purlJam

# STRIPED SLOUCHY CREW-NECK CARDIGAN
*A beginner-friendly colour-blocked cardigan in navy, dark grey and burnt orange*

A relaxed-fit cardigan worked flat in stockinette stitch with horizontal stripes. Navy forms the main colour, dark grey provides regular stripes, and burnt orange adds bold accent bands. Set-in sleeves and a classic crew neckline make this a wardrobe staple.

---

## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran) yarn, approx. 200m / 100g per ball
- **Colour A (MC) – Navy:** 700–1000m (4–6 balls depending on size)
- **Colour B – Dark Grey:** 300–450m (2–3 balls)
- **Colour C – Burnt Orange:** 200–350m (1–2 balls)
- *Total yarn requirement: 1200–1800m*

**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:**
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle for seaming
- 6–7 buttons, approx. 18–20mm diameter
- Sewing needle and thread for buttons

---

## TENSION (GAUGE)

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

Always work a tension square before starting. Adjust needle size if necessary.

---

## SIZES

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

| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished bust (cm) | 88 | 98 | 108 | 118 | 128 | 138 |
| Finished bust (in) | 34¾ | 38½ | 42½ | 46½ | 50½ | 54¼ |
| Back width (cm) | 44 | 49 | 54 | 59 | 64 | 69 |
| Length (cm) | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 |
| Sleeve length (cm) | 45 | 45 | 46 | 46 | 47 | 47 |
| Upper sleeve (cm) | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 |

*Designed for approx. 5–8 cm of positive ease for a relaxed slouchy fit.*

---

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **st st** – stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **k2tog** – knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **m1** – make one (lifted increase)
- **BO** – bind off / cast off
- **CO** – cast on
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **rep** – repeat
- **rem** – remaining
- **MC** – main colour (Navy)
- **B** – Dark Grey
- **C** – Burnt Orange

---

## NOTES

- Pattern is worked flat in five pieces (back, 2 fronts, 2 sleeves) and seamed.
- **Stripe sequence (repeat throughout):**
  - 8 rows MC (Navy)
  - 4 rows B (Dark Grey)
  - 8 rows MC
  - 2 rows C (Burnt Orange) — *accent*
  - 8 rows MC
  - 4 rows B
  - *= 34-row repeat*
- When changing colours, carry the unused yarn loosely up the side of the work; do not cut between stripes.
- Always begin a new colour on a RS row.
- All pieces start the stripe sequence from row 1 directly after ribbing for matching seams.

---

## BACK

With **3.75 mm** needles and MC, CO **88 (98, 108, 118, 128, 138)** sts.

**Ribbing:**
- **Row 1 (RS):** *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
- **Row 2 (WS):** *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
- Rep Rows 1–2 until rib measures 6 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to **4.5 mm** needles. Begin **Stripe Sequence** and work in st st (k on RS, p on WS) until back measures **40 (40, 41, 41, 42, 42) cm** from cast-on, ending after a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping
- **BO 4 sts** at the beginning of next 2 rows. *(80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130 sts)*
- **Decrease row (RS):** k2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
- Work WS row in p.
- Rep these 2 rows **4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6)** more times. *(72, 82, 90, 100, 108, 118 sts)*

Continue straight in stripe pattern until armhole measures **20 (21, 21, 22, 22, 23) cm**, ending after a WS row.

### Shoulder & Neck
- BO **7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)** sts at beg of next 4 rows. *(44, 50, 54, 60, 64, 70 sts rem)*
- BO **6 (7, 9, 10, 11, 13)** sts at beg of next 2 rows. *(32, 36, 36, 40, 42, 44 sts)*
- BO remaining sts loosely for back neck.

✅ *Math check: 4+4+6 = 14 sts each side bound off for shoulder; matches 7+7 / 8+8 / etc.*

---

## FRONTS
*(Make 2: one Left, one Right — mirror image)*

With **3.75 mm** needles and MC, CO **46 (51, 56, 61, 66, 71)** sts.

**Ribbing:** Work k2, p2 rib as for back for 6 cm, ending after a WS row. *(For S/L/XXL with odd cast-on, begin Row 1 with k2, p2 and end with k2 to centre the rib.)*

Change to **4.5 mm** needles. Begin Stripe Sequence and work in st st until front measures **40 (40, 41, 41, 42, 42) cm**, ending after a WS row (for **Right Front**) or RS row (for **Left Front** — work one extra row).

