Figures
Notes
Figures is an all over colourwork cardigan featuring abstract geometric lines. It is worked
from the bottom up with steeks for the front, neck and armholes. This is an intermediate
level projet with floats to catch and pattern to maintain on the upper body shaping.
Use the hashtag #figurescardigan to share your project.
Pattern, pictures and notes © Audrey Borrego. This pattern is for personal use only.
Yarn :
You will need two colours of DK weight yarn in the following amounts :
MC : 650 (730 / 810 / 920 / 1000), (1110 / 1235 / 1320 / 1410) meters
710 (800 / 885 / 1010 / 1095), (1215 / 1350 / 1445 / 1540) yards
CC : 545 (600 / 650 / 710 / 780), (940 / 1055 / 1120 / 1240) meters
600 (660 / 710 / 780 / 855), (1030 / 1155 / 1225 / 1360) yards
The sample is knit with Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt (90 m – 98 yds / 50 g) in 1012 (MC) and
1099 (CC).
Needles :
Main Fabric : 4 mm (US 6) circular needles with appropriate length to knit in the round
and magic loop or DPNs.
Ribbing : 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needles with appropriate length to knit in the round and
magic loop or DPNs.
or size required to get gauge
Gauge :
22 sts x 24 rnds per 10 cm – 4" with main needles in stranded knitting after blocking
One Chart repeat = 12 x 10 cm – 4 ¾ x 4"
To swatch in stranded knitting, cast-on 52 sts and work Chart A on pages 14 (Light MC) /
15 (Dark MC) in the round for a minimum of 36 rnds.
Notions :
Stitch markers, tapestry needle and scissors
6 buttons (sample size 25 mm – 1")
Scrap yarn to place sts on hold
Row counter recommended
Sewing machine and crochet hook of the same size as the main needles for steeking
Spare needle for the shoulder join
Techniques used :
Bottom up drop shoulder cardigan worked in the round
Steeks for the front, armholes and neck
Stranded knitting with 2 colours and floats to catch
Maintaining colourwork pattern while shaping the upper body and neck
Shoulders worked in 1/1 half twisted rib, shaped with German Short rows and joined with a
3 needle bind-off
Simple increases and decreases
1/1 half twisted ribbing
Picking up sts
Buttonband and collar featuring simple buttonholes
Straight body and sleeves gathered at the cuffs, adjustable lengths
Pattern includes charted instructions
Figures 2
Sizes :
1 (2 / 3 / 4 / 5), (6 / 7 / 8 / 9)
All measurements are those of the finished cardigan.
Bust Circ includes the 5 cm – 2" buttonband.
Choose a size with 10 to 25 cm – 4 to 9 ¾" positive ease at bust.
Shown in size 3 on a 92 cm – 36 ¼" bust.
Figures 3
Figures 4
Abbreviations :
– CO : cast-on / BO : bind-off
– st(s) : stitch(es) / rnd(s) : round(s)
– MC : main colour / CC : contrast colour
– BOR : beginning of round / RS : right side / WS : wrong side
– m : marker / pm : place marker / sm : slip marker / rm : remove marker
– inc : increase / dec : decrease
– as est : as established
– k : knit stitch / p : purl stitch
– ktbl : knit the st through its back loop
– ptbl : purl the st through its back loop
– m1L : make 1 left, lift the bar between the stitches onto the left needle from front to
back, knit through the back loop (1 inc)
– k2tog : knit the next 2 sts together (1 dec)
– ssk : slip the next two sts knitwise separately then knit them together through their
back loop (1 dec)
– DS : double stitch for German short rows (counts as only 1 st)
– *-* : repeat instructions between asterisks
Left and Right refer to the cardigan when worn.
Reading the Chart
Knitting in the round, always read the Chart from right to left.
You will find two sets of Charts in the pattern with opposite contrasts : one with a light
background colour (MC) and one with a dark background colour. Follow the one closer to
your colour choice.
Colourwork
Catching floats : in DK weight, you can catch floats when skipping more than 5 stitches.
You may do it more often if you prefer, just make sure not to catch a float in the same place
in two consecutive rounds.
Colour dominance : CC will form the motifs while MC will be the background colour. To
have consistent colour dominance : hold CC to the left and always carry it under MC
without twisting the strands.
Figures 5
Hem
You will work the hem flat in 1/1 half twisted ribbing with 2 stockinette edge sts on either
side. If you usually have tighter CO sts and cannot work ptbl on the first row, work the
sts as p instead.
