Color Theory: Emerson Cardigan
What’s not to love about a chunky knit cardigan? This cozy marled cardi with a contrast edging might be my new favorite thing to throw on over every outfit! The Emerson Cardigan will definitely be a staple in my closet for transition weather and fall/winter layering. Scroll down for the free pattern, purchase a printer-friendly PDF of the pattern here, or purchase the kit with all the Color Theory yarn you’ll need here.
As soon as I designed my Kenwood Sweater last year, I knew I needed to create a sister cardigan pattern. I love the marled effect you get when holding two strands of yarn together, and the Color Theory palette is perfect for experimenting with this technique since all of the colors are so mix-and-matchable.
Similarly to the crochet Emerick Cardigan, I went with neutrals for the main body fabric and more of a “pop” of color for the ribbed edging. While the color I used for the ribbing - Nutmeg - is technically a neutral, it has a vibrant warm tone to it that contrasts so nicely with the more greyscale cool tones of the base fabric which was knit with Moonbeam and Thunder.
Inset pockets are so easy to add to bottom up knit cardigans and I just love how seamless and polished they look on the finished piece. If you’re new to this technique, I highly recommend giving it a try!
This is an easy level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are knitting and purling, k2tog and ssk decreases, and kfb increases.
MATERIALS
2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (3, 3, 3, 3) skeins Lion Brand Color Theory in Nutmeg (619-124AD) for color A
3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (4, 5, 5, 5) skeins each Lion Brand Color Theory in Thunder (619-150BE) for color B and Moonbeam (619-099V) for color C
(worsted, weight 4; 246yds/225m per skein)
Size US 11 (8mm) straight knitting needles (larger sizes may require circulars to accommodate stitches)
Size US 15 (10mm) circular knitting needles, 32”/80cm
Stitch holders
Tapestry needle
GAUGE
11 sts + 14 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette on size US 15 (10mm) needles with yarn held double
FINISHED DIMENSIONS
Suggested positive ease: 8-10”/20.5-25.5cm
Pictured in a size S on model with 34”/86cm bust
ABBREVIATIONS
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms.
CO – cast on
Dec – decrease
K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 together
KFB – knit front and back
P – purl
Pm – place marker
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
SSK – slip, slip, knit
Sl – slip (purlwise)
Sm – slip marker
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
Notes: Cardigan body is worked in flat in pieces from the bottom up, and sleeves are worked flat from the top down. Pockets are inset. Two strands are held together throughout. All sts are slipped purlwise with yarn in back on right side rows and with yarn in front on wrong side rows. Pattern is written for nine sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL).
BACK
With size US 11 (8mm) needles and two strands of color A, CO 52 (58, 64, 70, 74) (80, 86, 92, 96) sts.
Rows 1-8: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Change to size US 15 (10mm) needles and one strand each of colors B and C.
Row 9 (RS): K.
Row 10 (WS): P.
Continue in stockinette – K the RS rows and P the WS rows – until work measures 11.5 (11.5, 12, 12, 12) (12.5, 12.5, 12.5, 12.75)”/29 (29, 30.5, 30.5, 30.5) (32, 32, 32, 32.5)cm from CO, ending with a WS row.
Begin underarm shaping:
Next row (RS): Bind off 3 sts, K to end of row. (49 (55, 61, 67, 71) (77, 83, 89, 93) sts)
Next row (WS): Bind off 3 sts, P to end of row. (46 (52, 58, 64, 68) (74, 80, 86, 90) sts)
Next row: K.
Next row: P.
Continue in stockinette – K the RS rows and P the WS rows – until work measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10) (10.5, 10.75, 11, 11.25)”/20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) (26.5, 27.5, 28, 28.5)cm from underarm bind offs, ending with a WS row.
Begin shoulder shaping:
Row numbers will restart for simplicity.
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 7, 7, 8) sts, K to end of row. (43 (48, 54, 59, 63) (68, 73, 79, 82) sts)
Row 2 (WS): Bind off 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 7, 7, 8) sts, P to last st, sl last st. (40 (44, 50, 54, 58) (62, 66, 72, 74) sts)
Row 3: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st (1 st bound off), bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, K to last st, sl last st. (37 (40, 45, 49, 52) (56, 59, 64, 66) sts)
Row 4: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, P to last st, sl last st. (34 (36, 40, 44, 46) (50, 52, 56, 58) sts)
Row 5: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (6, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, K to last st, sl last st. (31 (32, 35, 39, 40) (43, 45, 48, 50) sts)
Row 6: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (6, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, P to last st, sl last st. (28 (28, 30, 34, 34) (36, 38, 40, 42) sts)
Row 7: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 3 (3, 4, 5, 5) (6, 6, 7, 8) sts normally, K to last st, sl last st. (24 (24, 25, 28, 28) (29, 31, 32, 33) sts)
Row 8: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 3 (3, 4, 5, 5) (6, 6, 7, 8) sts normally, P to last st, sl last st. (20 (20, 20, 22, 22) (22, 24, 24, 24) sts)
Bind off remaining sts for back neck.
