purlJam

# STRIPED SLOUCHY CREW-NECK CARDIGAN

A relaxed, cozy cardigan featuring bold horizontal stripes in two contrasting colors. Worked flat in stockinette stitch with classic seamed construction, this is a perfect first cardigan project for adventurous beginners.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Worsted weight (medium / #4) yarn
- **Color A (Main):** 700–1000 yds (640–915 m)
- **Color B (Contrast):** 500–800 yds (460–730 m)
- *Total: approx. 1200–1800 yds depending on size*

**Suggested fibers:** Wool, wool/acrylic blend, or cotton blend.

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

**Notions:**
- Tapestry/yarn needle
- Stitch markers (4–6)
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- 6 buttons, ¾" / 20 mm diameter
- Sewing needle and thread (to attach buttons)
- Measuring tape

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## GAUGE

**20 sts × 26 rows = 4" / 10 cm** in stockinette stitch on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles, after blocking.

*Take time to check your gauge.*

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## SIZES

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

| Size | Finished Bust | Length | Sleeve Length |
|------|---------------|--------|---------------|
| XS   | 36" / 91 cm   | 24" / 61 cm | 18" / 46 cm |
| S    | 40" / 102 cm  | 25" / 63.5 cm | 18" / 46 cm |
| M    | 44" / 112 cm  | 26" / 66 cm | 18.5" / 47 cm |
| L    | 48" / 122 cm  | 27" / 68.5 cm | 18.5" / 47 cm |
| XL   | 52" / 132 cm  | 28" / 71 cm | 19" / 48 cm |

Designed with **4–6" / 10–15 cm of positive ease** for a slouchy fit.

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **BO** – bind off
- **CO** – cast on
- **k** – knit
- **k2tog** – knit 2 sts together (right-leaning decrease)
- **p** – purl
- **RS** – right side
- **WS** – wrong side
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **St st** – stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows)
- **rep** – repeat

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## NOTES

- The cardigan is worked flat in four pieces (back, two fronts, two sleeves), then seamed.
- **Stripe Pattern:** Work 4 rows in Color A, then 4 rows in Color B; repeat throughout body and sleeves above the ribbing. Carry the unused color loosely up the side of the work.
- All ribbing (hem, cuffs, button bands) is worked in **Color A only**.
- Begin all stripe sequences on a RS row so color changes occur at the seam edge.
- For neat color changes, twist yarns at the edge every other row.
- Slip the first stitch of each row purlwise with yarn in front for a tidy edge (optional).

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## BACK

With smaller needles (US 5 / 3.75 mm) and Color A, **CO 90 (100, 110, 120, 130) sts.**

**Ribbing:**
- **Row 1 (RS):** *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
- **Row 2 (WS):** *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
- Rep Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures **2" / 5 cm**, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles (US 7 / 4.5 mm). **Begin stripe sequence:**
- **Rows 1–4:** Color A in St st.
- **Rows 5–8:** Color B in St st.
- Repeat these 8 rows.

Continue in St st with stripes until back measures **15 (15.5, 16, 16.5, 17)" / 38 (39.5, 40.5, 42, 43) cm** from CO, ending after a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping

Maintaining stripe pattern throughout:
- **BO 4 sts** at the beginning of the next 2 rows. *82 (92, 102, 112, 122) sts*
- **Decrease Row (RS):** k2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. *2 sts decreased.*
- Purl 1 row.
- Rep last 2 rows **4 (4, 5, 5, 6)** more times. **74 (84, 92, 102, 110) sts.**

*Math check: 82 − 2(4) = 74 ✓ for XS; 92 − 2(4) = 84 ✓ for S; 102 − 2(5) = 92 ✓ for M; 112 − 2(5) = 102 ✓ for L; 122 − 2(6) = 110 ✓ for XL.*

Continue even in stripe pattern until armhole measures **9 (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11)" / 23 (24, 25.5, 26.5, 28) cm**, ending after a WS row.

### Shoulder & Neck Shaping

- **BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts** at beginning of next 2 rows. *60 (68, 74, 82, 88) sts*
- **BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts** at beginning of next 2 rows. *46 (52, 56, 62, 66) sts*
- **BO remaining 46 (52, 56, 62, 66) sts** for back neck.

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## FRONTS

*Make 2: one Left Front and one Right Front (mirror image).*

### LEFT FRONT

With smaller needles and Color A, **CO 46 (51, 56, 61, 66) sts.**

**Ribbing:**
- **Row 1 (RS):** *k1, p1; rep from * to last 0 (1, 0, 1, 0) sts, k0 (1, 0, 1, 0).
- **Row 2 (WS):** Knit the knits and purl the purls.
- Rep until ribbing measures **2" / 5 cm**, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Begin stripe sequence (as for Back) and work in St st until front measures **15 (15.5, 16, 16.5, 17)"**, ending after a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping (Left Front)

- **BO 4 sts** at beginning of next RS row. *42 (47, 52, 57, 62) sts*
- Purl 1 row.
- **Decrease Row (RS):** k2, ssk, knit to end. *1 st decreased.*
- Purl 1 row.
- Rep last 2 rows **4 (4, 5, 5, 6)** more times. **37 (42, 46, 51, 55) sts.**

Continue even in stripes until armhole measures **6.5 (7, 7.5, 8, 8.5)" / 16.5 (18, 19, 20.5, 21.5) cm**, ending after a RS row.