With smaller needles and MC, CO 185 (211 / 237 / 263 / 289), (315 / 341 / 367 / 393) sts
using the German Twisted Cast-on.
(German Twisted Cast-on tutorial by Very Pink Knits)
hem row 1 (WS) : p2, *p1tbl, k1* to last 3 sts, p1tbl, p2
hem row 2 (RS) : k2, *k1tbl, p1* to last 3 sts, k1tbl, k2
Work hem rows 1-2 until the hem measures 5 cm – 2" from cast-on or desired length,
ending with a hem row 1.
Body
You will join in the round by casting-on steek sts at the center front. You will adjust the
stitch count and place a marker at the center back as well as around the front edge
stitches to set-up the colourwork.
next row (RS) : k92 (105 / 118 / 131 / 144), (157 / 170 / 183 / 196), m1L, pm (center
back), knit to last 2 sts, pm (steek), k2, CO 5 sts using a backwards loop cast-on
(Backwards Loop Cast-on tutorial by Very Pink Knits)
Join to work in the round, k2 and PM for BOR.
191 (217 / 243 / 269 / 295), (321 / 347 / 373 / 399) sts
Your round is now made of :
91 (104 / 117 / 130 / 143), (156 / 169 / 182 / 195) sts before the center back m (making
the right front and back),
91 (104 / 117 / 130 / 143), (156 / 169 / 182 / 195) sts after the center back m (making the
left back and front),
9 steek sts at the center front between the steek m and the BOR m.
Switch to larger needles. You will work two different Charts one aftet the other, switching
at the center back to get symmetrical motifs on the fronts.
Odd numbered sizes ONLY :
The colourwork stops and starts in the middle of a repeat at the center back.
The last Chart A repeat ends after stitch number 13.
The first Chart B repeat starts with stitch number 14.
body rnd : Chart A to center back m making 3.5 (- / 4.5 / - / 5.5), (- / 6.5 / - / 7.5)
repeats, sm, Chart B (starting from st number 14) to steek m making the same number of
repeats as for Chart A, sm, Steek Chart to end
Even numbered sizes ONLY :
You will work full Chart repeats.
body rnd : Chart A to center back m making - (4 / - / 5 / -), (6 / - / 7 / -) repeats, sm,
Chart B to steek m making the same number of repeats as for Chart A, sm, Steek Chart to
end
Work the body rnd until the body measures about 38 cm – 15" from cast-on or desired
length to the underarm, ending after any Chart rnd.
Figures 6
Armhole Steeks Set-up
You will separate front and back, bind-off sts at each armhole and cast-on armhole
steeks in the same place to continue working in the round. Alternate the colours when
binding-off and casting-on to carry the two yarns (unless working on Charts rnd 24
using only MC).
upper body set-up rnd 1 :
Right Front : work Chart A as est over 43 (49 / 55 / 60 / 67), (72 / 77 / 80 / 85) sts,
Right Armhole : BO next 6 (6 / 8 / 10 / 10), (12 / 16 / 22 / 26) sts,
Back : starting with st number 25 (5 / 13 / 20 / 27), (7 / 17 / 26 / 9) work Chart A as est to
center back m, sm, work Chart B as est over 42 (49 / 54 / 60 / 66), (72 / 76 / 80 / 84) sts,
Left Armhole : BO next 6 (6 / 8 / 10 / 10), (12 / 16 / 22 / 26) sts,
Left Front : starting with st number 11 (5 / 25 / 20 / 13), (7 / 3 / 26 / 21) work Chart B as
est to steek m, sm, Steek Chart to end
As you work and shape the upper body, you will be starting and ending the colourwork at
different points of the original Charts like you just did while binding off sts at the
underarm. Maintain the pattern as established, finding your place on the Charts by
referencing the previously knitted lines.
Here is the detail of where to stop and start the Charts for each section :
– Right Front : ends Chart A after st number 17 (23 / 3 / 8 / 15), (20 / 25 / 2 / 7),
– Back : starts Chart A with st number 24 (4 / 12 / 19 / 26), (6 / 16 / 25 / 8), ends
Chart B after st number 3 (23 / 15 / 8 / 1), (20 / 11 / 2 / 19),
– Left Front : starts Chart B with st number 10 (4 / 24 / 19 / 12), (6 / 2 / 25 / 20).
upper body set-up rnd 2 :
Right Front : Chart A as est to armhole,
Right Armhole : pm (armhole steek), CO 9 sts using a backwards loop cast-on, pm,
Back : Chart A as est to center back m, Chart B as est to armhole,
Left Armhole : pm, (armhole steek), CO 9 sts, pm,
Left Front : Chart B as est to steek m, sm, Steek Chart to end
Your round is now made of :
43 (49 / 55 / 60 / 67), (72 / 77 / 80 / 85) right front sts,
9 Right Armhole Steek sts between markers,
84 (98 / 108 / 120 / 132), (144 / 152 / 160 / 168) back sts split in half by the center back
m,
9 Left Armhole Steek sts between markers,
43 (49 / 55 / 60 / 67), (72 / 77 / 80 / 85) left front sts,
and 9 Front Steek sts.
