Wide Sleeve Drawstring Waist Cardigan

Wide Sleeve Drawstring Waist Cardigan by Sian Brown

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted cardigan designed by independent designer Sian Brown, featuring a distinctive wide sleeve silhouette paired with a drawstring waist. The garment is available in five size options to fit bust measurements from 82-86 cm (32-34 inches) up to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches). The finished elbow-to-elbow width ranges from 69 cm (27¼ inches) to 89 cm (35 inches), while the length to shoulder varies from 55 cm (21¾ inches) to 59 cm (23¼ inches), making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and proportions.

Knitting Techniques Used

This beginner-level cardigan employs several fundamental knitting techniques that build foundational skills. The pattern begins with a ribbed cuff created using a 2x2 rib stitch pattern, which provides elasticity and a neat finished edge. The garment utilizes yarn over increases (notated as y2rn, meaning yarn round needle twice) to shape the waist and create the distinctive drawstring feature. Sleeve cap shaping is achieved through strategic cast-on increases at the beginning of rows, which gradually widens the sleeve for its signature wide silhouette. The pattern incorporates both flat and circular needle techniques, allowing knitters to work seamlessly between different construction methods.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The cardigan features two primary stitch patterns. The lower ribbing section uses a 2x2 rib (alternating knit 2, purl 2), which is repeated for 14 rows to create the fitted waistband. The main body is worked in double moss stitch, a textured pattern formed by alternating rows of knit-purl combinations (rows 1-2: knit 1, purl 1 to end; rows 3-4: purl 1, knit 1 to end). This four-row repeat creates a subtle, reversible fabric with visual interest and moderate drape. The double moss stitch pattern provides a sophisticated texture while remaining accessible for beginner knitters.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Wide Sleeve Drawstring Waist Cardigan is worked in Artessano Superfine Alpaca in the shade Chile (1532), a luxurious natural fiber choice. The yarn weight is DK (double knitting), a medium-weight yarn that knits to a standard tension of 24 stitches and 30 rows over a 10 cm (4 inch) square when worked on 4mm needles. Yardage requirements range from 10 balls (50g each) for the smallest size to 14 balls for the largest size, providing approximately 500-700 yards of fiber depending on the chosen size. The pattern requires both straight and circular knitting needles: a pair of 3.25mm (US 3) needles and a pair of 4mm (US 6) needles for the main fabric, plus corresponding circular needles in both gauges for seamless construction sections. The alpaca fiber provides exceptional softness, breathability, and a gentle drape ideal for a cardigan with wide sleeves.