The Brooks Cardigan by Kristin Drysdale is the perfect versatile all-season cardigan that can be knit top down or bottom up. The timeless design was inspired by an antique kitchen bowl that has been in her family longer than she has been. This cardigan is knit with seamless construction in the round with a steek.
Choose the method you love to knit, top down or bottom up, and download whichever pattern you prefer. Top-down and bottom-up knitting both have advantages and things to love about the process. The process is similar but different. Here are some of the things Kristen loves about both ways to knit a yoke sweater.
Top-down knitting is a modern way to knit. It starts with the neckband and moves quickly to the colourwork yoke and is knit from top to bottom. I love to jump right to the colourwork. Top down knitting is really a great project for a colourwork class. The yoke is shaped with increases. Once the yoke is completed, the stitches are divided into the sleeves and the body. This method makes it easy to try on your cardigan as you go and tailor-fit the yoke depth and length of the body and sleeves. It also is easy to seamlessly pick up the underarm stitches for the sleeves. It is also very rewarding to have the beautiful yoke smiling at you the whole time you knit the body. It encourages you to finish because you can’t wait to wear it. There is minimal finish work in top-down knitting.
Bottom-up knitting is the traditional way to knit a yoke sweater. It’s super portable and quick to knit. It starts with knitting the body, then you knit the sleeves separately. If this is your first bottom-up yoke sweater, you will be pleasantly surprised how quickly the sleeves knit up! . As soon as you finish each sleeve, you will connect it to the body. Once the body is joined to both sleeves, you knit a few rounds, then the fun part starts. I like saving the colourwork for last, the anticipation of working the yoke is motivational to me, It’s like dessert. The yoke is shaped with decreases. The longtail cast-on has the perfect stretch for the cuffs and waistband. I love the traditional V shape of the stitch, especially in colourwork. And you can’t underestimate the bonus it is to be able to tailor fit the neckband. Bottom-up knitting also has minimal finishing work, but you do have to finish the underarms. I have tricks that makes this a snap.
Both patterns have instructions for short rows.
Yarn
DK weight
Main Color: approx. 815 (870, 948, 1017, 1065, 1123, 1181, 1299, 1357, 1413, 1472, 1531, 1591, 1650) yards
Contrasting Color: approx. 132(142, 152, 172, 182, 192, 202, 212, 222, 230, 242, 252, 262) 280) yards
Needles
Ribbing: 3.5 mm (US 4) 32 or 40 – inch/ 80 or 100 for the body and neckband and a set of dpns or flexiflips for cuffs
Main body and sleeves: 4.0 mm (US 6) 32 or 40- inch/ 80 or 100 cm for body, 16-inch/40 cm circular needles for sleeves
Colourwork yoke: 4.5 mm (US 7) or 32 or 40-inch/ 80 or 100 cm (if you knit colourwork with a tighter gauge)
Gauge and Swatch
20 stitches and 23 rows = 4 inches colorwork
20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in single color
Please swatch in the round, to determine needle size.
Note swatch in both one color and in colorwork to determine needle size
Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14) with a 3 to 6-inch positive ease.
Sample sweater (in photos) is size 3 with a 3” positive ease.
Finished Measurements
Chest circumference: 31(33, 35.75 ,38, 40.5, 42.75 ,45.25, 47.75, 50, 52.25, 55, 57.25, 59.75, 62) inches
Body length from cast on edge to underarm: 11.5 (12, 12.5, 12.5, 13.25, 13.75, 14.25, 14.25, 15.25, 16, 16, 16, 17, 17) inches
Sleeve length: 16 (16.5, 17, 17, 17, 17.5, 18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19.5, 19.5)”
Yoke depth without neckband: 8 (8, 8.25, 8.5, 8.5, 8.75, 9, 9.5, 10,10.5 ,10.5,
10.5 ,10.75,10.75) inches
Total length: 21 (21, 22.25, 22.5, 23.5, 24.25, 25, 25.5, 27, 27.5 ,27.5, 28.5, 28.75, 28.75) inches
Yarn Suggestions
BC Garn Semilla Melange, Garnstudio Drops Lima, Tukuwool DK or Garnstudio Drops Sky - Note that you will want a non-superwash yarn because you will be steeking
We will be offering this or the Fie Cardigan as a class soon!
