This chunky cardigan is fun to knit! Made with varying colors and textures, the end result is a visually inspiring piece that will be as much fun to talk about as it is to knit (and wear)!
Time: 1 Week Project
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Bust Size 37.75 (39.75, 43.75, 47.75, 51.75, 55.75, 59.75, 63.75, 67.75)” to fit bust 30 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)”
5-10” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 36”
Gauge: 9 sts and 12 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Cable pattern, blocked gently.
Materials
Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunk (50% acrylic, 50% wool; 60 yards [55 meters]/100 grams): #908 Light Caramel (A, 3 (3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) balls), #927 Racing Green (B, 3 (3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) balls), #906 Granite Grey (C, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) balls), #907 Vanilla Cream (D, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) balls), #905 Slate Grey (E, 3 (3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) balls)
Needles: US size 17(12 mm) 60” circular needles
Notions: Cable needle, tapestry needle
Special Stitches
Bobble: (K1, yo, k1, yo, k1) in indicated st, turn, p5, turn, k5tog.
K4Below: K1 in st 4 rows below.
C2F: Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to front of work, k2, k2 from cn.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked in flat panels, and seamed at the shoulders, around the sleeve, and down the side seam. The neckline is picked up and knitted at the end.
Pattern
Back
With A, CO 46 (46, 50, 54, 60, 64, 70, 74, 78) using the Long Tail CO technique.
Ribbing
Rows 1-5 (5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7): [K1, p1] across.
Bobble Section
Join E and cont with E.
Row 1 (RS): K2 (2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 0, 2, 1), [k6, Bobble] 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) times, k2 (2, 0, 2, 2, 0, 0, 2, 0).
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K2 (2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 0, 2, 1), [k3, Bobble, k3] 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) times, k2 (2, 0, 3, 2, 0, 0, 2, 0).
Rows 6-8: Rep Rows 2-4.
Rep last 8 rows 0 (0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2) more time(s).
Then work 6 (7, 2, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 0) more row(s) in pattern.
Seed Stitch Section
Join D and cont with D.
Row 1: [K1, p1] across.
Row 2: [P1, k1] across.
Rep last 2 rows 6 (6, 8, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) more times.
Then work 0 (1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0) more row(s) in pattern.
Garter Stitch Section
Join B and cont with B.
Knit 16 (15, 18, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24) rows.
Join C and with C, BO all sts.
Left Front
With A, CO 20 (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) using the Long Tail CO technique.
Ribbing
Rows 1-5 (5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7): [K1, p1] across.
Seed Stitch Section
Join C and cont with C.
Row 1 (RS): [K1, p1] across.
Row 2 (WS): [P1, k1] across.
Rep last 2 rows 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10, 10) more times, then work Row 1 once more.
Bobble Section
Join B and cont with B.
Transition row (WS): Purl.
Row 1 (RS): [K6, Bobble] 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) times, k6 (1, 3, 5, 7, 2, 4, 6, 1).
Row 2: P.
Row 3: K.
Row 4: P.
Row 5: [K3, Bobble, k3] 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) times, [k3, Bobble] 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0) time(s), k2 (1, 3, 1, 3, 2, 4, 2, 1).
Rows 6-8: Rep Rows 2-4.
Rep last 8 rows 0 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2) more time(s).
Then work 7 (1, 3, 3, 3, 5, 7, 7, 1) more row(s) in pattern.
Knit Below Section
Join D and cont with D.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K1 (2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1), [k3, K4Below] 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) times, k3 (4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3).
Rows 5-7: Rep Rows 1-3.
Row 8: K2 (3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2), [K4Below, k3] 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) times, K4Below, k1 (2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1).
Rep last 8 rows 0 (0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) more times.
Then work 5 (6, 1, 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7) more rows in pattern.
Join C and with C, BO all sts.
Right Front
With C, CO 20 (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) using the Long Tail CO technique.
Ribbing
Rows 1-5 (5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7): [K1, p1] across.
Cable Section
Join D and cont with D:
Row 1 (WS): K3 (4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 3), [p4, k6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5)] 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) time(s), p4, k3 (4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 2).
Row 2: P3 (4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 2), [k4, p6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5)] 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) time(s), k4, p3 (4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 3).
Row 3: Rep Row 1.
Row 4: P3 (4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 2), [C2F, p6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5)] 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) time(s), C2F, p3 (4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 3).
Rep last 4 rows 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) more times.
Then work 2 (3, 2, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, 0) more rows in pattern.
Garter Stitch Section
Join E and cont with E.
Knit 14 (15, 18, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24) rows.
Seed Stitch Section
Join A and cont with A.
Row 1: [K1, p1] across.
Row 2: [P1, k1] across.
Rep last 2 rows 7 (7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11) more times.
Join C and with C, BO all sts.
Sleeve (make 2)
With E, CO 16 (18, 20, 20, 20, 22, 22, 22, 24) sts using the Long Tail CO technique.
Ribbing
Rows 1-4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6): [K1, p1] across.
Next Row (WS): [P1, M1] across to last 2 sts, p2. (30 (34, 38, 38, 38, 42, 42, 42, 46) sts)
Seed Stitch Section
Join B and cont with B.
Row 1 (RS): [K1, p1] across.
Row 2 (WS): [P1, k1] across.
Rep last 2 rows 5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8) more times, then work Row 1 once more.
Knit Below Section
Join A and cont with A.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K2, [k3, K4Below] 6 (7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10) times, k4.
Rows 5-7: Rep Rows 1-3.
Row 8: K3, [K4Below, k3] 6 (7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10) times, K4Below, k2.
Rep last 8 rows 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1) more time(s).
Then work 4 (4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 0, 0, 0) more rows in pattern.
Cable Section
Join C and cont with C.
Row 1 (WS): K3 (5, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 3), [p4, k6 (6, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 5, 5)] 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) times, p4, k3 (5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 3).
Row 2: P3 (5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 3), [k4, p6 (6, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 5, 5)] 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) times, k4, p3 (5, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 3).
Row 3: Rep Row 1.
Row 4: P3 (5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 3), [C2F, p6 (6, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 5, 5)] 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) times, C2F, p3 (5, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 3).
Rep last 4 rows 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) more times.
Then work 1 (3, 0, 0, 1, 3, 3, 0, 0) more rows in pattern.
BO all sts.
Finishing
Use C for seaming.
With RS held together, sew front panels to back panel at shoulders. Match center of top of sleeve with shoulder seam, and sew sleeve to body. Match cuff, sleeve and body and sew side and sleeve seams. Weave in all ends.
Front Band
Join C to bottom front panel. Pick up and k37 (39, 45, 43, 45, 51, 54, 57, 60) sts up front panel, 6 (2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 4) sts across back neckline, and 37 (39, 45, 43, 45, 51, 54, 57, 60) sts down front panel. (80 (80, 92, 88, 94, 106, 114, 120, 124) sts)
Rows 1-4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6): [K1, p1] across.
BO all sts. Weave in ends.
Any chance to make the sleeves like a regular sweater?
Hello Patricia! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
From the designer: Sure, you can substitute your preferred drop shoulder sleeve if you prefer, it just needs to fit the armhole.
Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor
Looks super. Will have to unpack my wool and see what bits Bits I have stored. We have moved, recently and are still unpacking
This is my very first try at knitting. Do you have tutorials to help me begin my new hobby? I’m excited and as a retired nurse with arthritis I feel I can still accomplish this craft. Thanks for the savings on my membership. Amy
Hi Amy! You can browse our articles and tutorials here: https://www.ilikeknitting.com/category/knitting-articles-and-interviews/
Happy knitting! – Nicola, Editor