Today, we’re sharing a free knitting pattern to create a stunning cardigan with wide sleeves and a playful row of bobbles on the sleeves. The yarn we’ve chosen is our luxurious Sierra, made with 68% Baby Alpaca.
Why knit your own cardigan? Creating or having someone create a hand-knit piece using a high-quality yarn like Sierra is a true investment, both in terms of time and money. Even more importantly, it allows you to own a durable garment that has a lower environmental impact. The more your wardrobe relies on natural fibers like wool and cotton, the less synthetic petroleum-based materials are used good news for the planet! Natural fibers are also gentler on your skin, allowing it to breathe and keeping you comfortable in all seasons.
Why Baby Alpaca? Baby Alpaca is among the most coveted fibers in the world. Alpacas are rare animals, with females giving birth to just one cria (baby alpaca) per year. Native to the highlands of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, alpaca farming is limited outside South America. Their fleece is both incredibly soft and warm, making it highly prized.
Pro tip: to achieve the same flawless results as shown, we recommend using our Sierra yarn.
Head over to the free pattern to get started on your cozy, eco-friendly masterpiece!
MATERIALS
Sierra yarn color Ash 265 g / 9.3 oz
Knitting needles size n° 8 EU / 11 US
Tapestry needle
GAUGE - GARTER STITCH
10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4"
9 stitches and 20.5 rows
GAUGE - FANCY RIB STITCH
10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4"
9.5 stitches and 10.5 rows
STITCHES USED
Knit
Purl
Selvedge stitch:
on the right side, slip 1 stitch knitwise onto the right-hand needle; on the wrong side, purl this stitch.
Garter stitch:
knit all rows.
Fancy 1/1 rib stitch:
row 1: knit all stitches
row 2 and following rows: repeat (k1, knit 1 stitch into the stitch below) to the last stitch, k1.
2/2 Rib:
alternate 2 knits and 2 purls on both the right and wrong sides.
Stockinette stitch:
row 1: Knit all stitches
row 2: Purl all stitches.
Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Bobbles:
knit the indicated stitch 3 times without dropping it from the needle, turn and purl the 3 stitches, turn and knit the 3 stitches, then pass the first 2 stitches over the 3rd stitch.
Single decrease:
slip 1 stitch knitwise onto the right-hand needle, knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch.
SIZES
Instructions provided for sizes S (M, L)
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust circumference: 115 (122, 130) cm / 45.3" (48", 51.2")
Total length: 44 (46, 48) cm / 17.3" (18.1", 18.9") (measured along the back)
Underarm to hem height: 19 (20, 21) cm / 7.7" (8", 8.3")
Neckline width: 16 (16, 18) cm / 6.3" (6.3", 7.1")
Sleeve width at upper arm: 43 (45, 47) cm / 16.9" (17.7", 18.5")
Sleeve length (underarm to cuff): 36 (34, 32) cm / 14.2" (13.4", 12.6")
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Intermediate
This project combines interesting techniques like fancy rib stitch, bobbles and shaping, making it ideal for knitters looking to enhance their skills. Ready to get started?
INSTRUCTIONS
The cardigan is worked flat in 5 separate pieces: the back, two front panels, and the sleeves. The neckband is picked up and knitted after sewing the raglan seams.
Using knitting needles size n° 8 EU / 11 US, cast on 53 (55, 59) stitches. Knit 2 rows in stockinette stitch. Work 12 rows in fancy 1/1 rib. Knit 4 (6, 8) rows in garter stitch. You should now be at row 18 (20, 22), which measures 19 (20, 21) cm / 7.7" (8", 8.3").
Row 19 (21, 23): bind off the first 2 stitches for the armhole, knit across to the last 2 stitches, bind off the last 2 stitches
row 20 (22, 24): knit all stitches
row 21 (23, 25): decrease 1 stitch by working a single decrease (ssk) over the first 2 stitches, knit to the last 2 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 22 (24, 26): knit all stitches
row 23 (25, 27): repeat row 21 (23, 25)
rows 24 (26, 28) to 26 (28, 30): knit all stitches.
Rows 23 (25, 27) to 26 (28, 30) establish the garter stitch raglan shaping with decreases on both sides. Repeat these rows 7 more times. Then repeat rows 21 (23, 25) and 22 (24, 26) an additional 1 (2, 3) times. You should now be at row 70 (74, 78), measuring 44 (46, 48) cm / 17.3" (18.1", 18.9"), with 15 (15, 17) stitches remaining on the needle.
Bind off all stitches.
Cast on and begin using knitting needles size n° 8 EU / 11 US, cast on 25 (27, 29) stitches. Work 2 rows in stockinette stitch. Knit 12 rows in Fancy 1/1 Rib. Knit 4 (6, 8) rows in garter stitch.
You should now be at row 18 (20, 22), measuring 19 (20, 21) cm / 7.7" (8", 8.3").
Row 19 (21, 23): knit across to the last 2 stitches, bind off the last 2 stitches for the armhole
row 20 (22, 24): knit all stitches
row 21 (23, 25): knit across to the last 2 stitches, decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 22 (24, 26): knit all stitches
row 23 (25, 27): repeat row 21 (23, 25)
rows 24 (26, 28) to 26 (28, 30): knit all stitches.
