There is something so perfect about cozying up in a cabled and textured cardigan. That was my inspiration for this—to make something blissfully cozy and warm. The narrow front cables mimic the wide central back cable panel for some unification, and the rest is knit in a cozy, textured Moss stitch.
Skill level: Intermediate
Size: Finished bust size 34¾ (37¼, 39¾, 42¼, 44¾, 47, 49½, 52, 54½, 57, 59½)” / [88.5 (94.5, 101, 107.5, 113.5, 119.5, 125.5, 132, 138.5, 145, 151) cm]
Shown in size 39¾” [101 cm].
Gauge 26 sts and 29 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Moss st; 64 sts in Back Cable Panel = 7¼” [18.5 cm]; 26 sts in Front Cable Panel = 3″ [7.5 cm].
Materials
Yarn:
Swans Island Natural Colors Merino Worsted (100% Organic Merino Wool; 250 yards [229 meters]/100 grams: Teal, 8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 12, 12) skeins.
Needles: Size 6 (4 mm): 40″ circular and double-pointed (dpns).
Notions: Markers; cable needle; stitch holders or waste yarn; nine 7/8″ (2 cm) buttons; tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
1/2RC: Sl 2 sts to cn and hold in back, k1, k2 from cn.
3/3LC: Sl 3 sts to cn and hold in front, k3, k3 from cn.
3/3RC: Sl 3 sts to cn and hold in back, k3, k3 from cn.
beg: begin(ning)
BO: bind off
CO: cast on
cont: continue
dec(‘d): decrease(d)
dpn(s): double pointed needle(s)
est: establish(ed)
inc(‘d): increase(d)
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 sts together
m: marker
m1: (make 1) insert left needle under horizontal strand between st just worked and next st, from the front to the back, knit through the back loop
m1p: (make 1 purlwise) insert left needle under horizontal strand between st just worked and next st, from the back to the front, purl
meas: measure(s)
p: purl
p2tog: purl 2 sts together
patt: pattern
pm: place marker
rem: remain(ing)
rep: repeat
rnd(s): round(s)
RS: right side
sl: slip
ssk: (slip, slip, knit) slip 2 sts, 1 at a time, knitwise to the right needle, return sts to left needle in turned position and knit them together through the back loops
ssp: (slip, slip, purl) slip 2 sts, 1 at a time, knitwise to the right needle, return sts to left needle in turned position and purl them together through the back loops
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side
Pattern Notes
The body and sleeves are worked separately from the hem/cuff to the underarms where they are joined and worked together for the yoke. The underarm sts are joined using the three-needle bind-off method.
Special Stitches
Moss Stitch (worked in rounds, multiple of 4 sts)
Rnds 1 and 2: *P1, k2, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnds 3 and 4: *K1, p2, k1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rnds 1–4 for patt.
Moss Stitch (worked in rows, multiple of 4 sts + 2)
Row 1 (RS): P2, *k2, p2; rep from * around.
Row 2 (WS): K2, *p2, k2; rep from * around.
Row 3: K2, *p2, k2; rep from * around.
Row 4: P2, *k2, p2; rep from * around.
Rep Rows 1–4 for patt.
Front Cable Panel (panel of 26 sts)
(also, see chart)
Rows 1 and 3 (RS): P2, 1/2RC, p2, k12, p2, 1/2RC, p2.
Rows 2 and 4: K2, p3, k2, p12, k2, p3, k2.
Row 5: P2, 1/2RC, p2, 3/3RC, 3/3LC, p2, 1/2RC, p2.
Rows 6 and 8: K2, p3, k2, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p4, k2, p3, k2.
Rows 7 and 9: P2, 1/2RC, p2, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k4, p2, 1/2RC, p2.
Row 10: Rep Row 6.
Rep Rows 1–10 for patt.
Back Cable Panel (panel of 64 sts)
(also, see chart)
Rows 1 and 3 (RS): P2, 1/2RC, p2, k12, p2, 1/2RC, p2, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k4, p2, 1/2RC, p2, k12, p2, 1/2RC, p2.
Rows 2 and 4: K2, p3, k2, p12, k2, p3, k2, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p4, k2, p3, k2, p12, k2, p3, k2.
