Postscript
Postscript invites you to write a love letter to a stranger and press it between the pages, paper-thin as dried violet petals, of the oldest work in your antique bookshop.
Soft, feminine, deliberate and just a little mysterious, Postscript is all about juxtaposition and contrast.
This elegant cardigan features a towering shawl collar, a graceful set-in sleeve, hip shaping, and optional bust shaping.
CONSTRUCTION
Postscript is worked bottom-up in pieces and seamed with set-in sleeves. Stitches are picked up and knit for the shawl collar and button band. The hip is wider than the bust.
OPTIONAL BUST SHAPING
Optional instructions for adding short rows for bust shaping, in five sizes, give you your best fit.
"I am totally a cardigan person and this cardigan is very me. I can button it without straining the buttons, but it doesn't feel like it adds extra bulk. It walks the line between structured and casual so I can wear it to work or throw it on over jeans.
There are some elements of construction I've tried to stay away from in the past - seaming, short rows, tubular cast-on and sewn tubular bind off - but they're all worth the effort for something that fits so well and will be a wardrobe staple. We wouldn't be taking all this time to make something if we didn't want it to come out just right."
- Rebecca, tester (see Rebecca's project in the gallery)
CHOOSE A SIZE
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8] (9, 10, 11, 12)
Choose the size closest to your actual upper chest measurement. Upper chest is measured above the full bust, at an angle close to diagonal beneath the underarms, and straight across the back. For more information on choosing a size using your upper chest measurement, visit this blog post.
To fit upper chest: 28 (32, 36, 39.25, 42.5) [45.75, 49, 52.25] (55.5, 58.75, 62, 65.25) inches / 70 (80, 89.5, 98, 106) [114, 122, 130.5] (138.5, 146.5, 154.5, 163) cm
Postscript is designed to fit with approximately 3.5 inches / 9 cm of positive ease at the fullest part of your bust.
Finished bust circumference (buttoned): 31.75 (35.5, 39.75, 43.5, 47.75) [52, 55.75, 60] (63.75, 68, 71.25, 76) inches / 79 (88.5, 99, 108.5, 119) [129.5, 139, 149.5] (159, 169.5, 178, 189.5) cm
Finished hip circumference (buttoned): 33.25 (37.25, 41.25, 45.25, 49.25) [53.5, 57.25, 61.5] (65.25, 69.5, 73, 77.5) inches / 83.5 (93, 103.5, 113, 123.5) [134, 143.5, 154] (163.5, 174, 182.5, 194) cm
Finished bicep circumference: 12.5 (13.25, 14, 15, 16.25) [17.5, 18.75, 20] (22, 22.5, 23.75, 24.75) inches / 31 (33, 35.5, 37.5, 40.5) [43.5, 47, 50] (55.5, 56.5, 59.5, 61.5) cm
Sample is shown in size 5, Cup 1, with 3.5 inches / 9 cm positive ease at the full bust. My upper chest is 41 inches / 102.5 cm.
If you need additional room for the bust, as I do, working the optional short row shaping will give you the best fit in the shoulders and armholes, while still making room for your chest. Short rows add length to the front only of the garment, so that the hem does not rise in the front.
TECHNIQUES
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Working directional shaping
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Working a sloped-bind off (optional)
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Seaming
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Working German Short Rows
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Tubular Cast-on (optional)
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Sewn Tubular Bind-off (optional)
Knitters will be most comfortable working this pattern if they can read their knitting.
MATERIALS
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4 Stitch markers
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1.25 inch / 3 cm buttons: 4 (if working bust shaping, - (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) for Cup - (1, 2, 3, 4, 5))
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Tapestry needle
GAUGE
19 sts and 30 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in Granite Stitch with size A needles.
YARN
Modus Operandi Fibers Targhee Worsted
100% Targhee wool; 280 yds / 256 m per 115 g skein. This is a naturally-dyed, 3-ply, round squishy, bouncy worsted weight wool with fantastic, crisp stitch definition. It knits warm, low-drape fabric with moderate density.
Note: Variegated or striping yarn not suitable if you are working the bust darts.
1400 (1510, 1635, 1770, 1900) [2025, 2160, 2315] (2455, 2580, 2705, 2850) yds / 1280 (1385, 1495, 1615, 1740) [1850, 1975, 2115] (2245, 2360, 2470, 2605) m; 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) [8, 8, 9] (9, 10, 10, 11) skeins.
For optional bust darts, you will need an additional 5 - 60 yds / 5 - 55 m.
Shown in colorway Raw Ruby.
"Postscript is a very enjoyable knit. The stitch pattern combined with worsted-weight yarn makes the cardigan fly off the needles.
The pattern is very clear, and provides a lot of guidance and support. The final result is an easy to layer, comfortable, and polished cardigan with impeccable fit."
- Celine, tester
CREDITS
Tech edit: Heather Storta
Photography: Hypnotic Imagery, LLC
Photo location: The Knit Inn
Testers: Jen, Céline, Marina, Sarah D, Jessica, Carly, Jenni, Rebecca, Ariana, Maria, Chris (Ravelry), Sara, Avery, Sarah U, Caroline, Kelly.
"SQUISHY! Seriously, this cardigan is SO SQUISHY. The granite stitch texture provides great visual interest, while the shawl collar provides so much coziness.
Mine is a smidge oversized, which adds to the cozy, curl-up-with-a-book vibe. (When I say cozy, I don't mean "don't wear outside the house" kind of schlubby cozy. I mean "warm, comfortable, and at ease while still looking pretty damn fine" kind of cozy.)
I've worn this with jeans and a graphic tee, work pants and a button-down, and a business casual dress, and it excels in all areas. So yeah - squishy and wearable. What more could you want from a cardi?"
- Carly, tester