Rows 21 (23, 25) to 26 (28, 30) establish the garter stitch raglan shaping with decreases on the left side. Repeat these rows 5 more times.
Then work rows 21 and 22 for 1 more time in size S (rows 23 to 26 in size M, or rows 25 to 30 in size L).
You should now be at row 58 (62, 66), measuring 38 (40, 42) cm / 15" (16", 16.5").
Size S
Row 59: bind off the first 4 stitches for the neckline, knit across to the last 2 stitches, decrease 1 stitch for the raglan by knitting 2 stitches together
row 60: knit all stitches
row 61: decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working a single decrease (ssk) over the first 2 stitches, knit across to the end of the row
row 62: knit all stitches
rows 63 to 66: repeat rows 61 and 62 2 more times.
Bind off all remaining stitches.
Size M
Row 63: bind off the first 4 stitches for the neckline. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch for the raglan by knitting 2 stitches together at the end of the row
row 64: knit all stitches
row 65: decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working a single decrease (ssk) over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch for the raglan by knitting 2 stitches together
row 66: knit all stitches
row 67: decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working a single decrease (ssk) over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the end of the row
row 68: knit all stitches
row 69: repeat row 67
row 70: knit all stitches.
Bind off all remaining stitches.
Size L
Row 67: bind off the first 5 stitches for the neckline. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch for the raglan by knitting 2 stitches together at the end of the row
row 68: knit all stitches
row 69: bind off the first 2 stitches for the neckline.
Knit across to the last 2 stitches.
Decrease 1 stitch for the raglan by knitting 2 stitches together.
Row 70: knit all stitches
row 71: decrease 1 stitch for the neckline by working a single decrease (ssk) over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the end of the row
row 72: knit all stitches
row 73: repeat row 71
row 74: knit all stitches.
Bind off all remaining stitches.
This completes the right front of your cardigan!
Work as for the right front but mirrored (i.e., reverse the decreases for the raglan and neckline shaping).
Start with the right sleeve with knitting needles size n° 8 EU / 11 US, cast on 41 (43, 45) stitches. Knit 2 rows in stockinette stitch. Knit 34 (32, 30) rows in 1x1 fancy rib.
You will reach row 36 (34, 32), equivalent to 34 (32, 30) cm / 13.4" (12.6", 11.8").
Row 37 (35, 33): repeat (Knit 2 stitches, 1 Bobble) until the last 2 (4, 3) stitches, then knit the last 2 (4, 3) stitches
row 38 (36, 34): purl all stitches
row 39 (37, 35): bind off the first 2 stitches for the armhole. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Bind off the last 2 stitches
row 40 (38, 36): knit all stitches
row 41 (39, 37): decrease 1 stitch and work a single decrease over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 42 (40, 38): knit all stitches
row 43 (41, 39): repeat row 41 (39, 37)
rows 44 (42, 40) to 46 (44, 42): knit all stitches.
The rows 41 (39, 37) through 46 (44, 42) establish the garter stitch pattern with decreases along the sides for raglan shaping. Repeat these rows for an additional 6 times, reaching row 82 (80, 78).
Size S
Row 83: knit across to the last 2 stitches. Bind off the last 2 stitches
row 84: knit all stitches
row 85: knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 86: knit all stitches.
Bind off all remaining stitches.
Size M
Row 81: decrease 1 stitch, work 1 single decrease over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Bind off the last 2 stitches
row 82: knit all stitches
row 83: decrease 1 stitch, work 1 single decrease over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 84: knit all stitches
row 85: knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 86: knit all stitches.
Bind off all remaining stitches.
Size L
Row 79: decrease 1 stitch, work 1 single decrease over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Bind off the last 2 stitches
row 80: knit all stitches
row 81: decrease 1 stitch, work 1 single decrease over the first 2 stitches. Knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 82: knit all stitches
row 83: knit across to the last 2 stitches. Decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
row 84: knit all stitches
row 85: repeat row 83
row 86: knit all stitches.
Bind off all remaining stitches.
Work the left sleeve as for the right sleeve but mirror the decreases (e.g., single decreases should slope leftwards instead of rightwards and vice versa).
Sew the four raglan seams together.
Neckline Border
Using knitting needles size n° 8 EU / 11 US, pick up stitches along the upper edge of the cardigan (right front, right sleeve, back, left sleeve, left front). Ensure the total number of stitches is a multiple of 4.
Row 1: slip the first stitch as the edge stitch. Repeat (knit 2, purl 2) across until the last 3 stitches. Knit the next 2 stitches, then slip the final stitch as the edge stitch
row 2: slip the first stitch as the edge stitch. Repeat (purl 2, knit 2) across until the last 3 stitches. Purl the next 2 stitches, then slip the final stitch as the edge stitch.
Rows 1 and 2 establish the 2x2 ribbing with an edge stitch at the beginning and end. Repeat these rows 2 more times or until the border reaches the desired height.
Bind off all stitches.
Sew the underarm seams and the side seams to complete the cardigan.
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