Ananta Cardigan

I wanted to create something special for my mother-in-law, so I drew inspiration from Islamic art to evoke a memento from her beloved culture. and its complex beauty. The Ananta Cardigan features a blend of simple geometric shapes that come together as one to form an intricate pattern.

Through their infinite and all-encompassing patterns, Islamic art invites us to take a step back from worldly focus and allow for spiritual contemplation. These ongoing and looping shapes reflect God's infinite creations and a sense of divine oneness or unity. The name Ananta hails from the Sanskrit for "infinite," "endless" or "limitless". May it be an inspiration and a reminder of our limitless potential.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Finished chest circumference:

• 90.5 (100.5, 110, 120, 130, 140.5, 150.5, 160) cm

• 36¼ (40¼, 44, 48, 52, 56¼, 60¼, 64)”

Designed to be worn with 10-20.5 cm / 4-8¼” positive ease around the chest, to fit chests with circumference:

• 70-80 (80-90, 90-100, 100-110, 110-120, 120-130, 130-140, 140-150) cm

• 28-32 (32-36, 36-40, 40-44, 44-48, 48-52, 52-56, 56-60)”

Gauge

20 sts & 30 rows = 10 cm / 4''

Stockinette stitch and colourwork in the round, blocked.

Yardage

Main colour (MC):

• 920 (990, 1085, 1160, 1245, 1340, 1420, 1530) m

• 1005 (1085, 1185, 1270, 1360, 1465, 1555, 1675) yds

Contrasting colour (CC):

• 340 (350, 385, 405, 415, 450, 460, 490) m

• 370 (385, 420, 445, 455, 490, 505, 535) yds

Yarn in Sample

Yarn used in sample (size 3) is 3 skeins of Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply (55% Merino wool 45% silk; 365 m [399 yds] / 100 g) in colourway Slate held together with 4 skeins of BC garn Baby alpaca (100% Alpaca; 250 m [273 yds] / 50 g)  in colourway Basalt as main colour and 2 skeins of Audine Wools Twinkle DK by Knitcrate (80% Merino wool, 10% Cashmere goat, 10% Stellina; 229 m [250 yds] / 100 g) in Rollerskates as contrast colour.

Needles

• 3.25 mm (US 3) circulars 80-100 cm / 24-40” and/or double-pointed needles for small circumference knitting
• 2.75 mm (US 2) circulars 60-80 cm / 18-24” needles for button band

Notions

Stitch markers, locking stitch markers, row counter, stitch holder, tapestry needle, 7-8 18 mm / ¾” buttons.

Techniques

Stranded colourwork, ladderback jacquard (optional), trapping floats, short rows, backwards loop cast-on, steeking, one-row buttonholes.

Notes

The cardigan is worked seamlessly in the round from the top-down with steek stitches added in the middle. After cardigan’s body and sleeves are finished collar stitches are picked up around the neckline and worked in 2x1 rib to double height, folded and then attached to the base. Steek is reinforced and 2x1 rib button bands with one-row buttonholes are added before cutting the cardigan open.