Sirdar Squares Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Sirdar Squares Cardigan in Haworth Tweed

What is Being Made

The Sirdar Squares Cardigan (Design No. 10302) is an advanced-level knitted cardigan crafted from Sirdar Haworth Tweed yarn. This garment features a sophisticated intarsia design incorporating multiple color shades to create visual interest and texture. The cardigan is available in six sizes, ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 inches) chest measurement through to 132–137 cm (52–54 inches), with corresponding full lengths from 27¼ inches to 31¼ inches. The design includes button closures, with six buttons for smaller sizes and seven for larger sizes.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs advanced intarsia as its primary colorwork technique. Intarsia is a method of knitting with multiple colors by using separate yarn bobbins for different colored sections, allowing large blocks of color to be incorporated into the fabric without carrying yarn across the back of the work. This technique creates clean color transitions and maintains a consistent fabric weight throughout. The pattern requires careful attention to color placement and yarn management, making it suitable for experienced knitters with solid foundational skills.

Stitches and Stitch Details

While the specific stitch patterns are detailed in the full pattern instructions, the cardigan is constructed using fundamental knitting stitches appropriate to the double knitting yarn weight. The intarsia colorwork is worked into the base fabric structure, with the pattern likely incorporating stockinette stitch or similar foundational stitches to showcase the color blocking effectively. Knitters should refer to the pattern back page for complete stitch-by-stitch instructions and any textured stitches that complement the tweed yarn's natural nepped texture.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Sirdar Squares Cardigan uses Sirdar Haworth Tweed in double knitting (DK) weight. This yarn is supplied in 50-gram balls and is available in three coordinating shades:

• Yarn A – Shade 911 (Cotton Grass Cream): The primary yarn, requiring 6–9 balls depending on size
• Yarn B – Shade 912 (Yorkshire Stone): The secondary color, requiring 2–3 balls depending on size
• Yarn C – Shade 913 (Millstone Grey): The accent color, requiring 1–2 balls depending on size

Haworth Tweed is a soft yarn with a distinctive tweed-like fabric hand and richly nepped texture characteristic of traditional Yorkshire tweeds. The nepped fibers add rustic visual interest to plain knit areas and enhance the appearance of textured stitches. Sirdar recommends using the specified Haworth Tweed yarn to ensure pattern success, as the yarn's specific weight, yardage, and texture properties have been tested and verified for this design. Specific needle size recommendations appear in the pattern instructions on the back page.

Additional Pattern Information

Sirdar, established in West Yorkshire in 1880, is a British yarn company with extensive hand knitting heritage. The company triple-checks all patterns to guarantee successful results when using recommended Sirdar yarns. This cardigan pattern reflects the brand's commitment to combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, drawing inspiration from the Yorkshire Dales landscape through the Haworth Tweed yarn collection. Knitters should consult the complete pattern for sleeve length specifications (ranging from 17¾ inches to 18½ inches depending on size) and detailed construction methods.