Long autumn evenings are ahead of us. Let's dive into the world of cable knitting!
I made this bold statement piece couple of years ago inspired by Pinterest pics.
Since then, I've seen so many copies made, and I've been asked so many times how to make it. Good news!
Below you can find the recipe for this romantic, cozy, warm jumper. It's one of the most versatile, beautiful to wear and interesting knits I have made so far.
I am sharing notes of my version of this popular design. It's not an exact copy of original jumper (below) but it's close enough and gives a lot of space to come up with our own versions and to practice cable knitting in an engaging way.
My notes were used by few knitters already and they successfully finished their projects.
The jumper is made from bottom up, front and back separately, with wide collar band added and set in sleeves.
It's a one size, fashion design, so it looks different on various silhouettes. I'm 44UK and it fits comfortably with a lot of drape, but it will look great on smaller sizes.
Descriptions of cable stitches used are given at the bottom of this page so you can practice them beforehand.
Have fun! Let me know in the comments if you will add this to the list of your winter projects. I'm curious what you will make.
MATERIALS:
Needles 3.5mm and 5mm (circular – 80cm)
Yarn: Sirdar Bonus Hayfield Aran with wool
840m/400g, 18 sts - 24 rows to 10cm on 5mm
80% acrylic, 20% wool
2x400g – cream
Cable needle
Tapestry needle
Scissors
BACK & FRONT (both alike)
On smaller needles cast on 74 stitches
R1 (WS): sl1p, (k2, p2) to the last 3 stitches, k3
R2 (RS): sl1p, knit the knits, purl the purls
Work the ribbing for 8cm ending with the wrong side.
INCREASE ROW (RS): adding 80 stitches and form the pattern base as follows
Kfb 12 times, *kfb, M1* 3 times, kfb 5 times, *kfb, M1* 2 times, kfb 9 times, p1, kfb 4 times, k2, kfb 15 times, M1, kfb 5 times, *kfb, M1* 3 times, kfb 13 times. (154 stitches)
Change to bigger needles.
Turn work (WS): sl1p, k1, p20, k2, p9, k2, p6, k2, p8, k2, p4, k2, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2, p5, k3, p2, k3, p5, k2, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2, p4, k2, p8, k2, p6, k2, p9, k2, p20, k2.
Turn work (RS): sl1p, p1, 20 stitches - honeycomb pattern, p2, 9 stitches - three-cable plait leaning to the right, p2, 6 stitches - two-cable rope leaning to the right, p2, 8 stitches - chain cable, p2, 4 stitches - small rope leaning to the left, p2, 7 stitches - double sided rope leaning to the right, p2, 18 stitches - central cable motif, p2, 7 stitches - double sided rope leaning to the left, p2, 4 stitches - small rope leaning to the right, p2, 8 stitches - chain cable, p2, 6 stitches - two-cable rope leaning to the left, p2, 9 stitches -three-cable plait leaning to the left, p2, 20 stitches - honeycomb pattern, p1, k1.
Work the pattern for 43-44 cm ending with the wrong side row.
Before neckline shaping don’t cable the central motif as well as two-cable ropes (left and right).
NECKLINE SHAPING
Cast off 40 stitches of the center (from now on dividing work into two, finishing off each side separately).
Symmetrically cast off in every even row: 1 time 6 stitches and 2 times 4 stitches. Cast off remained stitches on the wrong side (43 stitches on each side). (Leave them on hold if you want to use three needles bind off method for shoulder seaming)
SLEEVES (both alike)
Using 3.5mm needles cast on 40 stitches.
Work the ribbing for 8cm ending with the wrong side.
INCREASE ROW (RS): evenly add 39 stitches and after changing to bigger needles form the pattern base as follows
Next row (WS): Sl1p, p16, k2, p4, k2, p9, k2, p4, k2, p16, k1.
Next row (RS): Sl1p, 16 stitches - honeycomb pattern, p2, 8 stitches - chain cable, p2, 4 stitches - small rope leaning to the right, p2, 9 stitches -three-cable plait, p2, 4 stitches -small rope leaning to the left, p2, 8 stitches - chain cable, p2, 16 stitches - honeycomb pattern, k1.
(In the second sleeve swap the two 4 stitches ropes for symmetry).
