Royal Cable Knit Sweater

Embrace the cold weather with this hand knitted sweater pattern.

The Royal Cable Knit Sweater is a beautiful free knitting pattern you're sure to love. The cables keep you interested as you knit, and the oversize style will work well with practically anything already in your wardrobe. The yarn used for this pattern includes a subtle shimmer that's perfect from daytime to date time. Plus, the boatneck is super flattering and will help elongate your neck. The instructions for this sweater are available in multiple sizes and the piece is worked in four pieces, so you can easily complete the design in manageable increments. Add a beautiful pullover to your closet today and you won't be disappointed.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size8 or 5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles

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

Gauge18 sts = 4" [10 cm]; 27 rows = 4" [10 cm] in St st and 25 sts = 4" [10 cm]; 32 rows = 4" [10 cm] in Cable pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge given.

Finished SizeTo Fit Bust/Chest: 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52)" [71 (81.2, 91.4, 101.6, 111.8, 121.9, 132) cm], Finished Bust/Chest Measurement: 40 (44, 50, 53¾, 57½, 61½, 67¼)" [101.6 (111.8, 127, 136.5, 146, 156.2, 170.8) cm]

Materials List

RED HEART® With Love™ Metallic: 5 (6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13) balls 8820 Royal
Susan Bates® Circular Knitting Needle: 5mm [US 8] 24" (61 cm) or longer
Stitch markers
Yarn needle

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Instructions

Directions are for size X-Small.
Changes for sizes Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large, and XXX-Large are in parentheses.

NOTES
Sweater is worked in four pieces:
back, front, and two sleeves. Each piece is worked back and forth in rows, beginning at the lower edge. Sweater is designed for a relaxed fit.

Cable Pattern

Row 1 (Right Side): Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, *C4B, k4, C4F; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K3, C4F, C4B, *k4, C4F, C4B; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 8: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1-8.

Special Abbreviations

C4B (Cable 4 Back) = Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold in back, knit 2 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle.
C4F (Cable 4 Front) = Slip 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold in front, knit 2 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 2 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.

Front and Back (make 2)

Rib
Cast on 78 (90, 102, 114, 126, 138, 150) sts.
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 3-5: Repeat Rows 1 & 2, then repeat Row 1 once again.

Body Increases
Begin Cable Pattern and AT THE SAME TIME complete the following increases:
Inc row (right side): K2, M1R, place marker, work Row 1 of Cable Pattern, working 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) repeats across to last 2 sts, place marker, M1L, k2 – 80 (92, 104, 116, 128, 140, 152) sts.
Next row (wrong side): Work Row 2 of Cable Pattern.
Next inc row (right side): Knit to marker, M1R, slip marker, work Row 3 of Cable Pattern, slip marker, M1L, knit to end of row – 82 (94, 106, 118, 130, 142, 154) sts. Continue in Cable Pattern, slipping markers as you come to them and inc 2 sts every Right Side row 22 (22, 25, 25, 25, 25, 28) times more – 126 (138, 156, 168, 180, 192, 210) sts.

Continue Cable Pattern until you have 8 (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10) total Cable Pattern repeats or until work measures 9¼ (9¼, 9¾, 10, 10¼, 10½, 10¾)" [23.5 (23.5, 24.8, 25.4, 26, 26.7, 27.3) cm] from cast-on edge, ending on a Wrong Side row.

Body Decreases
Sizes Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large, and XXX-Large Only:
Continuing Cable Pattern as set, complete the following decreases:
Dec Row (Right Side): K2, ssk, k1, ssk, k1, work St st and Cable Pattern to last 8 sts, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2 – (134, 152, 164, 176, 188, 206) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl.
Repeat these 2 rows (5, 12, 14, 23, 24, 34) times more – (114, 104, 108, 84, 92, 70) sts.

All Sizes:
Dec Row (Right Side): K2, ssk, k1, continue Cable Pattern to last 5 sts, k1, k2tog, k2 – 124 (112, 102, 106, 82, 90, 68) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl.
Work these 2 rows 34 (28, 25, 25, 15, 15, 6) times more – 56 (56, 52, 56, 52, 60, 56) sts.
After 15 (15, 17, 17, 17, 18, 19) total Cable Pattern repeats and ending on a Wrong Side row, change to rib:
Next row (Right Side): K2, ssk, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k1, k2tog, k1 – 54 (54, 50, 54, 50, 58, 54) sts.
Next row (Wrong Side): P3, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, p3. Work in rib as set for 17 (17, 14, 16, 17, 11, 13) rows, ending on a Wrong Side row.
Bind off all sts.

Sleeves (make 2)

Rib
Cast on 54 (54, 58, 58, 62, 66, 70) sts.
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 3-5: Repeat Rows 1 & 2, then repeat Row 1 once again.

Sleeve Increases
Row 6 (Inc) (Right Side): K2, M1R, knit to last 2 sts, M1L, k2 – 56 (56, 60, 60, 64, 68, 72) sts.
Work inc row every 12th (12th, 16th, 8th, 6th, 6th, 6th) row 5 (5, 4, 8, 11, 12, 12) times more – 66 (66, 68, 76, 86, 92, 96) sts.
Continue in St st until sleeve measures 11 (11, 12, 12¼, 12¼, 13, 13)" [27.9 (27.9, 30.5, 31.1, 31.1, 33, 33) cm] from cast-on edge, ending on a wrong side row.

Sleeve Decreases
Dec Row (Right Side): K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2 – 64 (64, 66, 74, 84, 90, 94) sts.
Next Row (Wrong Side): Purl.
Work dec row every 4 (4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 4) rows 24 (24, 21, 25, 28, 31, 31) times – 18 (18, 26, 26, 30, 30, 34) sts.
After 12 (12, 13½, 13½, 13½, 15, 15)" [30.5 (30.5, 34.3, 34.3, 34.3, 38.1, 38.1) cm] of St st decreases and ending on a Wrong Side row, begin rib pattern:
Next row (Right Side): K1, ssk, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 16 (16, 24, 24, 28, 28, 32) sts.
Next row (Wrong Side): P4, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, p4. Work in rib as set for 17 (17, 14, 16, 17, 11, 13) rows, ending on a Wrong Side row.
Bind off all sts.

Finishing

With yarn needle, sew sleeves to front and back at raglan shoulder seam, easing sleeves to match. Sew side seams and sleeve seams.

Weave in all loose ends.

Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge

Abbreviations

dec: decrease(s)(d)(ing)

inc: increase(s)(d)(ing)

K: knit

k2tog: knit the next 2 stitches together

mm: millimeters

P: purl

st(s): stitch(es)

St st: stockinette stitch

*: repeat whatever follows the * as indicated

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cuzinitpowassan 74 20514

Sep 14, 2024

It says repeat 2 rows 5 times- 114 sts Then All sizes. Dec row. K2, ssk, k1, continue cable pattern to last 5,k1, k2tog, k2 - 124 sts If I started the dec with 114 sts how did It decrease and have 10 more sts?

Editor Dana

Oct 07, 2024

Hi there! I believe the 124 you're seeing is for the XS size. Based on your comment I think you're following the size S, which is the first in parentheses and would indicate 112 sts. Please let me know if that doesn't sound right, or if I can help further!

RachelAnne

Feb 12, 2018

I love patterns that come in a wide variety of sizes. It makes it easy to customize so that it's just right for the wearer. Perfect!