Mandarin Cardigan Pattern #1099

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 8 balls of main color and 1 ball of contrasting color for trimming bands.
Milward's Casein knitting pins, 1 pair No. 3 (3 mm. size).
An 18-inch slide fastener.

Gauge: 7 sts make 1 inch; 9 rows make 1 inch.

Back. Starting at bottom, cast on 108 sts. 1st and 2nd rows: * K 2, p 2. Repeat from * across. 3rd and 4th rows: * P 2, k 2. Repeat from * across. These 4 rows constitute the pattern. Repeat these 4 rows, decreasing 1 st at both ends every inch, 5 times (98 sts remain). Then increase 1 st at both ends every ½ inch, 10 times (118 sts). Work straight until piece measures 12 inches in all.

To Shape Armholes: Bind off 6 sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at end of each row until 90 sts remain. Then work straight until work measures 7 inches from 1st row of armhole shaping. To shape shoulders, bind off 4 sts at beginning of each row until 30 sts remain. Bind these off for back of neck.

Right Front. Starting at bottom, cast on 64 sts and work in pattern, decreasing 1 st every ½ inch on one edge only (side edge), keeping the opposite edge (front edge) straight until 54 sts remain. Then increase 1 st every inch at side edge until there are 60 sts on needle. Then work straight until piece measures 12 inches in all.

To Shape Armhole: Bind off 6 sts at side edge on next row. Then decrease 1 st at same edge (armhole edge) every other row until 45 sts remain. Then work straight until front edge measures 18½ inches in all. To shape neck, on next row, bind off first 10 sts at front edge. Then decrease 1 st at neck edge every other row, keeping armhole edge straight until 30 sts remain and armhole measures same as armhole of back. To shape shoulder, bind off 4 sts at armhole edge every other row, keeping neck edge straight, until all sts are worked off.

Left Front. Same as right front.

Sleeves. Starting at bottom, cast on 76 sts and work in pattern, increasing 1 st at both ends every ½ inch until there are 92 sts on needle. To shape top of sleeve, bind off 6 sts at beginning of each of next 2 rows, 4 sts at beginning of each of following 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at end of each row until 22 sts remain. Bind off.

Trimming Bands. With contrasting color, cast on 9 sts and work in garter st (k each row) until band measures same length as front (from lower edge to neck edge). Break off and slip these sts onto a stitch holder. Make another band same as this, but do not break off. Then cast on 70 sts and continue across previous band (88 sts on needle). Continue in garter st until band is as deep as the width of previous band. Bind off.

   Sew slide fastener along center front of blouse. Pin trimming band in place along both sides of front (as in illustration) and along neck edge, so that neck band stands up. Sew band in place. Make a band same as front band and sew over each sleeve.