Cropped Fisherman Cardigan in Loopy Mango Big Cotton and Merino No. 5 - Downloadable PDF

Cropped Fisherman Cardigan in Loopy Mango Big Cotton and Merino No. 5 – Knitting Pattern Summary

What You'll Make

This downloadable PDF pattern from Loopy Mango guides knitters through creating the Cropped Fisherman Cardigan, a chunky, cropped cardigan designed to flatter a wide range of body types. True to its fisherman-style inspiration, the design centers on bold cable textures combined with the relaxed simplicity of garter stitch, resulting in a garment that feels both classic and contemporary. The finished cardigan features a structured back panel with a prominent cable motif, while the front panels and sleeves are worked in garter stitch for a clean, unfussy contrast.

The pattern is available in three sizes: S/M, M/L, and L/XL. Finished chest measurements range from 22 inches (56 cm) for S/M, 24 inches (61 cm) for M/L, and 26 inches (66 cm) for L/XL. Front lengths (shoulder to hem) measure 16 inches for S/M, 17 inches for M/L, and 18 inches for L/XL, keeping the silhouette cropped and modern across all sizes.

Construction Method

The Cropped Fisherman Cardigan is knit flat, meaning it is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round. Construction begins at the back panel, continues over the shoulders, and then down the front panels. Once the main body is complete, stitches are picked up along the armhole edges to work the sleeves, and the sides are finished by seaming. This top-down, back-to-front approach makes it straightforward to follow even for knitters who are newer to garment construction at the intermediate level.

The pattern thoughtfully provides both a chart and full written directions for the cabled section, making it accessible whether you prefer to read a visual grid or follow row-by-row text instructions.

Techniques Used

As an intermediate-level knitting pattern, the Cropped Fisherman Cardigan introduces and relies on several key techniques:

• Flat knitting – working back and forth in rows to create a non-joined fabric suitable for a cardigan opening
• Cable knitting – the defining technique of the fisherman style, creating rope-like twisted textures by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle
• Garter stitch – knitting every row to produce a ridged, reversible fabric used on the front panels and sleeves
• Picking up stitches – retrieving live stitches along a finished edge to begin the sleeves seamlessly
• Seaming – joining the side edges of the cardigan after the knitting is complete
• Decreasing – shaping the garment using techniques such as K2TOG, K3TOG, P2TOG, and P3TOG
• Reading a cable chart – following a visual symbol grid to execute the back panel cable pattern accurately

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a focused set of stitches and cable maneuvers that together build the fisherman aesthetic:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the foundational stitches of all knitting, combined here to form both garter stitch and the textured cable background
• Garter Stitch – achieved by knitting every row, used prominently on the front panels and sleeves for a relaxed, ridged look
• T3F (Twist 3 Front) – a three-stitch cable cross where two stitches are held to the front on a cable needle, the next stitch is purled, and then the held stitches are knitted; this creates a left-leaning twisted rope detail
• T3B (Twist 3 Back) – a three-stitch cable cross where one stitch is held to the back, two stitches are knitted, and then the held stitch is purled;