purlJam

<pattern>

# CLASSIC BEGINNER CARDIGAN

A timeless, easy-to-knit cardigan perfect for your first sweater project! Worked flat in stockinette stitch with simple shaping and sewn seams. This classic construction teaches fundamental sweater-making skills.

## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Approximately 1200 (1350, 1500, 1650, 1800) yards of worsted weight yarn
- Sample shown in Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards/100g)

**Needles**: 
- US 5 (3.75 mm) straight or circular needles for ribbing
- US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles for body
- Or sizes needed to obtain gauge

**Notions**:
- Stitch markers
- Yarn needle for seaming
- 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) buttons, ¾" diameter
- Stitch holders or waste yarn

## GAUGE

20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US 7 needles

**It is essential to match gauge.** Knit a swatch at least 5" × 5", block it, and measure carefully. Adjust needle size if necessary.

## SIZES

**Finished Bust Circumference**: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)" / 81 (91, 102, 112, 122) cm
- Designed with 2-4" of positive ease
- Choose a size 2-4" larger than your actual bust measurement for a comfortable fit

**Finished Length**: 22 (23, 24, 25, 26)" from shoulder
**Sleeve Length**: 17 (17.5, 18, 18.5, 19)" from underarm

Pattern is written for smallest size with larger sizes in parentheses. If only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** = knit
- **p** = purl
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **RS** = right side
- **WS** = wrong side
- **k2tog** = knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **BO** = bind off
- **CO** = cast on
- **pm** = place marker
- **sm** = slip marker
- **M1L** = make 1 left (lift strand between sts from front to back, knit through back loop)
- **M1R** = make 1 right (lift strand between sts from back to front, knit through front loop)

## NOTES

- Cardigan is worked flat in separate pieces from the bottom up, then seamed together.
- All pieces begin with ribbing, then continue in stockinette stitch.
- When binding off for armholes and necklines, bind off loosely to prevent tight edges.
- For seaming, use mattress stitch on stockinette sections and backstitch on bind-off edges.
- Slip all stitches purlwise unless otherwise instructed.

## BACK

With smaller needles, CO 80 (90, 100, 110, 120) sts.
[Math check: 80 sts ÷ 4 = 20 ✓; 90 ÷ 4 = 22.5... RECALCULATE]

**RECALCULATION**: CO 80 (92, 100, 112, 120) sts.
[Math check: 80÷4=20 ✓, 92÷4=23 ✓, 100÷4=25 ✓, 112÷4=28 ✓, 120÷4=30 ✓]

**Ribbing Setup Row (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

**Ribbing Row 1 (RS)**: K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
**Ribbing Row 2 (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until ribbing measures 2.5", ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

**Stockinette Section**:
Work in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) until piece measures 13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15)" from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armholes**:
BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. [72 (82, 88, 98, 104) sts]
[Math check: 80-8=72 ✓, 92-10=82 ✓, 100-12=88 ✓, 112-14=98 ✓, 120-16=104 ✓]

Next Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. [2 sts decreased]
Next Row (WS): Purl.

Repeat these 2 rows 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) more times. [64 (72, 76, 84, 88) sts]
[Math check: 72-8=64 ✓, 82-10=72 ✓, 88-12=76 ✓, 98-14=84 ✓, 104-16=88 ✓]

Continue even in stockinette stitch until armhole measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)", ending with a WS row.

**Shape Shoulders**:
BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beginning of next 4 rows. [40 (44, 44, 48, 48) sts]
BO 6 (7, 7, 8, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. [28 (30, 30, 32, 32) sts]

BO remaining sts for back neck.