Figures 7
Upper Body
You will continue working the upper body in the round, maintaining the pattern as
established and working the steeks at the front and the armholes.
upper body rnd :
Right Front : Chart A as est to armhole steek m, sm,
Right Armhole : Steek Chart to m, sm,
Back : Chart A as est to center back m, sm, Chart B as est to armhole steek m, sm,
Left Armhole : Steek Chart to m, sm,
Left Front : Chart B as est to steek m, sm, Steek Chart to end
Work the upper body rnd until the upper body measures 10.5 (12 / 13.5 / 15 / 14), (15 /
16 / 17 / 18) cm – 4 ¼ (4 ¾ / 5 ¼ / 6 / 5 ½), (6 / 6 ¼ / 6 ¾ / 7)" from the underarm.
Neck Steek Set-up
You will bind-off sts at the front neck and the front steek to open the neckline, then cast-
on a new neck steek in the same place to continue working in the round.
As you shape the neckline, you will need to maitain the pattern as established.
neck shaping set-up rnd 1 : work as est to 1 (2 / 2 / 2 / 3), (4 / 6 / 4 / 5) sts before
front steek m, BO the next 11 (13 / 13 / 13 / 15), (17 / 21 / 17 / 19) sts removing steek and
BOR markers
neck shaping set-up rnd 2 : work as est to end, pm (neck steek), CO 9 sts using a
backwards loop cast-on, pm for BOR
Your round is now made of :
42 (47 / 53 / 58 / 64), (68 / 71 / 76 / 80) right front sts,
9 Right Armhole Steek sts between markers,
84 (98 / 108 / 120 / 132), (144 / 152 / 160 / 168) back sts split in half by the center back
m,
9 Left Armhole Steek sts between markers,
42 (47 / 53 / 58 / 64), (68 / 71 / 76 / 80) left front sts,
and 9 Neck Steek sts.
Neck Shaping
You will be working decreases around the neck steek to shape the neckline. Always work
the decrease using MC, as well as the resulting st on non decrease rnds.
rnd 1 : ssk, work as est to 2 sts before neck steek m, k2tog, sm, Steek Chart to end (2 dec)
Work rnd 1 a total of 2 (3 / 3 / 4 / 4), (4 / 6 / 8 / 8) times.
rnd 2 : work as est
rnd 3 : ssk, work as est to 2 sts before neck steek m, k2tog, sm, Steek Chart to end (2 dec)
Work rnds 2-3 a total of 2 (3 / 3 / 3 / 4), (4 / 4 / 3 / 3) times.
Figures 8
rnds 4 and 5 : work as est
rnd 6 : ssk, work as est to 2 sts before neck steek m, k2tog, sm, Steek Chart to end (2 dec)
Work rnds 4 to 6 a total of 2 (1 / 1 / 1 / 2), (2 / 1 / 1 / 1) times.
Your round is now made of :
36 (40 / 46 / 50 / 54), (58 / 60 / 64 / 68) right front sts,
9 Right Armhole Steek sts between markers,
84 (98 / 108 / 120 / 132), (144 / 152 / 160 / 168) back sts split in half by the center back
m,
9 Left Armhole Steek sts between markers,
36 (40 / 46 / 50 / 54), (58 / 60 / 64 / 68) left front sts,
and 9 Neck Steek sts.
Work straight as established until the upper body measures measures 17.5 (19 / 20.5 /
22 / 23), (24 / 25 / 26 / 27) cm – 6 ¾ (7 ½ / 8 / 8 ¾ / 9), (9 ½ / 9 ¾ / 10 ¼ / 10 ½)"
from the underarm.
Cut CC.
Separate Shoulders
You will stop working in colourwork and using MC bind-off the 5 center sts of the
armhole and neck steeks as well as back neck sts.
set-up rnd : knit to steek m, rm, k2, BO the next 5 sts, k1, rm, knit to 4 (7 / 6 / 8 / 10),
(12 / 14 / 14 / 14) sts before center back m, BO the next 8 (14 / 12 / 16 / 20), (24 / 28 / 28
/ 28) sts removing marker, (knit to steek m, rm, k2, BO the next 5 sts, k1, rm) x 2
Do not work to end.
