Man and woman wearing shawl collared cardigan with all-over cables and holding umbrellas.

Woman hugging man from behind while he's seated on bench; both wearing cabled sweaters.

Man standing amongst the autumn leaves wearing an orange cable cardigan with shawl collar.

Father and adult daughter hugging while woman looks directly into camera.

Man and woman standing back to back comparing height; diamond stitch detail on sweater sleeves is visible.

Holli and Nigel with facing camera with arms around one another; both wearing same shawl collar cardigan.

Back view of sweater on two different body types showing diamond motif amongst the cables.

Nigel and Holli sitting back to back on rainbow bench, looking over shoulders at one another; both wearing same cabled sweater.

Line drawing schematic of sweater pattern with invitation to contact Holli for measurements if desired.

Bespoke Cardigan

$15 CAD

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I gave the gift of a bespoke cardigan pattern to my stepfather, Nigel. Featuring details of his choosing, I wrote a pattern for him to knit in exactly his size. Then I sized the pattern to fit 28-68″ inch/71-172.5 cm chests, and that is what is available here. Bespoke is a deliberately and thoughtfully gender- and size-inclusive design, featuring options for narrow and broad shoulders, and regular and tall lengths.

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Size Inclusive

Size inclusive from 32.25”/82 cm to a 71.75”/182 cm finished chest measurement.

This pattern was written to be a gender-inclusive design, with options for Narrow and Broad shoulders and Regular and Tall/Long length. The words narrow, broad, regular, tall, and long are relative descriptors for sizing and fit as they relate to one another.

Construction

With an allover simple cabled pattern and diamond motif that runs down the centre back and sleeves, the buttoned sweater features deep, integrated pockets; a choice of button placement on the right or left front; and a selection of techniques you’ll be happy to have in your knitter’s toolkit. Set-in sleeves and English-tailored shoulders provide a polished fit. The shawl collar is worked with short rows and changing needle sizes so the collar lays neatly around the back neck.

What's Included

This knitting pattern includes written directions, both charts and written instructions, modification notes, substitution notes, front and back images and a schematic with measurements. This pattern includes a low vision version with black, san serif, 24 point font, no italics and fully written directions so no charts are required. There is no use of colour at all in the written pattern.

Sizes + Finished Measurements

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)(10, 11, 12, 13, 14).
Finished chest, buttoned: 32 ¼ (33 ¾, 35 ¾, 38 ¼, 39 ¾)(42 ¼, 44 ¼, 48 ¼, 52 ¼)(55 ¾, 59 ¾, 64 ¼, 68, 71 ¾) inches / 82 (85.5, 91, 97, 101)(107.5, 112.5, 122.5, 132.5)(141.5, 152, 163, 172.5, 182) cm.
To fit chest: 28 (30, 32, 34, 36)(38, 41, 44, 48) (52, 56, 60, 64, 68) inches / 71 (76, 81.5, 86.5, 91.5)(96.5, 104, 112, 122)(132, 142, 152.5, 162.5, 172.5) cm.
Intended to be worn with 3-5 inches/7.5-12.5 cm positive ease at the full chest or 5-7 inches/12.5-17.5 cm positive ease at the upper chest measured at the armpit level. Refer to schematic and detailed finished measurements at the end of the pattern.

Yarn

DK weight yarn, wool or wool blend.
There are several customization options in the pattern. Yardage is listed for a combination of options that requires the least yarn (regular length and narrow shoulders) and the most (tall length and broad shoulders). Use this information to determine about how much yarn you will require, erring on the side of too much.

Regular Length and Narrow Shoulders: 2080 (2170, 2355, 2480, 2650)(2810, 2975, 3205, 3470)(3710, 3940, 4260, 4555, 4970) yd/1900 (1985, 2155, 2270, 2425)(2570, 2720, 2935, 3175)(3390, 3600, 3895, 4165, 4545) m.
Tall Length and Broad Shoulders: 2195 (2305, 2500, 2615, 2765)(2935, 3090, 3365, 3625)(3905, 4155, 4525, 4845, 5315) yd/2010 (2105, 2285, 2395, 2530)(2685, 2825, 3075, 3315)(3570, 3800, 4140, 4430, 4860) m.

Shown in SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash DK (100% superwash merino wool; 256 yd/234 m per 4 oz/115 g skein); Cayenne (seen on Nigel) or Stealth Mode (seen on Holli), 9 (9, 10, 10, 11)(11, 12, 13, 14)(15, 16, 17, 18, 20) skeins to 9 (9, 10, 11, 11)(12, 13, 14, 15)(16, 17, 18, 19, 21) skeins.

Substitution Notes

Smooth DK weight yarn with a tight twist for stitch definition. If choosing hand-dyed yarn, look for a solid or semi-solid colourway so the cables and diamonds can stand out.

Gauge

Four 7-st pattern repeats = 4 ¼”/10.75 cm in Cable Pattern, blocked (see Swatching Instructions).
Four 10-row pattern repeats = 4 7/8″/12.5 cm in Cable Pattern, blocked.
9-st diamond = 1 ¾”/4.4 cm in Diamond Pattern, blocked.
20.5 sts x 30 rows = 10 cm/4 inches in Stockinette stitch using 4 mm/US #6 needles, blocked.
28 sts x 35 rows = 10 cm/4 inches in Twisted Ribbing using 3.5 mm/US #4 needles, blocked.

Needles + Notions

4 mm/US #6 needles for working flat, or size to obtain gauge;
3.5 mm/US #4 needles for working flat, or two sizes smaller than gauge needles;
3.5 mm/US #4 circular needle, at least 100 cm/40 inches long, or two sizes smaller than gauge needles;
3.25 mm/US #3 circular needle, at least 100 cm/40 inches long, or three sizes smaller than gauge needles;
3 mm/US #2 ½ circular needle, at least 100 cm/40 inches long, or four sizes smaller than gauge needles;
One extra needle, 2 to 4 sizes larger than size used to obtain gauge; used for bind-off only.
Stitch markers; Locking stitch markers; Cable needle; Waste yarn (smooth and in contrasting colour); Yarn needle;
7 (6, 7, 7, 7)(7, 7, 7, 7)(6, 6, 6, 6, 7) buttons, 2 cm/¾ inch diameter for Regular Length;
7 (7, 7, 7, 7)(7, 7, 7, 7)(6, 6, 6, 6, 6) buMons, 2 cm/¾ inch diameter for Tall Length;
Thread and sewing needle for buttons.

Skills

Knit & purl sts, increases/decreases, cabled decreases, short rows, working simple cables from chart or written instructions, working simple knit/purl stitch pattern from chart or written instructions, twisted ribbing, knowledge of basic sweater construction, English-tailored shoulders, seamed, worked flat, bottom up, picking up stitches, buttonholes, sewing on buttons.