Oliver's Cabled Sweater

Oliver's Cabled Sweater by Joan Laws

What Is Being Made

Oliver's Cabled Sweater is a knitted cardigan designed for infants and young children, available in four sizes ranging from 6-12 months through 5-6 years. The finished chest circumferences span from 23 inches (58.5 cm) for the smallest size to 33 inches (84 cm) for the largest size, with corresponding back lengths from 11 inches (28 cm) to 15.5 inches (39.5 cm) and sleeve lengths from 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) to 12.5 inches (32 cm). This button-front cardigan features cable stitch detailing and is constructed using worsted weight yarn in a two-color colorway.

Knitting Techniques Used

Oliver's Cabled Sweater employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The pattern begins with a cast-on edge worked with a contrast color, followed by ribbed edging created using the knit-purl rib stitch pattern. Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric base, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. Cable stitches are incorporated as a decorative element, requiring the use of a cable needle to create the characteristic twisted rope-like texture. The pattern includes shaping through increases and decreases to form the garment's silhouette. Button bands are worked using a circular needle, and the cardigan closure is achieved with five buttons measuring ½ to ⅝ inches (1 to 1.5 cm) in diameter.

Stitches Used

• Knit Stitch (K): The fundamental stitch forming the right-side fabric texture in stockinette stitch sections
• Purl Stitch (P): Used to create the wrong-side rows of stockinette stitch and as part of the k1, p1 rib pattern
• Ribbed Stitch (K1, P1 Rib): An elastic stitch pattern used for the cuff and lower edge, providing stretch and recovery
• Cable Stitch: A textured stitch created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, forming the sweater's decorative cable pattern
• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch pattern throughout the body and sleeves, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows

Materials and Specifications

Oliver's Cabled Sweater is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn. The pattern calls for Universal Yarn Uptown Worsted, a 100% acrylic yarn available in 180-yard (165-meter) skeins weighing 3.5 ounces (100 grams). The main color (MC) is #353/Donahue, requiring 2 to 5 skeins depending on the chosen size. The contrast color (CC) is #302/White Glow, with 1 skein needed for all sizes.

Needle requirements include US size 6 (4mm) needles for the ribbed edging sections and a US size 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 cm) for working the button band. US size 7 (4.5mm) needles are used for the main body and sleeves, or a size adjusted to achieve the specified gauge. Additional notions include a cable needle for working cable stitches, a stitch holder for managing stitches during construction, and five buttons measuring ½ to ⅝ inches (1 to 1.5 cm) for the front closure.

Gauge and Difficulty Level

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in Stockinette Stitch on the larger size needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements. Oliver's Cabled Sweater is classified as an intermediate-level knitting project, suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to work with cable techniques and garment shaping.