purlJam

# Oversized Mohair Cardigan in Stocking Stitch

A dreamy, cloud-like cardigan worked in soft mohair-blend yarn. Generous oversized fit, dropped relaxed silhouette, simple stocking stitch body and classic button band. Perfect first cardigan project.

---

## MATERIALS

- **Yarn**: Worsted-weight mohair blend (e.g., mohair/silk held double, or a brushed mohair/wool blend)
  - 1200–1800 m total, depending on size (see Sizes)
  - XS: 1200 m • S: 1350 m • M: 1500 m • L: 1650 m • XXL: 1800 m
- **Needles**:
  - 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight or circular needles — main fabric
  - 3.75 mm (UK 9 / US 5) needles — ribbing and button bands
- **Notions**: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, 5–7 buttons (15–20 mm)

---

## TENSION (GAUGE)

**20 sts × 26 rows = 10 cm** in stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles, after gentle blocking.

> ⚠️ **Mohair note**: Always swatch. Mohair is very difficult to unravel, so check your tension before casting on the garment.

---

## SIZES

Pattern is written for **XS (S, M, L, XXL)**.

| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished bust (cm) | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 140 |
| Finished bust (in) | 39¼ | 43¼ | 47¼ | 51¼ | 55 |
| Body length (cm) | 60 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 68 |
| Sleeve length (cm) | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
| Upper arm (cm) | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 |

Designed with **20–25 cm of positive ease**. Choose based on actual bust measurement + desired ease.

---

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **k2tog** – knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **m1** – make one (increase)
- **BO** – cast off (bind off)
- **CO** – cast on
- **rep** – repeat
- **rem** – remaining
- **beg** – beginning

---

## NOTES

- Cardigan is worked **flat in five pieces** (back, two fronts, two sleeves) from the bottom up, then seamed.
- Body and sleeves are worked in **stocking stitch** (k on RS, p on WS).
- Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front for a tidy selvedge that makes seaming easier.
- Mohair fluffs after blocking — your fabric will look denser and softer than the unblocked swatch.

---

## BACK

With 3.75 mm needles, CO **100 (110, 120, 130, 140) sts**.

**Ribbing**: Work in 2×2 rib (k2, p2) for 6 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles.

**Body**: Work in stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures **40 (41, 42, 43, 44) cm** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole shaping
- BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows → **92 (102, 112, 122, 132) sts**
- Dec row (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (2 sts decreased)
- Work dec row every RS row 4 times total → **84 (94, 104, 114, 124) sts**
  - *Math check: 92 − (2×4) = 84 ✓*

Continue straight in stocking stitch until armhole measures **20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulders & back neck
- BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of next 4 rows → 56 (62, 68, 74, 80) sts
- BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows → 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts
- BO rem 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts loosely for back neck.

*Math check: 7×4 + 6×2 + 44 = 28+12+44 = 84 ✓ (matches XS)*

---

## FRONTS (make 2 — mirrored)

### LEFT FRONT

With 3.75 mm needles, CO **52 (57, 62, 67, 72) sts**.

**Ribbing**: Work 2×2 rib for 6 cm, ending with a WS row. (Begin/end with k2 or p2 as needed to align rib; small selvedge variations are fine.)

Change to 4.5 mm needles.

**Body**: Work in stocking stitch until piece measures **40 (41, 42, 43, 44) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole shaping (armhole edge = beg of RS rows)
- BO 4 sts at beg of next RS row → 48 (53, 58, 63, 68) sts
- Work 1 WS row.
- Dec row (RS): k1, ssk, k to end. Work dec row every RS row 4 times total → **44 (49, 54, 59, 64) sts**

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

### Neck shaping (neck edge = beg of WS rows)
- BO 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next WS row → 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) sts
- Dec row (WS): p1, p2tog, p to end. (Or work neck decrease on RS as ssk at end of row.) Decrease 1 st at neck edge every row 4 times, then every RS row 4 times → **28 (32, 36, 40, 44) sts**
  - *Math check: 36 − 8 = 28 ✓*

Work straight until armhole matches back, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder shaping
- BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of next RS row, then again at beg of next RS row → 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts
- BO rem 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts.

### RIGHT FRONT
Work as Left Front, **mirroring all shaping**: armhole shaping at beg of WS rows, neck shaping at beg of RS rows.

---

## SLEEVES (make 2)

With 3.75 mm needles, CO **44 (46, 48, 50, 52) sts**.

**Cuff**: Work 2×2 rib for 7 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles.

Begin stocking stitch. **Inc row (RS)**: k2, m1, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2. (2 sts increased)

Work inc row every **10th row 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) times** → **64 (68, 72, 76, 80) sts**.

*Math check: 44 + (2×10) = 64 ✓*

Continue straight until sleeve measures **44 (45, 46, 47, 48) cm** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Sleeve cap
- BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows → 56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts
- Dec 1 st at each end of every RS row 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) times → 40 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts
- Dec 1 st at each end of every row 4 times → 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts
- BO 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows → 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts
- BO rem sts loosely.

---

## BUTTON BANDS

**Seam shoulders first** using mattress stitch.

### Buttonhole band (right front for women / left front for men — choose your preference)
With 3.75 mm needles and RS facing, pick up and knit approximately **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the front edge — aim for a number divisible by 4, plus 2.
Example pickup: **120 (124, 128, 132, 136) sts**.

- Rows 1–2: Work in 2×2 rib.
- **Buttonhole row (RS)**: rib 3, *BO 2 sts, rib until 2 sts before next buttonhole position*; rep for 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) buttonholes, rib to end.
- Next row: rib, casting on 2 sts over each gap.
- Continue in rib until band measures 3 cm. Cast off in rib.

### Button band (opposite front)
Pick up same number of sts. Work 2×2 rib for 3 cm. Cast off in rib.

### Neckband
With 3.75 mm needles and RS facing, pick up and knit sts evenly around neck (approx. 80–96 sts depending on size, multiple of 4). Work 2×2 rib for 3 cm. Cast off loosely in rib.

---

## FINISHING

1. **Seam sleeve caps** into armholes using mattress stitch, easing in any extra cap fabric at the top.
2. **Seam side and sleeve seams** in one continuous line from cuff to hem.
3. **Sew on buttons** opposite buttonholes.
4. **Weave in all ends** carefully — split mohair plies and run ends in multiple directions; they will felt invisibly.
5. **Block gently**: soak in lukewarm water with wool wash, press out water in a towel (do not wring), lay flat to measurements. Allow to dry fully. Gently brush surface with a soft brush to enhance the halo, if desired.

---

**Enjoy your cosy mohair cloud! ☁️**