Cardigan in Hayfield Bonus DK - 8288 - Downloadable PDF

Hayfield Bonus DK Cardigan – Pattern 8288: Detailed Summary

This intermediate-level knitting pattern, Hayfield 8288, provides full instructions for a classic raglan-sleeved cardigan worked in Hayfield Bonus DK yarn. The design is a timeless, wearable wardrobe staple suitable for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and reading multi-size patterns. It is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for home printing or on-screen use.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a fitted, button-front cardigan with raglan sleeve shaping — a construction method in which the sleeves and body are joined diagonally from the underarm to the neckline, creating a smooth, structured shoulder line without a traditional set-in seam. The cardigan features a neat ribbed welt, ribbed cuffs, and a button band worked on a circular needle. It is designed to be worn with a close-to-actual-measurement fit across six women's dress sizes.

Sizes and Measurements

• Dress sizes covered: 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20
• To fit bust: 81, 86, 91, 97, 102, and 107 cm (32–42 in)
• Actual chest measurement: 81–106 cm (32–41¾ in)
• Full length: 56–59 cm (22–23¼ in)
• Sleeve length (adjustable): approximately 43–47 cm (17–18½ in)

The sleeve length is noted as adjustable, giving knitters the flexibility to customise the fit to their arm length before beginning the raglan shaping.

Techniques Used

This is an intermediate pattern that draws on a range of standard knitting construction and shaping techniques:

• Raglan shaping — decreases are worked symmetrically at both ends of right-side rows to form the characteristic diagonal raglan line from underarm to neck
• Casting off at the underarm — five stitches are cast off at the beginning of the first two rows of raglan shaping to set the armhole
• Paired decreases — the pattern uses k2tog, k2togtbl, s1, k1, psso, and k2tog to create neat, mirrored decreasing on either side of the raglan line
• Yarn-forward (yfwd) — used within the raglan shaping row, suggesting a decorative eyelet or lace-effect detail along the raglan seam line
• Increasing — used during sleeve construction to build the sleeve taper from cuff to underarm
• Ribbing — a k1, p1 rib forms the lower welt, cuffs, and front button band
• Circular needle button band — the front bands and neckband are picked up and worked on a 3¼mm 80 cm circular needle, allowing a smooth, continuous band without seaming
• Buttonhole construction — five buttons are accommodated, implying buttonhole rows are worked into the front band

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch — the main fabric of the body and sleeves, worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic surface
• Single rib (k1, p1) — used for the welts, cuffs, and front bands to provide elasticity and a tidy edge finish
• Slip stitch (s1 knitways) — used as part of the s1, k1, psso decrease for a clean left-leaning reduction
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) — paired with the slip stitch to complete the left-leaning decrease
• Yarn forward (yfwd) — creates an eyelet stitch within the raglan shaping sequence