purlJam

# STRIPED SLOUCHY CREW-NECK CARDIGAN

A relaxed, easy-fit cardigan worked entirely in two-row stripes for a cheerful, modern look. Knitted flat in stocking stitch in five pieces and seamed, with a simple picked-up button band. Perfect for confident beginners ready to play with colour.

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## MATERIALS

- **Yarn**: Worsted weight wool or wool-blend, approximately 1200–1800 m total (depending on size), split between two contrasting colours:
  - **Colour A**: 600–900 m
  - **Colour B**: 600–900 m
- **Needles**: 
  - 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight or circular needles for main body
  - 3.75 mm (UK 9 / US 5) needles for ribbing and button bands
- **Notions**: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, 6–7 buttons (15–20 mm)

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## TENSION (GAUGE)

- **20 sts × 26 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** in stocking stitch on 4.5 mm needles, after blocking
- Always work a tension swatch before beginning. Adjust needle size if necessary.

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## SIZES

Pattern is written for sizes **XS (S, M, L, XL)**. Numbers given in order — when only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.

| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished bust | 92 cm (36¼") | 102 cm (40¼") | 112 cm (44") | 122 cm (48") | 132 cm (52") |
| Back length | 60 cm (23½") | 62 cm (24½") | 64 cm (25¼") | 66 cm (26") | 68 cm (26¾") |
| Sleeve length to underarm | 45 cm (17¾") | 45 cm | 46 cm | 46 cm | 47 cm |
| Recommended ease | +10 cm slouchy | | | | |

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **RS** – right side
- **WS** – wrong side
- **st st** – stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **k2tog** – knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **CO** – cast on
- **BO** – bind off (cast off)
- **rep** – repeat
- **beg** – beginning
- **rem** – remaining
- **CA** – Colour A
- **CB** – Colour B

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## NOTES

- The entire cardigan is worked in **2-row stripes**: 2 rows CA, 2 rows CB, repeated throughout.
- Because stripes are 2 rows, you can simply **carry the unused yarn loosely up the side edge** — no need to cut after each stripe. Twist yarns once at the edge every 4 rows to keep the floats tidy.
- All stripe sequences begin with **Colour A** on the first row after ribbing. Begin every piece (back, fronts, sleeves) on the same colour so stripes align at the seams.
- Ribbing is worked in **Colour A only** for a clean finish.
- Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in back for tidy selvedges (optional but recommended).

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## STRIPE PATTERN (used throughout main body and sleeves)

- Rows 1–2: CA in st st
- Rows 3–4: CB in st st
- Rep these 4 rows.

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## BACK

With 3.75 mm needles and **CA**, CO **92 (102, 112, 122, 132)** 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 (2")**, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. Begin **stripe pattern** in st st (starting with CA).

Continue in stripe pattern until back measures **40 (41, 42, 43, 44) cm** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole shaping
*Maintain stripe pattern throughout shaping.*

- BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. **84 (94, 104, 114, 124) sts**
- Decrease row (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Work 1 WS row.
- Rep these 2 rows **3 (4, 5, 6, 7)** more times. **76 (84, 92, 100, 108) sts rem**

Continue straight in stripe pattern until armholes measure **20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder & neck shaping
- BO **7 (8, 9, 10, 11)** sts at beg of next 2 rows. **62 (68, 74, 80, 86) sts**
- BO **7 (8, 9, 10, 11)** sts at beg of next 2 rows. **48 (52, 56, 60, 64) sts**
- BO rem **48 (52, 56, 60, 64) sts** loosely for back neck.

*Math check: 76 − 14 − 14 = 48 ✓ (XS); 108 − 22 − 22 = 64 ✓ (XL).*

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## FRONTS (make 2 — mirror shaping)

### Left Front

With 3.75 mm needles and **CA**, CO **48 (53, 58, 63, 68)** sts.

