Dewdrop FernLace Cardigan

Designed by Judy Lamb

Materials: Sport Weight Yarn, Knitting needles, size 6 and size 4; 6 mm white pearl beads. Small metal crochet hook, size 9 or 10, seven 1/2 inch buttons.

Gauge: 5 sts/inch, 8 rows/inch

Size: to fit 34-36" chest.

Directions:
Body: (sweater is worked in one piece to armholes)
With smaller needles, cast on 146 sts. Work ribbing as follows:
Row1: *k2, p2, Tw2R, p2, rep from * across.
Row2: (k2, p2) across.
Repeat these two rows 8 times. Work row 2 once more. Change to larger needles.
Increase row: Inc 1 st in each k2, and in each tw2. (183 sts)

Begin Lace Arches Pattern.

Lace Arches Pattern:
Rows 1, 3, 5: k3, *p7, k3; rep from *.
Row 2, 4, and 6: p3, *k7, p3; rep from *.
Row 7: k2, *yo, ssk, p5, k2 tog, yo, k1; rep from *, end k1.
Row 8: p4, *k5, p5; rep from *, end last rep p4.
Row 9: k3, *yo, ssk, p3, k2 tog, yo, k3: rep from *.
Row 10: p5, *k3, p7; rep from *, end last rep p5.
Row 11: k2, *(yo, ssk) twice, p1, (k2 tog, yo) twice, k1; rep from *, end k1.
Row 12: p6, *k1, p9; rep from *, end last rep p6.
Row 13: k3, *yo, ssk, yo, sl 1-k2 tog-psso, yo, k2 tog, yo, k3; rep from *.
Row 14, 16, and 18: purl.
Row 15: k4, *yo, ssk, k1, k2 tog, yo, k5; rep from *, end last rep k4.
Row 17: k5, *yo, sl 1-k2 tog-psso, yo, k7; rep from *, end last rep k5. Row 19: k3, * k3, (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1)in next st, then pass the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th sts on right-hand needle separately over the last st made; k6; rep from *. Row 20: purl.

After completing the 20 rows of the pattern, purl 4 more rows, increasing 10 sts evenly on last row.
Work 4 rows stockinette stitch.
Purl 4 rows.
Begin Fern and Diamond Pattern: (one stitch at each end is to be knitted on each row for a seam stitch and is not included in the pattern below)
Row 1: k3, *k2 tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k5: rep from *, end last rep k3.
Row 2 (and all other wrong side rows): purl.
Row 3: k2, *k2 tog, (k1, yo) twice, k1, ssk, k3; rep from *, end last rep k2.
Row 5: k1, *k2 tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1; rep from *.
Row 7: k2 tog, *k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, sl 1-k2 tog-psso; rep from *, to last 9 sts, end k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk.
Row 9: k1, * yo, ssk, k5, k2 tog, yo, k1; rep from *.
Row 11: k1, *yo, k1, ssk, k3, k2 tog, k1, yo, k1; rep from *.
Row 13: k1, *yo, k2, ssk, k1, k2 tog, k2, yo, k1; rep from *.
Row 15: k1, *yo, k3, sl 1-k2tog-psso, k3, yo, k1; rep from *.

Repeat rows 1-16 for pattern.

Continue in Fern and Diamond Pattern until piece measures approximately 13 inches from beginning, ending with row 6.
Working row 7, work across first 46 sts. Turn (leaving rem sts on needle to be worked later)
Shape Right Front Raglan Seam:
(Note: This is where you start to add the beads. To add beads on the knit stitch between the yo's at the top of each leaf, take a very small metal crochet hook (size 9 or 10) and pull the stitch through the bead and place it back on the left hand needle. Knit the st, and continue with pattern.)
Bind off 4 sts at beginning of next row. Keeping in pattern, dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 5 right side rows. **Bind off 2 sts on next right side row, then dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 3 right side rows. Repeat from ** 4 more times.
AT THE SAME TIME, when there are 17 sts on needle, Shape Neck:
On next row, bind off 6 sts at neck edge, then dec 1 st at neck edge every other row.
When 3 sts rem on next right side row, sl 1-k2tog-psso. Break yarn.

Back:
Attach yarn to remaining sts on needle. Keeping in pattern, bind off 5 sts, work across next 96 sts. Turn. Leave rem sts on needle.
Bind off 5 sts. Work to end (91 sts).
(Remember to begin adding beads again).
Keeping in pattern, dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 5 right side rows. **Bind off 2 sts on next right side row, then dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 3 right side rows. Repeat from ** 5 more times. Bind off remaining sts.

Left Front:
Attach yarn to remaining sts on needle. Bind off 4 sts. Work to end. Shape same as Right Front, reversing shaping.

Right Sleeve:
With smaller needles, cast on 42 sts. Work in rib same as for body.
Change to larger needles. Make increases same as body on next row.
Begin Lace Arches pattern, and follow same pattern layout as for body of sweater, while increasing 1 st each side every 6 rows. Work new sts into patterns.
Be sure to center Fern and Diamond pattern on sts. (Sorry, but it's been years since I made this sweater, but I think you start the row with k1, ssk, k5, k2 tog, etc..... I hope that helps a little. The pattern needs to be centered for the raglan seams to work out right)
When there are 79 sts on needle, work even until piece measures about 16 1/12 to17 inches, ending with row 6.
Start armhole shaping (and don't forget the beads again).
Bind off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Work Raglan decrease same as for Back, repeating between **'s 4 times.
Shape Neck portion of sleeve. (I think you should be on row 7 at this point):
Bind off 7 sts. Work to end, keeping raglan shaping as before on opposite side.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on every right side row while continuing raglan shaping on opposite side of next 3 rs rows.
Bind off remaining sts.

Left Sleeve:
Work same as Right sleeve, reversing neck shaping.

Sew sleeve seams. Sew sleeves onto body, matching raglan seams.

Button Band:
With smaller needles Pick up 105 sts along front edge of Left Front.
Knit 3 rows.
Work in stockinette stitch for 4 rows.
Knit 3 rows.
Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 8 rows. Bind off in ribbing.

Buttonhole Band:
With smaller needles, pick up 105 sts along front edge of Right Front.
Work same as button band to ribbing.
Rib three rows, then make 7 buttonholes evenly spaced along band on next row.
Rib 4 rows. Bind off.

Neck Band:
With smaller needles, pick up 98 sts along neck edge. Work ribbing same as for body of sweater for 8 rows. Bind off.

Sew buttons under buttonholes.