Highland Coil — Men’s Aran Cable Pullover

A densely cabled crew-neck pullover for men, knitted flat on straight needles in worsted (aran-weight) wool and seamed. Honeycomb, travelling diamonds, and paired rope cables. Advanced.

Materials

Yarn: Worsted / aran wool, approx. 100 g = 180–200 m.
Yardage: 1400 (1550, 1700, 1900, 2100) m — about 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) × 100 g balls.
Needles: Straight 4 mm and 4.5 mm (UK 8 and 7). Cable needle. Spare 4 mm for neckband (or circular if preferred for pick-up only).
Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders, tapestry needle.

Tension (gauge)

20 sts and 26 rows = 10 cm in stocking stitch on 4.5 mm, after blocking.
Cable fabric is denser: work a 20 cm square in Chart A + B and measure. Adjust needle size to match stocking-stitch tension first; cables will pull in — finished chest assumes this.

Sizes

To fit chest: 91 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm
Finished chest: 96 (106, 116, 126, 136) cm
Length: 66 (68, 70, 72, 74) cm
Sleeve length to underarm: 48 (49, 50, 51, 52) cm
Shown as size M. Choose size with 4–6 cm ease.

Abbreviations (UK)

k, p, st(s), rs, ws, sl, wyib, wyif
k2tog — knit 2 together
ssk — slip, slip, knit slipped sts together
m1 — make 1 (lift bar, knit into back)
c4b — sl 2 to cn, hold back, k2, k2 from cn
c4f — sl 2 to cn, hold front, k2, k2 from cn
c6b — sl 3 to cn, hold back, k3, k3 from cn
c6f — sl 3 to cn, hold front, k3, k3 from cn
t3b — sl 1 to cn, hold back, k2, p1 from cn
t3f — sl 2 to cn, hold front, p1, k2 from cn
t4b — sl 2 to cn, hold back, k2, p2 from cn
t4f — sl 2 to cn, hold front, p2, k2 from cn
pm, sm, slm — place / slip marker
rep, rem, tog, tbl

Pattern notes

• Worked flat on straight needles. Join pieces by seaming.
• Charts read rs rows right to left, ws rows left to right. Ws rows: knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you unless charted otherwise.
• Selvedge: first and last st of every row: sl 1 wyif on ws, k1 on rs (or k every selvedge if you prefer mattress-stitch ease). Selvedges not shown on charts.
• Cable crossings on rs only unless stated.
• When shaping, keep cable pattern as long as 4+ sts remain in a motif; otherwise work those sts in stocking stitch.
• Block pieces before seaming.

Chart A — Honeycomb (multiple of 8 sts + 0, 8-row repeat)

Row 1 (rs): *c4b, c4f; rep from *.
Row 2 and all ws: p.
Row 3: k.
Row 5: *c4f, c4b; rep from *.
Row 7: k.
Row 8: p.

Chart B — Rope pair (12 sts, 8-row)

Row 1 (rs): c6b, c6f.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: p12.
Rows 3, 5, 7: k12.

Chart C — Travelling diamond (16 sts, 16-row)

Row 1 (rs): p6, c4b, p6.
Row 2 and all even: k the knits, p the purls.
Row 3: p5, t3b, t3f, p5.
Row 5: p4, t3b, p2, t3f, p4.
Row 7: p3, t3b, p4, t3f, p3.
Row 9: p2, t3b, p6, t3f, p2.
Row 11: p1, t3b, p8, t3f, p1.
Row 13: t3b, p10, t3f.
Row 15: k2, p12, k2.
Row 16: as row 2.

Moss (seed) panel: (k1, p1) across odd rs rows; knit the knits / purl the purls on ws. On even rs: (p1, k1).

Back

With 4 mm, cast on 114 (126, 138, 150, 162) sts.

Rib (k2, p2):
Row 1 (rs): k2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 2: p2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
Work 8 cm, ending ws.

Change to 4.5 mm.

