Cult Stripe Cardigan in Sirdar Stories Chunky - 10870 - Downloadable PDF

Sirdar Stories Chunky Cult Stripe Cardigan – Knitting Pattern 10870

The Cult Stripe Cardigan is a boldly striped, relaxed-fit knitted cardigan designed for fashion-conscious makers who want a quick, satisfying project with a strong visual impact. Published by Sirdar under design number 10870, this pattern is part of the Stories Chunky collection — a trend-led range developed specifically for younger makers and those who knit for them. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated easy, making it an ideal choice for beginners looking to build confidence while producing a genuinely wearable, stylish garment.

About the Design

The Cult Stripe Cardigan is knitted in a classic open-front cardigan silhouette with a deliberately slouchy, oversized feel that sits firmly within current fashion trends. The defining feature of this design is its bold stripe sequence, worked across the body and sleeves using five shades of Sirdar Stories Chunky: shades 854, 850, 842, 846, and 852. The combination of these carefully selected tones creates a striking colour-block stripe effect that gives the cardigan its cult-worthy character.

The pattern covers a wide range of sizes, from 71 cm to 137 cm (approximately 28 inches to 54 inches), making it genuinely size-inclusive and suitable for a broad range of wearers. The generous size range also means the pattern can be used to knit for others, not just oneself.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern is designed exclusively for use with Sirdar Stories Chunky, a cotton-blend chunky weight yarn. The cotton content in the yarn blend is a deliberate design choice — it keeps the finished garment lighter in weight than a purely wool or acrylic chunky yarn would, which means even a slouchy, oversized cardigan retains its shape well during wear and over time. This is particularly important for a relaxed-fit design like the Cult Stripe Cardigan, where drape and structure need to work together.

• Yarn: Sirdar Stories Chunky
• Shades used: 854, 850, 842, 846, and 852
• Yarn weight: Chunky
• Fibre content: Cotton blend

Because five separate shades are used, knitters will need to manage multiple yarn supplies throughout the project. The stripe sequence provides a natural structure for joining and cutting yarn between colour changes, which is a useful skill-building exercise for those newer to colourwork.

As with all chunky-weight projects, appropriately sized knitting needles for chunky yarn are required. Knitters should refer to the tension/gauge section of the downloaded PDF for the precise needle size recommended by Sirdar to achieve the correct finished dimensions.

Techniques and Stitches

Rated as an easy knitting pattern, the Cult Stripe Cardigan is built around straightforward techniques that are well within the reach of a beginner knitter who has mastered the basics. The chunky yarn weight means stitches are large and easy to see, which helps beginners track their work and spot any errors quickly.

Key Techniques Include:

• Stripe knitting: Working in horizontal stripes across the fabric by changing yarn colour at the beginning of rows, a fundamental and satisfying technique that produces dramatic visual results with minimal complexity.
• Shaping: Basic increases and decreases are likely used to shape the sleeves and body, introducing beginners to the core principles of garment construction.
• Seaming: As a constructed cardigan rather than a seamless design, the pattern will involve joining knitted pieces together — a valuable skill for any knitter progressing toward more complex garment making.
• Tension/gauge swatching: Sirdar triple-checks all its patterns to guarantee success when the recommended yarn is used, but achieving the correct tension swatch remains an important step for accurate sizing.

Stitches Likely Featured:

• Knit stitch and purl stitch — the foundational stitches of all knitting, used to create the main fabric of the cardigan.
• Stocking stitch (stockinette): The smooth, classic fabric