I’m always at a loss for something to wear during the time between the end of very cold winter days and the short sleeve weather of spring. It’s chilly in the mornings and sometimes the afternoons can really warm up. Compound that with the heat still being on in my office and I’m trying to dress for three seasons!

Colonade is a three-quarter length cardi that layers well over long sleeved T’s, short sleeves and even camis and tanks. It’s versatile enough that it’s worth the time investment and done in a cotton acrylic yarn it’s easy care — wash and dry.

Make it in a neutral and you’ll have a wardrobe staple for years to come. Or do it up in your favorite color for a cardi you’ll turn to whenever you need to ward of a chill or just need a little pick me up.

Sizes

Woman’s 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52) to fit bust 26 (30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50).  2″ of positive ease recommended.

Yarn

Lion Brand Cotton Ease (50% cotton, 50% acrylic; 207 yards [188 meters]/100g): color Charcoal: 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) skeins.

Needles

US #6 (4.0 mm), or size needed to get gauge: 32” circular and needles of your choice to work in the round over a small circumference (DPNs, 1 circular or 2 circulars)

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rows = 4″ in St st

Notions

8 buttons, tapestry needle, cable needle

Abbreviations

Please see our standard list of abbreviations.

Pattern Notes

Pattern

CO 1, pm, 3 (5, 3, 5, 5, 5, 3), pm, 18 (20, 24, 24, 28, 32, 32), pm, 3 (5, 3, 5, 5, 5, 3), pm, 1; 26 (32, 32, 36, 40, 44, 40) sts total.

Read entire section below before proceeding.

Split Body and Sleeves

Next Row (WS): Work to m, sm, place sts between this and next m on waste yarn, CO 4 (4, 6, 8, 10, 10, 14) sts, rm, work to next m, place sts between this and next m on waste yarn, CO 4 (4, 6, 8, 10, 10, 14) sts, rm, work to end; 140 (160, 180, 200, 220, 240, 260) sts on needle.

Take note of which row you last worked on the Sleeve Chart.

Work evenly continuing buttonhole row every 16 rows, until work measures 19 (19 ¾, 20 ¾, 21 ¼, 21 ¼, 21 ¾, 21 ¾)” from shoulder or 4” less than desired finished length.  End with a WS row.

Note: Do not continue buttonholes while working edging.

Left Front Edging

Place right front and back sts on another needle or waste yarn.

Setup Row 1 (RS): Rib 7, work Colonade Bottom Edging starting at point indicated for your size until 2 sts rem, k2.
Setup Row 2 (WS): Sl1 wyib, m1, sl1 wyib, work chart, rib 7

Row 1: Rib 7, work chart until 3 sts rem, k1, sl1 wyif, k1.
Row 2: Sl1 wyib, k1, sl1 wyib, work chart, rib 7.

Cont Rows 1 and 2 until chart is complete.  BO using decrease BO.

Right Front Edging

Return right front sts to needle and attach yarn to being working a RS row.

Setup Row 1 (RS): K2, work Colonade Bottom Edging starting at point indicated for your size until 7 sts rem, rib 7.
Setup Row 2 (WS): Rib 7, work chart, sl1 wyib, m1, sl1 wyib

Row 1: K1, sl1 wyif, k1, work chart until 7 sts rem, rib 7.
Row 2: Sl1 wyib, k1, sl1 wyib, work chart, rib 7.

Cont Rows 1 and 2 until chart is complete.  BO using decrease BO.

Back Edging

Return back sts to needle and attach yarn to being working a RS row.

Setup Row 1 (RS): K2, work Colonade Bottom Edging starting at point indicated for your size until 2 sts rem, k2.
Setup Row 2 (WS): Sl1 wyib, m1, sl1 wyib, work chart, sl1 wyib, m1, sl1 wyib

Row 1: K1, sl1 wyif, k1, work chart until 3 sts rem, k1, sl1 wyif, k1
Row 2: Sl1 wyib, k1, sl1 wyib, work chart, sl1 wyib, k1, sl1 wyib

Cont Rows 1 and 2 until chart is complete.  BO using decrease BO.

Sleeve

Return sleeve sts to needle and pickup 1 st for each st CO at underarm.  Beg working in the rnd with end of rnd after Stitch 19 of chart (between end of chart and beg on St st portion).  Work evenly continuing Sleeve Chart until sleeve is approx 5” shorter than final desired sleeve length, ending with Rnd 11 of chart.

Sizes 28 (36, 44, 48): Cont in patt increasing 1 (4, 1, 4) sts evenly in St st portion of sleeve.
Size 32: Cont in patt decreasing 2 sts evenly in St st portion of sleeve
Size 40: Work even.

Next Rnd: Work 3 (4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 10) reps of Sleeve Pillar Lace, work Sleeve Chart.

Cont above rnd for 16 more rnds, ending with Rnd 13 of Sleeve Chart.

BO using Decrease BO.

Collar: With WS facing and starting with left front, pickup 8 (9, 11, 11, 13, 15, 15) sts along front CO, pickup 9 (8, 8, 10, 9, 11, 11) sts along vertical edge of left front, pickup 3 (3, 3, 4, 5, 3, 3) sts along sleeve, pickup 16 (18, 21, 22, 25, 28, 28) sts along back, pickup 3 (3, 3, 4, 5, 3, 3) sts along sleeve, pickup 9 (8, 8, 10, 9, 11, 11) sts along vertical edge of right front, pickup 8 (9, 11, 11, 13, 15, 15) sts along front CO; 56 (62, 68, 74, 80, 86, 86) sts total.  Starting with a RS row, work Collar Pillar Stitch chart for approx 4.5”, ending with a WS row.   BO in Decrease BO.

Finishing

Weave in ends.  Sew on buttons.