purlJam

# CLASSIC STRIPED CASHMERE CARDIGAN
*A beginner-friendly stockinette cardigan in luxurious 8-ply cashmere, featuring a relaxed navy base with grey and burnt orange stripes.*

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** 8-ply (worsted weight) 100% cashmere, approximately 200 m / 50 g per ball
- **MC (Main Colour) – Navy:** 800 / 900 / 1000 / 1100 / 1200 m
- **CC1 – Grey:** 250 / 300 / 350 / 400 / 450 m
- **CC2 – Burnt Orange:** 150 / 200 / 250 / 300 / 350 m
- *Total yardage: approximately 1200–1800 m depending on size*

**Needles:**
- 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight or circular needles — main fabric
- 3.75 mm (UK 9 / US 5) straight or circular needles — ribbing and button bands

**Notions:**
- 6 buttons, approximately 18 mm diameter
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Tape measure

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## TENSION (GAUGE)

**20 sts × 26 rows = 10 cm (4")** in stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles, washed and blocked.

*Take time to check your tension — accurate tension is essential for fit.*

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## SIZES

Pattern written for size **XS (S, M, L, XL)**.

| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished bust | 86 cm | 96 cm | 106 cm | 116 cm | 126 cm |
| Finished bust (in) | 34" | 38" | 42" | 46" | 50" |
| Total length | 56 cm | 58 cm | 60 cm | 62 cm | 64 cm |
| Sleeve length | 44 cm | 44 cm | 45 cm | 45 cm | 46 cm |
| Upper arm | 32 cm | 34 cm | 37 cm | 39 cm | 42 cm |

*Garment is designed with 5–8 cm of positive ease for a relaxed fit.*

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **k2tog** — knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **m1** — make one (lifted increase)
- **kfb** — knit into front and back (increase)
- **BO** — bind off (cast off)
- **CO** — cast on
- **rep** — repeat
- **rem** — remaining
- **beg** — beginning
- **MC / CC1 / CC2** — main colour / contrast colour 1 / contrast colour 2
- **St st** — stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)

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## NOTES

**Stripe Sequence (4-row repeat):**
- Rows 1–4: MC (Navy)
- Rows 5–6: CC1 (Grey)
- Rows 7–8: MC (Navy)
- Rows 9–10: CC2 (Burnt Orange)
- Rows 11–14: MC (Navy)
- Rows 15–16: CC1 (Grey)

Repeat these 16 rows throughout. **Begin stripe sequence after the ribbing**, on the first row of stocking stitch. Continue stripe pattern through all shaping — keep counting!

**Carrying yarn:** Carry unused colours loosely up the side edge, twisting every 2 rows to keep the edge tidy. This avoids cutting the yarn at every stripe.

**Slipped selvedge (optional):** For tidier seams, slip the first stitch of every row purlwise.

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## BACK

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, CO **86 (96, 106, 116, 126)** sts.

**Ribbing:**
Row 1 (RS): *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Rep these 2 rows until ribbing measures 5 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. **Begin Stripe Sequence** and work in St st until back measures **36 (37, 38, 39, 40) cm** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping

BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. — **78 (88, 98, 108, 118)** sts.

Next row (RS, decrease): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row: purl.
Rep these 2 rows **3 (4, 5, 6, 7)** more times. — **70 (78, 86, 94, 102)** sts.

*Math check: 78 − 2×4 = 70 ✓ / 88 − 2×5 = 78 ✓ / 98 − 2×6 = 86 ✓ / 108 − 2×7 = 94 ✓ / 118 − 2×8 = 102 ✓*

Continue in St st (and stripe pattern) until armhole measures **20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder & Neck Shaping

BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next 4 rows. — **46 (50, 54, 58, 62)** sts.
BO 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows. — **36 (38, 40, 42, 44)** sts.
BO remaining sts loosely for back neck.

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## FRONTS (Make 2 — one mirrored)

### Left Front

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, CO **44 (49, 54, 59, 64)** sts.

Work k1, p1 ribbing (begin Row 1 with k1) for 5 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. **Begin Stripe Sequence** and work in St st until front matches back to underarm — **36 (37, 38, 39, 40) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping (armhole edge = beginning of RS rows)

BO 4 sts at beg of next RS row. — **40 (45, 50, 55, 60)** sts.
Work 1 WS row.

Next row (RS, dec): k1, ssk, k to end.
Next row: purl.
Rep these 2 rows **3 (4, 5, 6, 7)** more times. — **36 (40, 44, 48, 52)** sts.

