3/4 and Long Sleeved Cardigans in Sirdar Cotton DK - 7085 - Downloadable PDF

Sirdar Cotton DK Pattern 7085 – 3/4 and Long Sleeved Cardigans

This Sirdar knitting pattern 7085 is a downloadable PDF featuring two classic cardigan designs: a three-quarter sleeved cardigan and a long sleeved cardigan. Both garments are worked in Sirdar Cotton DK yarn and are designed to suit a wide range of sizes, from a 24/26 inch chest right through to a 44/46 inch chest, making this pattern accessible to knitters looking for children's through to larger adult sizing. The pattern is ideal for knitters with some experience who want to create a versatile, wearable layering piece suitable for warmer seasons thanks to the breathable cotton yarn base.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces two variations of a button-front cardigan, each sharing the same body construction but differing in sleeve length. Both cardigans feature a single button fastening and are worked as separate pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — that are then seamed together. The finished garments have a neat, tailored silhouette with actual measurements ranging from 70 cm (27½ in) up to 121 cm (47¾ in) across the chest.

• Long Sleeved Cardigan: Sleeve length ranges from 33 cm (13 in) for the smallest size up to 48 cm (19 in) for the largest, and is described as adjustable so knitters can customise the fit.
• 3/4 Sleeved Cardigan: Sleeve length ranges from 22 cm (8¾ in) up to 32 cm (12½ in), giving a relaxed three-quarter length finish that is perfect for transitional weather.

Full garment length ranges from approximately 42 cm (16½ in) in the smallest size to 63 cm (24¾ in) in the largest, providing good coverage across all sizes.

Techniques Used

This is a flat knitting pattern, meaning the individual pieces — back, left front, right front, and sleeves — are worked back and forth on straight needles. An 80 cm circular needle in both 3¼ mm and 4 mm sizes is also listed as optional equipment, which is typically used to work the button band or neckband edging more comfortably across a large number of stitches. Key techniques employed throughout the pattern include:

• Shaping: Decreasing and increasing are used to shape the armholes, sleeve caps, and neckline, giving the cardigans their fitted, professional finish.
• Leaf Pattern: A decorative leaf stitch pattern is incorporated into the design, adding visual texture and interest beyond a plain stocking stitch fabric. The tension swatch references 2 Leaf Patterns as a key measurement unit, indicating this motif is a recurring and prominent feature of the design.
• Stitch holding: Stitch holders are required, suggesting that stitches for the neckline or other sections are held live and returned to the needles later, a common technique in structured garment knitting.
• Seaming: As a flat-knit garment, the finished pieces are joined using standard seaming methods.

Stitches Used

The pattern makes use of a combination of standard and decorative knitting stitches:

• Stocking Stitch (Stockinette): The main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface. Tension is also measured over stocking stitch at 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm on 4 mm needles.
• Leaf Pattern Stitch: A signature decorative stitch pattern that forms the visual centrepiece of the cardigans. The tension note references 2 Leaf Patterns and 20 stitches over 10 cm, indicating this is a multi-stitch repeat panel. Leaf patterns in knitting typically involve yarn-over increases paired with decreases such as psso (pass slipped stitch over) and p2sso (pass 2 slipped stitches over), both of which are listed in the pattern abbreviations, confirming their use.
• Knit (k) and Purl (p): Fundamental stitches used