Plymouth Yarn Casual Cable Jacket Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Plymouth Yarn Casual Cable Jacket

Project Overview

The Plymouth Yarn Casual Cable Jacket (Pattern No. 3432) is a women's cardigan designed to be knitted from the bottom up in a classic seamed construction. This garment features prominent cable panels worked throughout the body, creating a textured, sophisticated look suitable for layering and everyday wear. Available in five sizes ranging from Small to XX-Large, with finished bust measurements from 35" to 51" and lengths from 22.5" to 24.5", this jacket offers versatility for various body types.

Materials and Gauge

This pattern calls for Baby Alpaca Worsted yarn in color 108 burgundy, with yardage requirements ranging from 700 grams (7 skeins of 100g) for the smallest size to 900 grams (9 skeins) for the largest size. Knitters will need US Size 7 needles, along with essential notions including stitch holders, a cable needle, and one button for closure. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on size 7 needles, which is important to achieve for proper fit.

Construction Technique

The Casual Cable Jacket is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach with seamed seams. This method means the body pieces are knitted flat on straight needles from the lower edge upward, then later seamed together to form the finished garment. This traditional construction method allows for straightforward shaping and makes it easier to try on the piece as it progresses.

Cable Stitch Details

The pattern features a sophisticated Cable Panel worked over 8 stitches that repeats across the width of the jacket. The cable panel follows a 32-row repeat pattern with the following structure:

• All wrong-side rows and rows 2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 are worked in knit
• Rows 6, 12, and 18 feature the cable cross: slip 4 stitches to a cable needle and hold to front, knit 4 stitches, then knit the 4 stitches from the cable needle
• Row 1 and all wrong-side rows are purled

These cable panels are strategically spaced across the jacket body with reverse stockinette (purl) stitches between them, creating a balanced, visually interesting fabric texture.

Shaping and Fit

The jacket incorporates multiple strategic decreases to achieve proper fit and shaping. The pattern includes armhole shaping worked at the beginning of rows, with bind-offs ranging from 5 to 13 stitches depending on size, followed by additional decreases of 2 stitches. Waist shaping is achieved through a series of decrease rows worked in pattern, allowing the cables to remain uninterrupted while the overall silhouette becomes more fitted. The decreases are executed using slip-knit-pass (skp) decreases worked on wrong-side rows to maintain pattern continuity.

Stitch Techniques

Beyond the featured cable work, this pattern employs stockinette stitch as the primary background fabric, with reverse stockinette (garter stitch on wrong side) used for the spaces between cable panels. Shaping is accomplished through decrease techniques including skp (slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over) and k2tog (knit two together), which are worked strategically to maintain the integrity of the cable pattern while reducing stitch counts for armhole and waist shaping.

Finished Garment Characteristics

The completed Casual Cable Jacket offers a refined, textured appearance with the distinctive raised cable motifs creating visual interest and depth. The baby alpaca worsted yarn provides softness and warmth while maintaining structure for the cable definition. The single-button closure and seamed construction create a polished, wearable garment suitable for both casual and slightly dressier occasions. The length and proportions are designed to work as a layering piece or standalone jacket.