POCKET LININGS (MAKE 2)
With size US 15 (10mm) needles and one strand each of colors B and C, CO 18 sts.
Row 1 (RS): K.
Row 2 (WS): P.
Rows 3-20: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Row 21: Rep row 1.
Do not bind off. Break yarn, place work on a holder, and set aside.
FRONT RIGHT
With size US 11 (8mm) needles and two strands of color A, CO 26 (29, 32, 35, 37) (40, 43, 46, 48) sts.
Sizes XS (-, M, -, -) (2XL, -, 4XL, 5XL) only:
Rows 1-8: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Sizes - (S, -, L, XL) (-, 3XL, -, -) only:
Row 1: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to last st, K 1.
Row 2: *P 1, K 1, rep from * to last st, P 1.
Rows 3-8: Rep rows 1 and 2.
All sizes:
Change to size US 15 (10mm) needles and one strand each of colors B and C.
Row 9 (RS): K.
Row 10 (WS): P.
Rows 11-24: Rep rows 9 and 10, 7 more times.
Begin inset pockets:
Row 25: K 4 (6, 7, 9, 10) (11, 13, 14, 15), pm, change to two strands of color A and K 18, pm, change to another set of one strand each of colors B and C and K to end of row.
Row 26: P to marker, sm, change to two strands of color A and (K 1, P 1) 9 times, sm, change to one strand each of colors B and C and P to end of row.
Row 27: K to marker, sm, change to two strands of color A and (K 1, P 1) 9 times, sm, change to one strand each of colors B and C and K to end of row.
Row 28: Rep row 26
Row 29: K to marker, remove marker, change to two strands of color A and bind off next 17 rib sts, remove maker, sl the 1 st on the right needle onto the left needle, and with one strand each of colors B and C, K2tog, then K to end of row. Color A can now be cut.
Row 30: P to bind off, pick up set aside pocket lining and with wrong side facing up, P across the sts of the lining, then P across remaining sts of front body.
Row 31: K.
Row 32: P.
Begin center front and underarm shaping:
Row 33: (Dec row) K 1, SSK, K to end of row. (25 (28, 31, 34, 36) (39, 42, 45, 47) sts)
Continue in stockinette – K the RS rows and P the WS rows – and work a dec row every 4 (4, 6, 6, 6) (6, 6, 6, 6) rows, 9 (9, 2, 1, 2) (4, 3, 3, 4) more time(s), then every – (-, 4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4, 4) rows, - (-, 7, 9, 8) (6, 8, 8, 7) times. AT THE SAME TIME, bind off 3 sts at the beginning of a WS row when work measures 11.5 (11.5, 12, 12, 12) (12.5, 12.5, 12.5, 12.75)”/29 (29, 30.5, 30.5, 30.5) (32, 32, 32, 32.5)cm.
After all decreases are completed, continue in stockinette until work measures 19.5 (20, 21, 21.5, 22) (23, 23.25, 23.5, 24)”/49.5 (51, 53.5, 54.5, 56) (58.5, 59, 59.5, 31)cm, ending with a RS row. (13 (16, 19, 21, 23) (26, 28, 31, 33) sts)
Begin shoulder shaping:
Row numbers will restart for simplicity.
Row 1 (WS): Bind off 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 7, 7, 8) sts, P to last st, sl last st. (10 (12, 15, 16, 18) (20, 21, 24, 25) sts)
Row 2 (RS): K to last st, sl last st.
Row 3: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, P to end of row. (7 (8, 10, 11, 12) (14, 14, 16, 17) sts)
Row 4: K to last st, sl last st.
Row 5: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (6, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, P to end of row. (4 (4, 5, 6, 6) (7, 7, 8, 9) sts)
Row 6: K to last st, sl last st.
Row 7: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off remaining sts normally.
FRONT LEFT
With size US 11 (8mm) needles and two strands of color A, CO 26 (29, 32, 35, 37) (40, 43, 46, 48) sts.
Sizes XS (-, M, -, -) (2XL, -, 4XL, 5XL) only:
Rows 1-8: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Sizes - (S, -, L, XL) (-, 3XL, -, -) only:
Row 1: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to last st, K 1.
Row 2: *P 1, K 1, rep from * to last st, P 1.
Rows 3-8: Rep rows 1 and 2.
All sizes:
Change to size US 15 (10mm) needles and one strand each of colors B and C.
Row 9 (RS): K.
Row 10 (WS): P.
Rows 11-24: Rep rows 9 and 10, 7 more times.
Begin inset pockets:
Row 25: K 4 (5, 7, 8, 9) (11, 12, 14, 15), pm, change to two strands of color A and K 18, pm, change to another set of one strand each of colors B and C and K to end of row.
Row 26: P to marker, sm, change to two strands of color A and (K 1, P 1) 9 times, sm, change to one strand each of colors B and C and P to end of row.
