Machine Knit Women’s Play Day Cardigan

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Machine Knit Women’s Play Day Cardigan
by City Farmhouse Studio 
Get the printable PDF version of the pattern (without ads) HERE. 
Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites HERE.

Click HERE to read about the hand knit version of the Women’s Play Day.

Click HERE to see the Child’s Play Day Cardigan.

Premier Serenity Sock Yarn – Black – 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9 skeins (get it HERE)
Standard Gauge Machine with Patterning Capability
Standard Gauge Ribber
Punch Card #2
5/8” Buttons – 7

Size:  XS, S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X
Chest: 32, 34, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52 inches

Gauge:
4” x 4” = 28 st x 36 rows stockinette
4” x 4” = 22 st x 60 rows of tuck pattern

Back:
Set up 128, 138, 150, 162, 174, 184, 196 needles total between machine and ribber for 2×2 rib zig zag row at half pitch.  Add extra needles if needed to create zig zag between beds. T4 on both dials. COR. Make zig zag row.

Adjust to T6 on both dials and make 3 rows of circular knit to create cast on.

Align needles to correct orientation for ribbing by adjusting pitch.  

Transfer any added stitches from zig zag row to achieve 128, 138, 150, 162, 174, 184, 196 needles in work total.

K 17, 17, 19, 19, 19, 21, 21 rows.

Move all needles to main bed.  T8 on both dials.

K 1 row.

Reset RC to 000

K 113, 113, 115, 115, 115, 114, 114 rows.

Decrease 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9 stitches at side of carriage.  K 1 row.

Decrease 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9 stitches at side of carriage.  K 1 row.

Decrease 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4 stitches at side of carriage.  K 1 row.

Decrease 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4 stitches at side of carriage.  K 1 row.

Decrease 1 st on right and left.  K 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 rows.

Repeat 5, 6, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11 more times.  (RC 129, 131, 139, 141, 141, 130, 130. Needles in work 100, 106, 110, 120, 128, 136, 146)

Decrease 1 st on right and left.  K 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2 rows.

Repeat 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 9 more times.  (RC 138, 140, 148, 156, 159, 144, 150. Needles in work 94, 100, 104, 110, 116, 122, 126)  

K 47, 49, 43, 39, 38, 57, 53 rows.  (RC 185, 189, 191, 195, 197, 201, 203.  Needles in work 94, 100, 104, 110, 116, 122, 126)  

Enable Partial Knit Lever to pass over needles in hold position.

Move LN1 to LN7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 to hold position.  Move all the needles on right to hold.

K 2  rows.  *note – from here on wrap yarn under 1^st needle on 1^st knit row after putting needles to hold to prevent holes at the neckline.  

Place 10, 10, 12, 12, 12, 12, 13 more needles on hold at right.  K 2 rows.

Place 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 more needles on hold at right.  K 2 rows. (RC 191, 195, 197, 201, 203, 207, 209. Needles in work 27, 29, 29, 31, 33, 34, 34)

Place 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 needles on hold at right.  K 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3 rows. (RC 193, 198, 200, 204, 207, 211, 212.  Needles in work 24, 26, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32)

Bind off active needles in work.  

Bring rightmost 41, 43, 44, 46, 48, 50, 51 needles to working position.  

Adjust RC to 185, 189, 191, 195, 197, 201, 203.  

COL.

K 1 row.

Place 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 13, 15 more needles on hold at right.  K 2 rows.

Place 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 more needles on hold at right.  K 2 rows. (RC 190, 194, 196, 200, 202, 206, 208. Needles in work 27, 29, 29, 31, 33, 34, 34)

Place 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 needles on hold at right.  K 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4 rows. (RC 193, 198, 200, 204, 207, 211, 212.  Needles in work 24, 26, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32)

Bind off active needles in work.  Take remaining back piece off on waste yarn or garter bar.

Front Left (side facing you is right side of fabric):

Set up 54, 60, 66, 71, 76, 82, 87 needles total between machine and ribber for 2×2 rib zig zag row.  T4 on both dials. COR. Make zig zag row, adjust to T6 on both dials and make 3 rows of circular knit to create cast on.  

Align needles to correct orientation for ribbing.  

K 17, 17, 19, 19, 19, 21, 21 rows.

