Long and Short Sleeved Cardigans in Sirdar Wash 'n' Wear Double Crepe DK - 7942 - Downloadable PDF

Long and Short Sleeved Cardigans in Sirdar Wash 'n' Wear Double Crepe DK – Pattern 7942

Pattern 7942 from Sirdar is a knitting pattern for two classic women's cardigans: a long sleeved cardigan and a short sleeved cardigan. Both designs share the same body construction and are worked in Sirdar Wash 'n' Wear Double Crepe DK, making this an excellent choice for knitters looking for a versatile, everyday wardrobe staple. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques but may not yet have tackled highly complex construction.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces two versions of a classic fitted cardigan with set-in sleeves, button bands, and a neat neckline. The two versions differ primarily in sleeve length:

• Long Sleeved Cardigan: Features full-length sleeves, with a sleeve length ranging from approximately 46 to 48 cm (18 to 19 inches) depending on size, and noted as adjustable to suit individual preference.
• Short Sleeved Cardigan: Features a short sleeve of a uniform 6 cm (2½ inches) across all sizes, giving a neat, cap-like sleeve finish suitable for warmer weather or layering.

Both cardigans are designed to fit a wide range of bust sizes, from 81/86 cm (32/34 in) up to 132/137 cm (52/54 in), with actual garment measurements ranging from 90 cm to 141 cm. Full garment length ranges from 60 cm to 73 cm depending on size, offering a comfortable, hip-length fit. The inclusion of larger sizes makes this pattern particularly inclusive and versatile.

Techniques Used

This is a flat knitting pattern, meaning all pieces are worked back and forth on straight needles and then seamed together. Key construction techniques include:

• Armhole shaping: Set-in sleeves are created through armhole decreases worked at each end of right-side rows, giving a tailored, fitted silhouette.
• Decreasing and increasing: Standard decrease and increase methods are used throughout for sleeve shaping, armhole shaping, and neckline construction.
• Garter stitch borders: The pattern uses garter stitch (knit every row) for neat, non-curling edges, typically at the lower borders and cuffs.
• Button band construction: The cardigan features a button band worked as part of the front edges, with 7 or 8 buttons (depending on size) used for the fastening.
• Tension checking: The pattern strongly emphasises checking tension before beginning, which is standard best practice in garment knitting to ensure accurate sizing.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The main body fabric of both cardigans is worked in stocking stitch — knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows — creating a smooth, classic fabric. The stated tension is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm over stocking stitch on 4mm needles.
• Garter stitch: Used for borders and edgings, garter stitch is created by knitting every row, producing a ridged, reversible fabric that lies flat without curling.
• Yarn forward (yfwd) and yarn on needle (yon): These techniques appear in the abbreviations list, suggesting their use in buttonhole construction within the button band.
• Slip stitch decreases (s1, k1, psso): Used in shaping sections to create neat, directional decreases alongside standard knit two together (k2tog) decreases.

Materials Required

Both cardigans are designed for use with Sirdar Wash 'n' Wear Double Crepe DK yarn, sold in 50g balls. The specific shades featured in the pattern are:

• Long Sleeved Cardigan: Shade 315, requiring between 9 and 15 balls