Easy Cosy

Designed with Cardiff Cashmere Classic, synonymous with luxury and comfort, Easy Cosy is pattern for timeless, simple garments that can be styled easily and worn almost daily as a layer of cosiness to make the best out of garments knitted with such fine yarns.

You can knit your Easy Cosy as a vest or cardigan, with or without buttonbands. Instructions are given for all options. By getting just one set of instructions, you can have fun knitting more than one version.

Easy Cosy is knitted top-down, beginning with the back neckbands. Stitches are then cast on for the shoulders. Each front is worked to the underarm before the neckband is joined with Russian grafting. Back stitches are picked up from the neckband and shoulders, and worked to the underarm. Front and back stitches are joined at the underarm and worked towards the hem. The sweater is cropped at waist length, but you easily knit yours longer by preparing more yarn. Cable patterns are written out, as well as presented in charts.

For a vest, stitches are picked up around the armhole and finished in i-cord bind off. For a cardigan, sleeves are worked from picked up stitches, in the round towards the cuffs.

While the sweater has the appearance of a drop-shoulder sweater, short row shaping creates good fit around shoulders. Larger sizes have additional shaping in armholes to maintain a drop-shoulder design that is consistent with that of the smaller sizes.

The ribbed button band and collar shaped with short rows are optional for your vest or cardigan. Instructions are given for a combination of regular bind-off and stretchy bind-off to ensure that the button band does not flare out while collar stitches have enough ease to allow the collar to curve behind the neck and lay flat.

FINISHED BUST MEASUREMENTS (bust width x 2)

Size 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
86 (95.5, 104.5, 117, 126)(138.5, 147.5, 157, 166) cm /
34 (37½, 41¼, 46, 49¾)(54½, 58¼, 61¾, 65½) inches

The sample was knit in Size 2 and worn with 9 cm / 3½” positive ease at bust. Suggested ease: + 7.5-12.5 cm / 3-5”.

YARN

DK weight
Cardiff Cashmere Classic (112 m / 120 yds per 25 g skein, 100% cashmere)
Sample colour: 676 Zig Zag

VEST (without button band and collar)

585 (670, 700, 765, 805)(880, 905, 955, 1060) m /
640 (730, 765, 830, 875)(960, 990, 1040, 1155) yards
6 (6, 7, 7, 8)(8, 9, 9, 10) skeins

VEST (with button band and collar)

655 (740, 780, 845, 890)(970, 995, 1050, 1160) m /
715 (810, 850, 920, 970)(1060, 1090, 1150, 1270) yards
6 (7, 7, 8, 8)(9, 9, 10, 11) skeins

CARDIGAN (without button band and collar)

950 (1060, 1130, 1205, 1260)(1370, 1410, 1495, 1605) m /
1035 (1160, 1235, 1315, 1375)(1495, 1540, 1630, 1755) yards
9 (10, 11, 11, 12)(13, 13, 14, 15) skeins

CARDIGAN (with button band and collar)

1020 (1135, 1210, 1285, 1345)(1460, 1500, 1590, 1710) m /
1115 (1240, 1320, 1405, 1470)(1595, 1640, 1735, 1865) yards
10 (11, 11, 12, 12)(13, 14, 15, 16) skeins

Please keep in mind that yardage is an estimate.

GAUGE (after blocking)

26 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm / 4” in 2x2 rib with 4 mm / US 6 needle.

NEEDLES

One 3.25 mm / US 3 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer
One 4 mm / US 6 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer
Two 4 mm / US 6 dpns for Russian grafting
One crochet hook of approximately 4 mm /G-6 for provisional cast-on and Russian grafting

For sleeves of cardigan:
One 3.25 mm / US 3 preferred needle for small circumference in the round
One 4 mm / US 6 preferred needle for small circumference in the round

Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

NOTIONS

Stitch markers, removable stitch marker, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, smooth waste yarn in contrasting colour (of similar weight as working yarn) for provisional cast-on, tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

5 buttons. The sample uses 16 mm / ⅝” diameter buttons. Choose buttons that go through your buttonholes rather snugly. Optional: 5 plain buttons to be sewn together with buttons of your choice (see notes in instructions).

Deep appreciation to a warm and kind team Joana, Svitlana, Richa, Neval, Sarah, Kelly, Ida, Sabine, Motoko, Danbi, Shiho, Sandra, Sophie, Roby, Susie, Wan Cheng, Tomomi, Heleanna, Kine, Tetsuryu and Keiko for test knitting, and Naoko Ogawa (Strands of Life) for tech editing.

#easycosysweater

This pattern has been tech edited and test knitted.