Men's Cardigan in Novita Nalle - 10 - Downloadable PDF

Men's Cardigan in Novita Nalle by Lea Petäjä – Knitting Pattern Summary

This pattern by designer Lea Petäjä provides instructions for knitting a classic men's cardigan featuring elegant cable detailing and a structured ribbed hem. Published by Novita and available as a free downloadable PDF, this is an advanced-level knitting project that rewards experienced knitters with a sophisticated, wearable garment suitable for everyday use or smarter occasions.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a full men's cardigan worked in separate pieces — a left front body, a right front body, a back, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The cardigan features a button band and is fastened with 6 buttons. It is designed in six sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL, with a finished chest circumference ranging from 98 cm to 138 cm and a body length of 66 cm to 76 cm depending on size. The inner sleeve length ranges from 50 cm to 54 cm.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Novita Nalle in shade 044 Graphite — a DK-weight yarn. The quantity required ranges from 500 g to 750 g depending on size.
• Needles: Novita circular or straight needles in sizes 3–3½ mm (for ribbing) and 3½–4 mm (for the main body), or whichever sizes are needed to achieve the correct gauge.
• Other supplies: 6 buttons for the front fastening.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this advanced pattern. The stated gauge is 22 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch = 10 cm. The cable pattern panel measures approximately 11 cm wide (34 stitches). Always knit a tension swatch and adjust needle size as needed before beginning the garment.

Stitch Patterns Used

• Ribbing: A *purl 2, knit 2* rib repeat is used for the welts and cuffs. On wrong-side rows, stitches are worked as they appear — knit stitches are knitted and purl stitches are purled. The ribbing measures 6 cm before switching to the larger needles.
• Stockinette Stitch: The main body fabric is worked in stockinette — knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows.
• Cable Pattern: The standout feature of this cardigan is the cable pattern, worked from a chart included in the PDF. The pattern references two cable sections — Cable Pattern B (28 stitches on the ribbing, expanding to 34 stitches after the increase row) — worked in a 12-row repeat (rows 5–16 from the chart). The cables add approximately 6 stitches during the transition from ribbing to the main body, creating the characteristic raised, twisted rope effect typical of traditional cable knitting.

Techniques Used

• Cable knitting: Cables are created by holding stitches on a cable needle to the front or back of the work and crossing groups of stitches over one another, producing a twisted, three-dimensional texture. This technique is central to the design and is charted throughout the pattern.
• Shaping — neckline decreases: Neckline shaping begins when the piece reaches a specified length and is worked using k2tog (knit two together) decreases on right-side rows, repeated every 4th row for a smooth, gradual slope.
• Shaping — armhole and shoulder bind-offs: Armhole and shoulder shaping are achieved through a series of stepped bind-offs at specified intervals, creating a clean, structured shoulder line.
• Needle changes: The pattern uses smaller needles for the ribbing section and switches to larger needles for the stockinette