Row 5: P2, 1/2RC, p2, 3/3RC, 3/3LC, p2, 1/2RC, p2, 3/3LC, 3/3RC, p2, 1/2RC, p2, 3/3RC, 3/3LC, p2, 1/2RC, p2.
Rows 6 and 8: K2, p3, k2, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p4, k2, p3, k2, p12, k2, p3, k2, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p4, k2, p3, p2.
Rows 7 and 9: P2, 1/2RC, p2, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k4, p2, 1/2RC, p2, k12, p2, 1/2RC, p2, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k4, p2, 1/2RC, p2.
Row 10: K2, p3, k2, *p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p4, k2, p3, k2; rep from * twice more.
Rep Rows 1–10 for patt.
Three Needle Bind Off Method
Slip the sts from holders onto each of 2 needles with the RS of garment pieces together (to form ridge on inside of garment), hold the needles parallel. With a third needle, knit the first st of front and back needles together, *knit next st from each needle together, (2 sts on right needle), BO 1 st; rep from * until all sts are BO.
Pattern
Sleeve (make 2)
CO 52 (56, 56, 60, 64, 64, 68, 72, 72, 76, 80) sts. Divide sts evenly over 3 or 4 dpns. Pm for beg of rnd and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts.
Set-up Ribbing: *K1, p2, k1; rep from * to end.
Cont working in ribbing until piece meas 2″ [5 cm] from beg.
Work in Moss St (see Stitch Guide) for 2 rnds.
Shape Sleeve
Note: When increasing in pattern, increase using m1 on the inc rnd, then re-establish the Moss st on the following rnd. Sometimes there will be 4 knit or 4 purl stitches worked consecutively.
Inc Rnd: Work 1 st in patt as est, m1, work in Moss St as est to last st, m1, work 1 st in patt as est – 2 sts inc’d.
Work 7 (7, 7, 7, 7, 5, 7, 7, 5, 5, 5) rnds even in Moss St.
Rep the last 8 (8, 8, 8, 8, 6, 8, 8, 6, 6, 6) rnds 4 (4, 1, 1, 1, 17, 1, 1, 15, 15, 17) more times – 62 (66, 60, 64, 68, 100, 72, 76, 104, 108, 116) sts.
(Rep Inc Rnd, then work 5 (5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 5, 5, 3, 3, 3) rnds) 12 (12, 16, 16, 16, 1, 16, 16, 4, 4, 1) times – 86 (90, 92, 96, 100, 102, 104, 108, 112, 116, 118) sts.
Cont working even in Moss St until piece meas 18½” / [47 cm] from beg, ending after an even numbered rnd of Moss St.
Divide for Underarm:
Work as est to last 3 (4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts, place the last 3 (4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts on a stitch holder or waste yarn, remove m, place the next 3 (4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10) sts onto the same stitch holder or waste yarn – 80 (82, 84, 86, 88, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98) sts rem.
Break yarn and set aside.
Body
With circular needle, CO 210 (226, 242, 258, 274, 290, 306, 322, 338, 354, 370) sts. Do not join, work back and forth in rows.
Set-up Ribbing: P2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
Cont working in ribbing until piece meas 2″ / [5 cm] from beg, ending after a RS row.
Note: Different colored markers are recommended to easily identify the cable panel markers from the side markers.
Inc Row (WS): *K2, p1, m1p, p1, k2, (m1p, p1) twice, m1p, k2, (m1p, p1) twice, m1p,* k2, p1, m1p, p1, k2, pm for Front Cable Panel, (p2, k2) 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) times, p1, pm for side, p1, (k2, p2) 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) times, pm for Back Cable Panel; rep from * to * 3 times more, k2, p1, m1p, p1, k2, pm for Back Cable Panel, (p2, k2) 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) times, p1, pm for side, p1, (k2, p2) 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) times, pm for Front Cable Panel; rep from * to * once, k2, p1, m1p, p1, k2 – 38 sts inc’d; 248 (264, 280, 296, 312, 328, 344, 360, 376, 392, 408) sts.
Set-up Cable Panels and Moss St (RS): Work Front Cable Panel to first m, sm, work in Moss St to next cable panel m, sm, work Back Cable Panel to next m, sm, work in Moss St to next cable panel m, sm, work Front Cable Panel to end.
Cont working even as est for 3 more rows, ending after a RS row.
