One of my favorite methods of relaxation is lounging in a hammock in my backyard with my binoculars, watching the birds flitter around – bouncing one tree branch to another. I love each and every one of them, no matter how common. There are two pairs of nuthatches that inhabit the Loblolly Pines: the brown-headed nuthatch and the white breasted nuthatch. They forage up, down, and sideways across the trees, chipping away at the wood. Something about the basketweave cables that adorn this hat and cardigan set remind me of them – moving about in every direction. Or, it reminds me of the textured tree bark. The long cables that extend beyond the basketweave portion remind me of the tall trees that serve as home to these little birds. And so, I’ve named this sweater after them.

This cardigan is knit flat in pieces from the bottom up and seamed. It features dense cables along the hem and cable panels that are carried to the shoulders and intersect with the cabled sleeve panels on the shoulders. After that, the cabled hem is complete, stitches are evenly decreased below a purl ridge row, and the remainder of the sweater has stockinette framing the cabled edge. When working the Right and Left Fronts, please note that neck shaping and armhole shaping occur at the same time. Carefully read the instructions for both sections before proceeding with Neck Shaping.

You can find the matching Nuthatch Hat here.

SIZE
XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)
shown in size L with 2 inches/5cm of positive ease at back bust width.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Back bust width (see Pattern Notes on choosing a size): 15.75 (17.75, 19.75, 21.5, 24.75, 26.75, 28.5, 30.5, 32.75) inches / 40 (45, 50, 54.5, 63, 68, 72.5, 77.5, 83) cm
Length: 22.25 (22.75, 23.5, 24, 24.75, 25.25, 26, 26.5, 27) inches / 54 (55.5, 57.5, 58.5, 60.5, 62, 63.5, 65, 66.5) cm
Full bust circumference: 31.75 (36, 40, 43.25, 48.5, 52.5, 56.5, 60.5, 64.75) inches / 80.5 (91.5, 101.5, 110, 123, 133.5, 143.5, 153.5, 164.5) cm

MATERIALS
Yarn
Fibra Natura Kingston Tweed (50% wool, 25% alpaca, 25% mixed fiber; 194 yds/177 m per 50g)
MC 105 Ochre – 4 (5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) skeins or 745 (929, 1257, 1398, 1543, 1694, 1849, 2008, 2322) yards / 678 (849, 1149, 1278, 1410, 1548, 1690, 1836, 2123) meters
CC 108 Amethyst – 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins or 128147, 182, 197, 212, 228, 244, 261, 294 yards / 117134, 166, 180, 193, 208, 223, 238, 268 meters

Recommended needle size - always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter’s gauge is unique
US #4/3.5mm needles for working flat
US #5/3.75mm needles for working flat (optional)
US #6/4mm needles for working flat
US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 24 inches / 60 cm or longer

Notions
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Cable needle

GAUGE
23 sts/30 rows = 4 inches/10cm in Stockinette stitch with larger needles
32 sts/39 rows = 4 inches/10cm in Basketweave Cables pattern with larger needles
Left/Right/Sleeve Cable Panel: each measures 3 inches / 7.5 cm across