Set cables (rs):
k1 (selvedge), work moss over 5 (7, 9, 11, 13) sts, pm, Chart B (12 sts), pm, Chart A over 24 (32, 40, 48, 56) sts, pm, Chart C (16 sts), pm, Chart A over 16 sts, pm, Chart C (16 sts), pm, Chart A over 24 (32, 40, 48, 56) sts, pm, Chart B (12 sts), pm, moss 5 (7, 9, 11, 13), k1 (selvedge).
Check: 1+5+12+24+16+16+16+24+12+5+1 = 132 — wait, CO is 114 for smallest. Redistribute as follows (final):

Correct panel set (all sizes):
k1, moss 4 (6, 8, 10, 12), Chart B 12, Chart A 16 (24, 32, 40, 48), Chart C 16, Chart A 16, Chart C 16, Chart A 16 (24, 32, 40, 48), Chart B 12, moss 4 (6, 8, 10, 12), k1.
Counts: 1+4+12+16+16+16+16+16+12+4+1 = 114 ✓
M: 1+6+12+24+16+16+16+24+12+6+1 = 126 ✓
L: 1+8+12+32+16+16+16+32+12+8+1 = 138 ✓
XL: 1+10+12+40+16+16+16+40+12+10+1 = 150 ✓
XXL: 1+12+12+48+16+16+16+48+12+12+1 = 162 ✓

Continue in pattern until Back measures 42 (43, 44, 45, 46) cm from cast-on, ending ws.

Armhole shaping
Cast off 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
114 (126, 138, 150, 162) − 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) = 102 (112, 122, 132, 142) sts.
Dec 1 st each end of every rs row 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) times: 90 (98, 106, 114, 122) sts.
Work even until armhole measures 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) cm, ending ws.

Shoulders and neck
Next row (rs): pattern 26 (28, 30, 32, 34), turn. Work these sts only.
Cast off 3 sts at neck edge of next ws row, then dec 1 st at neck edge of following 2 rs rows. 21 (23, 25, 27, 29) sts rem.
Work 1 ws row. Cast off remaining shoulder sts.

Slip centre 38 (42, 46, 50, 54) sts to holder.
Rejoin yarn to remaining 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts, pattern to end. Complete to match first side, reversing shapings.

Front

Work as Back until armholes measure 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) cm, ending ws. 90 (98, 106, 114, 122) sts.

Divide for neck
Pattern 35 (38, 41, 44, 47), turn.
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) rs rows, then every other rs row 6 times. 21 (23, 25, 27, 29) sts.
Work even until armhole matches Back. Cast off.

Slip centre 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts to holder.
Rejoin and complete second side, reversing shapings.

Sleeves (make 2)

With 4 mm, cast on 50 (54, 58, 62, 66) sts.
Work k2, p2 rib for 7 cm, ending ws.

Change to 4.5 mm.

Set sleeve cables (rs):
k1, moss 4 (6, 4, 6, 8), Chart B 12, Chart A 16 (16, 24, 24, 24), Chart B 12, moss 4 (6, 4, 6, 8), k1.
S: 1+4+12+16+12+4+1 = 50 ✓
M: 1+6+12+16+12+6+1 = 54 ✓
L: 1+4+12+24+12+4+1 = 58 ✓
XL: 1+6+12+24+12+6+1 = 62 ✓
XXL: 1+8+12+24+12+8+1 = 66 ✓

Inc 1 st each end of 5th row, then every 6th (6th, 6th, 4th, 4th) row until 82 (88, 94, 100, 106) sts, working extra sts into moss then into Chart A when 8 sts exist.

Work even until sleeve measures 48 (49, 50, 51, 52) cm, ending ws.

Sleeve cap
Cast off 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 70 (74, 78, 82, 86) sts.
Dec 1 st each end of every rs row 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) times, then every row 10 times, then every rs row 4 times. 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts.
Cast off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Cast off rem 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts.

Finishing

Block pieces to measurements, pinning cables without overstretching.

Join shoulders with mattress stitch or backstitch.

Neckband: With 4 mm and rs facing, pick up and knit 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) sts down left front neck, k 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) from front holder, pick up 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) up right front, pick up 8 along right back neck, k 38 (42, 46, 50, 54) from back holder, pick up 8 along left back neck.
Total: 118 (126, 134, 142, 150) sts.
Work k2, p2 rib for 3.5 cm. Cast off in rib, slightly firmly.

Set in sleeves. Join side and sleeve seams. Weave in ends. Steam seams lightly.