Shape Waist
Note: When decreasing in pattern before the marker, if the last 2 sts worked before the decrease were purled then work k2tog before the m and ssk after the m. If the last 2 sts worked before the decrease were knitted then work p2tog before the m and ssp after the m. The Moss Stitch pattern will break up at the side markers. Sometimes there will be 4 knit or 4 purl stitches worked consecutively.
Dec Row (RS): *Work as est to 2 sts before side m, k2tog or p2tog keeping in patt, sm, ssk or ssp keeping in patt; rep from * once more, work to end as est – 4 sts dec’d.
Work 5 rows even as est.
Rep the last 6 rows 7 more times – 216 (232, 248, 264, 280, 296, 312, 328, 344, 360, 376) sts rem.
Note: When increasing in pattern, increase using m1 on the RS inc row, then re-establish the Moss st on the following WS row, maintaining the k2, p2 repeat as est up to the side marker, slip the marker, then mirror what was worked before the marker to maintain the same order of sts on each side of the marker. The Moss Stitch pattern will break up at the side markers. Sometimes there will be 4 knit or 4 purl stitches worked consecutively.
Inc Row (RS): *Work as est to 1 st before side m, m1, work next st as est, sl m, work next st as est, m1; rep from * once more, work to end as est – 4 sts inc’d.
Work 5 rows even as est.
Rep the last 6 rows 7 more times – 248 (264, 280, 296, 312, 328, 344, 360, 376, 392, 408) sts.
Cont working even in patt as est until body meas 16½” / [42 cm] from beg, ending after a WS row.
Divide Back and Fronts (RS)
*Work as est to side m, remove m, k3 (4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10), place the last 6 (8, 8, 10, 12, 14, 14, 16, 18, 20, 20) sts on a stitch holder or waste yarn for underarm; rep from * once more, work to end as est – 56 (59, 63, 66, 69, 72, 76, 79, 82, 85, 89) sts rem on each Front, 124 (130, 138, 144, 150, 156, 164, 170, 176, 182, 190) sts rem for Back.
Yoke
Cont working with the circular needle and yarn attached to the body sts.
Joining Row (WS): Work front sts as est to underarm sts, pm for armhole, return 80 (82, 84, 86, 88, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98) held sts from one sleeve to dpns and work across in Moss St as est, pm for armhole, work back sts as est, pm for armhole, return 80 (82, 84, 86, 88, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98) held sts from second sleeve to dpns and work across in Moss St as est, pm for armhole, work front sts as est to end – 396 (412, 432, 448, 464, 476, 496, 512, 528, 544, 564) sts.
Shape Raglan
Sizes 34¾ (37¼, 39¾, 42¼, 44¾, 47, 49½, 52, 54½, 57, -)” only:
Body and Sleeve Dec Row (RS): *Work as est to 2 sts before raglan m, p2tog, sm, ssp; rep from * 3 more times, work to end as est – 8 sts dec’d.
Work 1 WS Row even in patt.
Rep the last 2 rows 8 (7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 2, 1, 1, 0, -) more times – 324 (348, 376, 400, 424, 436, 472, 496, 512, 536, -) sts rem; 47 (51, 56, 60, 64, 67, 73, 77, 80, 84, -) sts each Front, 62 (66, 70, 74, 78, 78, 84, 88, 90, 94, -) sts each Sleeve, 106 (114, 124, 132, 140, 146, 158, 166, 172, 180, -) sts for Back.
Sizes – (37¼, 39¾, 42¼, 44¾, 47, 49½, 52, 54½, 57, 59½)” only:
Body and Sleeve Dec Row (RS): *Work as est to 2 sts before raglan m, p2tog, sm, ssp; rep from * 3 more times, work to end as est – 8 sts dec’d.
Body Dec Row (WS): *Work as est to 2 sts before raglan m, ssk, sm, work as est to next raglan m, sm, k2tog; rep from * once more, work to end as est – 4 sts dec’d.
Rep the last 2 rows – (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19) more times – – (324, 328, 328, 328, 316, 316, 316, 320, 320, 324) sts rem; – (47, 48, 48, 48, 47, 47, 47, 48, 48, 49) sts each Front, – (62, 62, 62, 62, 58, 58, 58, 58, 58, 58) sts each Sleeve, – (106, 108, 108, 108, 106, 106, 106, 108, 108, 110) sts for Back.
