June 26, 2008

Cropped and irresistibly lacy, the Sideways Cardigan has been one of the most knitted and most talked about projects from VK Spring/Summer 2008. We’ve received a number of emails regarding this pattern, so we thought we’d post a clarification to make all that stitching a little smoother. Here is a post from Technical Coordinator, Lisa Buccellato:

Some knitters have had difficulty understanding the directions for both lower fronts and think that the fronts are not knit to the same length. In order for the zigzag pattern to continue across the front, the starting points for each front must differ, depending on the size. The following explanation should help to clarify the repeats of the 24-row pattern.

Size Small:
The lower left front begins with row 1 of the zigzag pattern and the 24-row pattern is worked twice, then rows 1–13 are worked once more. The sleeve bind-off occurs on the next row (row 14), then that 24-row pattern repeat is completed. Rows 1–13 are worked once more. This makes a total of 3½ reps of the 24-row pattern.
The lower right front begins with row 13 of the zigzag pattern and works to row 24 to make ½ of a rep, then the 24-row pattern is worked twice more. The sleeve bind-off occurs on the next row (row 1), then that 24-row pattern repeat is completed.
This makes a total of 3½ reps of the 24-row pattern.

Size Medium:
The lower left front begins with row 13 of the zigzag pattern and works to row 24 to make ½ of a rep, the 24-row pattern is worked twice more, then rows 1–13 are worked once more. The sleeve bind-off occurs on the next row (row 14), then that 24-row pattern repeat is completed, and then rows 1–13 are worked once more.
This makes a total of 4 reps of the 24-row pattern, beginning and ending with ½ rep.

The lower right front begins with row 1 of the zigzag pattern and the 24-row repeat is worked 3 times. The sleeve bind-off occurs on the next row (row 1), then that 24-row pattern repeat is completed.
This makes a total of 4 reps of the 24-row pattern.

Size Large:
The lower left front begins with row 1 of the zigzag pattern and the 24-row pattern is worked three times, then rows 1–13 are worked once more. The sleeve bind-off occurs on the next row (row 14), then that 24-row pattern repeat is completed to make 4 repeats. Rows 1–13 are worked once more to make 1/2 rep. This makes a total of 4½ reps of the 24-row pattern.

The lower right front begins with row 13 of the zigzag pattern and works to row 24 to make ½ rep, then the 24-row pattern is worked three times more. The sleeve bind-off occurs on the next row (row 1), then that 24-row pattern repeat is completed.
This makes a total of 4½ reps of the 24-row pattern.

Get even more info on the Sideways Cardigan when you read the transcript from VK’s live chat with Technical Editor Jenn Jarvis and online readers like you. Read the conversation here.