Long and Short Cardigans in Sirdar Touch - 7918 - Downloadable PDF

Long and Short Cardigans in Sirdar Touch – Pattern 7918

Pattern 7918 from Sirdar offers two classic cardigan designs in one downloadable PDF: a Long Cardigan and a Short Cardigan, both knitted in the luxuriously soft Sirdar Touch super chunky yarn. Labelled as Easy Knit, this pattern is ideal for beginner knitters looking to build confidence while producing a stylish, wearable garment. The generous sizing range — from a 61/66 cm (24/26 in) chest right through to 112/117 cm (44/46 in) — makes both designs accessible and inclusive for a wide range of body shapes.

What Is Being Made

The pattern covers two distinct cardigan lengths, each constructed with the same easy technique and yarn:

• Long Cardigan – Full lengths range from 58 cm (22¾ in) for the smallest size up to 84 cm (33 in) for the largest, creating a relaxed, longline silhouette.
• Short Cardigan – Full lengths range from 48 cm (19 in) up to 69 cm (27¼ in), offering a cropped, contemporary alternative.

Both cardigans feature a back panel, a left front, a right front, and set-in sleeves. The sleeve length is listed as adjustable, ranging from 29 cm (11½ in) to 44 cm (17¼ in) across the size range, giving knitters flexibility to customise the fit. Each finished cardigan is fastened with 3 buttons, adding a neat, classic finish.

Techniques Used

Both cardigans are worked flat in separate pieces and then seamed together, a traditional construction method well suited to beginner knitters. Key techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Thumb method cast on – used to begin each piece, this is a beginner-friendly cast-on that creates a neat, elastic edge.
• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the primary fabric of both cardigans, worked throughout all main pieces. Stocking stitch is created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic fabric.
• Shaping by decreasing (dec) – used to shape the armholes and shoulders, with decreases worked at the ends of specified rows to create a tailored fit.
• Casting off – used to finish shoulder seams and neckline edges cleanly.
• Seaming – the finished pieces are joined together to complete the garment.
• Button band finishing – the fronts are finished to accommodate 3 buttons for closure.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) – the foundational stitch used on right-side rows of stocking stitch.
• Purl (p) – used on wrong-side rows to create the reverse of stocking stitch and produce the smooth knitted fabric.
• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the combination of knit and purl rows worked alternately, forming the main fabric of both cardigans.
• Decrease (dec) – used during armhole and shoulder shaping to reduce stitch counts at specified intervals.
• Increase (inc) – referenced in the abbreviations, used where shaping requires additional stitches.

Materials Required

Both cardigans are knitted using Sirdar Touch super chunky yarn, available in 100g balls. The super chunky weight means the fabric grows quickly on the needles, making these projects satisfying and fast to complete — a particular advantage for beginner knitters.

• Long Cardigan – knitted in Sirdar Touch shade 016, requiring between 5 and 12 x 100g balls depending on size.
• Short Cardigan – knitted in Sirdar Touch shade 015, requiring between 4 and 9 x 100g balls depending on size.
• Needles – 1 pair of