All Sizes
Shape Neck
Next Row (RS): BO 16 (16, 17, 17, 17, 19, 19, 19, 20, 20, 21) sts, *work as est to 2 sts before raglan m, p2tog, sm, ssp; rep from * 3 more times, work to end as est – 300 (300, 303, 303, 303, 289, 289, 289, 292, 292, 295) sts rem.
Next Row (WS): BO 16 (16, 17, 17, 17, 19, 19, 19, 20, 20, 21) sts, *work as est to 2 sts before raglan m, ssk, sm, k2tog; rep from * 3 more times, work to end as est – 276 (276, 278, 278, 278, 262, 262, 262, 264, 264, 266) sts rem; 29 (29, 29, 29, 29, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26) sts each Front, 58 (58, 58, 58, 58, 54, 54, 54, 54, 54, 54) sts each Sleeve, 102 (102, 104, 104, 104, 102, 102, 102, 104, 104, 106) sts for Back.
Neck Body and Sleeve Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog or p2tog keeping in patt, *work as est to 2 sts before raglan m, p2tog, sm, ssp; rep from * 3 more times, work to last 3 sts as est, ssk or ssp keeping in patt, k1 – 10 sts dec’d.
Body and Sleeve Dec Row (WS): *Work as est to 2 sts before raglan m, ssk, sm, k2tog; rep from * 3 more times, work to end as est – 8 sts dec’d.
Rep the last 2 rows 8 (8, 8, 8, 8, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7) more times – 114 (114, 116, 116, 116, 118, 118, 118, 120, 120, 122) sts rem; 2 sts each Front, 22 sts each Sleeve, 66 (66, 68, 68, 68, 70, 70, 70, 72, 72, 74) sts for Back.
Loosely BO all sts in pattern.
Finishing
Underarm Join
Return 6 (8, 8, 10, 12, 14, 14, 16, 18, 20, 20) held underarm sts from each sleeve and body to separate dpns, then pick up 1 additional st at each end of each dpn – 8 (10, 10, 12, 14, 16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 22) sts on each of 2 needles. Turn work inside out so RS of pieces are facing each other. Join yarn and use the three-needle bind-off to join the sts on both needles together. Rep for second underarm.
Block piece to measurements.
Neck Trim
With circular needle and RS facing, beg at right front neck BO sts, pick up and k16 (16, 17, 17, 17, 19, 19, 19, 20, 20, 21) sts along BO, 15 (15, 15, 15, 15, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14) sts along right front neck selvedge, 114 (114, 116, 116, 116, 118, 118, 118, 120, 120, 122) sts along yoke BO, 15 (15, 15, 15, 15, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14) sts along left front neck selvedge then 16 (16, 17, 17, 17, 19, 19, 19, 20, 20, 21) sts along left front neck BO – 176 (176, 180, 180, 180, 184, 184, 184, 188, 188, 192) sts. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.
Set-up Ribbing (WS): P3, *k2, p2; rep from * to last st, p1.
Next Row (RS): K3, *p2, k2; rep from * to last st, k1.
Cont working 6 more rows in ribbing as est.
BO all sts loosely in pattern.
Buttonband
With circular needle and RS facing, beg at left front neckline, pick up and k130 (130, 134, 134, 138, 142, 142, 146, 146, 150, 150) sts evenly along left front edge.
Set-up Ribbing (WS): P2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
Next Row (RS): K2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
Cont working ribbing as est for 6 more rows.
BO all sts loosely in pattern.
Buttonhole Band
With circular needle and RS facing, beg at lower edge of right front, pick up and k130 (130, 134, 134, 138, 142, 142, 146, 146, 150, 150) sts evenly along right front edge.
Work 3 rows in ribbing as est for buttonband, ending after a WS row.
Buttonhole Row (RS): Work 4 (4, 2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 4, 4, 2, 2) sts, yo, k2tog or p2tog keeping in patt, *work 13 (13, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16) sts, yo, k2tog or p2tog keeping in patt; rep from * 7 more times, work 4 (4, 2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 4, 4, 2, 2) sts to end.
Work 4 more rows in ribbing as est.
BO all sts loosely in pattern.
Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.
Weave in ends. Block again if desired.