Jazz Cardigan Part 3 - Adding Waist Shaping

Wow, it's been a while but it's finally finished!!! I made a few more modifications and chose to go with a short sleeve - elbow length - since I am moving to a warmer climate. Using smaller needles, I bordered the pattern with the Fly Design's Nymph in Deep Grey (same yarn used on the Rowan Earn). The Nymph knits up nicely and the sheen is amazing! After searching high and low in specialty stores, I chose mother of pearl buttons with a silver border. I found these for $1.75 for 6 buttons at JoAnn Fabrics - go figure! I've worn the sweater twice now and it feels great. The Handmaiden yarn is simply wonderful against the skin.

Once you get into the chevron pattern, if you want to add waist shaping, you need to figure out where to hide the decreases and increases. Below are instructions based on what I did (also see the diagram photo):

• First, a bit about the pattern: the "sl 2, k1, p2sso" on the RS is matched with the "p1" that starts the repeat pattern on the WS. This is what creates the nice rib between chevrons. You'll know if you are on or off pattern by this. Similarly, in the RS pattern, when you k9, the 5th stitch is going into the yo of the WS pattern (creating a lovely eyelet). It's important to understand the pattern because you want to avoid increases and decreases in the 5th stitch. Rather, place them in the K stitches that form the garter st within the chevron. Thus, it's easiest to plan your decreases and increases on the WS.
• I wanted to decrease at each end at 3" and at 5" and then increase at 7" and 10" based on my measurements. I chose not to dec/inc in the end chevrons. Instead, I placed them in the 2 back middle chevrons. See the diagram.
• To do this, count the number of full chevrons (number of Vs) in the back section of the pattern - this will vary based on the size that you knit. For my sweater, I have 10 full chevrons in the back. So, counting from the edge of where the back starts, my two middle are the 5th and 6th chevron from the left edge.
• Place the first set of decreases in the k4 of the repeat pattern in the outer edge of chevron 5 and 6. The pattern becomes *p1, k1, k2tog, k1, (k1, yo, k1) into next st. PM so you remember where you have decreased. This matters because when you turn your work you need to remember to change the repeat pattern to *k8, sl 2, k1, p2sso...
• Place the second set of decreases in the inner edge of chevrons 5 and 6 and repeat the process as above.
• When you plan your increases, you will M1 where the decreases were implemented.
  

Feel free to email me if this doesn't make sense or you need help.

Happy Knitting!