Galphay Ladies Cable Coatigan in West Yorkshire Spinners Jacobs Aran - DBP0162 - Downloadable PDF

Galphay Ladies Cable Coatigan – Knitting Pattern by Sarah Hatton in West Yorkshire Spinners Yarn (DBP0162)

The Galphay Ladies Cabled Coatigan is a hand knit design by Sarah Hatton, published as a downloadable PDF pattern. A coatigan — a hybrid between a coat and a cardigan — is a long, open-fronted knitted garment that offers both warmth and elegance. This particular design features cable detailing, giving it a richly textured, classic aesthetic that suits a wide range of styles. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore more structured stitch work such as cables.

About the Design

The Galphay Ladies Cabled Coatigan is designed as a statement layering piece. Its length and open front make it versatile for cooler seasons, while the cable patterning adds visual interest and a handcrafted quality that sets it apart from simpler knitwear. The garment is worked in Aran weight yarn, which produces a fabric with excellent stitch definition — ideal for showcasing the cable motifs that are central to this design.

Techniques Used

• Cable knitting – The defining technique of this pattern. Cables are created by temporarily placing a set of stitches onto a cable needle (CN), holding them either to the front or back of the work, knitting the next stitches from the left needle, then knitting the held stitches. This crossing action produces the characteristic twisted rope or plait effect seen throughout the coatigan.
• Increasing and decreasing – Standard shaping techniques used to create the fitted or structured silhouette of the garment, including armhole, neckline, and front edge shaping.
• Working from a tension/gauge swatch – The pattern specifies a tension of 18 stitches to 10cm / 4 inches, which is critical when working a garment of this scale to ensure correct sizing and fit.
• Flat knitting – The coatigan is constructed using flat (back-and-forth) knitting, with pieces seamed together, a traditional construction method well suited to structured garments like coatigans.
• Pattern repeats – Cable and stitch patterns are worked across defined repeats, requiring the knitter to track pattern rows carefully, particularly when shaping is worked simultaneously.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – The foundational stitches of all knitting, used to create the background fabric and to frame the cable panels.
• Cable stitches – Worked using a cable needle, these stitches form the decorative twisted panels that are the hallmark of this design.
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) – A decrease technique referenced in the abbreviations, used in shaping sections of the garment.
• Rib or moss stitch edging – Commonly used in coatigan designs for neat, stable borders along fronts, cuffs, and hems, though the specific edging stitch should be confirmed within the full pattern.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for West Yorkshire Spinners yarn from their Fleece collection, a range celebrating British wool sourced from native breeds. Two yarn options are presented:

• West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester Aran – Available in Ecru (001), Light Brown (002), and Brown (003). Bluefaced Leicester is a prized British breed known for producing a fine, lustrous fleece with a long staple, resulting in yarn with excellent drape and a subtle sheen.
• West Yorkshire Spinners Jacob Aran – Available in Ecru (001), Light Grey (005), Medium Grey (006), and Brown/Black (007). Jacob is a distinctive heritage British breed whose fleece naturally occurs in a range of browns, greys, and blacks, giving the yarn its characterful, earthy tonal palette without the need for dyeing.

Both yarns are Aran weight, with each 42g skein providing approximately 166 metres /