Machine Knit Diamond Lady Cardigan

I cannot even begin to express my excitement for this cardigan. Ever since making the Sweater Wrap Scarf I have been thinking of how to incorporate the tuck stitch into a cardigan.

The texture and visual interest that the tuck stitch brings to the fabric, and how easy it is to achieve makes it so worth it. Even making it on a LK150 with all hand transferred patterning it is simpler than you think with the repetitive tuck pattern.

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This cardigan took me almost a year to figure out the details in my mind. Trying to figure out what would be tuck, what the tuck actually would be, edge treatments, would there be a collar size, and if so what it size would be.

Once I finished the sweater and blocked it I was thrilled with how it looked. However, with it being longer and so warm with the tuck, I wanted a closure to it to really be warm in the winter. I decided to add on buttons, and make thread button loops out of embroidery floss. I am happy with how it turned out, but can’t decide which way I like more. So, you have the option to do what you want!

I hope you enjoy making this Diamond Lady Cardigan pattern, and that you love it just as much as I do. Let me know if you do buttons, sash, or leave it on it’s own.

Other knitting patterns by City Farmhouse Studio:

Machine Knit Diamond Lady Cardigan
by City Farmhouse Studio

Get the printable PDF version of the pattern (without ads) HERE
Add it to your Ravelry queue HERE

I Love This Yarn – 7 oz/199g – 3355 yd/325 – 97% Acrylic/3% Viscose – Category 4 Medium – 9 WPI – 3 (4, 4, 4, 5) [5, 5, 6, 6] skeins

(yarn alternatives: Caron Simply Soft, Mary Maxim Aran Irish Twist, Premier Yarn Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted, Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti Pilling, Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran )

Gauge 4” x 4” = 16 sts x 23 rows of stockinette; 16 sts x 28 rows for tuck stitch

Mid-gauge flat bed machine (LK150) – (Reference Set Up – Carriage Tension at 7, Mast Tension 13)

Optional – 16mm Shank Buttons – 6
Coordinating Embroidery Thread

Size:  XS (S, M, L, XL) [2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]

Finished Garment Bust Width:  19.25 (22.25, 23.75, 25.25, 26.75) [29.75, 31.25, 34.25, 35.75] inches

Finished Garment Length:  37.75 (38.75, 38.75, 39, 39) [40.25, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5] inches

Finished Garment Cuff to Cuff Length:  57.25 (60.25, 61.75, 63.75, 65.75) [66.75, 68.25, 69.25, 69.25] inches

A YouTube tutorial video showing the sts and each step of the construction can be found at:  https://youtu.be/78PSkL_LmTM

An additional video on I-cords can be found at:  https://youtu.be/Zmu7HwnaLZw

An additional video on adding buttons and thread loops to your knits can be found at:  https://youtu.be/ID6gNtWqhcA

Glossary
RC – row count
Sts – stitches

Back

With waste yarn and ravel cord, carriage on right, RC set to 000, e-wrap cast on from left to right 77 (89, 95, 101, 113) [119, 125, 137, 143] stitches, having 38 (44, 47, 50, 56) [59, 62, 68, 71] needles in work on one side of the bed, and 39 (45, 48, 51, 57) [60, 63, 69, 72] on the other.

Knit 2 rows.

Set carriage to tuck.  Skipping 5 needles at edge of bed, pull out next needle into hold position.  Pull out every sixth needle.  Knit 4 rows.  Set carriage to knit all needles.  Knit 2 rows.  

Set carriage to tuck.  Skipping 2 needles at edge of bed, pull out next needle into hold position.  Pull out every sixth needle.  Needles in hold should be in between the previous tuck stitches.  Knit 4 rows.  Set carriage to knit all needles.  Knit 2 rows.  

Repeat above two paragraphs for a total of 132 (132, 132, 132, 126) [126, 120, 120, 120] rows.  RC 134 (134, 134, 134, 128) [128, 122, 122, 122].

Bind off 4 (4, 4, 4, 6) [6, 6, 6, 6] stitches same side as carriage.  Knit 1 row.  Bind off 4 (4, 4, 4, 6) [6, 6, 6, 6] again.  69 (81, 87, 93, 101) [107, 113, 125, 131] stitches left in work. 

Continue knitting in tuck pattern until RC is 188 (194, 194, 194, 194) [200, 200, 200, 200].  

Bind off 28 (34, 34, 40, 43) [43, 48, 54, 54] stitches for shoulder.  Knit 1 row in stockinette.  Bind off 28 (34, 34, 40, 43) [43, 48, 54, 54] for other shoulder.  Knit 1 row in stockinette.  13 (13, 19, 13, 15) [21, 17, 17, 23] sts remaining in work.

Collar
Continuing in stockinette, knit 2 rows.

Increase one stitch opposite of carriage.  Knit 1 row.  Repeat for a total of 24 (24, 24, 26, 26) [26, 28, 28, 28] times and 37 (37, 43, 39, 41) [47, 45, 45, 51] sts in work.  RC 216 (222, 222, 224, 224) [230, 232, 232, 232].

