This vintage twin set knitting pattern creates a beautifully fitted jumper and matching button-front cardigan with slender vertical ribs and small cable twists. The narrow cables add texture without overwhelming the clean lines of the garments, giving the set the polished look associated with classic mid-century knitwear.
The original pattern was designed for a 32–34 inch bust and uses fine 3-ply crepe wool at a firm gauge.
Finished Measurements
To fit bust: 32–34 in. (81–86 cm)
Jumper
Length from shoulder to lower edge: 19 in. (48 cm)
Sleeve seam: 5 in. (12.5 cm)
Cardigan
Length from shoulder to lower edge: 21 in. (53.5 cm)
Sleeve seam: 19½ in. (49.5 cm)
Yarn
The original pattern specifies 3-ply crepe wool.
Jumper: 7 oz. (approx. 200 g)
Cardigan: 9 oz. (approx. 255 g)
When substituting a modern yarn, matching the pattern gauge is more important than relying on the vintage 3-ply description.
Needles and Notions
The original pattern uses:
- No. 12 knitting needles
- No. 10 knitting needles
- Four No. 13 double-pointed needles
- Cable needle
The cardigan also requires 11 buttons.
Vintage needle numbering can vary, so choose needles that produce the required gauge.
Gauge
8 sts and 10 rows = 1 in.
Abbreviations
k: knit
p: purl
st(s): stitch(es)
RS: right side
WS: wrong side
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
beg: beginning
alt: alternate
inc: increase
dec: decrease
pat: pattern
cn: cable needle
Special Cable Stitch
Twist 6: Slip 3 sts onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, knit the next 3 sts, then knit the 3 sts from the cable needle.
Jumper
Front
Using the smaller needles, cast on 130 sts.
Work 30 rows (approximately 3¾ in.) in k1, p1 rib.
Change to the larger needles.
Pattern Begins
Row 31 (RS): k21, *p1, k6, p1, k12; repeat from * 4 times, k9.
Row 32: p21, *k1, p6, k1, p12; repeat from * 4 times, p9.
Row 33: k21, *p1, Twist 6, p1, k12; repeat from * once, p1, Twist 6, p1, k21.
Row 34: repeat Row 32.
Repeat the last 4 rows 5 more times.
Row 55: repeat Row 31.
Row 56: repeat Row 32.
Row 57: k21, *p1, k6, p1, k12, p1, Twist 6, p1, k12; repeat from * once, p1, k6, p1, k21.
Row 58: repeat Row 32.
Repeat the last 4 rows 5 times, ending with Row 78.
Repeat Rows 31–78 once more.
Then repeat Rows 31–34 three times.
Continue in established pattern.
Armhole Shaping
Cast off 8 sts at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows.
Then decrease 1 st at each end of the next row and every following alternate row 6 times.
100 sts remain.
Work 35 rows even in pattern.
Neck and Shoulder Shaping
Row 177: k6, *p1, Twist 6, p1, k12, p1, k6, p1, k7; leave these stitches on a spare needle.
Cast off 18 sts for the centre neck.
Continue across the remaining stitches as established.
Row 178: p6, k1, p6, k1, p12, k1, p6, k1, p6.
Row 179: k2tog, k5, p1, k6, p1, k12, p1, Twist 6, p1, k6, p1, k12.
Row 180: p6, k1, p6, k1, p12, k1, p6, k1, p6.
Continue in this way, decreasing 1 st at the neck edge on every alternate row until 35 sts remain.
Continue even in pattern until the 6th cable twist of the cable block has been completed.
Work 2 more rows in pattern.
Cast off.
Return to the 41 sts held on the spare needle for the other shoulder.
Join yarn at the neck edge.
Decrease 1 st at the beginning of the next row and every alternate row, and complete the shoulder to correspond with the first side.
Back
Work as for the Front through the end of the armhole shaping (Row 141).
Continue even in pattern, keeping the ribs and cable twists correctly positioned, until the 5th twist in the cable rib nearest the armhole has been completed.
With RS facing:
Cast off 12 sts at the beginning of each of the next 4 rows.
Then cast off 11 sts at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows.
Cast off the remaining 30 sts.
Jumper Sleeves
Make 2.
Using the smaller needles, cast on 92 sts.
Work 8 rows in k1, p1 rib.
