The Camden Cardigan

A seamless top-down raglan cardigan in worsted weight

A classic, everyday cardigan worked in one piece from the neck down. Four fully-fashioned raglan lines shape the yoke; sleeves are placed on hold at the underarm while the body continues to the hem. Sleeves are then worked in the round and button bands are picked up along the front edges.

Skill Level: Intermediate (raglan increases, picking up stitches, buttonholes, working in the round)

Sizes

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL) To fit bust 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52)" [86.5–91.5 (96.5–101.5, 106.5–112, 117–122, 127–132) cm]

Shown with 3–5" (7.5–12.5 cm) of positive ease. Choose the size closest to your actual bust plus the ease you prefer.

Instructions are written for Small with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements

Bust (body circumference, worn with bands overlapping): 39 (43, 47, 51, 55)" [99 (109, 119.5, 129.5, 139.5) cm] Yoke depth (cast-on edge to underarm): 9 (9¾, 10½, 11, 11¾)" [23 (25, 26.5, 28, 30) cm] Upper arm: 14¼ (15½, 17, 18¼, 20)" [36 (39.5, 43, 46.5, 51) cm] Sleeve length to underarm (including cuff): 17 (17½, 18, 18½, 18½)" [43 (44.5, 45.5, 47, 47) cm] Cuff circumference: 8 (9, 9, 9¾, 10¾)" [20.5 (23, 23, 25, 27.5) cm] Body length from underarm (including hem): 15 (15½, 16, 16½, 17)" [38 (39.5, 40.5, 42, 43) cm] Total back length: 24 (25¼, 26½, 27½, 28¾)" [61 (64, 67.5, 70, 73) cm]

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn (CYCA 4 / medium) 1100 (1250, 1450, 1650, 1850) yd [1005 (1145, 1325, 1510, 1690) m]

A smooth wool or wool-blend worsted that knits to gauge is ideal (for example, a 100 g / 220 yd [200 m] skein). Skeins at 220 yd / 100 g: 5 (6, 7, 8, 9)

Needles

• US 8 / 5 mm: 32" (80 cm) circular, plus DPNs or a second circular for sleeves (or use magic loop)
• US 7 / 4.5 mm: 32" (80 cm) circular, plus DPNs or magic loop for cuffs and bands

Adjust needle size if needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

• 4 stitch markers
• Waste yarn or extra cables for holding sleeve stitches
• Tapestry needle
• 6 buttons, ¾" (19 mm) diameter

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles, after blocking.

Gauge Swatch

With larger needle, CO 28 sts. Work in stockinette (knit RS, purl WS) for 5" (12.5 cm). Bind off. Wet-block and let dry flat. Measure a 4" (10 cm) square in the center.

• If you have more than 18 sts in 4", switch to a larger needle.
• If you have fewer than 18 sts in 4", switch to a smaller needle.

Row gauge affects yoke depth and sleeve length; match stitch gauge first, then follow length measurements rather than row counts where both are given.

Notes

• The cardigan is worked flat from the neck to the hem. Sleeves are worked in the round.
• Raglan increases are worked every RS row: 8 stitches increased per RS row (2 at each of 4 raglan lines).
• The raglan stitch itself is the knit stitch immediately after each marker on RS rows.
• M1L (make 1 left): Insert left needle from front to back under the bar between stitches; knit through the back loop.
• M1R (make 1 right): Insert left needle from back to front under the bar between stitches; knit through the front loop.
• Work extra underarm pickup stitches if gaps appear, then decrease them on the next round so sleeve counts stay as written.
• Buttonholes are placed on the Right Front (as worn) for a women’s-style close. Reverse the bands if you prefer a men’s-style close.

Abbreviations

BO — bind off CO — cast on k — knit k2tog — knit 2 together m — marker M1L / M1R — make 1 left / make 1 right (see Notes) p — purl pm — place marker rep — repeat rm — remove marker rnd(s) — round(s) RS — right side sm — slip marker ssk — slip, slip, knit st(s) — stitch(es) St st — stockinette stitch WS — wrong side yo — yarn over

Stitch Guide

1×1 Rib (flat, odd number of sts): RS: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end. WS: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.

1×1 Rib (in the round, even number of sts): *K1, p1; rep from * to end of rnd.

