 sts Row 32 (WS): k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3. Row 33 (RS): knit. Row 34 (WS): k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

All Sizes:

Row 35 (RS): k24 (27, 30), M1L, pm, M1R, k34 (36, 38), M1L, pm, M1R, k46 (50, 54), M1L, pm, M1R, k34 (36, 38), M1L, pm, M1R, k24 (27,30). Total: 170 (184, 198) sts. Row 36 (WS): k3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Sleeve Separation

Row 37 (RS): knit to marker, remove marker and put next 36 (38, 40) sts on hold for sleeve, remove marker, cast on 2 (4, 4) sts, knit to marker, remove marker, put next 36 (38, 40) sts on hold for sleeve, remove marker, cast on 2 (4, 4) sts, knit to end of row. Total: 102 (116, 126) sts.

SKIRT

Work an increase row for your size, as follows: 40.5 cm/16" only: (WS): k6, [M1, k3], repeat to last 6 sts, M1, k6. Total 133 sts. 46 cm/18" only: (WS): k7, [M1, k3] repeat to last 7 sts, M1, k7. Total156sts. 51 cm/20" only: (WS): k3, M1, [k2, M1, k3, M1] 24 times, k3. Total 175sts.

All Sizes:

Row 1 (RS): k3, M3, [k5twice, M5] repeat to last 9 sts, K5twice, M3, k3. Row 2 (WS): k6, [Sp5tog, k5] repeat to last 11 sts, Sp5tog, k6. Rows 3, 4, 5 & 6: knit. Row 7 (RS): k3, k3twice, [M5, k5twice] repeat to last 7sts, M5, k3twice, k3. Row 8 (WS): k3, Sp3tog, [k5, Sp5tog] repeat to last 11 sts, k5, Sp3tog, k3.

Rows 9, 10, 11 & 12: knit.

Repeat rows 1 to 12 until work measures about 13.5 (16.5, 18.5) cm/5.5 (6.5, 7.5) inches from the underarm cast on sts, ending with a WS row. Knit every round for 1.5 cm/0.5 inch or until skirt measures 15 (18, 20) cm/6 (7,8) inches from underarm cast on ending with a WS row. Bind off knitwise.

SLEEVES (both alike)

Return sleeve stitches to larger diameter circular needles or DPNs. With RS facing and starting at the underarm, pick up and knit 2 (3, 4) sts, pm, pick up and knit 2 (3, 4) sts, knit across sleeve sts to 3 (4, 5) sts before marker, SSK, k1 (2, 3), sm, k1 (2, 3), k2tog, knit to marker. Total: 38 (42, 46) sts. Knit 4 rounds. Decrease Rnd: k2, k2tog, knit to 4 sts before marker, SSK, k2. (2 sts decreased) Repeat the decrease round every 5th round until 26 (28, 30) sts remain. Knit until the sleeve measures 12.5 (14, 15) cm/5 (5.5, 6) inches from the underarm area. Change to smaller diameter needles. Rnd 1: purl. Rnd 2: knit. Repeat Rnd 1 & 2 until sleeve measures 14 (15.5, 16.5) cm/5.5 (6, 6.5) inches ending with Rnd 1. Bind off knitwise.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Block cardigan according to yarn care advice. Sew on buttons.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Amanda, Jeannie and Maria, for testing this pattern; also to Elena and Monika for editing advice. Special thanks to Colour Adventures Yarns/Anadiomena Designs for producing such yummy yarns.

Copyright

The copyright of the pattern remains with Janet Cullen. This pattern is available from Ravelry.com and Craftsy.com. You may make cardigans for sale from this pattern. Please consider posting project photos on Ravelry or Craftsy if you have enjoyed this design, I would love to see them!