The Rabbitbrush Cardigan by Untangling Knots (+ my modifications)

The Rabbitbrush is a knitting pattern for a cardigan by Andi Satterlund of Untangling Knots. I bought the pattern a couple of years and it's been in my to-knit list for a long time. When I found out that I was moving to the US in the middle of winter, I knew it was time I knitted another cardigan for myself. Today I am sharing how I modified the Rabbitbrush knitted cardigan pattern by Untangling Knots!

Rabbitbrush cardigan by Andi Satterlund of Untangling Knots (via)

The original pattern is designed for a warm-weather-friendly cotton/linen yarn. When I started the project, I knew I wanted my version to be a winter-ready cardigan with longer sleeves. The only wool-blend yarn I had available in my stash at the point before the big move was the Cake Ball by Lanas Stop (note: Ravelry link) in the pink colourway. This an aran-weight, long-strand, self-striping yarn in shades of pink.

P.S.: I used the same yarn in a different colourway for my Hue Are Cool pullover sweater (FREE knitting pattern)

How I modified the Rabbitbrush cardigan by Untangling Knots

General modifications

Due to the large difference in yarn weight (DK to aran weight), I used 5.00mm needles and made the following modifications to the pattern for the cardigan in XS:

• reduced the number of stitches at cast on for upper back based on my gauge for the aran weight yarn, then adjusted the division between upper right and left front accordingly
• following the pattern for the number of rows for upper left and right front, as well as underarm cast-on repeat BUT reduced the number of rows at waist shaping according to my own body length
• reduced the number of rows for bottom rib - I used a total of 12 rows instead of 16 rows
• reduced the number of stitches picked up for sleeves - I picked up 50 stitches instead of 76
• finally, reduced the number of stitches between each button hole

Sleeve modifications

The modifications for the sleeves is as follows:

• Repeated only Rows 1 and 2 throughout before the increase for the puff sleeve design
• Start increase once sleeve reaches 4" in length by doing the following:
  • Dividing total number of stitches into 6 sections (e.g., for 50 stitches, I placed markers in the following manner: 7 sts, pm, 9 sts, pm, 9 sts, pm, 9 sts, pm, 9 sts, pm, 7 sts, pm)
  • Continuing in the same pattern but make a KFB increase in the stitch before the marker (i.e. a purl stitch)
  • Continue in the same pattern and adding the same KFB increase every 5cm for 4 more times
  • Repeat pattern of Rows 1 + 2 once after all increase are knitted
  • Then begin to decrease in the following manner:
    • --> Continue knitting in the same manner as Row 1 but P2tog x 3 in the increase section until end of round. There will only be 3 purl stitches left in each increase section at the end of the round.
    • --> Next row, continue knitting in the same manner as Row 2
    • --> Next row, continue knitting in the same manner as Row 1 but P2tog in the increase section until the end of round. There will only be 2 purl stitches left in each increase section at the end of the round.
    • --> Next round, continue as per Row 2
    • --> Next row, continue knitting in the same manner as Row 1 but P2tog in the increase section until the end of round. There will only be 1 purl stitches left in each increase section at the end of the round.
    • --> Knit 1x1 ribbing for desired length and then bind off

General guide for knitting puff sleeves

I hope my project notes on how I modified the Rabbitbrush cardigan by Untangling Knots is helpful for anyone who is thinking about knitting a puff sleeve design like mine. The key is working out the increase by dividing the number of stitches into equal parts of 5 or 6, and knitting the increase every few centimetres or so for a gradual increase. Finally, decrease the number of stitches back to what you started with by decreasing the stitches across fewer rounds. If you are knitting a full-length sleeve and have a bigger difference in diameter between your wrists and bicep, you might even want to reduce the number of stitches further so that the sleeve still fits snugly around your wrists. In this manner, you will get a gentle bell-sleeve look.

What do you think about my modified Rabbitbrush cardigan with puff sleeves? Leave a comment and let me know!