You are now on the right front shoulder, with the first 2 sts already worked on your right
needle.
40 (44 / 50 / 54 / 58), (62 / 64 / 68 / 72) sts for each shoulder
You will shape each shoulder flat separately with short-rows using only MC.
Right Front Shoulder
You will be working in 1/1 half twisted ribbing over the shoulders, maintaining
stockinette edge sts.
short row 1 (RS) : (k2 sts already worked), *p1, k1tbl* to last 2 sts, p1, turn
short row 2 (WS) : DS, work ribbing as est to last 2 sts, p2
short row 3 : k2, work ribbing as est to 9 (9 / 9 / 11 / 11), (11 / 13 / 13 / 15) sts before last
DS, turn
Work short rows 2-3 a total of 3 (3 / 4 / 4 / 4), (4 / 4 / 4 / 4) times, then work short row 2
once more.
next row (RS) : k2, work ribbing as est to 1 st before end, working the DS normally as
one st, k1
Cut yarn and put sts on hold.
Figures 9
Left Front Shoulder
Join yarn on the WS (neck edge) of the Left Front shoulder sts.
short row 1 (WS) : p2, *k1, p1tbl* to last 2 sts, k1, turn
short row 2 (RS) : DS, work ribbing as est to last 2 sts, k2
short row 3 : p2, work ribbing as est to 9 (9 / 9 / 11 / 11), (11 / 13 / 13 / 15) sts before
last DS, turn
Work short rows 2-3 a total of 3 (3 / 4 / 4 / 4), (4 / 4 / 4 / 4) times, then work short row 2
once more.
next row (WS) : p2, work ribbing as est to 1 st before end, working the DS normally as
one st, p1
Cut yarn and put sts on hold.
Right Back Shoulder
Join yarn on the WS (neck edge) of the Right Back Shoulder sts, slipping sts to reach it or
placing the other shoulder sts on hold if both shoulders are still on the same needles.
Work like Left Front Shoulder. When cutting yarn, leave a long tail (about 4 times the
shoulder's width) to seam the shoulder later.
Left Back Shoulder
Join yarn on the RS (neck edge) of Left Back Shoulder sts.
Work like Right Front Shoulder, leaving a long tail when cutting yarn.
Cut Steeks
You will be cutting all 4 steeks. When reinforcing the front and neck steek, remember to
treat them as 2 different steeks and do not attach them to one another.
You may want to block the cardigan at this stage to settle your stitches.
Weave in any ends of yarn on the body away from the steeks.
You will cut the steek through the middle of the center st.
Firstly, reinforce the steek with a sewing machine or by hand : sew two straight lines on
either side of the steek, along the purl sts.
Then create two crochet chains on either side of the center st. Trap each leg of said center
st with one leg of the adjacent sts.
See this video tutorial.
(Knitting Help – Steeking tutorial by Very Pink Knits)
Then cut in the center.
Figures 10
Join Shoulders
Flip the cardigan inside out so you are looking at the WS.
Place the Right Shoulder sts on two needles. Using the three-needle bind-off method and
the long tail you left, starting on the armhole edge, join front and back shoulders together.
(3-needle bind-off tutorial by Very Pink Knits)
When you have 1 st left, thread working yarn through it and fasten off.
Place the sts from the left shoulders back on two needles and repeat the three-needle bind-
off for this side.
Buttonband
When picking up sts, pick up from the first st on the edges, which is aligned with the first
knit st next to the purl st of the steek.
Right Side :
With smaller needles, RS facing and MC, start at the bottom of the right front hem :
pick up and knit 2 out of 3 sts along the right front until the end of the front steek.
Make sure you pick up an odd number of sts. Note the number down to do the same on the
left side.
row 1 (WS) : p2,*k1, p1tbl* to last 3 sts, k1, p2
row 2 (RS) : k2, *p1, k1tbl* to last 3 sts, p1, k2
Work rows 1-2 until the buttonband measures about 2.5 cm – 1".
Place 5 markers spaced evenly on the buttonband, between the bottom of the cardigan hem
and the end of the front steek.
Note that there will be 1 more button on the collar, so take it into account when
positionning the 5 buttonband buttons. If you changed the body length or simply want
more or less buttons, adjust the number of markers here.
buttons row 1 : (work as est. until the button m, rm, BO 2 sts) x 5, work as est. to end
buttons row 2 : (work as est. until the button hole, CO 2 sts with the backwards loop
cast-on) x 5, work as est. to end
Resume working rows 1-2 until the buttonband measures about 5 cm – 2".
