Sleeves & Button Bands for Polly

(Finished the body this morning for my stripey Polly Cardigan! I LOVE it! Sleeves and buttons this weekend.)

Hi Spud & Chloë Friends,

Here are a few more sections you will need to make the Polly Pullover into a long-sleeve cardigan.

I’ve been asked so here is the answer, I made the body of my cardigan 15 inches long, measured down from the underarm, and then added the 4 rows of ribbing. I am doing this same measurement on both of the versions of the cardigan I am making. This is a good spot to make things perfect for you, longer or shorter. You decide!

Buttons:

I used five 3/4-inch buttons. I had to go back and tighten up the buttonholes slightly with a sewing thread and needle to make them a touch smaller. Therefore, I would recommend 1-inch buttons so you don’t have to tighten up the buttonholes later. Since I’ve been asked a few times, I bought my green buttons on the Carbon cardigan at The Sow’s Ear in Verona, WI. I have no idea if they still have them available or not. It was over a year ago that I purchased them.

Now, the other thing about the buttons is that I made 5 buttonholes at the top of my cardigan and left the bottom open. You could place buttons going all of the way down the front top to bottom. What I’m saying is that you could do more or less on the button front. It’s up to you. I usually only button a few buttons on my cardigans so I don’t need them going all of the way down.

I did a video tutorial on picking up stitches if you need help on that subject. Click here to see the tutorial.

Button Band:

The button band on the left side of the cardigan:

Starting at the left front edge at the neck, with the same size needle used for the body of the cardigan, (pick up 2 stitches and then skip the next stitch) repeat to the bottom of the front edge. Whatever number of stitches you end up with will work out fine! We all will end up with different numbers due to the fact that you can vary the length of your cardigan.

Row 1: (k1, p1) repeat to the end of the row

Row 2: knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches to the end of the row

Rows 3 and 4: repeat rows 1 and 2

Row 5: repeat row 1

Bind off.

Buttonhole Band:

On the right side edge starting at the bottom of the sweater, (pick up 2 stitches and then skip the next stitch) repeat to the top of the front edge.

Row 1: (k1, p1) repeat to the end of the row

Row 2: knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches to the end of the row

Row 3 (buttonhole row): Starting at the top of the neck continue to work in the k1, p1 rib as set: work 3 sts in rib, yo, k2tog, then (work 5 sts in rib, yo, k2tog) repeat ( ) until the desired number of buttonholes have been worked, continue in rib to the end of the row.

Rows 4 and 5: repeat rows 1 and 2

Bind off.

Sleeves:

Follow the pattern to place the stitches back on the needles and for picking up stitches at the underarm, including placing the stitch marker at the middle of the underarm stitches to mark the beginning of the round.

To make long sleeves with ribbed cuffs:

Knit every round for 2 inches measured from the underarm.

Next round is the decrease round as follows:

Decrease round: (k1, k2tog, knit to the last 2 stitches of the round, ssk)

Knit every round until the sleeve measures 5 inches from the underarm.

Repeat the Decrease Round.

Knit every round until the sleeve measures 8 inches from the underarm.

Repeat the Decrease Round.

Knit every round until the sleeve measures the desired length from the underarm (I went to 16-inches before starting the cuff).

Next round: (k1, p1) repeat to the end of the round.

Repeat the last round for until the ribbed cuff measures 5 inches (or desired length).

Bind off loosely.

Sew on the buttons opposite the buttonholes.

Weave in all ends. Block as desired (I just gave my sweater a hearty steam and let it dry flat).

Well, there you have it Polly Cardigan Knitalongers! I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Keep me posted.

The Ravelry thread for the Polly Knitalong is right here.

I have a huge giveaway coming up next so don’t miss it!!

Have a great knitting weekend everyone.