Move all needles to main bed.  T8 on both dials.

Reduce stitches down to 43, 47, 51, 56, 60, 64, 69 needles in work for the change of gauge in tuck stitch.  Do this by working from one end count over 6, 5, 4, 7, 7, 6, 9 needles. Put the next needle (or the 7, 6, 5, 8, 8, 7, 10th needle you counted) onto the 8, 7, 6, 9, 9, 8, 11th needle.  Count over 2 more needles, and move the next needle away from the 2 you just counted. Repeat leaving 2 needles untouched and moving one over to create 11, 13, 15, 15, 16, 18, 18 stitch decreases.  Leave 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, 4, 6 needles untouched at the end of the row. Using a multi-prong transfer tool, move all the needles to be next to each other. This takes patience and a little going back and forth moving the stitches over bit by bit.

Set up patterning or punch card.  

Enable needle selection with patterning, but do not engage carriage to tuck.

K 1 row.

Reset RC to 000.  Set carriage to tuck and patterning or punch card to advance as rows are knit.

K 192  rows.

Bind off 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7 stitches at right.  K 2 rows.

Bind off 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3 stitches at right.  K 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3 rows. (RC 196, 196, 197, 197, 196, 197, 197.  Needles in work 37, 41, 44, 48, 52, 55, 59)

Decrease 1 stitch at right.  K 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 rows.

Repeat 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 3, 5 more times.  (RC 198, 199, 200, 203, 200, 205, 209. Needles in work 36, 40, 43, 46, 50, 51, 53)

Decrease 1 stitch at right.  K 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3 rows.

Repeat 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6, 5 more times.  (RC 218, 215, 220, 221, 224, 226, 227. Needles in work 32, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 47)

Decrease 1 stitch at right.  K 6, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 rows.

Repeat 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4 more times.  (RC 230, 235, 236, 237, 240, 242, 247. Needles in work 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42)

K 47, 44, 45, 46, 43, 43, 40 rows.  (RC 277, 279, 281, 283, 283, 285, 287)

Bind off 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3 stitches at left.  K 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 rows.

Decrease 1 stitches at left.  K 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 rows.

Repeat 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1 more times.  (RC 281, 283, 283, 285, 286, 288, 290. Needles in work 27, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 37)

Decrease 1 stitch at left.  K 2 rows.

Repeat 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4 more times.  (RC 287, 289, 291, 293, 296, 298, 300. Needles in work 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32)

Decrease 1 stitch at left.  K 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 rows.

Repeat 4, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5 more times.  (RC 307, 309, 316, 323, 326, 328, 336. Needles in work 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26)

K 14, 18, 17, 16, 19, 23, 21  rows. (RC 321, 327, 333, 339, 345, 351, 357)

Bind off.  Sew back left shoulder together with this edge.

Front Right:
Repeat instructions for front left, except begin with COL.  Decrease for sleeve and neck on the opposite side as stated.

Sleeve:  (make 2)
Set up 64, 66, 70, 74, 74, 76, 78 needles total between machine and ribber for 2×2 rib zig zag row.  T4 on both dials. COR. Make zig zag row, adjust to T6 on both dials and make 3 rows of circular knit to create cast on.  

Align needles to correct orientation for ribbing.  

K 17, 17, 19, 19, 19, 21, 21  rows.

Move all needles to main bed.  T8 on both dials.

K 1 row.

Reset RC to 000.  

K 7, 5, 4, 4, 5, 3, 2 rows.

Fully fashion one stitch increase at the right and left (Move the end stitch over to next empty needle.  On the second to end needle, move the loop of the previous row onto newly created empty needle). K 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3 rows.

Repeat 17, 20, 23, 25, 29, 32, 35 more times.  (RC 133, 131, 124, 108, 95, 102, 110. Needles in work 100, 108, 118, 126, 134, 142, 150)

K 4, 4, 4, 14, 24, 13, 2 rows.  (RC 137, 135, 128, 122, 119, 115, 112)

Decrease 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8 stitches at same side of carriage.  K 1 row.

Decrease 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8 stitches at same side of carriage.  K 1 row. (RC 139, 137, 130, 124, 121, 117, 114. Needles in work 86, 94, 104, 112, 118, 126, 134)

Decrease 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4 stitch on right and left.  K 1 row.

