Instructions to knit your own Quince cardigan in sizes 1Y, 2Y, 3-5Y, 6-8Y, 9-11Y and 12Y

Quince gets its name from its colour (a bright mustard yellow with a slight hint of green), but this cardigan would look great in so many different colour variants. Bobbles around the neckline and cuffs as well as large round motifs, inspired by a 1970s machine-knitting pattern complete the “fruity” equation. It has a vintage look that couldn’t be anything but contemporary!

This colour way has unexpected highlights of neon pink, giving it a really modern look. The main body pattern can be challenging to get the hang of as the repeat is so large, but once you get to the yoke, that’s where the fun really happens! Each yoke chart appears on its own page so you don’t have to print out the ones you’re not using. Please check before printing. Quince is knitted flat throughout (body and 2 sleeves), but it is possible to knit this cardigan in the round using a steek and knitted from the bottom up. The pieces are all joined together to work a circular yoke in one piece, gradually decreasing to get the shaping at the shoulders. Short rows are used for shaping the back neck and sleeves are grafted together under the arm, and then seamed along the centre. Please note that, while the base pattern is a continual pattern, the yoke is not and therefore does not always align in the middle.

Level of difficulty and skills required

Advanced. A fairly challenging project that requires chart-reading skills and assumes knowledge of stranded knitting worked flat and, while mostly only 2 colours are used per row, some rows use 3 colours at a time. Other stitches you’ll need to know are: cable cast-on, bobble, ribbing and garter. You will also need to know how to do short rows, make buttonholes and finish off by grafting under the arms at the end.

note on sizing
This cardigan has been designed in 6 different sizes. The ages I have suggested are approximate only and depend on the fit you want so please look closely at the schematic for actual sweater measurements. In the front-page photo, Mawa, three years old, is wearing the size 3-5 years, Clément (pictured in the hammack) is five and a half years old and wearing the same size, but with less positive ease. For Clément, the body and sleeves have also been lengthened. Choose your size according to the fit you want and lengthen/shorten the body and sleeves as you need. The 12+ size is designed to also be able to be worn by a small adult, with a close fit.

Materials

1 pair of size 2.25mm straight needles (US 1, UK 13)
1 pair of size 2.75mm straight needles (US 2, UK 12)
1 size 2.75mm circular needle (US 2, UK 12) (at least 80cm long, for ease of working yoke stitches)
or needles to get gauge
8 stitch holders or waste yarn
4 stitch markers
7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) 15mm buttons

Yarn

Look for a super fine (1) or fingering-weight yarn that knits to 28 stitches in 10 cm on 2.25-3 mm (US 1-3, UK 13-11) needles. I prefer a non-superwash wool that will bloom and blend with the other yarns around it once washed, to get a vintage-feel fabric that is soft and durable. My sample cardigan uses 2 strands held together of Z. Hinchcliffe & sons Lambswool yarn, (2/17nm; 2-ply; 100% wool) in “Piccalilli” and “Ecru”. Available at Uppingham yarns (wools.co.uk). A swatch using 1 strand from Bouclelaine’s “Ouessant” Gamme (2 brins) in “Orpiment” and “blanc natural” had very much the same effect. Available at bouclelaine.fr.

Meterage needed

275 (316, 336, 425, 586, 750) m / 300 (345, 367, 364, 640, 820) yards of MC
250 (285, 300, 362, 500, 676) m / 275 (312, 328, 395, 347, 739) yards of CC
approximately 30 (30, 40, 50, 60, 80) m / 32 (32, 43, 54, 65, 87) yards each of heathered green and plum.
and approx. 10 (10, 15, 15, 20, 25) m / 11 (11, 16, 16, 22, 27) yards each of terracotta and neon.