Cabled Cotton Cardigan

March 10, 2010

Short sleeved vintage cabled cotton cardigan knitting pattern.

A light cotton cardigan built on classic lines and clean geometry. The body is shaped with gentle decreases and increases, while a bold rope cable runs up each front edge for structure and style. Worked in smooth cotton, the fabric has weight, drape and crisp stitch definition. This is a straightforward knit with a touch of texture—simple, honest craftsmanship.

Pattern Instructions

Sizes: Written for Size 14. Changes for Sizes 16 and 18 appear in parentheses.
Materials: Lily Soft Spun – 6 (7–8) balls
Hero Knitting Needles No. 1 (standard)
Hero Steel Crochet Hook No. 4 (standard)
8 buttons
Gauge: 7 sts = 1″; 9 rows = 1″
Approximate Cost: $1.50 (1.75–2.00)

BACK

Cast on 110 (116–122) sts.
Work in stockinette stitch for 2″.

Decrease 1 st each side, then decrease every ½” 6 more times – 96 (102–108) sts remain.

Work even until piece measures 6″.

Increase 1 st each side, then increase every ½” 12 more times – 122 (128–134) sts.

Work even until piece measures 14 (14–14½)”.

Sleeve Extensions

Cast on 6 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows.
Work even for 14″.

Increase 1 st each side, then increase every 1½” 3 more times – 154 (160–166) sts.

Work even until sleeve measures 6 (6–7)” straight up from the last cast-on.

Shoulders

Bind off 10 (9–11) sts at the beginning of the next 12 (14–12) rows.
Bind off remaining sts.

LEFT FRONT

Cast on 58 (62–66) sts.

Work the front panel with cable as follows:

Establish Pattern

Row 1 (RS): K 44 (48–52), p2, k10, p2.
Row 2: K2, p10, k2, p 44 (48–52).
Rows 3–4: Repeat Rows 1–2.

Row 5 (Cable Row):
K 44 (48–52), p2, slip 5 sts to dp needle and hold in back, k5, then k5 from dp needle, p2.

Rows 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18: Work as Row 2.
Rows 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17: Work as Row 1.

Repeat from Row 5 for cable pattern.

Side Shaping & Sleeve

Work decreases, increases and sleeve shaping at the side seam exactly as for the Back, ending with 80 (84–88) sts.

Neck Shaping

When the center front edge measures 20 (20½–21)”:

Bind off 12 (13–14) sts at center edge once.
Then bind off 2 sts every other row 4 times.

Work even on 60 (63–66) sts until sleeve length matches the Back.

Shoulder Shaping

At armhole side, bind off 10 (9–11) sts every other row 6 (7–6) times.

RIGHT FRONT

Work to mirror the Left Front.
Maintain the cable along the center edge.
Reverse all shaping.

FINISHING

Seam shoulders and sides.
Work 1″ single crochet along both center fronts.
On the right front, space 8 buttonholes evenly when crochet band reaches 1½”.
Work 2 rows sc around the neck, lower edge and sleeve edges.
Block to measurements.
Sew on buttons.
Tape waist if desired.