### Armhole Shaping (armhole edge only)

**Right Front** (armhole at start of RS row):
- BO **4 sts** at beg of next RS row. *(42, 47, 52, 57, 62, 67 sts)*
- **Dec row (RS):** k2, ssk, k to end.
- Work WS row plain.
- Rep these 2 rows **4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6)** more times. *(37, 42, 46, 51, 55, 60 sts)*

**Left Front** (armhole at start of WS row):
- BO **4 sts** at beg of next WS row. *(42, 47, 52, 57, 62, 67 sts)*
- **Dec row (RS):** k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
- Work WS row plain.
- Rep these 2 rows **4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6)** more times. *(37, 42, 46, 51, 55, 60 sts)*

Continue straight until armhole measures **13 (14, 14, 15, 15, 16) cm**, ending ready for a neck-edge row.

### Neckline Shaping
- At neck edge, BO **8 (9, 9, 10, 10, 11)** sts once.
- Then BO **3 sts** at neck edge once.
- Then BO **2 sts** at neck edge once.
- **Dec at neck edge every RS row 4 (4, 5, 6, 7, 7) times** as follows:
  - Right Front: k to last 4 sts at neck edge, k2tog, k2.
  - Left Front: k2, ssk, k to end.

Stitches remaining after neck shaping: **20 (23, 27, 30, 33, 37) sts.**

✅ *Math check: 37 − 8 − 3 − 2 − 4 = 20 sts (XS). Matches shoulder bind-off below.*

Continue straight until armhole matches back. Shape shoulders to match back:
- BO **7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)** sts at armhole edge twice.
- BO remaining **6 (7, 9, 10, 11, 13)** sts.

---

## SLEEVES
*(Make 2)*

With **3.75 mm** needles and MC, CO **40 (42, 44, 46, 48, 50)** sts.

**Cuff:** Work k2, p2 rib for 6 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to **4.5 mm** needles. Begin Stripe Sequence and work in st st, AT THE SAME TIME shape sleeve as follows:

- **Inc row (RS):** k2, m1, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2. *(2 sts increased)*
- Work inc row every **8th row 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)** times. *(64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84 sts)*

Work straight until sleeve measures **45 (45, 46, 46, 47, 47) cm**, ending after a WS row.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping
- BO **4 sts** at beg of next 2 rows. *(56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76 sts)*
- **Dec row (RS):** k2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
- Work WS row plain.
- Rep these 2 rows **9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)** times. *(38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 sts)*
- BO **2 sts** at beg of next 4 rows. *(30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 sts)*
- BO remaining sts loosely.

---

## BUTTON BANDS

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

With **3.75 mm** needles and MC, with RS facing, pick up and knit **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the front edge — approx. **108 (110, 112, 114, 116, 118)** sts (adjust to a multiple of 4 + 2).

- **Row 1 (WS):** *p2, k2; rep to last 2 sts, p2.
- **Row 2 (RS):** *k2, p2; rep to last 2 sts, k2.
- Work 3 rows in rib.

**Buttonhole row (RS):** Rib 4, *yo, k2tog, rib 14 (14, 15, 15, 15, 16); rep from * 5 more times, yo, k2tog, rib to end. *(6 buttonholes; add 1 more for XXL = 7 buttonholes)*

Continue in rib until band measures 3 cm. BO loosely in rib.

### Button Band

Work as buttonhole band on opposite front, omitting buttonholes.

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## FINISHING

1. **Weave in all ends**, particularly at colour changes along side seams.
2. **Block all pieces** to schematic measurements. Pin and allow to dry fully.
3. **Seam shoulders** using mattress stitch.
4. **Pick up and work neckband:** With 3.75 mm needles and MC, RS facing, pick up approx. **84 (88, 92, 96, 100, 104)** sts evenly around neckline (including tops of button bands). Work k2, p2 rib for 3 cm. BO loosely in rib.
5. **Set in sleeves:** Pin sleeve cap into armhole, matching centre of cap to shoulder seam. Sew with mattress stitch / backstitch.
6. **Sew side and sleeve seams** in one continuous line, taking care to align stripes.
7. **Sew buttons** onto button band opposite buttonholes.
8. **Final block** lightly if needed.

---

### Schematic Summary
```
        Back width: 44–69 cm
   ┌─────────────────────┐
   │  shoulders          │  ← 20 cm armhole depth
   │   ▲                 │
   │   │  body           │  ← 40 cm to underarm
   │   ▼                 │
   └─────────────────────┘
       6 cm rib
```

**Enjoy your slouchy striped cardigan!** 🧶 The navy/grey/orange palette is timeless yet bold — perfect for layering over jeans or a smart shirt.