Bind off all stitches in work.

Front Right

With waste yarn and ravel cord, carriage on right, RC set to 000, e-wrap cast on from left to right 41 (47, 47, 53, 59) [59, 65, 71, 71] stitches, having 20 (23, 23, 26, 29) [29, 32, 35, 35] needles in work on one side of the bed, and 21 (24, 24, 27, 30) [30, 33, 36, 36] on the other.

Knit 2 rows.

Set carriage to tuck.  Skipping 2 needles at edge of bed, pull out next needle into hold position.  Pull out every sixth needle.  Knit 4 rows.  Set carriage to knit all needles.  Knit 2 rows.  

Set carriage to tuck.  Skipping 5 needles at edge of bed, pull out next needle into hold position.  Pull out every sixth needle.  Needles in hold should be in the center of the previous tuck stitches.  Knit 4 rows.  Set carriage to knit all needles.  Knit 2 rows.  

Repeat above two paragraphs for a total of 132 (132, 132, 132, 126) [126, 120, 120, 120] rows.  RC 134 (134, 134, 134, 128) [128, 122, 122, 122].

Bind off 4 (4, 4, 4, 6) [6, 6, 6, 6] stitches same side as carriage.  37 (43, 43, 49, 53) [53, 59, 65, 65] stitches left in work. 

Knit 0 (6, 6, 6, 6) [12, 12, 12, 12] rows in tuck pattern.  RC 134 (140, 140, 140, 134) [140, 134, 134, 134].  

Neck Decreases (Note= as you continue tuck pattern in following section, as long as the needle in hold has at least one needle in working position between it and the edge of bed.  If tuck stitch location is at the very edge of the needles in work, return it to working position.)

Decrease 1 stitch on edge opposite side of carriage, knit 6 rows of tuck pattern.  Repeat for a total of 9 (9, 9, 9, 10) [10, 11, 11, 11] times and 28 (34, 34, 40, 43) [43, 48, 54, 54] stitches are left in work.  RC 188 (194, 194, 194, 194) [200, 200, 200, 200].  

Bind off but do not cut yarn.

Collar
Hang section of neck decreases over 39 (39, 39, 39, 43) [43, 47, 47, 47] needles.  Be sure that the purl side of the fabric is still facing you. Have the last stitch of bind off on one of those needles.  Reset RC to 000.

Knit 2 rows in stockinette.

Decrease one stitch at the far edge opposite of carriage. Knit 1 row.  Increase one stitch at the far edge opposite of carriage.  Knit 1 row.  Repeat for a total of 10 (10, 10, 11, 11) [11, 12, 12, 12] times and 39 (39, 39, 39, 43) [43, 47, 47, 47] sts are in work.  RC 22 (22, 22, 24, 24) [24, 26, 26, 26]

Decrease one stitch at the far edge opposite of carriage. Knit 1 row.  Increase one stitch at the far edge opposite of carriage and bind off 2 stitches same side as carriage.  Knit 1 row.

Decrease one stitch at the far edge opposite of carriage. Knit 1 row.  Increase one stitch at the far edge opposite of carriage and bind off 3 stitches same side as carriage.  Knit 1 row.  34 (34, 34, 34, 38) [38, 42, 42, 42] final stitches in work.  RC 26 (26, 26, 28, 28) [28, 30, 30, 30].

Bind off all stitches in work.  

Front Left

Repeat instructions for Front Right, except have carriage start on the left.

Seam shoulder and collar seams together of front panels to back panel.

Sleeve

Hang edge of sleeve opening (not including bound off areas at under arm) over 54 (58, 62, 66, 74) [78, 82, 86, 90] needles.  27 (29, 31, 33, 37) [39, 41, 43, 45] needles in work on each side of bed.

Knit 2 rows in stockinette.

Decrease 1 stitch on each side of bed.  Knit 15 (12, 10, 9, 8) [7, 6, 6, 5] rows.  Repeat decrease and rows for 4 (6, 8, 11, 8) [11, 16, 11, 16] times total.  46 (46, 46, 44, 58) [56, 50, 64, 58] stitches in work.  RC 62 (74, 82, 101, 66) [79, 98, 68, 82].

Decrease 1 stitch on each side of bed.  Knit 13 (10, 8, 7, 6) [5, 4, 4, 3] rows.  Repeat for 4 (4, 4, 2, 9) [7, 4, 10, 7] times total.  38 (38, 38, 40, 40) [42, 42, 44, 44] stitches in work.  RC 114 (114, 114, 115, 120) [114, 114, 108, 103].

Bind off with a three needle i-cord bind off.  

Seam together sleeves and body sides.  

Add a 5 needle applied i-cord around entire perimeter of cardigan.

If desired, sew on 6 16mm shank buttons with thread button loops.  Another option is that you can make an additional length of I-cord to be used as a tie sash.