### Neck Shaping (Left Front)

- **BO 8 (10, 11, 13, 14) sts** at beginning of next WS row (neck edge). *29 (32, 35, 38, 41) sts*
- **Dec Row (WS):** p2, p2tog, purl to end. *1 st decreased.*
- Knit 1 row.
- Rep last 2 rows **1 (1, 2, 2, 2)** more times. **27 (30, 32, 35, 38) sts.**

*(Optional: continue dec'ing every RS row at neck edge until 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts remain if a deeper curve is desired. For a beginner-friendly straight shoulder, proceed below.)*

Work even until armhole matches Back armhole length, ending after a WS row.

### Shoulder Shaping (Left Front)

- **BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts** at beginning of next RS row. *20 (22, 23, 25, 27) sts*
- Purl 1 row.
- **BO 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts** at beginning of next RS row. *13 (14, 14, 15, 16) sts*
- Purl 1 row.
- **BO remaining 13 (14, 14, 15, 16) sts.**

### RIGHT FRONT

Work as for Left Front, **reversing all shaping** (armhole shaping at end of RS rows; neck shaping at beginning of RS rows; shoulder shaping at beginning of WS rows).

For decreases on Right Front armhole/neck edge, use **k2tog** in place of ssk:
- **Right Front Armhole Dec Row (RS):** knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

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## SLEEVES

*Make 2.*

With smaller needles and Color A, **CO 40 (42, 46, 48, 52) sts.**

**Cuff:**
- Work in k1, p1 ribbing for **2.5" / 6.5 cm**, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Begin stripe sequence and work in St st, **AT THE SAME TIME** shape sleeve as follows:

### Sleeve Increases

- **Increase Row (RS):** k2, M1 (or kfb), knit to last 2 sts, M1 (or kfb), k2. *2 sts increased.*
- Work increase row every **8th row** **10 (10, 9, 9, 8) times** total. **60 (62, 64, 66, 68) sts.**

*Math check: 40 + 2(10) = 60 ✓; 42 + 2(10) = 62 ✓; 46 + 2(9) = 64 ✓; 48 + 2(9) = 66 ✓; 52 + 2(8) = 68 ✓.*

Continue even in stripes until sleeve measures **18 (18, 18.5, 18.5, 19)" / 46 (46, 47, 47, 48) cm** from CO, ending after a WS row.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping

- **BO 4 sts** at beginning of next 2 rows. *52 (54, 56, 58, 60) sts*
- **Dec Row (RS):** k2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. *2 sts decreased.*
- Purl 1 row.
- Rep last 2 rows until **20 sts remain.**
- **BO 4 sts** at beginning of next 4 rows. *4 sts*
- BO remaining 4 sts.

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## BUTTON BANDS

Sew shoulder seams using mattress stitch.

### Button Band (Left Front for women's, Right Front for men's)

With smaller needles and Color A, RS facing, **pick up and knit approximately 3 sts for every 4 rows** along the front edge — about **110 (114, 118, 122, 126) sts.** *(Adjust as needed; final count should be a multiple of 2.)*

- Work in **k1, p1 ribbing** for **1" / 2.5 cm**.
- BO loosely in pattern.

### Buttonhole Band (opposite front)

Pick up and knit the same number of stitches with Color A.

- Work in k1, p1 ribbing for **½" / 1.25 cm**, ending after a WS row.
- **Buttonhole Row (RS):** Rib 3, *[BO 2 sts, rib until 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) sts on right needle after BO]; rep from * 4 more times, BO 2 sts, rib to end. *(6 buttonholes)*
- **Next Row (WS):** Rib across, casting on 2 sts over each set of bound-off sts.
- Continue in ribbing until band matches button band (1" / 2.5 cm total).
- BO loosely in pattern.

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## FINISHING

1. **Set in sleeves:** With RS together, pin sleeve cap into armhole, matching center of cap to shoulder seam and easing as needed. Sew using mattress stitch or backstitch.
2. **Side and sleeve seams:** Sew side seams from underarm to hem, then sleeve seams from cuff to underarm, matching stripes carefully.
3. **Neckband (optional crew-neck finish):** With smaller needles and Color A, RS facing, pick up and knit approx. **80 (84, 88, 92, 96) sts** evenly around neck edge (including tops of button bands). Work k1, p1 ribbing for 1" / 2.5 cm. BO loosely in pattern.
4. **Buttons:** Mark button placement on the button band aligned with the buttonholes. Sew buttons securely.
5. **Weave in all ends**, paying special attention to color-change edges.
6. **Block** the cardigan to finished measurements: dampen, lay flat, gently pat to dimensions, and allow to dry completely.

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**Enjoy your cozy striped cardigan!** This piece is perfect layered over a tee or turtleneck — and the bold stripes make every wear feel a little brighter.