Here are a couple of fall themed sock patterns! Knit them now or wait to knit them for Socktober. Pumpkins & Spice Socks by This Handmade Life are designed with the lovely idea of coziness and staying at home on cold autumn evening by the fire.
Cables and a bit of texture make for an interesting and engaging knit yet not to hard and easy to memorize.
The pattern is for one size, women’s medium, 64 stitches. The pattern includes a chart and written chart instructions, written for magic loop method although dpns can certainly be used. The socks are knit cuff down.
Gauge
8 stitches = 1 inch
Needle Size
2.5 mm (US 1.5) or needle size as required to get gauge
Yardage
210 - 420 yards (192 - 384 m)
Yarn Suggestions
West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply, Malabrigo Ultimate Sock, Hikoo Madrona
Harvest by This Handmade Life have an easy to memorize pattern. Garter stripes and slipped stitches make for a fun pair of socks to knit.
The garter stripes are made with 2 different color ways. You can have lots of fun with this, go crazy with the colors you choose or stick to a more subtle stripe like in the sample I knit. The texture of this sock is very squishy and very cozy. The slipped stitches definitely add interest to a simple sock.
The pattern is written instructions. This pattern is written for the magic loop method. Traditional heel flap and a rounded to finish the socks. No grafting required. Just pick two colors and cast on!
Sizes
S ( M, L)
Gauge
8 stitches = 1 inch
Needle Size
2.5 mm (US 1.5) or needle size as required to get gauge
Yardage
300 - 400 yards (274 - 366 m)
Yarn Suggestions
West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply, Koigu Collector's Club KPPPM or KPPPM, or Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock
FOs and WIPs
Just like on my first Step by Step Cardigan by Florence Miller, I have modified my second Step by Step Cardigan to add pockets. At both front edges on the wrong side row, I purled 14 stitches, took 20 stitches off onto waste yarn, thumb cast on 24 stitches and purled the rest. On the following right side row, I started the 1x1 ribbing which I did for 4.75 inches.
I bound off using an icelandic bind off using one needle but I couldn't find the YouTube video that I used the last time. I haven't used it enough to know how to do. I watched and tried to follow quite a few of them but found that the best one was this one by Stephen West. He was very clear in naming each stitch as a knit or purl stitch. On most, I couldn't tell what stitch was being worked on.
What I used to do was put all of the purl stitches onto a second needle to work the kitchener stitch.
I have also taken the pocket stitches that were put on hold back onto needles, knit the pockets and sewn them down.
The first sleeve is started!
KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY
Arlette (arlumizu) finished this pair of scrappy socks using leftover sock yarn.
Frankie (Cre8aBlueMoon) finished this b36-5 Early Nap Pants by DROPS design using Garnstudio Drops Baby Merino held double.
Frankie (Cre8aBlueMoon) finished Beloved by tincanknits using Garnstudio Drops Baby Merino held double with Malabrigo Sock.
Donna (Donna775) finished crocheting this slouchy market tote bag by Tidzhen Gyuldzhu.
Emma (emmlaporte) finished this crocheted Cozy Cotton Throw by Nicky Jones.
Here it is thrown over a sofa.
Bev (Bevyknits46) is wearing her Yume by Isabell Kraemer. Yarn is Kelbourne Woolens Scout.
Murray finished and is blocking cozy this Icelandic sweater. Unfortunately he didn't have the name of the pattern with him when he popped in.
Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) started tug hooking after taking a class at the PEI Fibre Festival a few years ago.
Her husband made the fabulous hangers for her creations.
SHOP UPDATE
Restock of Lichen and Lace from New Brunswick has arrived including Lunenburg Sweater Kits and Artus Shawl Kits.
SHIPPING UPDATE
Due to the unpredictable nature of tariffs in the USA, we will not be shipping to the United States at this time.
Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!