Cables and Lace Cardigan in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash® - W587 - Downloadable PDF

Cables and Lace Cardigan in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash® – Pattern W587 by Melissa Leapman

This beautifully crafted knitting pattern, W587 Cables and Lace Cardigan, is an original design by Melissa Leapman, published by Cascade Yarns. Available as a free downloadable PDF, it offers knitters an elegant, wearable garment that combines two of the most beloved techniques in hand knitting: cable work and lace. The result is a sophisticated cardigan with rich textural interest and delicate openwork detail, making it a rewarding project for knitters looking to expand their skills.

About the Garment

The finished project is a classic button-front cardigan designed for women, available in four sizes to suit a range of figures. The finished bust measurements (buttoned) are 36, 44, 52, and 60 inches, covering sizes Small through 1X. The total length of the finished cardigan measures between 24 and 25 inches depending on the size chosen, making it a comfortable, hip-length layer suitable for year-round wear. The cardigan is finished with seven 1-inch buttons, adding a polished, structured closure to the front opening.

Skill Level and Techniques

This pattern is rated Intermediate in difficulty, making it an excellent next step for knitters who have mastered basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to tackle more complex stitch combinations. The design requires comfort with reading multi-row stitch pattern repeats and managing shaping alongside patterned fabric.

Key techniques used in this pattern include:

• Cable knitting – Cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, producing the characteristic twisted rope or braid appearance that gives the fabric its dimensional texture.
• Lace knitting – Lace sections are worked using yarn overs paired with decreases to create intentional openwork holes, adding lightness and elegance to the fabric between the cable columns.
• Shaping – The pattern includes standard garment shaping techniques such as increases and decreases to shape the body and sleeves for a fitted, flattering silhouette.
• Casting on and binding off – Standard cast-on and bind-off methods are used throughout construction.
• Working flat – The cardigan pieces are worked flat (back and forth in rows) on straight or circular needles, then seamed together.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern driving the design is the Cables and Lace Pattern, which is the signature combination that gives this cardigan its name and visual appeal. The foundational stitches used throughout include:

• Knit (K) – The basic building block of all knitted fabric, used extensively in cable sections and throughout the body.
• Purl (P) – Used on wrong-side rows and as background stitches to set off the cable and lace motifs.
• Yarn overs – Essential to the lace sections, creating the decorative eyelets characteristic of lace knitting.
• Decreases – Paired with yarn overs in the lace sections to maintain stitch count while shaping the openwork design.
• Cable crosses – Worked by slipping stitches to a cable needle and crossing them in front or behind the working needle to create the twisted cable motifs.

The gauge for the Cables and Lace Pattern is 28 stitches by 28 rows to 4 inches (10 cm), worked on the larger needles. Achieving accurate gauge is especially important in a garment with significant size variation across the four offered sizes.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for Cascade Yarns® 220 Superwash®, a beloved and widely available yarn made from 100% Superwash Wool. Each skein contains 220 yards (200 meters) and weighs 100 grams (3.5 oz), placing it in the DK weight category. The superwash treatment means the finished cardigan is machine washable, adding practical everyday wearability to its aesthetic appeal.

The sample shown in the pattern uses color #204