Continue straight until armhole measures **13 (14, 15, 16, 17) cm**, ending with a RS row.

### Neck Shaping (neck edge = beginning of WS rows)

BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next WS row. — **30 (33, 36, 39, 42)** sts.
Next row (RS): work to end.
Next row (WS, dec): BO 3 sts, p to end. — **27 (30, 33, 36, 39)** sts.
Next row: knit.
Next row (WS, dec): BO 2 sts, p to end. — **25 (28, 31, 34, 37)** sts.

Next row (RS, dec): k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Next row: purl.
Rep these 2 rows **8 (8, 8, 9, 9)** more times. — **17 (20, 23, 25, 28)** sts.

*Math check XS: 25 − 9 = 16... let me re-verify:* 25 sts, dec once = 24, repeated 8 more times = 16. **Adjustment: work dec 7 (7, 7, 8, 8) more times** → 17 (20, 23, 25, 28) sts. ✓

Work straight until armhole matches back. End with a WS row.

### Shoulder Shaping

BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next RS row. — **11 (13, 15, 16, 18)** sts.
Purl 1 row.
BO 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) sts at beg of next RS row. — **5 (6, 7, 8, 9)** sts.
Purl 1 row.
BO remaining 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts.

### Right Front

Work as for Left Front, **reversing all shaping** (armhole shaping at beginning of WS rows; neck shaping at beginning of RS rows; substitute k2tog at neck edge for ssk shoulder side, and ssk at armhole edge for k2tog).

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## SLEEVES (Make 2)

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, CO **40 (42, 46, 48, 52)** sts.

Work k1, p1 ribbing for 6 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. **Begin Stripe Sequence** and work 4 rows in St st.

### Sleeve Shaping (increases)

Increase row (RS): k2, m1, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2. — 2 sts increased.

Work increase row every **8th row 12 (12, 11, 11, 10) times**. — **64 (66, 68, 70, 72)** sts.

*Math check: 40 + 24 = 64 ✓ / 42 + 24 = 66 ✓ / 46 + 22 = 68 ✓ / 48 + 22 = 70 ✓ / 52 + 20 = 72 ✓*

Continue straight in St st (and stripe pattern) until sleeve measures **44 (44, 45, 45, 46) cm** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping

BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. — **56 (58, 60, 62, 64)** sts.

Dec row (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Purl 1 row.
Rep last 2 rows **14 (15, 16, 17, 18)** times in total. — **28 (28, 28, 28, 28)** sts.

*Math check: 56 − 28 = 28 ✓ / 58 − 30 = 28 ✓ etc.*

BO 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows. — **16** sts.
BO remaining sts loosely.

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## BUTTON BANDS

**Seam shoulders** before working bands (see Finishing).

### Button Band (left front for women's; right front for men's)

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, RS facing, pick up and knit approximately **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the front edge — aim for a stitch count divisible into even spacing, approximately **120 (124, 128, 132, 136)** sts.

Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2.5 cm. BO loosely in pattern.

### Buttonhole Band (opposite front)

Work as for button band until ribbing measures 1 cm, ending with a WS row.

**Buttonhole row (RS):** Work 4 sts in pattern, *BO 2 sts, work 19 (20, 21, 22, 23) sts in pattern; rep from * 4 more times, BO 2 sts, work to end. *(6 buttonholes total)*

Next row (WS): Work in pattern, casting on 2 sts over each gap.

Continue in ribbing until band matches button band. BO loosely in pattern.

### Neckband

With 3.75 mm needles and MC, RS facing, beginning at top of right front band, pick up and knit approximately **90 (94, 98, 102, 106)** sts evenly around the neckline — including across both front necks and back neck.

Work k1, p1 ribbing for 2 cm. BO loosely in pattern.

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## FINISHING

1. **Weave in all ends** along stripe colour changes on the wrong side.
2. **Block all pieces** to measurements: soak in lukewarm water with wool wash, gently squeeze (do not wring), pat to shape on a flat surface, allow to dry fully.
3. **Seam shoulders** using mattress stitch, matching stripes carefully.
4. **Set in sleeves**: pin sleeve cap into armhole, easing fullness across the top. Seam with mattress stitch.
5. **Seam side and underarm seams** in one continuous line, matching stripes.
6. **Pick up and work button bands and neckband** as above.
7. **Sew on buttons** opposite buttonholes.
8. **Final block** lightly to set seams and bands.

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*Wear with pride — the soft drape of cashmere and the warm contrast of burnt orange against navy will make this a true wardrobe favourite.* 🧶