Chimayo Cardigan

Pattern and photos by Anne Podlesak.

This pattern is available to purchase from Ravelry.

The Chimayo area of New Mexico boasts some of the most talented Navajo weavers in the Southwest region. The diamond-shaped motifs, while taken from traditional Fair Isle chars, are very similar to motifs used in the local Chimayo weavers’ rugs.

This fingering-weight cardigan is knit in the round from the bottom hem up to the armholes. The sleeves are then worked in the round and the sleeves and body are joined together at the yoke. The upper part of the sweater is shaped with 3 decrease rounds interspersed between 3 colorwork bands. The front steeks are then cut open and the front seed stitch bands are picked up and knit to finish the piece.

Available Sizes
32 ½ (34 ½, 36 ½, 38 ½, 42 ½, 46 ½, 50 ½)” or 82.5 (87.5, 92.5, 98, 108, 118, 128.5) cm bust circumference, buttoned. It is shown in size 32 1/2 with approximately 3/4” of negative ease. If you prefer a looser/boxier fit, select a size with a finished size inch or two greater than your bust size and/or omit the waist and bust shaping as desired.
Yardage Requirements
MC 875 (975, 1125, 1250, 1550, 1725, 1900) yards.
CC2 125 (125, 200, 200, 250, 250, 300) yards.
CC1, CC3 and CC4 100 yards of each color.
Recommended Yarn
Rauma Finullgarn, Rauma Pandora or Rauma Tumi
Needle Size
US 3 - 3.25 mm
Gauge
24 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch in the round, after blocking

Note that information is given to work the front steeks within the notes section of the pattern. A sewn/reinforced steek technique was used for my sample, and then a simple gingham ribbon was added to cover the cut ends of the steeks on the inside of the sweater.

Note that the colorwork is presented in chart form only.