Cardigans in Sirdar Imagination Chunky - 8055 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans in Sirdar Imagination Chunky – Pattern 8055

Pattern 8055 from Sirdar is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two distinct cardigan designs worked in Sirdar Imagination Chunky yarn: a ¾ Sleeved Cardigan and a Short Sleeved Cardigan. Both garments are sized generously, spanning bust sizes 81/86 cm (32/34 in) through to 132/137 cm (52/54 in), making this an inclusive pattern that caters to a wide range of figures. The inclusion of larger sizes is a notable feature of this release. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are comfortable working with cables and shaping techniques.

The ¾ Sleeved Cardigan

The first design is a classic cardigan featuring ¾ length sleeves, each measuring approximately 31 cm (12 in). This sleeve length gives the garment a relaxed, contemporary feel that works well across seasons. The actual finished bust measurements range from 90 cm (35½ in) to 141 cm (55½ in), with a full length of approximately 55 cm to 68 cm (21¾ in to 26¾ in) depending on the size chosen.

For the ¾ Sleeved Cardigan, the yarn used is Sirdar Imagination Chunky in shade 007, with quantities ranging from 5 to 8 x 100g balls depending on size. The chunky weight of this yarn means the fabric knits up quickly while still producing a cosy, substantial result.

The Short Sleeved Cardigan

The second design is a short sleeved cardigan, with sleeve lengths of just 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2½ in) — a neat cap-style sleeve that gives the garment a lighter, more summery character. Like the ¾ sleeved version, it shares the same range of bust and body length measurements. This version is worked in Sirdar Imagination Chunky in shade 005, requiring 4 to 7 x 100g balls depending on size, making it a slightly more economical project in terms of yarn usage.

Techniques and Construction

Both cardigans are knitted flat using standard knitting techniques appropriate for an intermediate knitter. Key construction techniques include:

• Shaping — both garments feature decreasing at specific intervals to shape the body and sleeves, with instructions carefully written for each of the six sizes
• Cable work — the pattern makes use of a cable needle (CN) and includes specific cable twist stitches, namely T2R (slip next stitch to back on cable needle, knit 1 then purl 1 from cable needle) and T2L (slip next stitch to front on cable needle, purl 1 then knit 1 from cable needle), adding decorative texture to the fabric
• Stitch holders are used to hold stitches in reserve during construction, a common technique when working necklines and joining sections
• Circular needles are used alongside straight needles, likely for picking up and working button bands or neckbands around the full front opening

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout both cardigans is stocking stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side), which forms the smooth main fabric of the garments. The cable twist stitches T2R and T2L introduce a simple but effective textural detail. Ribbing or a similar border stitch is implied by the use of the smaller needle size for finishing edges.

Materials and Needles

Both cardigans are designed for chunky weight yarn, with Sirdar Imagination Chunky as the primary recommended yarn. The pattern also notes suitability with Sirdar Harrap Tweed Chunky and Sirdar Aura, though yarn quantities may vary when substituting. This flexibility makes the pattern a good choice for knitters who wish to explore different textures within the chunky weight category.

The required needles are: