This cardigan features a simple all-over cable pattern. The borders are all squishy garter stitch, and the collar is especially squishy because of short rows that help it fold over. Front patch pockets are both useful and fun.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Bust Size 32 (36¾, 41¼, 46, 50½, 55¼)” with fronts 1” apart, to fit bust 29 (33, 37, 41, 45, 49)”
3-5” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 36¾”
To choose a size, measure your actual bust, divide by two, then, pick the size with the cross-back measurement that is closest to that number.
Gauge: 19 sts and 25 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Cable Pattern after wet blocking
20 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Aran (100% Merino Wool; 150 yards [137 meters]/100 grams): 0871 White, 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10) skeins.
Needles: US size 8 (5.0 mm): 31” or longer and 16” circular needles and double pointed needles
Notions: Markers; removable markers (2); stitch holders; cable needle; tapestry needle
Abbreviations
P2tog tbl: purl 2 sts together through the back loops
C6R: Slip first 3 sts to cable needle, hold to back, k3, k3 from cable needle
Special Stitches
Garter Stitch (worked in the round)
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Purl.
Rep Rnds 1-2 for patt.
Garter Stitch (worked flat)
Row 1: Knit.
Rep Row 1 for patt.
Stockinette Stitch (St st) (worked in the round)
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rep Rnd 1 for patt.
Cable Pattern (worked flat)
Row 1: *P2, k6, p2, k12; rep from * to last 10 sts, p2, k6, p2.
Row 2: K2, p6, k2, *p12, k2, p6, k2; rep from * to end.
Rows 3 and 5: Rep Row 1.
Rows 4 and 6: Rep Row 2.
Row 7: *P2, C6R, p2, k12; rep from * to last 10 sts, p2, C6R, p2.
Rows 8 and 10: Rep Row 2.
Row 9: Rep Row 1.
Row 11: *K11, p2, k6, p2, k1; rep from * to last 10 sts, k10.
Row 12: P10, *P1, k2, p6, k2, p11; rep from * to end.
Rows 13 and 15: Rep Row 11.
Rows 14 and 16: Rep Row 12.
Row 17: *K11, p2, C6R, p2, k1; rep from * to last 10 sts, k10.
Row 18: Rep Row 12.
Row 19: Rep Row 11.
Row 20: Rep Row 12.
Rep Rows 1-20 for patt.
Pattern Notes
This sweater is worked flat from the bottom up. The shoulders are seamed then stitches are picked up around the armholes for top-down sleeves. Stitches are picked up around the front opening for a Garter Stitch shawl collar. Short rows shape the collar and help it fold over.
Work Cable Pattern from chart or written instructions.
Pattern
With longer circular needles, CO 124 (146, 168, 190, 212, 234) sts, do not join.
Work in Garter Stitch for 2¼”.
Begin working Cable Pattern as follows:
Row 1 (RS): K2, PM, work Row 1 of Cable Pattern 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) times across row, PM, k2.
Row 2 (WS): P2, sm, work Row 2 of Cable Pattern as established to m, sm, p2.
Work as established from Cable Pattern until piece meas 17½” from CO edge or to desired length to underarm, ending after a WS row.
Divide for Armholes
Next Row: K2, sm, work 18 (22, 28, 32, 37, 41) sts in patt as est, BO 8 (10, 10, 12, 14, 16), work 68 (78, 88, 98, 106, 116) sts in patt as est, BO 8 (10, 10, 12, 14, 16), work in pattern to m, sm, k2 – 108 (126, 148, 166, 184, 202) sts.
Place back and right front sts on holders or waste yarn. Remove markers.
Left Front
Work even as est for 4 (3, 1, 1, -, -)”, ending after a WS row.
Dec Row: K2, work in est patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 19 (23, 29, 33, 38, 42) sts.
Work 3 rows even.
Rep Dec Row every other RS row 1 (3, 8, 9, 12, 13) more times – 18 (20, 21, 24, 26, 29) sts.
Work even, if necessary, until Armhole meas 6½ (7, 7½, 8¼, 9, 9½)”, ending after a WS row.
Shape Shoulder
Row 1 (RS): BO 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 9), work in est patt to end – 13 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) sts.
Row 2 (WS): Work in est patt to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl – 12 (13, 14, 16, 17, 19) sts.
Rep Rows 1-2 once more – 6 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts
BO sts.