Repeat 3, 3, 5, 1, 1, 1, 1 more time.  (RC 143, 141, 136, 126, 123, 119, 116. Needles in work 78, 86, 92, 106, 112, 118, 126)

Decrease 1 stitch on right and left.  K 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 row.

Repeat 5, 4, 6, 8, 8, 3, 5 more time.  (RC 155, 151, 150, 144, 141, 123, 122. Needles in work 66, 76, 78, 88, 94, 110, 114)

Decrease 1 stitch on right and left.  K 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2 rows.

Repeat 4, 5, 5, 6, 5, 4, 3 more times.  (RC 170, 169, 168, 165, 159, 133, 130. Needles in work 56, 64, 66, 74, 82, 100, 106)

Decrease 1 stitch on right and left.  K 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 rows.

Repeat 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 3 more times.  (RC 176, 179, 178, 175, 174, 151, 142. Needles in work 50, 54, 56, 64, 72, 88, 98)

Decrease 1 stitch on right and left.  K 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 rows.

Repeat 1, 1, 1, 0, 2, 7, 11 more times.  (RC 178, 181, 180, 176, 177, 167, 166. Needles in work 46, 50, 52, 62, 66, 72, 74)

Decrease 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 stitches on side of carriage.  K 1 row.

Repeat 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 9 more times.  (RC 182, 185, 184, 182, 183, 175, 176. Needles in work 34, 38, 40, 44, 48, 48, 54)

Decrease 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7 stitches on side of carriage.  K 1 row.

Repeat 3 more times.  (RC 186, 189, 188, 186, 187, 179, 180.  Needles in work 10, 14, 16, 20, 24, 24, 26)

Bind off.

Sew sleeve caps to body arm openings.  Sew together body sides and sleeves.

Neck Band:
Hang neck stitches of right front, back, and left front evenly over 96, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 157 needles.   Transfer stitches to ribber for 2×2 rib. T6 on both dials.

K 13, 13, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15 rows.  

Bind off.

Button Band:  
With waste yarn knit across 161, 163, 167, 169, 169, 173, 175 needles.  

Changing to main yarn, K 10 rows.

Using garter bar rotate fabric.  K1 row to create a garter stitch edge.  Rotate fabric back around. *Note – if you do not have a garter bar you can make one row of garter stitches by hand to still have this as an edge detail, or create a turning row by knitting 1 row at T10.

K 10 rows.  

Lay a towel over bed needles to protect garment from oil.  Lay edge of left front panel over needles with center edge near needle hooks and the right side of fabric facing up.  Evenly distribute panel over needles.

Pick up beginning band at waste yarn and hang on needles.

Hand knit each needle to create a large loop (almost take needle back to non-working position).  

Crochet bind off.

Button Hole Band:
With waste yarn knit across 161, 163, 167, 169, 169, 173, 175 needles again.  

Changing to main yarn, K 5 rows.

With nylon cord knit off the 3 stitches for the 7  button holes. Leave 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 4, 5 stitches working at edges of band.  Between each button hole will be 22, 22, 23, 23, 23, 24, 24 needles in work.

K 5  rows.

Using garter bar rotate fabric.  K1 row to create a garter stitch edge.  Rotate fabric back around. *Note – if you do not have a garter bar you can make one row of garter stitches by hand to still have this as an edge detail, or create a turning row by knitting 1 row at T10.

K 5 rows.  

Pick up stitches of main color that interact with nylon cord closest to garter stitch and rehang on original needles.  There will be 1 extra stitch also in work with the nylon cord. Hang that stitch on one of the buttonhole needles also.

With a long piece of main color yarn, post bind off each button hole.  Run the yarn between holes but give slack. This will be encased and you will not see it when garment is completed.  

Remove yarn around posts.

Rehang the other side of the main color stitches that interact with the nylon cord to original needles.

K 5 rows.

If button holes look correct remove nylon cord from button hole.

Lay a towel over bed needles to protect garment from oil.  Lay edge of right front panel over needles with center edge near needle hooks and the right side of fabric facing up`.  Evenly distribute panel over needles.

Pick up beginning band at waste yarn and hang on needles.

Hand knit each needle to create a large loop (almost take needle back to non-working position).  

Crochet bind off.