High Neck Cardigan in Sirdar Cashmere Merino Silk DK - CSCMS10210 - Downloadable PDF

High Neck Cardigan Knitting Pattern – Sirdar Cashmere Merino Silk DK (Design No. CSCMS10210)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Sirdar guides you through creating a beautifully elegant high neck cardigan for women, sized to fit bust measurements ranging from 81 cm to 137 cm (32 in to 54 in). Rated as an intermediate level project, this design is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with core techniques and ready to tackle a more refined, structured garment. The pattern is free to download and has been triple-checked by Sirdar to guarantee accuracy when worked with the recommended yarn.

About the Design

The cardigan features a distinctive high neck, lending it a sophisticated, fashion-forward silhouette that transitions effortlessly from casual to smart occasions. The design is worked in Sirdar Cashmere Merino Silk Double Knitting in shade 403 China Blue, a refined, grown-up colourway inspired by the palette of grand English country estates. The result is a garment that feels as luxurious as it looks, with a drape and softness that only a premium fibre blend can deliver.

Construction and Techniques

The cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat, seamed method. This traditional approach means each main piece — the back, fronts, and sleeves — is knitted separately as flat panels, then joined together with seams to create the finished garment. This construction style offers several advantages:

• Bottom-up knitting allows you to work from the cast-on edge at the hem upward toward the shoulders, making it straightforward to adjust length before committing to the armhole shaping.
• Working flat means the fabric is knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, which is well-suited to garments with front openings such as cardigans.
• Seamed construction produces a structured, tailored finish, and the seams themselves add a degree of stability to the garment, helping it hold its shape over time.

Knitters will use a combination of standard knitting techniques throughout, including shaping through increases and decreases for the armholes, sleeves, and neckline, as well as picking up and knitting stitches along front bands and around the high neck collar. The intermediate difficulty rating reflects the need to manage multiple pieces, follow shaping instructions carefully, and assemble the finished garment neatly.

Stitches Used

As is typical for a classic Sirdar DK cardigan pattern, the fabric is primarily constructed using foundational knitting stitches. Knitters can expect to work with:

• Knit and purl stitches forming the main stocking stitch fabric, which showcases the lustre and softness of the yarn beautifully
• Rib stitch (commonly a knit 1, purl 1 or knit 2, purl 2 combination) typically used for the welts, cuffs, button bands, and the high neck collar to provide stretch and a neat, professional edge
• Shaping stitches such as knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) or similar decrease methods to sculpt the armholes, sleeve caps, and neckline

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for Sirdar Cashmere Merino Silk Double Knitting, a truly indulgent yarn blend combining pure silk, extra fine merino wool, and the softest Himalayan cashmere. This trio of premium fibres creates a yarn that is exceptionally soft against the skin, with a subtle natural sheen from the silk and excellent stitch definition from the merino. The cashmere content adds incomparable warmth and a cloud-like handle that elevates any finished garment.

• Yarn weight: Double Knitting (DK)
• Recommended shade: 403 China Blue
• Brand: Sirdar, established in West Yorkshire in 1880, with a long heritage in British hand knitting

As with all Sirdar patterns, knitters should use the recommended Sirdar yarn to achieve the tension and finished measurements