Stockinette (flat): Knit RS rows; purl WS rows. Stockinette (in the round): Knit every round.

Pattern

Neckband

With smaller circular needle and using a long-tail cast-on, CO 79 (93, 99, 113, 123) sts.

Work 1×1 rib flat for 1" [2.5 cm], ending with a WS row (approximately 6–8 rows). The RS of the rib begins and ends with k1.

Yoke

Change to larger circular needle.

Setup Row (RS): K 14 (16, 18, 22, 24) left front, pm, k1 (raglan), k 8 (10, 10, 12, 14) left sleeve, pm, k1 (raglan), k 31 (37, 39, 41, 43) back, pm, k1 (raglan), k 8 (10, 10, 12, 14) right sleeve, pm, k1 (raglan), k 14 (16, 18, 22, 24) right front. [Check: 14 + 1 + 8 + 1 + 31 + 1 + 8 + 1 + 14 = 79 ✓ | 16+1+10+1+37+1+10+1+16 = 93 ✓ | 18+1+10+1+39+1+10+1+18 = 99 ✓ | 22+1+12+1+41+1+12+1+22 = 113 ✓ | 24+1+14+1+43+1+14+1+24 = 123 ✓]

Next row (WS): Purl, slipping markers.

Raglan Increase Row (RS): *Knit to marker, M1L, sm, k1, M1R; rep from * 3 more times, knit to end. (8 sts increased)

Next row (WS): Purl, slipping markers.

Repeat the last 2 rows 23 (25, 27, 29, 31) more times — 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) increase rows total.

Stitch count after all increases: 271 (301, 323, 353, 379) sts. [79 + (8 × 24) = 79 + 192 = 271 ✓ | 93 + 208 = 301 ✓ | 99 + 224 = 323 ✓ | 113 + 240 = 353 ✓ | 123 + 256 = 379 ✓]

Section counts:

• Left Front: 38 (42, 46, 52, 56) sts [14 + 24 = 38 ✓ | 16 + 26 = 42 ✓ | 18 + 28 = 46 ✓ | 22 + 30 = 52 ✓ | 24 + 32 = 56 ✓]
• Left Sleeve: 56 (62, 66, 72, 78) sts [8 + 48 = 56 ✓ | 10 + 52 = 62 ✓ | 10 + 56 = 66 ✓ | 12 + 60 = 72 ✓ | 14 + 64 = 78 ✓]
• Back: 79 (89, 95, 101, 107) sts [31 + 48 = 79 ✓ | 37 + 52 = 89 ✓ | 39 + 56 = 95 ✓ | 41 + 60 = 101 ✓ | 43 + 64 = 107 ✓]
• Right Sleeve: 56 (62, 66, 72, 78) sts
• Right Front: 38 (42, 46, 52, 56) sts
• Plus 4 raglan sts (1 after each marker)

If yoke measures less than 9 (9¾, 10½, 11, 11¾)" [23 (25, 26.5, 28, 30) cm] from the cast-on edge, work even in St st (knit RS, purl WS, slipping markers) until that length, ending with a WS row. If the length is reached before the stitch counts, continue increasing until the counts are obtained, then divide.

Divide Body and Sleeves

Divide Row (RS): Knit 38 (42, 46, 52, 56) left-front sts, rm, k1 (raglan), place next 56 (62, 66, 72, 78) left-sleeve sts on waste yarn, rm, using the backward-loop method CO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) underarm sts, k1 (raglan), knit 79 (89, 95, 101, 107) back sts, rm, k1 (raglan), place next 56 (62, 66, 72, 78) right-sleeve sts on waste yarn, rm, CO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) underarm sts, k1 (raglan), knit 38 (42, 46, 52, 56) right-front sts.

Body stitches: 175 (193, 211, 229, 247) sts. [38 + 1 + 8 + 1 + 79 + 1 + 8 + 1 + 38 = 175 ✓ | 42+1+8+1+89+1+8+1+42 = 193 ✓ | 46+1+10+1+95+1+10+1+46 = 211 ✓ | 52+1+10+1+101+1+10+1+52 = 229 ✓ | 56+1+12+1+107+1+12+1+56 = 247 ✓] [175 sts ÷ 4.5 sts per inch = 38.9" ≈ 39" ✓ | 193 ÷ 4.5 ≈ 43" ✓ | 211 ÷ 4.5 ≈ 47" ✓ | 229 ÷ 4.5 ≈ 51" ✓ | 247 ÷ 4.5 ≈ 55" ✓]

Optional: place a marker at the center of each underarm CO to mark the “sides.”

