Chunky Crochet Post-Stitch Cardigan

Instructions

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1. 1Basic rule and basketweaveEvery row: ch 2 (does not count), 1 dc in first st (edge), pattern, 1 dc in last st (edge). Rule: work FPdc around stitches that are raised towards you and BPdc around stitches that recede, and the pattern continues unchanged ('work as they appear'). Basketweave: Block A (4 rows): between the edge sts, work the sts in groups of 4, as *4 FPdc, 4 BPdc* on the first row, then as they appear for the next 3 rows. Block B (4 rows): reverse the groups; on the first row work BPdc over the raised groups and FPdc over the receding ones, then as they appear for the next 3 rows. Alternate blocks A and B.
2. 2BackCh 68 (76, 84, 92). Row 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch. (66 (74, 82, 90) dc) Rows 2-5 (hem rib): *1 FPdc, 1 BPdc* between the edge sts, as they appear. Then change to basketweave (the 64 (72, 80, 88) inner sts make 16 (18, 20, 22) groups). When the piece measures 40 (41, 42, 43) cm, place an armhole marker at each edge. Fasten off at 64 (66, 68, 70) cm. Shoulders: 22 (25, 28, 31) sts at each end, with 22 (24, 26, 28) sts at the center for the back neck.
3. 3FrontsCh 36 (36, 40, 44) and work as for the back. (34 (34, 38, 42) dc; the inner 32 (32, 36, 40) sts make 8 (8, 9, 10) groups) At 57 (59, 61, 63) cm shape the neck: leave 6 (4, 5, 5) sts unworked at the neck edge (sl st across them if at the start of a row). Then dc2tog at the neck edge on every row 6 (5, 5, 6) times. (22 (25, 28, 31) sts) Work incomplete groups in plain dc. Fasten off at 64 (66, 68, 70) cm. Make the second front as a mirror image, with the neck edge at the opposite end.
4. 4SleevesCh 36 (36, 40, 44) and work row 1 and 4 rows of rib as for the back. (34 (34, 38, 42) dc) Change to basketweave and increase 1 st at each edge every 2nd row by working 2 dc into the edge st, 16 (18, 18, 18) times. (66 (70, 74, 78) sts) Work the new sts in plain dc until there are 4 of them, then bring them into the pattern. Fasten off when the sleeve measures 44 (45, 45, 46) cm.
5. 5AssemblySew the shoulders. Match the center of each sleeve top to the shoulder seam and sew it between the markers (armhole depth 24 (25, 26, 27) cm). Sew the side and underarm seams in one go. The post-stitch fabric is thick, so sew through the outer half of the edge sts only.
6. 6Front band and buttonholesJoin at the lower right front corner. Row 1: work an even number of dc evenly up the right front, around the neck and down the left front (about 2 dc per row-end, 3 dc at the corners). Row 2: *1 FPdc, 1 BPdc* between the edge sts. Row 3: as they appear, making 6 evenly spaced buttonholes on the right front (for women), the first 2 cm from the hem and the last 2 cm below the neck: ch 2 and skip 2 sts. Row 4: as they appear, working 2 dc into each ch-2 space. Row 5: 1 row of sc along the edge.
7. 7FinishingSew the buttons opposite the buttonholes. Weave the ends into the seams. The cardigan is heavy, so don't hang it: steam it, dry it flat and store it folded.