**Ribbing**: Work k1, p1 ribbing as for back for 5 cm, ending with a WS row. *(For odd stitch counts, begin and end RS rows with k1.)*

Change to 4.5 mm needles. Begin **stripe pattern** in st st, starting with CA. Work until front measures the same as back to underarm — **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. **44 (49, 54, 59, 64) sts**
- Work 1 WS row.
- Decrease row (RS): k1, ssk, k to end. Work 1 WS row. Rep these 2 rows **3 (4, 5, 6, 7)** more times. **40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts rem**

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

### Neck shaping (neck edge = beg of WS rows)
- BO **12 (12, 14, 14, 16)** sts at beg of next WS row. **28 (32, 34, 38, 40) sts**
- Decrease row (RS): k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Work 1 WS row.
- Rep these 2 rows **14 (16, 16, 18, 18)** more times. **14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts rem**

Work straight in stripe pattern until armhole measures the same as back, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder shaping
- BO **7 (8, 9, 10, 11)** sts at beg of next RS row.
- Work 1 WS row.
- BO rem **7 (8, 9, 10, 11)** sts.

### Right Front
Work as for Left Front, **mirroring all shaping**:
- Armhole BO and decrease at beg of WS rows / k1, k2tog, k1 at end of RS rows.
- Neck BO at beg of RS rows; decrease as k1, ssk, k to end at neck edge.

*Math check (XS): 48 − 4 − 4 (armhole dec) − 12 (neck BO) − 14 (neck dec) = 14 sts shoulder ✓ matches back shoulder.*

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## SLEEVES (make 2)

With 3.75 mm needles and **CA**, CO **40 (42, 46, 50, 54)** sts.

**Ribbing**: Work k1, p1 ribbing for **6 cm (2½")**, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles. Begin **stripe pattern** in st st.

### Sleeve increases
- Increase row (RS): k1, M1L (or kfb), k to last 2 sts, M1R (or kfb), k1. **2 sts increased**
- Work this increase row every **8th row 12 (12, 11, 10, 9) times**, then every **6th row 0 (0, 2, 4, 6) times**.
  - Total increases: 12 (12, 13, 14, 15) increase rows = 24 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts added.

**64 (66, 72, 78, 84) sts on needle.**

Continue in stripe pattern, working straight, until sleeve measures **45 (45, 46, 46, 47) cm** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Sleeve cap shaping
*Maintain stripe pattern throughout.*

- BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. **56 (58, 64, 70, 76) sts**
- Decrease row (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Work 1 WS row.
- Rep these 2 rows **10 (10, 12, 14, 16)** more times. **34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts rem**
- BO 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows. **22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts**
- BO rem sts loosely.

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## BUTTON BANDS

With RS facing, 3.75 mm needles, and **CA only**, beginning at right front cast-on edge (for women's: button band on right, buttonhole on left — reverse for men's), pick up and knit approximately **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the front edge, plus 1 st in each cast-off neck st around the neckline if working a shawl-style band. (For separate bands as written here, the front bands stop at the neckline.)

### Button Band (sew to side without buttonholes)
With 3.75 mm needles and CA, pick up and knit **110 (114, 118, 122, 126)** sts evenly along front edge.
- Work k1, p1 rib for **2.5 cm (1")**.
- BO loosely in pattern.

### Buttonhole Band
Pick up the same number of sts on the opposite front edge.
- Work k1, p1 rib for 1 cm.
- **Buttonhole row (RS)**: Rib 4, *yo, k2tog, rib 16 (17, 18, 19, 20)*; rep from * 5 more times (6 buttonholes total), rib to end. *(Adjust spacing as needed for your size — aim for evenly spaced buttonholes.)*
- Continue in rib until band measures 2.5 cm.
- BO loosely in pattern.

### Neckband
With RS facing, 3.75 mm needles, and CA, beginning at top of right front button band, pick up and knit approximately **80 (84, 88, 92, 96)** sts evenly around neckline (along right front neck, across back neck, down left front neck).
- Work k1, p1 rib for 2.5 cm.
- BO loosely in pattern.

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## FINISHING

1. **Weave in all yarn ends** along the stripe colour-change edge, working into matching colour stitches where possible.
2. **Block all pieces** to schematic measurements. Pin out flat, mist with water, and leave to dry — this evens out the stripes beautifully.
3. **Seam shoulders** using mattress stitch, matching stripes carefully.
4. **Set in sleeves**: pin sleeve cap into armhole, easing fullness across the top, and seam.
5. **Sew side and underarm seams** in one continuous line with mattress stitch, aligning stripes at the seam.
6. **Sew on buttons** opposite the buttonholes.
7. Give the finished cardigan a final light steam or re-block if needed.

Enjoy your cheerful striped slouchy cardigan! 🌈