Knit a jersey as warm and comforting as a hug

Knit a warm cuddle

This winter knit a chunky cardigan to donate to someone who needs a bit of warmth. This is a lovely, functional project. Use the sketches to play with colour combinations ‒great to do while you watch your favourite shows.

project ELSBETH EKSTEEN photo HENK VENTER

DIFFICULTY: easy to medium TIME: three weeks

SIZE Small (medium, large). Medium size measures 50cm wide and 40cm long.

YOU WILL NEED ♥ yarns and colours used are: ‒ African Expressions in Desire ‒ Vinnis in Black ‒ Scheepjes in Sapling, Cake, Wild Strawberry and Murderous Mint ‒ African Expressions Neon in Coral, Yellow and Pink ‒ Loopy #6 ‒ The 170 DK: 100%

Superfine Merino: Goddess Collection x 1 ‒ Eris: Vanilla with Neon Speckles, ‒ Adventure #3 ‒ Chloe: Mint Green ‒ Malabrigo ‒ Rios DK: 100% Superwash ‒ Merino Yarn x 1 Hollyhock ‒ Nurturing Fibres ‒ SuperTwist Sock

Yarn: Merino Wool x 1 Lavender ‒ Miss La Motte ‒ Twist Sock: 100% ‒ Superwash Merino x 1 Frosted Plum ‒ Adeleʼs Mohair ‒ Magic Ball: Upcycled

Yarns x 1 Strawberry Shortcake ‒ The Alpaca Yarn Co ‒ Mariquita Handdyed: Baby Alpaca & Tencyl Yarn x 1 Spring Peepers #554 ‒ Loopy #6 ‒ Blended Delight: Merino,

Silk, Mohair & Polyamide Sock Yarn x 1 ‒ Experiment 101 ‒ Floofies, Lilac ♥ ChiaoGoo ‒ Twist Lace Knitting Needle

Tips 7mm ♥ ChiaoGoo ‒ Twist Red Cable [Large] x 1 ♥ 5mm knitting needles ♥ tapestry needle ♥ knitting needle point protectors ♥ scissors ♥ blocking mat ♥ T-pins for blocking ♥ quilting clips ‒ keep the panels nicely in place while sewing them together

NOTES • Make your own Aran weight yarn by knitting with 2 strands of double knitting yarn together. Use any other combination of yarns to get from Aran weight to chunky weight yarns. Even though some combination yarns will be thicker or thinner, keep knitting with the same size needles. • The simplicity of the blocks is upped with a wow factor when you use different textured yarns, some mohair and unusual colour combinations in the balls that you make and by the way the colours next to each other interact. • The cardigan is knitted in panels and sewn together. The medium size measures 50cm wide by 40cm long (you can make your cardigan as wide or long as you want, even a long coat). • The blocks of colour can be knitted so that they are all perfect squares or, like the diagram on the page overleaf, so they are all different sizes. • To knit blocks of colour you will be knitting intarsia. Please watch some video tutorials to get familiar with the technique. • The knitting is quite stretchy, so keep this in mind when you plan your size. The panels can stretch up to 10cm lengthwise after blocking. This is quite important when you decide on the length of the sleeves. This is only relevant if your yarns are mostly animal and plant based. Acrylic yarn wonʼt stretch so much after blocking.

ABBREVIATIONS beg ‒ begin(ning) cont ‒ continue dec ‒ decrease(ing) inc ‒ increase(ing) k ‒ knit p ‒ purl rep ‒ repeat rib ‒ ribbing RS ‒ right side st(s) ‒ stitch(es) st st ‒ stocking stitch

TO KNIT BACK Knitted as a square from the bottom up. Shape the neckline over the last 7 rows. With 5mm knitting needles and African Expressions Desire and Vinnis Black held

together, cast on 52 (60, 68) sts for the ribbing. Row 1: k 2, p 2. Row 2: k all the sts. Rows 3-6: rep rows 1 and 2. Change to 7mm needles. Using 4 balls of yarn, cont in st st (one k row, one p row). Row 7: Start working the blocks. Join in first colour and k 13 (15, 17) sts per colour to complete the row. Row 8 up to beg of neckline: Work in st st, changing colours depending on your preference. Neckline shaping: Find the centre of the back, count 7 (7, 9) sts from the centre back to both sides, place st markers there. Complete each half separately. Dec 1 st at neck edge in every row 7 (7, 9) times. Cast off remaining sts for shoulder. Complete second half as first, reversing shaping.

FRONT MAKE 2 Dec for the neckline on the right-hand side of one panel and the left-hand side of the other panel. Count from the top of the back 25 (25, 27) rows down and mark with st markers on the side. This will be the guide you can use to beg dec for the front neckline. Measure the front against the back and work until you reach the st markers. With 5mm knitting needles and African Expressions Desire and Vinnis Black held together, cast on 26 (30, 34) sts and follow pattern for back. Work in st st until you reach the st markers on the back. Dec 1 st at neck edge in every 2nd row 7 (7, 9) times by working the first 2 sts together. Cont working in st st until the front measures the same as the back. Cast off the remaining sts for shoulder.

SLEEVES MAKE 2 The sleeves are puffy, with a tighter cuff, and have 4 blocks of colour. With 5mm knitting needles and African Expressions Desire and Vinnis Black held together, cast on 28 (32, 36) sts. Work 6 rows of k 2, p 2 rib as for the front and back panels. Change to 7mm needles. Row 7: k 7 (8, 9) sts per colour. Row 8: p 7 (8, 9) sts per colour. Row 9: inc into every 2nd st. Row 10 to desired length: Cont working in st st and changing colours whenever you want. Cast off with a stretchy cast-off method.

TO MAKE UP Using the quilting clips, secure the front shoulder edges to the back shoulder edges and sew together with double knitting yarn and the tapestry needle. Fold the sleeve top in half, place the fold on the shoulder seam and secure the sleeve to the side edges of the front and back with clips. Sew in position. Do the same with the other sleeve. Sew up the side and sleeve seams in one continuous seam.

FRONT BORDERS With RS of work facing, using 5mm needles and African Expressions Desire and Vinnis Black held together, pick up and k about 74 sts along one front edge to centre back. Work 6 rows of k 2, p 2 rib, cast off loosely rib wise. Do the same along the other front edge and back neck. Sew the two short ribbing ends together in centre back. Work away all loose yarn ends at back of work. Wet block your cardigan.

Model: Mila Venter

HERE ARE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BLOCK COMBINATIONS THAT YOU CAN USE TO PUT YOUR JERSEY TOGETHER. GET SOME COLOURED PENCILS AND TRY OUT A FEW COLOUR COMBINATIONS BEFORE STARTING.