Cable-knit Pullover Sweater in Lion Brand Homespun - 723

Cable-knit Pullover Sweater in Lion Brand Homespun – Pattern 723

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Lion Brand Yarn produces a richly textured cable-knit pullover sweater worked in the brand's beloved Homespun yarn (Art. No. 790). The design is available in three sizes — Small, Medium, and Large — with generous finished bust/chest measurements of 49½ (51½, 53½) inches, making it a relaxed, comfortable fit suitable for a wide range of body types. The sweater showcases an impressive combination of multiple classic cable patterns arranged across the body, creating a cozy, artisan aesthetic that is both timeless and visually striking.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a pullover sweater (also known as a jumper), meaning it is a closed-top garment with no front opening, pulled on over the head. The silhouette is oversized and relaxed, reflecting the chunky weight of the Lion Brand Homespun yarn used throughout. The sweater is constructed with a heavily cabled front and back, making it an ideal project for knitters who want to develop or showcase their cable-knitting skills while producing a wearable, everyday garment.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun (Art. No. 790), 6 oz skeins — 6 (7, 7) skeins in colorway #309 Deco or any color of your choice. Homespun is a bulky-weight yarn known for its soft, textured, slightly rustic character, which complements the organic look of cable stitching beautifully.
• Straight knitting needles: One pair each in US size 9 (UK size 5 / 5.50 mm) and US size 11 (UK size 0 / 8.00 mm), or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge.
• Circular knitting needles: Sizes US 8 (UK size 6 / 5.00 mm) and US 9, used for finishing details such as neckbands or edgings.
• One double-pointed needle (dpn): Essential for executing the cable crossings throughout the pattern.
• 2 stitch holders: Used to hold live stitches during construction, particularly at the neckline shaping.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 13 stitches = 3½ inches worked with US size 11 needles in Pattern Stitch I (Plait Cable). Checking gauge carefully before beginning is strongly recommended, as the finished measurements depend on it. Adjusting needle size up or down as needed will help achieve the correct fabric density.

Techniques Used

This pattern is an excellent study in traditional cable knitting, a technique in which groups of stitches are crossed over one another using a double-pointed or cable needle to create twisted, rope-like or braided visual effects. Cables are worked on right-side rows and rest on wrong-side rows, giving the fabric its characteristic raised, three-dimensional texture.

The specific cable techniques defined in this pattern include:

• Front Cross (FC): Slip 3 stitches to a double-pointed needle and hold in front of work, knit 2, slip the purl stitch from the dpn back to the left-hand needle and purl it, then knit the remaining 2 stitches from the dpn. This creates a left-leaning cable cross with a purl stitch at its center.
• Back Cross (BC): The mirror image of the Front Cross — slip 3 stitches to a dpn and hold in back, knit 2, slip the purl stitch back to the left-hand needle and purl it, then knit 2 from the dpn. This creates a right-leaning cable cross.
• Right Twist (RT): A two-stitch twist worked without a cable needle — insert the right-hand needle into the second stitch on the left-hand needle, knit it, then knit the first stitch, and slip both stitches off together. This adds a subtle twist detail used within certain pattern sections.