This modern take on a classic wardrobe staple features deep ribbing at the hem and cuffs, cable columns set into a textured backdrop, and a gently sloped v-neck, designed to look great and drape well, buttoned or unbuttoned. The back and sleeves are a clean slate of reverse stockinette with a single continuous column of stockinette running up the side seam and down the sleeve to the cuff.

Choose from full or cropped lengths and two sleeve styles for year-round wear with your handmade wardrobe.

Written directions are provided for the whole pattern with optional charts included for the V-Stitch cable panel. Sweater fronts and back are knit bottom up and seamed at the shoulders and sides. Sleeves are picked up around the armholes and knit to the cuff using Elizabeth Doherty’s fabulous top-down, set-in method (a video tutorial is provided). After the sleeve caps are shaped, the sleeve is turned inside out and worked from the wrong side to cleverly minimize purling in the reverse stockinette fabric.

You can now purchase the Minimalist Cable Cardigan pattern as part of a kit from The Fibre Co. online store. The kit includes the pattern PDF and the yarn needed to make the long version. Learn more here.

SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate

TECHNIQUES + STITCHES
cast on & bind off
knit & purl
pick up stitches
short rows with wraps
knitting in the round
cables
seaming

SIZES + MEASUREMENTS
FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE
35½ (39¼, 42½, 47, 51¼, 55)59, 64½, 67¾, 72¼“/
89 (98, 106.5, 117.5, 128, 137.5)147.5, 161.5,
169.5, 180.5 cm

Intended ease is 4-6”/10-15 cm of positive ease
for the full length sweater or 2-4”/5-10 cm of
positive ease for the cropped length sweater.
I am 5’4” with a 33”/84 cm bust, and in the photos
in this pattern, I am wearing the longer length
(brown) sweater in a size S with about 6”/15 cm of
ease and the cropped length (blue) sweater in XS
with about 3”/7.5 cm of positive ease.

Please see the schematic photo for more
finished measurements. #sizeinclusive

MATERIALS
YARN:
for full length - 990 (1170, 1360, 1620, 1890,
2170)2460, 2900, 3190, 3590 yards / 905
(1070, 1240, 1480, 1730, 1985)2245, 2650,
2915, 3280 m of DK weight yarn. Sample was
knit with Fibre Company Lore (100% Kent
Lambswool; 273 yards/250 m per 100g skein) in
Courage.

for cropped length - 650 (760, 885, 1055, 1230,
1410)1600, 1890, 2075, 2335 yards / 595
(695, 810, 965, 1125, 1290)1465, 1730, 1900,
2135 m of DK weight yarn. Sample was knit
with Fibre Company Luma (50% Merino Wool,
25% organic cotton, 15% linen, 10% silk; 137
yards/125 m per 50g skein) in Blue Dusk.

NEEDLES: US 7/4.5 mm, one 36”/90 cm circular needle for the back, one 16”/40 cm circular needle for sleeves, and one set of dpns (or needles appropriate for your preferred method of small circumference circular knitting) for the sleeves
US 6/4 mm, one 24”/60 cm circular needle for fronts
US 5/3.75 mm, one 16/40 cm circular needle for sleeves
US 3/3.25 mm, one 36”/90 cm circular needle and one set of dpns for ribbing

NOTIONS: cable needle, stitch markers and a removable stitch marker, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, 5
buttons about 1”/25 mm in diameter for full length
version OR 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4)4, 4, 5, 5 buttons about
5/8” / 15 mm in diameter for cropped length version.

GAUGE
Gauges for sweater body:
With US 7/4.5 mm, 19 sts and 28 rows =
4”/10 cm in Reverse Stockinette, after blocking

With US 3/3.25 mm, 25 sts and 34 rows =
4”/10 cm in 2X2 Ribbing, after blocking