Loosely bind-off all sts in pattern, using a larger needle if necessary.
Left Side :
With smaller needles, RS facing and MC, start at the top of the left front, at the end of the
front steek :
pick up and knit the same number of sts you picked up for the right side buttonband.
row 1 (WS) : p2,*k1, p1tbl* to last 3 sts, k1, p2
row 2 (RS) : k2, *p1, k1tbl* to last 3 sts, p1, k2
Work rows 1-2 until the buttonband measures about 5 cm – 2".
Loosely bind-off all sts in pattern, using a larger needle if necessary.
Figures 11
Collar
When picking up around the neckline, be mindful to fill up any gaps around the steek
edges, picking up extra sts where necessary to have a smooth transition.
Like you did on the buttonband, you will be picking up from the first knit st next to the
purl of the steek, which becomes the first edge st on the shoulder ribbing.
You may pick up more or less sts to open or tighten the collar to your liking.
With smaller needles, RS facing and MC, start at the right side button band edge :
pick up and knit 2 out of 3 sts from the buttonband edge,
every st from the right front neck bind-off,
3 out of 4 sts along the right shoulder edge,
every st from the back neck bind-off,
3 out of 4 sts along the left shoulder edge,
every st from the left front neck bind-off,
and 2 out of 3 sts from the left buttonband edge.
Make sure you pick up an odd number of sts.
row 1 (WS) : p2,*k1, p1tbl* to last 3 sts, k1, p2
row 2 (RS) : k2, *p1, k1tbl* to last 3 sts, p1, k2
Work rows 1-2 until the collar measures about 1.5 cm – ½" or half the desired collar
length.
Place a marker at the beginning of the right side of the collar, aligning it with the
buttonholes on the buttonband.
buttons row 1 : work as est. until the button m, rm, BO 2 sts, work as est. to end
buttons row 2 : work as est. until the button hole, CO 2 sts with the backwards loop cast-
on, work as est. to end
Resume working rows 1-2 until the collar measures about 3 cm – 1 ¼" or desired length.
Loosely bind-off all sts in pattern, using a larger needle if necessary.
Sleeves
With larger needles and MC, starting at the center of the underarm bind-off, pick up and
knit :
3 (3 / 4 / 5 / 5), (6 / 8 / 11 / 13) sts from the underarm bind-off,
72 (72 / 83 / 81 / 94), (92 / 101 / 108 / 117) sts evenly around the armhole,
and 3 (3 / 4 / 5 / 5), (6 / 8 / 11 / 13) sts from the rest of underarm bind-off.
Join to work in the rnd and PM for BOR.
78 (78 / 91 / 91 / 104), (104 / 117 / 130 / 143) sts
Sizes 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8 ONLY :
You will work complete repeats of the Chart.
sleeve rnd : Chart A to end making 3 (3 / - / - / 4), (4 / - / 5 / -) repeats
Figures 12
Sizes 3, 4, 7 and 9 ONLY :
You will stop in the middle of a repeat at the BOR, ending each rnd after Chart stitch
number 13.
sleeve rnd : Chart A to end making - (- / 3.5 / 3.5 / -), (- / 4.5 / - / 5.5) repeats
Work the sleeve rnd until the sleeve measures about 37 cm – 14 ½" from the underarm or
5 cm – 2" less than desired length.
Cut CC.
Cuff :
set-up rnd : knit
dec rnd : *k2tog* to last 10 (10 / 5 / 5 / 0), (0 / 1 / 2 / 1) sts, knit to end
44 (44 / 48 / 48 / 52), (52 / 58 / 66 / 72) sts
Switch to smaller needles.
cuff rnd : *k1tbl, p1* to end
Work the cuff rnd until the cuff measures 5 cm – 2" or desired length.
Loosely bind-off all sts in pattern.
Finishing
Sew down the steek edges to the inside of the cardigan to make them lay flat.
Optional : you can enclose and cover the steeks by sewing a ribbon over them.
Weave in remaining ends and block the cardigan.
Buttons :
Sew the buttons on the left side of the buttonband in front of the button holes.
Figures 13
LIGHT MC CHARTS
Steek
Figures 14
DARK MC CHARTS
Steek
Figures 15
Thank you
for choosing a Yarnflakes pattern !
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questions or suggestions, please contact me on Ravelry (Yarnflakes).
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