## LEFT FRONT

With smaller needles, CO 40 (46, 50, 56, 60) sts.
[Math check: 40÷4=10 ✓, 46÷4=11.5... RECALCULATE]

**RECALCULATION**: CO 40 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts.
[Math check: 40÷4=10 ✓, 48÷4=12 ✓, 52÷4=13 ✓, 56÷4=14 ✓, 60÷4=15 ✓]

**Ribbing Setup Row (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

**Ribbing Row 1 (RS)**: K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
**Ribbing Row 2 (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until ribbing measures 2.5", ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

**Stockinette Section**:
Work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15)" from CO edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armhole**:
BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next RS row. [36 (43, 46, 49, 52) sts]
[Math check: 40-4=36 ✓, 48-5=43 ✓, 52-6=46 ✓, 56-7=49 ✓, 60-8=52 ✓]

Next Row (WS): Purl.
Next Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. [1 st decreased]

Repeat these 2 rows 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) more times. [32 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts]
[Math check: 36-4=32 ✓, 43-5=38 ✓, 46-6=40 ✓, 49-7=42 ✓, 52-8=44 ✓]

Continue even until armhole measures 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5)", ending with a RS row.

**Shape Neck**:
Next Row (WS): BO 8 (9, 9, 10, 10) sts, purl to end. [24 (29, 31, 32, 34) sts]

Next Row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. [1 st decreased]
Next Row (WS): Purl.

Repeat these 2 rows 5 (6, 6, 6, 6) more times. [18 (22, 24, 25, 27) sts]
[Math check: 24-6=18 ✓, 29-7=22 ✓, 31-7=24 ✓, 32-7=25 ✓, 34-7=27 ✓]

Continue even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Shoulder**:
Next Row (RS): BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts, knit to end. [12 (15, 16, 16, 17) sts]
Next Row (WS): Purl.

Repeat these 2 rows once more. [6 (8, 8, 7, 7) sts]

BO remaining sts.

## RIGHT FRONT

With smaller needles, CO 40 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts.

**Ribbing Setup Row (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

**Ribbing Row 1 (RS)**: K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
**Ribbing Row 2 (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until ribbing measures 2.5", ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

**Stockinette Section**:
Work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15)" from CO edge, ending with a RS row.

**Shape Armhole**:
BO 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next WS row. [36 (43, 46, 49, 52) sts]

Next Row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. [1 st decreased]
Next Row (WS): Purl.

Repeat these 2 rows 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) more times. [32 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts]

Continue even until armhole measures 5.5 (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5)", ending with a WS row.

**Shape Neck**:
Next Row (RS): BO 8 (9, 9, 10, 10) sts, knit to end. [24 (29, 31, 32, 34) sts]

Next Row (WS): Purl.
Next Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. [1 st decreased]

Repeat these 2 rows 5 (6, 6, 6, 6) more times. [18 (22, 24, 25, 27) sts]

Continue even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulder, ending with a RS row.

**Shape Shoulder**:
Next Row (WS): BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts, purl to end. [12 (15, 16, 16, 17) sts]
Next Row (RS): Knit.

Repeat these 2 rows once more. [6 (8, 8, 7, 7) sts]

BO remaining sts.

## SLEEVES (Make 2)

With smaller needles, CO 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts.
[Math check: 40÷4=10 ✓, 44÷4=11 ✓, 48÷4=12 ✓, 52÷4=13 ✓, 56÷4=14 ✓]

**Ribbing Setup Row (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

**Ribbing Row 1 (RS)**: K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
**Ribbing Row 2 (WS)**: P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until ribbing measures 2.5", ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

**Stockinette with Increases**:
Beginning with a RS row, work in stockinette stitch AND AT THE SAME TIME, increase 1 st each end every 8th row 0 (0, 0, 4, 8) times, then every 10th row 10 (12, 14, 12, 10) times. [60 (68, 76, 84, 92) sts]

[Math check: 40+0+20=60 ✓, 44+0+24=68 ✓, 48+0+28=76 ✓, 52+8+24=84 ✓, 56+16+20=92 ✓]

Work increases as follows:
**Increase Row (RS)**: K1, M1R, knit to last st, M1L, k1.

Continue