Cardigan in Hayfield Bonus Chunky Tweed - 10342 - Downloadable PDF

Hayfield Bonus Chunky Tweed Cardigan – Knitting Pattern 10342 by Sirdar

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern (10342) from Sirdar guides you through creating a cosy, colourful striped cardigan worked in Hayfield Bonus Chunky Tweed yarn. Designed with beginner knitters in mind, this project is an ideal introduction to working with chunky-weight yarn and simple colour sequences, delivering a warm, textured garment with impressive visual impact thanks to its multi-shade tweed palette.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a classic drop-shoulder cardigan featuring set-in sleeves, a button-front opening, and a relaxed, comfortable fit. It is offered in six sizes, covering chest measurements from 81/86 cm (32/34 inches) up to 132/137 cm (52/54 inches), making it an inclusive pattern suitable for a wide range of body types. Finished widths range from 108 cm to 160 cm, and full lengths range from approximately 59 cm to 69 cm, with sleeve lengths of around 40–42 cm depending on size. The cardigan is fastened with 5 buttons throughout all sizes, using the Sirdar Elegant Button, code B5611-856.

Colour Palette and Yarn

One of the most distinctive features of this pattern is its use of six different shades of Hayfield Bonus Chunky Tweed (100g balls), each labelled as a separate yarn colour within the pattern:

• Yarn A – Shade 104 Hazel
• Yarn B – Shade 108 Amber
• Yarn C – Shade 107 Indigo
• Yarn D – Shade 109 Sage
• Yarn E – Shade 102 Starling
• Yarn F – Shade 105 Rose

The number of balls required varies slightly by size. Yarn A requires 2 balls for sizes S through L and 3 balls for sizes XL through XXXL, while Yarns B through F each require 2 balls across all sizes. This multi-colour approach creates a beautifully rich, earthy striped effect that showcases the natural, flecked character of the tweed fibre.

Hayfield Bonus Chunky Tweed is a chunky-weight yarn known for its soft handle and attractive tweedy texture, making it both practical and visually appealing for outerwear garments such as cardigans. The tweed effect is achieved through the inclusion of coloured flecks spun into the yarn, giving each shade depth and warmth without requiring complex stitch work from the knitter.

Needles Required

The pattern calls for two pairs of knitting needles:

• 6½mm needles (UK3 / USA 10.5) – used for the main body and sleeves
• 5½mm needles (UK5) – typically used for ribbed edges, borders, and neckbands

Using the correct needle sizes is important for achieving the stated tension and ensuring the finished garment matches the measurements given in the pattern.

Techniques and Stitches Used

As a beginner-level knitting pattern, this cardigan relies on fundamental techniques that are accessible to those who have mastered the basics of knitting. Typical techniques and stitches involved in a pattern of this type include:

• Knit and purl stitches – the foundation of all flat knitting, used to construct the main fabric panels
• Rib stitch – commonly a knit 1, purl 1 or knit 2, purl 2 rib, worked on the smaller needles to create stretchy, neat edges at cuffs, hems, and button bands
• Stocking stitch (stockinette)