Beaded Accent Cardi

Beaded Accent Little Cardigan

completed 1/30/2016

white used - Valley Yarns Prescott sport weight cotton/silk blend, about 1 ½ skeins

gray used - Bergere Sport, worsted weight wool

about 1200 crystal beads, size 4 mm

size 5 needles

Top down raglan shaping, knitted flat for the body and in the round for the sleeves, seamless construction.

Abbreviations used:

RS = right side of work

WS = wrong side of work

Kb = insert needle knitwise but do not yet complete the stitch, bring bead up snugly to needle and then complete the stitch, checking that bead is facing right side of fabric

Pb =  insert needle purlwise but do not yet complete the stitch, bring bead up snugly to needle and then complete the stitch, checking that bead is facing right side of fabric

m1 = insert right tip of needle into ladder of yarn between the two needles and place loop of yarn over left needle. knit into the back loop of the yarn ladder, increasing 1 stitch

pm = place marker

sm = slip marker

K2P2 ribbing = *knit 2, purl 2, repeat from * to end of row

st st = stockinette stich, knit the RS rows, purl the WS rows

yo = yarn over

psso = passed slipped stitch over

ssk = slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit 2 slipped stitches together

sK2p = slip stitch knitwise, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over

p2tog = purl 2 together

Beading pattern for collar and bottom edges, knitted flat:

row 1 (WS): *K1, Kb, repeat from * to end of row

row 2 (RS): knit

row 3: K1, *K1, Kb, repeat from * until 1 stitch remaining, K1

row 4: knit

Beading pattern for sleeve edges, knitted in the round:

row 1: *P1, Pb, repeat from * to end of round

row 2: knit

row 3: P1, *P1, Pb, repeat from * until 1 stitch remaining in round, P1

row 4: knit

Pattern “Feather Lace” from Knitting on the Edge by Nicki Epstein.

stiches to repeat between * and * = yo, K2, ssk, k2tog, K2, yo, k1

Body

Prestring 160 beads onto white. Using white yarn with prestrung beads, cast on 64 st.

Work beading pattern row 1.

Row 2: Knit 1, m1, pm, k1, m1, knit 6, m1, pm, K1, m1, knit 46 number, m1, pm, K1, m1, knit 6, m1, pm, K1, m1, knit 1, 8 stitches increased, 4 markers placed.

Work beading pattern row 3.

Row 4: *Knit to marker, m1, sm, K1, m1, repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat rows 1-4 twice more, total of 12 rows worked. Change to gray and purl across row without increasing number of stitches. Next row, change to K2P2 ribbing and work 2 rows without increasing. Next row, increase at raglan markers as established, each row increasing 8 stitches, every other row 11 times, ending on RS row, reading to work WS row. Work K2P2 across 17 front stitches, place 41 stitches from sleeve onto waste yarn, CO 8 stitches, work across 78 back stitches, place 41 stitches from sleeve onto waste yarn, CO 8 stitches, work across remaining 17 stitches. Change to st st, knit to third CO stitch, PM, P1, K1, P1, PM, knit to the third CO stitch on the second underarm, PM, P1, K1, P1, PM, knit to end (faux side seam stitches placed). Continue P1, K1, P1 on side seams, work st st for rest of body until desired length and change to white yarn that has 390 beads pre-strung, ready to work RS row.

Set up row: *K1, yo, repeat from * to end of row.

Work rows 1-4 of beading pattern, then repeat rows 1-2 once more, total 6 rows worked. Cast off knitwise on WS row.

Front edges using white yarn, pre-string 12 beads for each side.

Left: with RS facing, pick up and knit along edge starting at neck, and down to bottom edge, 88 stitches.

Rows 1 and 3 (WS): purl to last 2 stitches, p2tog.

Row 2: Pb, P2tog, pass purled stitch over, repeat feather lace repeat across row, last K2

Row 4 and subsequent even rows, incorporate the reduction in stitches at neck edge of rows to keep integrity of feather lace repeats.

Work rows 1-4 three times, 12 rows total, then 4 rows with WS decreases but no decreases on RS rows, lastly work 4 rows without decreases.Work 20 rows total then bind off.

Right: with RS facing, pick up and knit along edge starting at bottom edge to neck, 88 stitches.

Rows 1 and 3 (WS): Pb, K2tog, purl to end

Rows 2 and 4:: slip 1, repeat feather lace across row to last 4 stitches, sK2p, K1

Work rows 1-4 three times, 12 rows total, then 4 rows with WS decreases but no decreases on RS rows, lastly work 4 rows without decreases. 20 rows total, then bind off.

Sleeves

Place stitches from waste yarn onto needles. With gray yarn, pick up 12 stitches along armhole edge, pm in center of stitches for beginning of round. Work K2P2 ribbing for 28 rows. Next row, using white yarn with 310 beads pre-strung, *K1, yo, repeat from * to end of row (104 stitches). Work beaded pattern for 12 rows then BO knitwise.

Weave in ends, block lace sections well.