Plymouth Yarn Women's Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Plymouth Yarn Women's Cardigan in Encore Chunky

What Is Being Made

This is a women's cardigan designed by Plymouth Yarn using their Encore Chunky yarn. The cardigan is available in five sizes ranging from Small to XXL, with finished chest measurements of 38" (Small) through 54" (XXL) and lengths from 22" to 26" depending on size. The garment features approximately 2-4" of positive ease at the chest for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction Method and Techniques

The cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up approach with a combination of worked flat and worked in the round techniques. The body is knitted as one continuous piece on a circular needle without joining in the round until the armholes are reached, which allows the knitter to work the front and back sections together efficiently. The sleeves are worked in the round from the cuff upward using double-pointed needles. The finished garment is seamed together to join the various sections. A distinctive design feature is the use of stripes throughout, creating visual interest and color variation across the cardigan.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used in this cardigan is stockinette stitch (st st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric. The cardigan begins with a ribbed cuff worked in a 2x2 rib pattern (alternating knit 2, purl 2) for approximately 10 rows, which provides elasticity and helps the garment hold its shape. The ribbing transitions into stockinette stitch for the body and sleeves. The stripe sequence is worked entirely in stockinette stitch, with odd-numbered rows purled and even-numbered rows knitted when working flat. When the sleeves are worked in the round, all rounds are knitted to maintain stockinette texture.

Stripe Pattern Details

The cardigan features a complex, repeating stripe sequence worked in five coordinating colors from the Encore Chunky yarn line:

• Color 240 Tan: Used as the main color and appears multiple times throughout the stripe sequence
• Color 389 Grey: Creates contrast stripes and appears frequently in the pattern
• Color 217 Black: Used for accent stripes at the beginning and throughout
• Color 999 Cranberry: Provides warm-toned contrast in the stripe sequence
• Color 658 Blue Heather: Adds cool-toned visual interest to the stripe pattern

The stripe sequence spans 48 rows and is repeated throughout the body of the cardigan. The pattern includes specific color placement: Black rows 1-2, followed by Grey rows 3-8, then stockinette for 26 rows, Black rows 9-10, Tan rows 11-16, Cranberry rows 17-18, Grey rows 19-24, Cranberry rows 25-26, Tan rows 27-32, Blue Heather rows 33-34, and Grey rows 35-40, with additional Tan and Blue Heather sections completing the 48-row repeat.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern uses Plymouth Yarn Encore Chunky, a bulky-weight yarn that works at a gauge of 12 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US Size 10½ (6.5mm) needles after blocking. Yardage requirements vary by size, with the Small size requiring 3 balls of Tan, 3 balls of Grey, 1 ball of Black, 1 ball of Cranberry, and 2 balls of Blue Heather (each ball is 100g). Larger sizes require proportionally more yardage, with the XXL size needing up to 5 balls of Tan and 4 balls of Grey.

Needles and Notions

The cardigan is worked on US Size 10½ (6.5mm) needles, including both double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the sleeves and a 32" to 40" circular needle for the body, depending on size. The pattern requires standard notions including 1 stitch marker, 6 stitch holders for managing stitches during construction, and 7 buttons for the cardigan front closure.

Pattern Features

The pattern includes pocket placement details worked into the body during construction. The gar