Yarn Sirdar Wool Rich Aran
3 x 100g balls in Dusky Pink (shade sh318)
Needles & accessories 7mm (UK 2, US 10.5/11) and 6.5mm (UK 3, US 10.5) knitting needles
Cable needle
4 x buttons
YARN DETAIL
Sirdar Wool Rich Aran
Aran weight
60% wool, 40% acrylic
100g/190m (208yds)
TENSION
15 sts and 14 rows over pattern using 7mm needles (with yarn held double) to make a 10cm or 4in square
FINISHED SIZE
40cm x 40cm (15 3/4in x 15 3/4in)
FRONT
**Cast on 57 sts using 7mm needles using yarn held double.
Row 1 (RS): P2 *k9, p2, rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): K2, *p9, k2 rep from * to end.
Row 3 (RS): K2 * Work right cross on 4sts as follows: slip 3 to cable needle and hold in back of work, k1, k3 from cable needle, k1, work left cross on 4 sts as follows: slip 1 to cable needle and hold in front of work, k3, k1 from cable needle, p2. Rep from * to end.
Row 4: K2, *P9, K2 rep from * to end. ** Repeat the 4 row pattern 16 times more (or until work measures approx 40cm (15 3/4in). Cast off sts using 6.5mm needles, leaving a long tail for sewing up.
BACK
Upper back
Work as for front from ** to **
Repeat the 4 row pattern 6 times more.
Change to 6.5mm needles.
Button border
Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2, rep from * to last st k1.
Row 2, buttonhole row, (WS): P1, *(k2, p2) twice, cast off 2, p1 (2 sts now on RH needle after cast off), rep from * until last 8sts, (K2, p2) twice.
Row 3: Work as row 1, casting on 2 sts over where you have cast off in the previous row.
Row 4: P1, *k2, p2, rep from * to end.
Cast off.
Lower back
Work as for front from ** to **
Repeat the 4 row pattern 9 times more.
Change to 6.5mm needles.
Cast off.
MAKING UP
1 Join the lower back to the front with right-sides facing using a mattress stitch. Use the cables to guide you to keep the pattern in place.
2 Join the upper back to the front with the buttonhole rib overlapping the last section of the cables.
3 Sew four buttons in place using your knitting yarn, matching them up with the centre of the buttonholes.