Body

Work even in St st flat until body measures 13 (13½, 14, 14½, 15)" [33 (34.5, 35.5, 37, 38) cm] from the underarm divide, ending with a WS row.

Change to smaller circular needle.

Work 1×1 rib (RS: k1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end) for 2" [5 cm].

BO in rib.

Sleeves

Return 56 (62, 66, 72, 78) held sleeve sts to larger DPNs or circular needle. With RS facing, beginning at the center of the underarm, pick up and knit 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts along the first half of the underarm CO, knit the held sleeve sts, pick up and knit 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts along the remaining underarm CO. Join to work in the round. Place marker for beginning of rnd at center underarm.

64 (70, 76, 82, 90) sts. [56 + 8 = 64 ✓ | 62 + 8 = 70 ✓ | 66 + 10 = 76 ✓ | 72 + 10 = 82 ✓ | 78 + 12 = 90 ✓]

If you picked up extra stitches at the corners to close gaps, decrease them on the next round (k2tog at each corner) so you have the count above.

Knit 4 rounds even.

Decrease rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (2 sts decreased)

Work decrease rnd every 6th (6th, 5th, 5th, 4th) round 14 (15, 18, 19, 21) times — 36 (40, 40, 44, 48) sts remain. [64 − (2 × 14) = 64 − 28 = 36 ✓ | 70 − 30 = 40 ✓ | 76 − 36 = 40 ✓ | 82 − 38 = 44 ✓ | 90 − 42 = 48 ✓]

Work even in St st until sleeve measures 14½ (15, 15½, 16, 16)" [37 (38, 39.5, 40.5, 40.5) cm] from underarm.

Change to smaller needles.

Work 1×1 rib (*k1, p1; rep from *) for 2½" [6.5 cm].

BO in rib.

Work second sleeve the same way.

Button Bands

Pick-up rate: 3 sts for every 4 rows along the front edge, adjusting as needed to match the counts below. With RS facing, pick up between the edge stitch and the next stitch for a clean join.

Right Front (buttonhole band)

With smaller circular needle and RS facing, beginning at the lower Right Front edge, pick up and knit 103 (109, 115, 119, 125) sts along the Right Front to the neck edge.

Work 3 rows of 1×1 rib, beginning and ending RS rows with k1.

Buttonhole row (RS): Work 5 (6, 6, 6, 6) sts in rib, *yo, k2tog, work 16 (17, 18, 19, 20) sts in established rib; rep from * 4 more times, yo, k2tog, work 6 (6, 7, 6, 7) sts in rib. [5 + 5 × (2 + 16) + 2 + 6 = 5 + 90 + 8 = 103 ✓ | 6 + 5 × 19 + 2 + 6 = 109 ✓ | 6 + 5 × 20 + 2 + 7 = 115 ✓ | 6 + 5 × 21 + 2 + 6 = 119 ✓ | 6 + 5 × 22 + 2 + 7 = 125 ✓]

Work 4 more rows in 1×1 rib. Band measures about 1¼" [3 cm].

BO in rib.

Left Front (button band)

With smaller circular needle and RS facing, beginning at the neck edge of the Left Front, pick up and knit 103 (109, 115, 119, 125) sts along the Left Front to the lower edge.

Work 8 rows of 1×1 rib (no buttonholes). Band measures about 1¼" [3 cm].

BO in rib.

Finishing

Weave in all ends, closing any small gaps at the underarms with the yarn tails.

Wet-block the cardigan to the finished measurements. Pin the fronts straight, the ribbing to its relaxed width, and the sleeves flat or on blocking wires. Allow to dry completely.

Sew 6 buttons to the Left Front band, opposite the buttonholes.

Schematic Measurements (blocked)

© Pattern for personal use. Knit a gauge swatch, choose ease intentionally, and block once — the Camden is meant to be the cardigan you actually wear.