Wandering Cables Cardigan

Is there anything cozier out there than cables? This cozy wonder is perfect for snuggling up in.

The Wandering Cables Cardigan is the perfect layering piece for any season of the year. The cozy construction will keep you warm in the winter, and it's easy to slip off as you leave the office air conditioning and step out into the summer sun. With two chunky cables running along the back, matching the shorter cable panels on the pockets, the piece isn't overwhelmed by cable work, but merely enhanced by it. Paired with the relaxed dropped shoulders, it's a super casual outfit enhancer.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size9 or 5.5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Gauge14 sts = 4" [10 cm]; 21 rows = 4" [10 cm]. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge given.

Materials List

RED HEART® Colorscape™ yarn:5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8) balls 9431 Munich
Susan Bates® Circular Knitting Needles: 5.5mm [US 9], 32" (81 cm) or longer
Stitch holders
Stitch markers
Matching fingering weight yarn for seaming (optional)
Yarn needle

Cardigan

Sizes

Directions are for size Small. Changes for sizes Medium, Large, X-Large, 2X-Large, 3X-Large, and 4X-Large are in parentheses.

To Fit Bust/Chest: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56)" [81 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142) cm]
Finished Bust/Chest Measurement:37 (41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61)" [94 (104, 114, 124.5, 134.5, 145, 155) cm]

Notes

Cardigan is knit in pieces with drop shoulders. Two bands of Medallion Cable pattern are worked on Back and Pockets.
When joining a new ball of yarn, alternate skeins between the old and new one to blend the colors.To reduce bulk when seaming, use a matching fingering-weight yarn.

Special Stitch

Medallion Cable (worked over 17 sts)

Row 1 (Right Side): P2, k13, p2.
Row 2 (Wrong Side): K2, p13, k2.
Row 3: P2, k13, p2.
Row 4: K2, p13, k2.
Row 5: P2, C6F, k1, C6B, p2.
Row 6: K2, p13, k2.
Row 7: P2, k13, p2.
Row 8: K2, p13, k2.
Row 9: P2, k13, p2.
Row 10: K2, p13, k2.
Row 11: P2, k13, p2.
Row 12: K2, p13, k2.
Row 13: P2, C6B, k1, C6F, p2.
Row 14: K2, p13, k2.Row 15: P2, k13, p2.Row 16: K2, p13, k2.

Special Abbreviations

C6F (Cable 6 Front) = Slip 3 stitches onto cable needle and hold to front, knit 3 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 3 stitches from cable needle.
C6B (Cable 6 Back) = Slip 3 stitches onto cable needle and hold to back, knit 3 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 3 stitches from cable needle.
M1L (Make One Left) = Pick up the bar between the stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back. Knit into the back of the stitch.
M1R (Make One Right) = Pick up the bar between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from the back to the front. Knit into the front of this stitch.
ssk (slip, slip, knit) = slip next two stitches knitwise to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts together– 1 st dec.

Special Techniques

slip 1 = Slip one stitch purlwise, with yarn in front
3-Needle Bind-Off = Hold needles of stitches to be seamed parallel and with Right Sides together. With 3rd needle knit together first stitch from each needle, *knit together next stitch from each needle, pass first stitch over 2nd stitch and off right needle; repeat from * until all stitches have been knit from the 2 parallel needles and only one stitch remains on the right needle. Fasten off.

BACK

Cast on 78 (86, 90, 98, 106, 114, 118) sts. Do not join.

Row 1 (wrong side): P1, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last st, p1.
Row 2 (right side): K1, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Rows 3-13: Repeat Rows 1 & 2 five times, then repeat Row 1 once again.
Next row (Right Side): K16 (20, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34) sts, place marker, work Row 1 of Medallion Cable, place marker, k12 (12, 12, 12, 16, 16, 16) sts, place marker, work Row 1 of Medallion Cable, place marker, k16 (20, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34) sts.
Next row (Wrong Side): P16 (20, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34) sts, slip marker, work Row 2 of Medallion Cable, slip marker, p12 (12, 12, 12, 16, 16, 16) sts, slip marker, work Row 2 of Medallion Cable, slip marker, p16 (20, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34) sts.

