Cardigan in Stylecraft Recreate - 9856 - Downloadable PDF

Stylecraft ReCreate DK Round Neck and V Neck Cardigans – Pattern 9856

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Stylecraft presents two classic cardigan designs — a Round Neck Cardigan and a V Neck Cardigan — both worked in Stylecraft ReCreate DK yarn. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is suitable for knitters who are comfortable working from written stitch instructions, managing multiple stitch panels, and shaping garments across a range of sizes. Both cardigans are generously sized, with a relaxed actual bust measurement that runs from 110 cm to 150 cm across the five available sizes, fitting bust measurements of 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm.

About the Yarn: Stylecraft ReCreate DK

Stylecraft ReCreate DK is a DK weight yarn, and the pattern specifies it in 100g balls. The colourway used in the photographed samples is Sky (1946), a soft blue shade that complements the textured cable and rib detailing beautifully. ReCreate DK is part of Stylecraft's sustainability-focused range, making it an appealing choice for eco-conscious crafters. The quantity required for the Round Neck Cardigan ranges from 4 to 6 balls depending on size, reflecting the substantial, wearable nature of these garments.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for two needle sizes:

• 3¼ mm needles — used for the ribbed welts and cuffs
• 4 mm needles — used for the main body and sleeve fabric

The cast-on method specified is the thumb method, a popular technique that creates a neat, slightly elastic edge well suited to ribbed borders.

Construction and Sizing

Both cardigans are knitted in flat pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves worked separately and then seamed. The garments are designed with a full length ranging from 56 cm to 67 cm and a sleeve length of approximately 46 cm to 48 cm, making them a comfortable, everyday-wearable length. The back piece begins with a cast-on of 142 to 190 stitches depending on size, worked on 3¼ mm needles before transitioning to 4 mm needles for the textured body pattern.

Stitches and Techniques Used

These cardigans feature a rich combination of stitch patterns that give the fabric its distinctive textured appearance. Knitters will work with:

• 2x2 Rib — used for the welts, cuffs, and button bands, worked over 15 rows on the smaller needles to create a firm, elastic border
• Knit and Purl combinations — forming the background fabric and separating the cable panels
• Cable panels — including k6 cable columns and k2 cable columns set within purl framing stitches, creating bold vertical rope-like textures across the body
• T3B (Twist 3 Back) — a travelling stitch technique where stitches cross to the back, creating a rightward diagonal movement within the cable panel
• T3F (Twist 3 Front) — the mirror technique, crossing stitches to the front for a leftward diagonal, pairing with T3B to form a characteristic crossing or plaited cable motif
• Moss stitch or seed-stitch style panels — created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a (k1, p1) repeat at the side edges and front panels
• Purlways increases — used during the transition row when moving from rib to the main pattern, evenly distributing additional stitches to accommodate the cable panels

The T3B and T3F travelling stitches are a hallmark of classic British knitting design. They involve slipping stitches onto a cable needle and holding it at the back or front of the work respectively, before knitting or purling the remaining stitches and then working those held stitches. This creates the elegant diagonal