Sunburst Tweed Cardigan

A relaxed, beginner-friendly cardigan knit flat in a simple 4-color slip-stitch "tweed" fabric that blends Bright Yellow, Light Yellow, Lilac, and Blue into a soft flecked texture — no complicated colorwork skills required, just slipped stitches and stripes.

MATERIALS

• Yarn: 4ply/Fingering weight yarn
  • Color A (MC) – Bright Yellow: 2 skeins (approx 800–1000 yds / 730–915 m)
  • Color B – Light Yellow: 1 skein (approx 350–450 yds / 320–410 m)
  • Color C – Lilac: 1 skein (approx 350–450 yds / 320–410 m)
  • Color D – Blue: 1 skein (approx 350–450 yds / 320–410 m)
  • Total project requirement: approx 1800–2400 yds depending on size (yardage per skein varies by brand — check labels)
• Needles: US 3 / 3.25 mm straight or circular needles (main fabric); US 1 / 2.25 mm straight or circular needles (ribbing & bands) — or size needed to achieve gauge
• Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, 6 buttons (approx ⅝in / 15mm diameter), stitch holders or scrap yarn

GAUGE

28 sts and 36 rows = 4in (10cm) in Tweed Stitch pattern (see NOTES) on US 3 (3.25mm) needles, after light blocking. = 7 sts/in and 9 rows/in. Always knit a swatch in the Tweed Stitch pattern itself, as it differs slightly in density from plain stockinette.

SIZES

XS (S, M, L, XL)

Choose size based on finished bust measurement; garment has approx 2in relaxed ease.

ABBREVIATIONS

• CO – cast on
• BO – bind off
• k – knit
• p – purl
• sl1 – slip 1 stitch purlwise
• wyib – with yarn in back
• wyif – with yarn in front
• k2tog – knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• yo – yarn over
• RS/WS – right side/wrong side
• rep – repeat
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• MC/CC – main color/contrast color

NOTES

Tweed Stitch Pattern (multiple of 2 sts + 1) — creates the flecked tweed fabric:

• Row 1 (RS): K1, *sl1 wyib, k1; rep from * to end.
• Row 2 (WS): P1, *sl1 wyif, p1; rep from * to end.

Work these 2 rows in each color, then change color, following this repeating 6-stripe color sequence (12 rows total, then repeat from Stripe 1):

MC appears in half of all stripes, giving it visual dominance (matching the 2-skein supply) while each contrast color flecks through once per repeat. Carry unused colors loosely up the side edge (do not cut) between stripes. All ribbing and button bands are worked in solid Bright Yellow (MC) for a clean finished edge. All pieces are worked flat and seamed. All cast-on counts are odd, satisfying the Tweed Stitch's "multiple of 2 + 1" requirement.

BACK

With smaller needles (US 1) and MC, CO 119 (133, 147, 161, 175) sts.

Ribbing row (RS): K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end. Ribbing row (WS): P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end. Repeat these 2 rows until ribbing measures 2in, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles (US 3). Begin Tweed Stitch pattern and color sequence (above), starting with Row 1.

Work even until piece measures 13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15) in from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes:

• BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. (119−8=111; 133−8=125; 147−8=139; 161−8=153; 175−8=167)
• Dec 1 st each end every RS row 4 times, working decreases as: k1, ssk, work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (maintaining tweed pattern and colors as established).

Stitches remaining after shaping: 103 (117, 131, 145, 159) sts ✓ (111−8=103; 125−8=117; 139−8=131; 153−8=145; 167−8=159)

Work even in pattern until armhole measures 7 (7.25, 7.5, 7.75, 8) in, ending with a WS row.

Shape Shoulders & Back Neck:

• Row 1 (RS): BO 35 (40, 45, 50, 55) sts, work in pattern to end.
• Row 2 (WS): BO 35 (40, 45, 50, 55) sts, work in pattern to end.
• Row 3: BO remaining 33 (37, 41, 45, 49) sts for back neck.

Check: 35+35+33=103 ✓ | 40+40+37=117 ✓ | 45+45+41=131 ✓ | 50+50+45=145 ✓ | 55+55+49=159 ✓

FRONTS

(worked twice — once as written, once as a mirror image, reversing all shaping)

With smaller needles and MC, CO 63 (69, 77, 83, 91) sts.