Continue in St st and Medallion Cable as established until piece measures 27½ (28¼, 28¾, 30¼, 30½, 32, 32¼)" [70 (72, 73, 77, 77.5, 81, 82) cm] from cast on, ending with a Wrong Side row.

Shape Shoulders and Back Neck

Next row (Right Side): Work 26 (29, 30, 34, 38, 42, 44) sts in established pattern, bind off 26 (28, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30) sts, work in pattern to end — 26 (29, 30, 34, 38, 42, 44) sts for each shoulder.

Break yarn and place each set of shoulder sts on a separate st holder.

POCKET LININGS (Make 2)

Cast on 19 sts. Do not join.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): Purl.
Row 2 (Right Side): Knit.
Rows 3-35: Continue working in St st.

Cut yarn, leaving a 20" (51 cm) tail for sewing later. Place sts on st holder.

RIGHT FRONT

Cast on 46 (46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66) sts. Do not join.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): P1, [p2, k2] 9 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) times, p2, [k1, p1] 3 times, k1.
Row 2 (Right Side): Slip 1, [K1, p1] 3 times, [k2, p2] 9 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) times, k3.
Rows 3-13: Repeat Rows 1 & 2 five times, then repeat Row 1 again.
Next row (Right Side): Slip 1, [K1, p1] 3 times, k11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21), place marker, work Row 1 of Medallion Cable, place marker, k11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21).
Next row (Wrong Side): P11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21), slip marker, work Row 2 of Medallion Cable, slip marker, p11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21), [k1, p1] 3 times, k1.

Continue in pattern as established until piece measures 8" (20 cm) from hem, ending with Row 16 of Medallion Cable (Wrong Side row) of the 2nd Medallion Cable repeat.

Pocket Opening

Next row (Right Side): Slip 1, [k1, p1] 3 times, k10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20), [p1, k1] 9 times (removing markers as you come to them), p1, k10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20).
Next row (Wrong Side): P10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20), [k1, p1] 9 times, k1, p10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20), [k1, p1] 3 times, k1.
Next row: Slip 1, [K1, p1] 3 times, k10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20), bind off 19 sts in pattern, knit to end of row – 27 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) sts.
Join Pocket Lining

Next row (Wrong Side): P10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts; with Wrong Side facing, purl across 19 sts of Pocket Lining, work in pattern to end – 46 (46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66) sts.
Next row (Right Side): Slip 1, [k1, p1] 3 times, knit to end of row.Next row: Purl to last 7 sts, [k1, p1] 3 times, k1.

Continue to work even in pattern as established until piece measures 21 (21, 21, 22, 22, 23, 23)" [53 (53, 53, 56, 56, 58.5, 58.5) cm], ending with a Wrong Side row.
Shape Armhole and Back Neck

Row 1 (right side dec): Slip 1, [k1, p1] 3 times, ssk, knit to end – 1 st dec.
Row 2 (wrong side): Work even in pattern.

Repeat dec row every 4th row 4 (5, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13) times, then every other row 7 (3, 6, 4, 3, 0, 0) times – 34 (37, 38, 42, 46, 50, 52) sts.

Continue in St st with ribbed band as established until shaping section measures 6½ (7¼, 7¾, 8¼, 8½, 9, 9¼)" [16.5 (18.5, 19.5, 21, 21.5, 23, 23.5) cm].

Next row (right side): Slip 1, [k1, p1] 3 times, k1, place remaining 26 (29, 20, 34, 38, 42, 44) sts on st holder.

Continue working ribbing band only for 3¾ (4, 4¼, 4¼, 4¼, 4¼, 4¼)" [9.5 (10, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11) cm].

Place ribbing band on separate st holder.