Increase 1 stitch on both edges 30 times in every 4th row working in those stitches into honeycomb pattern. (139 stitches)
Work for the pattern for 42 cm. Cast off in pattern.
MAKING UP
Start with seaming up the shoulders (three needles bind off), then from the right side pickup and knit evenly 152 stitches for the neckline band. Work in 2x2 ribbing in the round for 42 rows. Cast off in pattern. Fold in half and sew in from the wrong side. Sew in the sleeves (starting centrally from the shoulder seam) and the sleeves seams as well as the sides of the body using mattress stitch.
Well done! 👍👍👍
Stitches and patterns used
Sl1p - slip 1 purlwise
Kfb - knit front and back (makes 2 knit stitches by working twice into one stitch)
M1 - make 1 stitch by picking up a yarn bar between two stitches onto the left needle and knitting it
C2B - Cable 2 Back (slip 1 onto cable needle, hold in back, knit 1, knit 1 from cable needle)
C2F - Cable 2 Front (slip 1 onto cable needle, hold in front, knit 1, knit 1 from cable needle)
Honeycomb pattern
R1: * C2B, C2F*
R2: purl
R3: *C2F, C2B*
R4: purl
Repeat rows 1 – 4
Three-cable plait leaning to the right
R1: sl3 onto cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle, k3
R2 and all even rows: purl
R3: knit
R5: k3, sl3 onto cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle
R7: knit
Repeat rows 1-9
Three-cable plait leaning to the left
R1: k3, sl3 onto cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle,
R2 and all even rows: purl
R3: knit
R5: sl3 onto cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle, k3
R7: knit
Repeat rows 1-9
Two-cable rope leaning to the right
R1: sl3 onto cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle
R2 and all even rows: purl
R3 and 5: k6
Repeat rows 1-6
Two-cable rope leaning to the left
R1: sl3 onto cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle
R2 and all even rows: purl
R3 and 5: k6
Repeat rows 1-6
8 stitches – chain cable
R1: sl2 onto cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle, sl2 onto cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle
R2, 4, 6, 8: purl
R3 and 7: knit
R5: sl2 onto cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle, sl2 onto cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle
Repeat rows 1-8
4 stitches - small rope leaning to the left
R1: sl1 onto cable needle and hold in front, k3, k1 from cable needle
R2 and 4: purl
R3: knit
Repeat rows 1-4
4 stitches - small rope leaning to the right
R1: sl3 onto cable needle and hold in back, k1, k3 from cable needle
R2 and 4: purl
R3: knit
Repeat rows 1-4
7 stitches – double sided rope leaning to the right
R1: *k1, p1* 3 times, k1
R2: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
Repeat R1 and R2 5 times
R13: sl4 onto cable needle and hold in back, work 3 stitches in pattern, work stitches from cable needle as follows: p1, k1, p1, k1
R14: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
R15: *k1, p1* 3 times, k1
R16: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
R17: sl4 onto cable needle and hold in back, work 3 stitches in pattern, work stitches from cable needle as follows: p1, k1, p1, k1
R18: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
Repeat rows 1-18
7 stitches – double sided rope leaning to the left
R1: *k1, p1* 3 times, k1
R2: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
Repeat R1 and R2 5 times
R13: sl3 onto cable needle and hold in front, work 4 stitches as follows: k1, p, k1, p1, work 3 stiches from cable needle
R14: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
R15: *k1, p1* 3 times, k1
R16: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
R17: sl3 onto cable needle and hold in front, work 4 stitches as follows: k1, p, k1, p1, work 3 stiches from cable needle
R18: *p1, k1* 3 times, p1
Repeat rows 1-18
18 stitches – central cable motif
R1: k5, p3, k2, 3, k5
R2: work in the pattern
Repeat R1 and R2 5 times
R13: sl4 onto cable needle and hold in front, k5, knit 4 from the cable needle, sl5 onto cable needle and hold in back, k4, knit 5 from cable needle
R14: p5, k3, p2, k3, p5
Repeat rows 1-14
I'm interested in your thoughts about knitting projects like this one!
Do you prefer more traditional designs? Or you could totally pull off this one?
How would you style it?
Let me know in the comments!
Ow wow what a beautiful design! I will need sone cable knitting lessons too I think 🥰 Well done an thank you for sharing your wonderful pattern. Jayne x