Irish Moss Stitch Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino by Debbie Bliss - DB418 - Downloadable PDF

Irish Moss Stitch Cardigan – Knitting Pattern for Women by Debbie Bliss (DB418)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern by Debbie Bliss guides you through creating a beautifully textured women's cardigan worked in the classic Irish Moss Stitch. Designed for intermediate knitters, the pattern produces a cosy, substantial garment with rich surface texture, thanks to the combination of a chunky yarn weight and a stitch pattern that creates a dense, cushioned fabric. The finished cardigan is constructed using seamed, flat knitting techniques, meaning the pieces are worked separately and then joined — a traditional approach that gives the garment excellent structure and shape.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a women's cardigan in seven sizes, designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 142–147 cm (56–58 in). The generous size range makes this pattern highly inclusive and suitable for a wide variety of body types. The cardigan features a two-colour design, with a main body colour and a contrasting accent colour used for detailing such as the border. The result is a warm, wearable, and stylish everyday garment ideal for cooler seasons.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino, a super chunky weight yarn sold in 100g / 3½oz balls. Two colourways are used:

• Colour A – Leaf 08: 6(7:7:8:9:10:11) balls, used for the main body of the cardigan
• Colour B – Rose 15: 2(2:3:3:3:3:4) balls, used for contrast detailing and the border

As a super chunky merino yarn, Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino offers the natural warmth, softness, and elasticity that merino wool is celebrated for. It knits up quickly at this weight, making the project satisfying to work through even for those newer to chunky knitting. Yarn quantities listed are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate.

In addition to yarn, the following tools and notions are required:

• Pair of 8mm (US 11) knitting needles
• Pair of 9mm (US 13) knitting needles
• 8mm (US 11) circular needle, at least 80cm / 32in long — used for the border and required for sizes 5 through 7 due to the higher stitch count
• 9mm (US 13) circular needle, at least 60cm / 24in long — required for sizes 5 through 7
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders

Techniques Used

This pattern is worked flat, meaning each piece of the cardigan — such as the back, fronts, and sleeves — is knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round. The completed pieces are then seamed together, a technique that creates clean, stable joins and helps the garment hold its shape over time. Seaming is a fundamental skill for intermediate knitters and is typically done using mattress stitch or a similar joining method for an invisible finish.

The use of circular needles for certain sizes and for the border is a practical adaptation to accommodate large stitch counts comfortably, even though the work is still completed flat rather than in the round.

Stitches Used

The defining stitch of this cardigan is the Irish Moss Stitch, which gives the pattern its name and its distinctive textured appearance. Irish Moss Stitch is a classic knitting stitch pattern that combines knit and purl stitches in an alternating arrangement across both rows and rounds. Unlike seed stitch, which alternates every stitch on every row, Irish Moss Stitch works pairs of rows, creating a slightly more pronounced, bubbly texture with a firm, reversible fabric. This makes it an excellent choice for cardigans, as the fabric looks attractive on both the right and wrong sides — ideal for front bands, collars, and any area where the reverse might be visible.

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