LEFT FRONT

Cast on 46 (46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66) sts. Do not join.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): Slip 1, [p1, k1] 3 times, [p2, k2] 9 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) times, p3.
Row 2 (Right Side): K3, [p2, k2] 9 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) times, [p1, k1] 3 times, k1.
Rows 3-13: Repeat Rows 1 & 2 five times, then repeat Row 1 again.
Next row (Right Side): K11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21), place marker, work Row 1 of Medallion Cable, place marker, k11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21), [p1, k1] 3 times, k1.
Next row (Wrong Side): Slip 1, [p1, k1] 3 times, p11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21), slip marker, work Row 2 of Medallion Cable, slip marker, p11 (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21).

Continue in pattern as established until piece measures 8" (20 cm) from cast on, ending with Row 16 of Medallion Cable (Wrong Side row) of the 2nd Medallion Cable repeat.

Pocket Opening

Next row (Right Side): K10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts, [p1, k1] 9 times (removing markers as you come to them), p1, k10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts, [p1, k1] 3 times, k1.
Next row (Wrong Side): Slip 1, [p1, k1] 3 times, p10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20), [k1, p1] 9 times, k1, p10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20).
Next row: K10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts, bind off 19 sts in pattern, work in pattern to end of row – 27 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) sts.
Join Pocket Lining

Next row (Wrong Side): Slip 1, [p1, k1] 3 times, p10 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts; with Wrong Side facing, purl across 19 sts of Pocket Lining, work in pattern to end – 46 (46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66) sts.
Next row (Right Side): Knit to last 7 sts, [p1, k1] 3 times, k1.
Next row: Slip 1, [p1, k1] 3 times, purl to end.

Continue to work even in pattern as established until piece measures 21 (21, 21, 22, 22, 23, 23)" [53 (53, 53, 56, 56, 58.5, 58.5) cm], ending with a Wrong Side row.
Shape Armhole and Back Neck

Row 1 (right side dec): Knit to last 9 sts, k2tog, [p1, k1] 3 times, k1 – 1 st dec.
Row 2 (wrong side): Work even in pattern.

Repeat dec row every 4th row 4 (5, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13) times, then every other row 7 (3, 6, 4, 3, 0, 0) times – 34 (37, 38, 42, 46, 50, 52) sts.

Continue in St st with ribbed band as established until shaping section measures 6½ (7¼, 7¾, 8¼, 8½, 9, 9¼)" [16.5 (18.5, 19.5, 21, 21.5, 23, 23.5) cm].

Next row (right side): K26 (29, 30, 34, 38, 42, 44), place these sts on st holder; [p1, k1] 3 times, k1.

Continue working ribbing band for 3¾ (4, 4¼, 4¼, 4¼, 4¼, 4¼)" [9.5 (10, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11) cm]. Place ribbing band on separate st holder.

SLEEVES (make 2)

Cast on 34 (38, 38, 42, 42, 46, 46) sts. Do not join.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): P1, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last st, p1.
Row 2 (Right Side): K1, *k2, p2: repeat from * to last st, k1.
Rows 3-13: Repeat Rows 1 & 2 five times, then repeat Row 1 once again.
Next row (Right Side): Knit.
Next row (Wrong Side): Purl.
Next row (inc row): K1, M1R, knit to last st, M1L, k1 – 2 sts inc, 36 (40, 40, 44, 44, 48, 48) sts.

Repeat Inc row every 4th row 10 (8, 9, 9, 11, 11, 12) times more – 56 (56, 58, 62, 66, 70, 72) sts.

Continue in St st until sleeve measures 14½ (15½, 15¾, 15¾, 15¾, 16, 16)" [37 (39, 40, 40, 40, 41, 41) cm] from cast on.

Bind off all sts

FINISHING

Note: To reduce bulk in seams, seam with matching fingering-weight yarn.

Sew edges of Pocket Linings to Wrong Side of Fronts.

Join shoulders using 3-Needle Bind Off.

With yarn needle, seam ends of Neck ribbing bands together with the seam on the Wrong Side. Seam selvedge of Neck ribbing bands to back Neck.

Sew Sleeves onto shoulders. Sew side and Sleeve seams.

Weave in all loose ends.