Summer Cardigan with Cables in BC Garn Baby Alpaca - 2343BC - Downloadable PDF

Summer Cardigan with Cables in BC Garn Baby Alpaca – Pattern 2343BC by Ann Højgaard Slot

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern by designer Ann Højgaard Slot, published by BC Garn under the reference number 2343BC, guides knitters through the construction of a lightweight, elegant summer cardigan featuring classic cable detailing. Combining the softness of baby alpaca yarn with timeless cable texture, this design strikes a beautiful balance between warmth and breathability — making it ideal for transitional weather or cool summer evenings. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and reading cable charts.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a women's summer cardigan worked in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large, with finished widths of 86 cm, 90 cm, and 95 cm respectively, and lengths of 50 cm, 52 cm, and 54 cm. The cardigan features a raglan construction, a ribbed neckline, and cable panels that run as a central design element. It fastens with 4 buttons, giving it a classic, polished finish. The overall silhouette is relaxed and wearable, with the cable detail adding visual interest without overwhelming the lightweight feel of the garment.

Materials Required

Yarn

• BC Garn Baby Alpaca (au43) — a 3-ply weight yarn made from luxuriously soft baby alpaca fiber
• Quantities required: 150 g for sizes Small and Medium, 200 g for size Large
• Baby alpaca is prized for its exceptional softness, natural sheen, and lightweight warmth, making it particularly well suited to a summer-weight layering piece like this cardigan

Needles

• 4 mm and 4.5 mm double-pointed needles (dpn) — used for working in the round on smaller circumferences such as sleeves or raglan sections; a 4.5 mm circular needle (40 cm) may be used as an alternative
• 4 mm and 4.5 mm circular needles (80 cm) — used for the main body sections
• US equivalents: US size 6 (4 mm) and US size 7 (4.5 mm); UK equivalents: UK size 8 (4 mm) and UK size 7 (4.5 mm)

Additional Accessories

• 4 buttons for the cardigan front opening

Tension / Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches × 27 rows over 10 × 10 cm on 4.5 mm needles in Stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct tension is especially important in a fitted garment like this cardigan, as it directly affects the finished width and length. Knitters are advised to swatch before beginning.

Construction Method

The cardigan is worked using a raglan construction, a popular technique in which the sleeves and body are joined and shaped simultaneously from the underarm upward to the neckline. Raglan shaping creates a smooth, diagonal seam line running from the underarm to the collar, and is well regarded for its comfortable fit and relatively seamless finish. In this pattern, raglan decreases are worked at 8 decrease points per round — specifically one decrease at each side of the cable panel (before and after the purl stitch separating the cable from the body stitches). This precise placement ensures that the cable motif remains visually clean and uninterrupted throughout the shaping process.

Techniques Used

• Raglan shaping — simultaneous sleeve and body decreases worked in the round for a clean, integrated construction
• Cable knitting — a classic technique in which stitches are crossed over one another using a cable needle or by rearranging stitch order, creating a raised, rope-like or braided texture; in this pattern, cables are worked following Chart 1 (12 stitches wide)
• Neckline sh