Relief Rhombs Knit Cardigan
You'll need:
900g of 100% cotton yarn;
Circle knitting needles 4,5.
Instructions
Horizontal pattern repeat is 18 sts and vertical - 32 rows, as you can see on the scheme. There are only right-side odd rows stated on the scheme. But even wrong side rows are made only with purls. Concerning yarn overs, stated on the scheme, they're made as purls. Start the row with the sts before pattern repeat, then repeat pattern repeat needed times, then finish with the sts after the pattern repeat. Work, repeating from 1st to 32nd rows. Stitches control of relief ornament is 15 sts and 25 rows = 10 x 10 cm. The main thing in making this cardigan is that it's knitted as one whole to arm-holes. Starting from the arm-holes the details are made separately. That's why you need to cast a lot of sts, so you need circle knitting needles with fishing line. The work is made with turn rows.
Cast on 201 st and knit 5 cm of placket with garter stitch. Then, divide the sts in the following way:
slip the 1st selvedge st, knit 9 sts of garter stitch for the placket of right front;
then, make 181 sts with relief rhombs (see scheme);
9 sts of garter stitch (for the left front) finish the row with last selvedge st.
Knit with this technique 49 cm after the placket, which is 128 rows. Then, change the division of sts and make the rows in the following way:
9 sts of garter stitch;
181 sts with relief rhombs, decrease 1 st in the 1st row (there are 180 sts left);
9 sts of garter stitch and selvedge st.
Back
As a result, there are 200 sts left on the needles. Transfer 54 sts from each side on the auxilary needles, and after that, start knitting back, using middle 92 sts. Knit 22 cm (66 rows), after that bind off 1 x 8 sts from both sides for forming shoulder line, after that 1 x 8 sts in the 4th row. At the same time, when you start making the shoulder chamfer, bind off central 38 sts in order to make neck-hole. Then, form both parts of back separately, making roundings along the inner line of neck-hole. Bind off 1 x 3 sts in the 4th row. After knitting 24,5 cm (74 rows) bind off the last 8 sts for shoulders.
Front
Transfer the sts left for the left front on the needles and make the ornament due to the scheme. In the process of making left front, make sts decreases for forming the neck-hole chamfer. For making this, rotate the decreases of st in the 2nd and 4th rows 20 times. This decrease is made by knitting 2 last sts before the placket together. Make the shoulder chamfer on the right side of left front and make in analogy with the back. In the end of making left front, bind off the last 8 sts of shoulder. This should be done at the height of front, which corresponds to back height. Transfer 10 sts of placket to the auxilary needle and leave for some time. Form the second front in analogy and symmetry to the first one.
Sleeves
Cast on 50 sts for one sleeve and make 3 cm of placket with garter stitch. Then, continue knitting with transversal rib, increasing st at the same time for making the sleeve wider. Increase 1 st in every 10th row from both sides 9 times. After knitting 8 cm (24 rows) from the placket, start making relief rhombs due to the scheme. In the 1st row of fancy pattern increase 1 st and allocate the ornament from the centre of work. Make the length of your sleeve 31 cm, bind off the sts, left on the needles.
Assembly
Put on the left sts from plackets on the needles and knit 14 cm with garter stitch in order to make back. Then, leave these sts again and sew the details. After that, make shoulder seams, sew the neck-hole placket to the neck-hole. Finish work with sewing the sleeves.