Change to the larger needles.
Row 9: k2, *p1, k6, p1, k12; repeat from * 3 times, p1, k6, p1, k2.
Row 10: p2, *k1, p6, k1, p12; repeat from * 3 times, k1, p6, k1, p2.
Row 11: k2, *p1, Twist 6, p1, k12; repeat from * 3 times, p1, Twist 6, p1, k2.
Row 12: repeat Row 10.
Continue in established pattern.
At the same time, increase 1 st at the beginning of the next row and every following 4th row until there are 108 sts.
Work 3 rows even.
Sleeve Cap
Cast off 4 sts at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows.
Then decrease 1 st at each end of the next row and every following alternate row until 66 sts remain.
Work 1 row even.
Then decrease 1 st at each end of every row until 24 sts remain.
Cast off.
As the sleeve narrows, discontinue the twists in the side ribs and keep only the centre rib in pattern at the top of the sleeve.
Jumper Finishing
Press the pieces lightly under a damp cloth with a warm iron.
Join the shoulder and side seams.
Set in and sew the sleeves.
Jumper Neckband
Using four double-pointed needles and with the RS facing, pick up and knit 128 sts evenly around the neckline.
Work 8 rows in k1, p1 rib.
Cast off in rib using one of the smaller straight needles.
Cardigan
Back
Using the smaller needles, cast on 136 sts.
Work as for the Jumper Front, but work 24 sts in stockinette stitch on either side of the rib and cable pattern instead of 21 sts.
Continue to the end of Row 126.
Work another 12 rows in pattern.
Cardigan Back Armholes
Cast off 8 sts at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows.
Then decrease 1 st at each end of the next row and every following alternate row 6 times.
106 sts remain.
Work 57 rows even in pattern, ending after the 3rd twist in the second panel from the armhole.
Cardigan Back Shoulders
Cast off 12 sts at the beginning of each of the next 6 rows.
Cast off the remaining 34 sts.
Left Front
Using the smaller needles, cast on 84 sts.
Row 1: (k1, p1) until 16 sts remain, k16.
Row 2: p16, (k1, p1) to end.
Repeat the last 2 rows 14 times.
Change to the larger needles.
Row 31: k24, (p1, k6, p1, k12) twice, k3, p1, k16.
Row 32: p16, k1, p3, (p12, k1, p6, k1) twice, p24.
Row 33: k24, p1, Twist 6, p1, k12, p1, k6, p1, k15, p1, k16.
Row 34: repeat Row 32.
Repeat the last 4 rows 5 times.
Row 55: repeat Row 31.
Row 56: repeat Row 32.
Row 57: k24, p1, k6, p1, k12, p1, Twist 6, p1, k15, p1, k16.
Row 58: repeat Row 34.
Repeat the last 4 rows 5 times, ending with Row 78.
Repeat Rows 31–78, then repeat Rows 31–34 three times.
Continue in established pattern.
Left Front Armhole
Cast off 8 sts at the beginning of the next row.
Work 1 row.
Decrease 1 st at the armhole edge on the next row and every following alternate row 6 times.
69 sts remain.
Work 36 rows even in pattern.
Left Front Neck
Row 191: k9, (p1, k6, p1, k12) twice, k3, p1; turn, leaving the remaining 16 sts on a safety pin.
Row 192: cast off 10 sts, work in pattern to end.
Row 193: work in pattern to end.
Row 194: p2tog, work in pattern to end.
Row 195: work in pattern to end.
Row 196: work in pattern to end.
Continue in this way, decreasing 1 st at the beginning of the next row and every following alternate row until 36 sts remain.
Continue until the 6th twist in the rib nearest the needle has been completed and 2 twists in the rib nearest the neck edge have been worked.
Work 6 rows even in pattern.
Cast off.
Right Front
Using the smaller needles, cast on 84 sts.
Row 1: k16, (p1, k1) to end.
Row 2: (p1, k1) until 16 sts remain, p16.
Row 3: k2, cast off 3 sts, k6, cast off 3 sts, k2, (p1, k1) to end.
Row 4: (p1, k1) until 10 sts remain, p2, cast on 3 sts, p6, cast on 3 sts, p2.
These rows form the first buttonhole. The front border folds back to form a facing, so the second opening aligns with the first to make one buttonhole.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 9 times.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 3 more times.
