Cable Pullover Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Cable Pullover Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

This Cable Pullover Sweater Jumper is an intermediate-level knitting pattern from Lion Brand Yarn, designed as a classic fisherman-style pullover with a finished chest measurement of 46 inches. The pattern creates a one-size-fits-most garment suitable for those with foundational knitting skills and experience working with cable stitches.

Materials Required

This project uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn in the colorway #099 Fisherman or any color of your choice, requiring 8 balls of yarn (approximately 3 ounces total). The pattern calls for Size 7 (4.5 mm) and Size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles, along with a Size 7 (4.5 mm) 16-inch circular needle, one double-pointed needle for cable work, and a stitch holder for managing stitches during neck shaping.

Gauge and Fit

The specified gauge is 25.5 stitches equals 4 inches (10 cm) when working the cable pattern with the larger needles. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished sweater achieves the intended 46-inch chest measurement and proper drape.

Stitch Techniques and Abbreviations

The pattern employs two primary custom stitch techniques:

• T2 (Twist 2): A twisted stitch created by knitting the second stitch on the left needle through the back loop without removing it, then knitting the first stitch, and slipping both stitches off together. This technique adds texture and visual interest to the ribbed sections.
• C5 (Cable 5): A five-stitch cable created by slipping 5 stitches onto a double-pointed needle and holding them in front, knitting the next 5 stitches, then knitting the 5 stitches from the cable needle. This creates the characteristic twisted rope effect that defines the cable pattern.

Stitch Patterns

Rib Pattern: A textured ribbed pattern worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2 edge stitches. The pattern alternates between knit and purl stitches with twisted stitches on the right side, creating vertical lines of texture. This rib pattern is used for the lower edge of the sweater to provide elasticity and a finished appearance.

Cable Pattern: The main design element of this sweater, worked over a multiple of 16 stitches plus 6 edge stitches. The cable pattern is a 12-row repeat featuring vertical twisted rib sections alternating with 10-stitch cable columns. The cables are crossed every 12 rows on the cable row, creating the classic braided effect. Between cable crosses, the pattern maintains consistent knit and purl stitches to frame and define each cable column.

Construction Method

The sweater is constructed using a traditional flat knitting method, worked in separate pieces for the back and front. The back piece is cast on with 150 stitches using smaller needles and worked in the rib pattern for 2.5 inches to establish the lower edge. The needles are then changed to the larger size, and the cable pattern begins, continuing straight until the piece measures 27 inches from the cast-on edge, at which point all stitches are bound off while maintaining the pattern.

The front piece follows the same construction as the back until it reaches 25 inches in length. At this point, neck shaping begins by dividing the stitches into three sections: 59 stitches for the left shoulder, 32 center stitches placed on a holder for the neckline, and 59 stitches for the right shoulder. The pattern continues with separate yarn balls for each shoulder section to create the neckline opening while maintaining the cable pattern throughout.

Yarn Characteristics

Lion Brand Wool-Ease is a blend yarn that combines the warmth and texture of wool with the easy-care properties of acrylic fiber. This yarn choice makes the finished sweater durable, washable, and suitable for regular wear while maintaining the definition of cable stitches and the classic appearance of a traditional fisherman sweater.