Row 27: K to marker, sm, change to two strands of color A and (K 1, P 1) 9 times, sm, change to one strand each of colors B and C and K to end of row.
Row 28: Rep row 26.
Row 29: K to marker, remove marker, change to two strands of color A and bind off next 17 rib sts, remove maker, sl the 1 st on the right needle onto the left needle, and with one strand each of colors B and C, K2tog, then K to end of row. Color A can now be cut.
Row 30: P to bind off, pick up set aside pocket lining and with wrong side facing up, P across the sts of the lining, then P across remaining sts of front body.
Row 31: K.
Row 32: P.
Begin center front and underarm shaping:
Row 33: (Dec row) K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (25 (28, 31, 34, 36) (39, 42, 45, 47) sts)
Continue in stockinette – K the RS rows and P the WS rows – and work a dec row every 4 (4, 6, 6, 6) (6, 6, 6, 6) rows, 9 (9, 2, 1, 2) (4, 3, 3, 4) more time(s), then every – (-, 4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4, 4) rows, - (-, 7, 9, 8) (6, 8, 8, 7) times. AT THE SAME TIME, bind off 3 sts at the beginning of a RS row when work measures 11.5 (11.5, 12, 12, 12) (12.5, 12.5, 12.5, 12.75)”/29 (29, 30.5, 30.5, 30.5) (32, 32, 32, 32.5)cm.
After all decreases are completed, continue in stockinette until work measures 20”/51cm, ending with a WS row. (13 (16, 19, 21, 23) (26, 28, 31, 33) sts)
Begin shoulder shaping:
Row numbers will restart for simplicity.
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 7, 7, 8) sts, K to end of row. (10 (12, 15, 16, 18) (20, 21, 24, 25) sts)
Row 2 (WS): P to last st, sl last st.
Row 3: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st (1 st bound off), bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, K to end of row. (7 (8, 10, 11, 12) (14, 14, 16, 17) sts)
Row 4: P to last st, sl last st.
Row 5: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) (6, 6, 7, 7) sts normally, K to end of row. (4 (4, 5, 6, 6) (7, 7, 8, 9) sts)
Row 6: P to last st, sl last st.
Row 7: Sl 2, pass 2nd st over the 1st, bind off remaining sts normally.
SLEEVES
With size US 15 (10mm) straight needles and one strand each of colors A and B, CO 46 (48, 50, 54, 56) (58, 60, 62, 64) sts.
Row 1 (RS): K.
Row 2 (WS): P.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until work measures 3”/7.5cm from CO, ending with a WS row.
Next row (RS): (Dec) K 1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K 1. (44 (46, 48, 52, 54) (56, 58, 60, 62) sts)
Next 5 (5, 3, 3, 3) (3, 3, 3, 3) rows: Work in stockinette – K the RS rows and P the WS rows.
Rep last 6 (6, 4, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4, 4) rows 1 (1, 10, 8, 8) (7, 6, 6, 5) more time(s). (42 (44, 28, 36, 38) (42, 46, 48, 52) sts)
Sizes XS (S, -, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) only:
Next row: (Dec) K 1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K 1. (40 (42, -, 34, 36) (40, 44, 46, 50) sts)
Next 3 (3, -, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1, 1) row(s): Work in stockinette – K the RS rows and P the WS rows.
Rep last 4 (4, -, 2, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) rows 7 (7, -, 3, 3) (5, 7, 7, 9) more times. (26 (28, -, 28, 30) (30, 30, 32, 32) sts)
All Sizes:
If necessary, continue in stockinette until work measures 18”/46cm from CO, ending with a WS row. (26 (28, 28, 28, 30) (30, 30, 32, 32) sts)
Change to size US 11 (8mm) needles and two strands of color A.
Next row (RS): K.
Next 7 rows: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Bind off with a tubular bind off or in rib.
CONSTRUCTION
Seam shoulders, lining up the shaping.
Line each sleeve up to the armholes, fitting the tops of them between the underarm bind offs of the front and back. Seam the top of each sleeve first at the horizontal underarm, then up and over the shoulder, then at the underarm on the other side.
Fold at shoulders and, starting at bottom edge, seam sides up to the underarm and then down the underside of the sleeves.
NECKBAND
Place markers along the center front edge of both front pieces where the shaping began.
With size US 15 (10mm) needles, RS facing, two strands of color A, and starting at bottom right center front corner, pick up and K into 2 out of every 3 rows along the lower right center front edge to the first marker, then 3 out of every 4 rows along the angled edge to the back neck, then each bound off st of back neck, then 3 out of every 4 rows along the angled edge to the next marker, then 2 out of every 3 rows along the lower left center front edge, ensuring there are an odd number of sts total.
Row 1: *P 1, K 1, rep from * to last st, P 1.
Row 2: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to last st, K 1.
Rows 3-8: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Row 9: Rep row 1.
Bind off with a tubular bind off or loosely in rib.
Secure and weave in all ends.
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