Tawus Cardigan

Tawus is the Arabic word for peacock. The intricate lace motifs at the top of the yoke reminded me of a peacock tail. It is a cardigan for warm summer days when you want a layer that feels special.

This is a top-down lace cardigan with two distinct lace sections. The upper yoke has elaborate lacework that demands your focus and will feel tricky at times. But if you trust yourself and take it step by step, you will arrive at the moment where everything clicks together. And it is worth it. From there, the lower body opens up into a lighter, flowing geometric lace that you can relax into.

Everything is worked seamlessly from the top down so you can try it on as you go and adjust the length to suit your style. You won't need to seam any delicate lace panels together.

The button band has an unusual finishing detail that makes the whole piece stand out. Choose a light yarn with good stitch definition and the lace patterns will come alive.

A full step-by-step course that walks you through every technique used in the cardigan is available at go.zaneteknits.com/tawus-course.

Translations provided by knitlingo.com.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished chest circumference:

• 97.5 (107.5, 117, 128.5, 138.5, 148, 158, 168, 177.5) cm
• 39 (43, 46¾, 51½, 55¼, 59¼, 63¼, 67, 71)”

Designed to be worn with 15–20 cm / 6–8” positive ease around the chest.

To choose the most appropriate size, measure the wearer's chest and add the preferred ease, or measure the circumference of an already-owned garment that fits well, then find the closest finished chest circumference. Pay attention to the shoulder-to-shoulder measurement — it shouldn't be oversized in that area as it will look ill-fitting. If you have a D-cup or larger, use the upper bust measurement and add ease to that; this will mean less ease around the full bust but a better fit around the shoulders.

Gauge

24.5 sts & 32 rows = 10 cm / 4” using Chart-A motif on larger needles, worked flat and in the round, blocked.

• Width of one Chart-A repeat: 6.53 cm / 2.61”

If your gauge is different to the one stated above, adjust the needle size. Block your swatch the same way you plan to block the cardigan and let it fully dry before measuring.

Yardage

Sport weight yarn. Depending on the length of the cardigan, allow approximately:

• 1110 (1195, 1290, 1395, 1485, 1575, 1700, 1785, 1880) m
• 1215 (1310, 1410, 1525, 1625, 1720, 1860, 1950, 2060) yds

The estimate includes approximately 10% extra to account for swatching and individual knitting style.

Yarn in Sample

Yarn used in the sample (Size 2) is 4 skeins of Sea Change Fibers Shoreline Sport (50% Merino/Rambouillet, 25% silk, 25% linen; 320 m [350 yds] / 100 g) in colourway Au Naturel.

Needles

• 3.25 mm (US 3), or needle size that gets the gauge for main fabric — circulars with sharp tips, 60–100 cm / 24–40” long, plus optional double-pointed needles for small-circumference knitting
• 2.75 mm (US 2), or 2 sizes smaller than gauge needle — for ribbing

Notions

Stitch markers, locking markers, row counter, spare circular needle in smaller size for opening borders, tape measure, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, 8–12 buttons (18–25 mm / ¾–1”).

Techniques

Lifted increases, lace knitting, backwards loop cast-on, knitting in the round, 3-needle bind-off, tubular bind-off.

Notes

The cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down. It starts by casting on stitches for the back neckline and shaping the shoulders using lifted increases.

Stitches are then picked up along the back shoulders to create the front shoulders, working each side separately with increases to shape the front neckline.

Next, stitches for sleeves are picked up along the front shoulder edges, and the yoke is worked in one piece down to the underarm. Increases are added along the sleeves and body during this section.

The sleeves are separated, and the body is worked in one piece down to the desired length. The sleeves are then worked separately in the round down to the cuffs.

The neckband is added by picking up stitches along the neckline and working flat. The front opening is finished by picking up stitches along both edges and working welts, with loop buttonholes added at the end.