Work ribbing as for Back, 2in, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Begin Tweed Stitch pattern and color sequence, starting with Row 1, placing pattern so that armhole edge is worked as for Back.

Work even until piece measures 13 (13.5, 14, 14.5, 15) in from cast-on (same as Back), ending with a WS row (armhole edge should end matching Back's shaping row).

Shape Armhole (side edge only):

• BO 4 sts at beg of next RS row (armhole edge). (63−4=59; 69−4=65; 77−4=73; 83−4=79; 91−4=87)
• Dec 1 st at armhole edge every RS row 4 times.

Stitches remaining after armhole shaping: 55 (61, 69, 75, 83) sts ✓ (59−4=55; 65−4=61; 73−4=69; 79−4=75; 87−4=83)

Work even until armhole measures 4 (4, 4.25, 4.25, 4.5) in from start of armhole shaping, ending with a RS row (WS for mirrored front) — this positions neck shaping to begin 2.75–3.75in before shoulder.

Shape Front Neck (at center-front/neck edge):

• BO 4 sts once, then BO 2 sts once (at neck edge, on RS rows).
• Then dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 14 (15, 18, 19, 22) times.

Stitches remaining = shoulder width: 55−6−14=35 ✓ | 61−6−15=40 ✓ | 69−6−18=45 ✓ | 75−6−19=50 ✓ | 83−6−22=55 ✓

These match the Back shoulder counts exactly. Work even (if needed) until armhole depth matches Back, ending with a WS row, then BO remaining 35 (40, 45, 50, 55) sts for shoulder.

SLEEVES

(worked twice, identical)

With smaller needles and MC, CO 45 (49, 53, 57, 59) sts.

Work ribbing as for Back for 2in, ending with a WS row, increasing 0 (0, 0, 0, 0) sts evenly on last row.

Change to larger needles. Begin Tweed Stitch pattern and color sequence.

Shape Sleeve: Inc 1 st each end (working new sts into pattern) every 6 rows 20 (21, 23, 24, 27) times, then work even until sleeve measures 17 (17, 17.5, 17.5, 18) in from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

Stitches after increases: 45+40=85 ✓ | 49+42=91 ✓ | 53+46=99 ✓ | 57+48=105 ✓ | 59+54=113 ✓

Shape Cap:

• BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. (85−8=77; 91−8=83; 99−8=91; 105−8=97; 113−8=105)
• Dec 1 st each end every RS row 28 (30, 33, 35, 38) times (ssk / k2tog as for armhole).

Stitches remaining: 77−56=21 | 83−60=23 | 91−66=25 | 97−70=27 | 105−76=29

BO all remaining 21 (23, 25, 27, 29) sts.

BUTTON_BANDS

Block and sew both shoulder seams before working bands.

With smaller needles (US 1), MC, and RS facing, pick up and knit sts evenly around entire front opening: up Right Front edge, across Back neck (working the held sts and picking up 2 sts at each shoulder seam), and down Left Front edge.

Approx pick-up counts (adjust as needed so band lies flat, keeping total an odd number):

Row 1 (WS): P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end. Row 2 (RS): K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end. Repeat these 2 rows once more.

Buttonhole Row (RS) — worked on the Right Front section only (women's convention; swap side for men's fit): Work 6 buttonholes evenly spaced along the Right Front portion of the band, with the first approx 1in from the lower edge and the last approx 1in below the start of neck shaping. For each buttonhole: work to placement, yo, k2tog, continue in rib.

Continue in rib for 2 more rows after buttonhole row. BO all sts in rib on the next row.

FINISHING

1. Weave in all ends, leaving color-carry floats neatly trimmed along seam allowances.
2. Block all pieces to measurements (lay flat, spray with water, pin to size, let dry).
3. Sew shoulder seams (if not already done for band pickup).
4. Set in sleeves: match sleeve cap center to shoulder seam, ease cap into armhole, pin and sew.
5. Sew side seams (hem to underarm) and sleeve seams (cuff to underarm) in one continuous seam each side.
6. Sew buttons opposite the buttonholes on the button band.
7. Steam lightly to even out the tweed texture and set seams.
8. Weave in remaining ends and give the finished cardigan a final light press.