Right Front
Return held sts to needle and join yarn to work a WS row.
Work even as est for 4 (3, 1, 1, -, -)”, ending after a WS row.
Dec Row: K1, ssk, work in patt to end – 19 (23, 29, 33, 38, 42) sts.
Work 3 rows even.
Rep Dec Row every other RS row 1 (3, 8, 9, 12, 13) more times – (18 (20, 21, 24, 26, 29) sts.
Work even, if necessary, until Armhole meas 6½ (7, 7½, 8¼, 9, 9½)”, ending after a WS row.
Shape Shoulder
Row 1 (WS): BO 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 9), work in patt to end – 13 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) sts.
Row 2 (RS): Work in patt to last 2 sts, k2tog – 12 (13, 14, 16, 17, 19) sts.
Rep Rows 1-2 once more – 6 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts.
BO sts.
Back
Return held sts to needle and join yarn to work a WS row.
Work even until Armhole meas 6 (6½, 7, 7¾, 8, 9)”, ending after a WS row.
Next Row: K2, work in est patt for 19 (21, 22, 25, 27, 30) sts, BO 26 (32, 40, 44, 48, 52), work in patt to last 2 sts, k2.
Left Shoulder
Row 1 (WS): Work in est patt to last 2 sts, p2togtbl – 18 (20, 21, 24, 26, 29) sts.
Row 2 (RS): Work in est patt to end.
Row 3: BO 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 9), work in est patt to end – 13 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) sts.
Row 4: Work in patt to last 2 sts, k2tog – 12 (13, 14, 16, 17, 19) sts.
Rep Rows 3-4 once more – 6 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts.
BO sts.
Right Shoulder
Join yarn to work a WS row.
Row 1 (WS): Work as est to end.
Row 2 (RS): Work in est patt to last 2 sts k2tog – 18 (20, 21, 24, 26, 29) sts.
Row 3: Work in est patt to end.
Row 4: BO 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 9), work in est patt to end – 13 (14, 15, 17, 18, 20) sts.
Row 5: Work in patt to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl – 12 (13, 14, 16, 17, 19) sts.
Rep Rows 4-5 once more – 6 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts.
BO sts.
Sleeves
Seam shoulders together.
With shorter circular needles and begin at center of underarm bind off, pick up 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8) sts, then 26 (27, 30, 32, 33, 35) sts up to shoulder seam, 26 (27, 30, 32, 33, 35) sts down to underarm bind off, then remaining 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8) sts in underarm bind off, join to work in the round – 60 (64, 70, 76, 80, 86) sts.
Work in St st for 3”.
Switch to dpns when necessary.
Dec Rnd: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 – 2 sts dec’d; 58 (62, 68, 74, 78, 84) sts.
Rep Dec Rnd every 6 (6, 5, 4, 4, 4) rnds 13 (14, 17, 19, 20, 21) more times – 32 (34, 34, 36, 38, 42) sts.
Work even, if necessary, until Sleeve meas 18” or 3” shorter than desired finished length.
Switch to Garter Stitch in the round and work for 3”.
BO all sts.
Pockets (make 2)
CO 20 (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) sts.
Work in St st for 4¼”, ending after a RS row.
Work in Garter Stitch for 1”.
BO all sts.
Finishing
Front Band and Collar
With longer circular needles and RS facing, begin at right bottom edge, pick up 1 st for every 2 rows in the bottom Garter Stitch border, then 2 sts for every 3 rows up to the back neck bind off, then 1 st in every bound-off st along the back neck, then 2 sts for every 3 rows down to the bottom Garter St border, then 1 st for every 2 rows in the bottom Garter Stitch border. Be sure to pick up a st in the very bottom st of each side of the border. Exact st count is not crucial.
Count down 40 sts from each shoulder seam and place a removable marker.
Short Row 1: K to 1 st before second marker, w&t.
Short Row 2: K to 1 st before first marker, w&t. Remove markers.
Short Row 3: K to 5 sts before wrapped st, w&t.
Short Row 4: K to 5 sts before wrapped st, w&t.
Rep the last 2 rows 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) more times.
After the last Short Row, k to end. There is no need to pick up wraps in Garter Stitch.
Work in Garter Stitch until Front Band meas 2½”.
BO all sts.
Sew pockets to fronts just above Garter Stitch bottom border, just to the right and left of the Garter Stitch front band.
Weave in all ends and block to schematic.