Mette is a traditional Norwegian cardigan with an all-over Selbu star pattern. I love this motif with the stars representing protection, guidance, and light, with hearts in the corners that form smaller stars representing love and courage. The Mette cardigan was designed with my grandfather’s grandmother Mette Hansen in mind. She was the essence of hope, love, protection and courage.
The stitches for the ribbing and button band are cast on at once. The button band stitches are placed on a holder and stitches are added for the steek. The cardigan is worked in the round until the neck shaping. The steek is cast off and the stitches for the neck are bound off and shaped by working back and forth. The sleeves are knit in the round. The steeks are cut and the button bands are finished and attached to the cardigan. Lastly, the neckband is completed and sewn down.
Sizes
XS, S1 (S2, M1, M2, L1, L2, XL, 2XL)
Finished Measurements
2-7 inches positive ease
Chest: 3 ½ (34½, 37¾, 41, 43¾, 47½, 49½, 54, 55¾) inches
Sleeve length: 18 (18¼, 18, 18¼, 18, 18¼, 21¾, 21½, 21¾) inches
Body length: 22 (24, 22, 24, 22, 24, 25, 27¼, 25) inches
Note: Due to the design, length is limited to completion of star chart. Row gauges vary wildly from knitter to knitter, so pay attention to the measurements as well as the number of motifs and adjust number of star patterns, if necessary. You may opt to finish on row 9 or row 18. You can also achieve a bit more length in the arms and body if needed by adding length to the ribbing. The length is slightly cropped and if you would like a longer cardigan, add additional star patterns. You can also make the sleeves longer if needed. You can mix up the length and the width of different sizes to fit you. This design looks best when the star motif is complete. Know your gauge before you start.
Yarn
Rauma Strikkegarn
Background, ribbing, and button bands: Gold 300 (350, 350, 400, 400, 450, 450, 450, 500) grams
Star Pattern: White 250 (250, 250, 300, 300, 350, 350, 400, 400) grams
Needles
Gauge 1: Size 3 mm and 3.25 32-inch circular needles and 3 mm double-pointed needles and size 3.25 16-inch circular needle
Gauge 2: 3.25-3.5 mm 32-inch circular needles and 3.25 mm double-pointed needle and 3.5 mm 16-circular needle (or size needles needed to obtain gauge)
Notions
Tapestry needle
7 3/4-inch Buttons
Gauge and Swatch
There are two gauges for this cardigan depending on the size you are making.
Gauge #1 24 stitches/25 rows = 4 inches on larger needles
Gauge #2 22 stitches/23 rows = 4 inches on larger needles
Skills Used
Long-tail cast on
Knit
Purl
Knitting and a bit of purling in color work
Chart reading
Knitting to gauge
Increasing in color work
Stranded knitting
Picking up stitches
Steek (casting on and cutting- you’ll like this part)
Bind off
Button holes
Knitting and attaching the button band
Mattress stitch
Whip stitch
Sewing on buttons