Change to the larger needles.
Row 31: k16, p1, k15, (p1, k6, p1, k12) twice, k16.
Row 32: p16, k1, p6, k1, p12, p3, k1, p16.
Row 33: k16, p1, k15, p1, k6, p1, k12, p1, Twist 6, p1, k24.
Row 34: repeat Row 32.
Repeat Rows 31–34 twice more.
Row 43: k2, cast off 3 sts, k6, cast off 3 sts, k2, p1, k15, (p1, k6, p1, k12) twice, k12.
Row 44: p24, (k1, p6, k1, p12) twice, p3, k1, p2, cast on 3 sts, p6, cast on 3 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 33 and 34, then repeat Rows 31–34 twice.
Continue in this way, working 18 rows between each buttonhole, until the Right Front corresponds with the Left Front at the armhole.
Right Front Armhole
Work 1 row.
Cast off 8 sts at the beginning of the next row and shape the armhole to correspond with the Left Front, decreasing 1 st at the armhole edge on the appropriate rows.
Continue even in pattern, still working the buttonholes in the border every 20th and 21st rows, until the 10th buttonhole has been completed.
Work 8 rows even.
Right Front Neck
Row 193: k16 and place these stitches on a safety pin, cast off 10 sts, work in pattern to end.
Row 194: work in pattern to end.
Row 195: k2tog, work in pattern to end.
Row 196: work in pattern to end.
Continue in this way, decreasing at the neck edge on the next row and every following alternate row until 36 sts remain.
Work 5 rows even in pattern.
Cast off.
Cardigan Sleeves
Make 2.
Using the smaller needles, cast on 70 sts.
Work 30 rows in k1, p1 rib.
Change to the larger needles.
Row 31: k11, *p1, k6, p1, k12; repeat from * once, p1, k6, p1, k11.
Work 10 rows in established pattern as for the Jumper Back.
Then increase 1 st at each end of the next row and every following 8th row until there are 108 sts.
Work 3 rows even.
Shape the sleeve cap as given for the Jumper sleeves.
Cardigan Neckband
Using the double-pointed needles:
Take the 16 held sts from the Right Front onto the needle.
Pick up and knit 39 sts along the Right Front to the shoulder, 38 sts across the back neck, and 38 sts along the Left Front.
Take the 16 held sts from the Left Front onto the needle.
147 sts total, divided between 3 needles.
Row 1: p16, (k1, p1) until 17 sts remain, k1, p16.
Row 2: k16, (p1, k1) until 17 sts remain, p1, k16.
Repeat the last 2 rows 3 times.
Repeat Row 1.
Row 10: k2, cast off 3 sts, k6, cast off 3 sts, k2, (p1, k1) until 17 sts remain, p1, k16.
Row 11: p16, (k1, p1) until 11 sts remain, k1, p2, cast on 3 sts, p6, cast on 3 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 2 and 1.
Cast off loosely in rib using one of the smaller needles.
Cardigan Finishing
Press the pieces lightly on the wrong side under a damp cloth using a warm iron.
Join the shoulder and side seams.
Set in and sew the sleeves.
Sew the neckband in place.
Fold back half of each front border to form the facings and slip-stitch the inner edges neatly into place.
On the Right Front, catch the two layers of each buttonhole together with buttonhole stitch.
Press lightly.
Sew on the buttons opposite the buttonholes.
Notes for Knitting This Vintage Twin Set
This pattern is written at a very firm vintage gauge, so make a generous swatch before beginning. If substituting yarn, choose by gauge and fabric rather than assuming a modern yarn labelled “3-ply” will behave exactly like the original crepe wool.
The Twist 6 cables are small six-stitch cables worked with three stitches held at the front. The alternating cable placement gives the twin set its distinctive vertical rhythm.
The cardigan fronts include double-layer borders that fold back to form facings. This explains why each buttonhole is worked through two corresponding openings; after the facing is folded back, the openings are joined to create one finished buttonhole.
When working the sleeves, follow the original instruction to discontinue the outer cable twists as the sleeve cap narrows. This prevents the shaping from disrupting the remaining central cable panel.
Because this is a fitted vintage design written for a single 32–34 inch bust size, check the finished measurements and gauge carefully before beginning.
