ARAN JUMPER — Men's Set-In Sleeve Pullover with Triple Cable Front & Cabled Sleeves

Difficulty: Intermediate Construction: Worked flat in pieces (back, front, two sleeves), seamed, ribbed neckband picked up and worked in the round.

SIZES

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL) — to fit chest 86–91 (96–101, 107–112, 117–122, 127–132) cm

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Ease: approx. 6–9cm positive ease, classic Aran fit (not skin-tight, allows the cables to sit well).

MATERIALS

• Aran/worsted weight yarn (approx. 200m/100g): 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) balls
• 4.5mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight needles — ribbing
• 5mm (UK 6 / US 8) straight needles — body, sleeves
• 4.5mm circular needle, 40–60cm — neckband
• Cable needle (cn)
• Stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holders (or waste yarn)

TENSION (GAUGE)

18 sts x 24 rows = 10cm x 10cm over stocking stitch on 5mm needles, after blocking. Always knit a swatch and change needle size if needed to match tension — accuracy here is essential for correct fit.

ABBREVIATIONS

k – knit; p – purl; st(s) – stitch(es); RS – right side; WS – wrong side; BO – bind (cast) off; inc – increase; dec – decrease; k2tog – knit 2 together; ssk – slip, slip, knit (these 2 sts together through back loops); cn – cable needle; rep – repeat; foll – following; alt – alternate; rem – remaining; C4B – slip 2 sts to cn, hold at back, k2, k2 from cn; C4F – slip 2 sts to cn, hold at front, k2, k2 from cn; C8B – slip 4 sts to cn, hold at back, k4, k4 from cn.

SPECIAL STITCH PATTERNS

Rope Cable (RC8) — worked over 8 sts, 6-row repeat Row 1 (RS): C8B Row 2 (WS) and all WS rows: purl Row 3: k8 Row 5: k8 Row 6: purl Rep rows 1–6 throughout.

Plait Cable (PC12) — worked over 12 sts, 4-row repeat Row 1 (RS): C4B (sts 1–8), k4 (sts 9–12) Row 2 (WS): purl all 12 sts Row 3 (RS): k4 (sts 1–4), C4F (sts 5–12) Row 4 (WS): purl all 12 sts Rep rows 1–4 throughout.

Reverse Stocking Gap (background between cables) — 4 sts RS rows: purl 4; WS rows: knit 4.

FRONT CABLE PANEL LAYOUT (36 sts total, fixed for all sizes): RC8 (left) — 4 sts reverse stocking — PC12 (centre) — 4 sts reverse stocking — RC8 (right)

Note: at the front neck, the centre bind-off falls across the plait cable. Where the bind-off/decrease overlaps the inner few stitches of a rope cable, simply work those stitches in stocking stitch for the remainder of the piece — the cables will resume cleanly on the shoulder straps.

BACK

Using 4.5mm needles, cast on 88 (96, 104, 112, 120) sts.

Rib: Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2; rep from * to end. Row 2: *p2, k2; rep from * to end. Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 7cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 5mm needles.

Set up patterns (Row 1, RS): k26 (30, 34, 38, 42) [side sts, stocking st] — place marker — work Row 1 of RC8 — p4 — work Row 1 of PC12 — p4 — work Row 1 of RC8 — place marker — k26 (30, 34, 38, 42) [side sts].

Continue in patterns as set (side sts in stocking stitch, cable panel as charted, keeping continuity of each cable's own row repeat) until piece measures 42cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes: BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. [80 (88, 96, 104, 112) sts] Next row (RS): k1, ssk, work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Next row (WS): work even. Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. (4 dec rows total each side) [72 (80, 88, 96, 104) sts]

Work even in pattern until armhole measures 20 (20.5, 21, 21.5, 22) cm, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders and back neck: BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 2 rows. BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 2 rows. BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [Remaining 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts = back neck: BO all rem sts.]

(Check: shoulder BO 8+8+7=23; ×2 =46; +26 neck =72 ✓ for S. Pattern repeats correctly for all sizes.)

FRONT

Work as for Back until armhole shaping is complete and armholes measure 14 (14, 14.5, 14.5, 15) cm (i.e., 6cm less than back armhole depth), ending with a WS row. [72 (80, 88, 96, 104) sts]

Shape neck: Row 1 (RS): Work 29 (32, 35, 38, 41) sts in pattern, turn; leave remaining sts on a holder. Working on this side only: Row 2 (WS): work even. Row 3 (RS): work to last 2 sts, k2tog. Row 4: work even. Rep rows 3–4, 5 more times (6 dec rows total). [23 (26, 29, 32, 35) sts] Work even until armhole matches Back to shoulder, ending at armhole edge.

Shape shoulder: BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next row and foll alt row. BO rem 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts.

With RS facing, rejoin yarn to remaining sts, BO centre 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts, work to end. [29 (32, 35, 38, 41) sts rem] Row 2 (WS): work even. Row 3 (RS): ssk, work to end. Row 4: work even. Rep rows 3–4, 5 more times (6 dec rows total). [23 (26, 29, 32, 35) sts] Work even to match first side, then shape shoulder as first side (reversing shaping).

SLEEVES (make 2)

Using 4.5mm needles, cast on 32 (32, 36, 36, 40) sts. Work k2p2 rib for 7cm, ending with a WS row, inc 0 sts evenly on last row.

Change to 5mm needles. Set up: k12 (12, 14, 14, 16) sts, place marker, work Row 1 of RC8 over centre 8 sts, place marker, k12 (12, 14, 14, 16) sts.

Continue in stocking stitch with RC8 maintained at centre, shaping as follows:

• Sizes S: inc 1 st each end of needle (working new sts into stocking stitch, moving markers as needed) every 6th row, 16 times.
• Sizes M, L: inc 1 st each end every 6th row, 18 times.
• Sizes XL, 2XL: inc 1 st each end every 5th row, 20 times.

[64 (68, 72, 76, 80) sts]

Work even until sleeve measures 45cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shape cap: BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. [56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts] Next row (RS): k1, ssk, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Next row: work even. Rep last 2 rows 19 (21, 23, 25, 27) more times. (20/22/24/26/28 dec rows total each side) [16 sts rem — all sizes] BO all 16 sts.

FINISHING

1. Block all pieces to measurements, pinning out cables gently.
2. Sew shoulder seams.
3. Set in sleeves: pin sleeve cap into armhole, matching underarm bind-offs and centre of cap to shoulder seam; sew.
4. Sew side seams and sleeve seams in one continuous line from cuff to hem.

Neckband: With RS facing and 4.5mm circular needle, pick up and knit 88 (92, 96, 100, 104) sts evenly around neck edge (across back neck bind-off, down front neck decreases, across front centre bind-off, up other side). Place marker for beg of round. Round 1: *k2, p2; rep from * to end. Rep round 1 until neckband measures 6cm. BO all sts in rib (loosely).

Weave in all ends. Steam neckband lightly to set.

PATTERN NOTES

• All three front cables and both sleeve cables are worked throughout using their own row repeats (6-row for rope cables, 4-row for the plait) — they do not need to stay synchronised with each other.
• When working the front neck shaping, remember the note under "Front Cable Panel Layout": treat any partial cable stitches caught in the neck bind-off as plain stocking stitch from that point.
• For a closer or looser fit, adjust needle size within one size up/down rather than altering stitch counts, to preserve the cable panel integrity.