MEN’S ARAN CABLE SWEATER

 

A classic textured pullover with bold braided cables, a rounded neckline and ribbed trims

INTERMEDIATE  •  KNITTED FLAT  •  SEAMED CONSTRUCTION

 

FINISHED SIZES

S (M, L, XL, 2XL), designed with approximately 10–15 cm / 4–6 in of positive ease.

Size	S	M	L	XL	2XL
Chest circumference	96	106	116	126	136 cm
Approx. body length	64	66	68	70	72 cm
Sleeve length	48	49	50	51	52 cm

MATERIALS

·        Aran / worsted-weight wool or wool-blend yarn: approximately 1,000 (1,100, 1,200, 1,300, 1,450) m. Choose a round, plied yarn so the cables stand out.

·        4.5 mm circular or straight needles for ribbing (or size needed for gauge).

·        5 mm straight or circular needles for main fabric; use a 5 mm cable needle.

·        Stitch holders or waste yarn, 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, measuring tape and scissors.

·        Optional: spare circular needle for picking up the neckline.

GAUGE

18 sts and 24 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in in stockinette stitch on 5 mm needles, blocked. Cable fabric will draw in; measure the swatch across the full cable arrangement and adjust needle size if necessary.

ABBREVIATIONS

k	knit
p	purl
RS / WS	right side / wrong side
st(s)	stitch(es)
rep	repeat
rnd	round
BO	bind off
CO	cast on
C6F	slip next 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front; k3, then k3 from cable needle
C6B	slip next 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back; k3, then k3 from cable needle
C4F	slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front; k2, then k2 from cable needle
C4B	slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back; k2, then k2 from cable needle
M1	make one stitch using a lifted increase

HOW TO READ THE SUPPLIED CHART

The reference chart is included below. It is numbered from Row 1 at the bottom to Row 18 at the top. The vertical marks represent plain knit columns in the chart’s right-side view; work the reverse of knit stitches on wrong-side rows unless a cable instruction specifically says otherwise. The crossed diagonal groups indicate cable crossings.

For a practical written interpretation, use the following cable key: C6F and C6B are six-stitch crossings; C4F and C4B are four-stitch crossings. Cross only on the chart rows where the diagonal lines meet. On all intervening rows, work stitches as they appear. Because the source chart has no symbol legend, compare your swatch to the chart image and adjust cable crossing direction if your original chart uses a different convention.

Chart repeat: 18 rows. After Row 18, return to Row 1. Keep the chart centred and mirror the cable arrangement on the left and right sides where shown.

CABLE PANEL – WRITTEN WORKING KEY

Use this repeat as the written cable vocabulary for the garment. Maintain the purl background between cable columns. On WS rows, work knit stitches as purl and purl stitches as knit; work cable crossings only on designated RS rows.

·        Plain rows: work each stitch as it appears, maintaining the established knit and purl columns.

·        Right-leaning cable: C6B or C4B, as indicated by the crossing width in the chart.

·        Left-leaning cable: C6F or C4F, as indicated by the crossing width in the chart.

·        Where two cable groups approach one another in the chart, keep each group separate; do not cross stitches from neighbouring panels together.

·        Repeat the 18-row sequence throughout the body and sleeves, aligning the cable motifs at the start of each new repeat.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

1. BACK

With 4.5 mm needles, CO 86 (94, 102, 110, 118) sts.

Rib hem: Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2. Row 2: work the stitches as they appear. Continue in 2x2 rib for 6 cm, ending after a WS row.

Change to 5 mm needles. Work in stockinette stitch (RS knit, WS purl), keeping the first and last 5 sts in stockinette for a neat seam. Work straight until the piece measures 40 (41, 42, 43, 44) cm from cast-on edge.

Shape armholes: BO 4 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Then decrease 1 st at each end of every RS row 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) times. Continue straight until armhole measures 21 (22, 23, 24, 25) cm.

Shoulders and back neck: BO 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts at beginning of next 4 (2, 2, 2, 2) rows; then BO remaining shoulder stitches in two equal groups, placing the centre 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts on a holder for the back neck. For sizes M–2XL, adjust the final shoulder bind-off evenly so both shoulders match.

2. FRONT

With 4.5 mm needles, CO 86 (94, 102, 110, 118) sts. Work the same 6 cm 2x2 rib hem as for Back.

Change to 5 mm needles. Establish the cable layout over the centre of the front: keep 8–10 sts at each side in stockinette, place the broad cable panels symmetrically, and separate neighbouring cable panels with 2 purl background sts. Use the supplied 18-row chart as the visual placement guide. Work the remaining stitches in stockinette.

Important stitch-count adjustment: cable panels are worked over a multiple of 2 or 6 stitches according to the crossing used. If your chosen chart repeat requires more stitches than available in your size, reduce the plain stockinette side sections—not the cable panel widths.

Work the 18-row chart repeat continuously until the front measures the same as Back to the armhole. Shape armholes exactly as for Back, keeping the cable pattern aligned and working decreases outside the cable panels.

Front neck: when armhole measures 13 (14, 15, 16, 17) cm, work to the centre and place the centre 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts on a holder. Work each side separately. At each neck edge, BO 3 sts once, 2 sts once, then 1 st 3 times. Continue until armhole depth matches Back. Shape shoulders to match Back.

3. SLEEVES – MAKE TWO

With 4.5 mm needles, CO 42 (42, 46, 46, 50) sts. Work 2x2 rib for 6 cm.

Change to 5 mm needles. Set the central sleeve cable panel over the middle stitches, with stockinette on either side. Begin the cable repeat at Row 1. Increase 1 st at each end of every 8th row 12 (13, 13, 14, 14) times, working new stitches into stockinette. You will have 66 (68, 72, 74, 78) sts.

Continue until sleeve measures 48 (49, 50, 51, 52) cm from cast-on edge, or desired length. Keep the cable centred.

Sleeve cap: BO 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Decrease 1 st at each end every RS row 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) times, then every other row 4 times. BO remaining stitches loosely. Make second sleeve to match.

4. NECKBAND

Block the front and back lightly before joining. Sew one shoulder seam. With RS facing and 4.5 mm circular needles, pick up and knit approximately 88–104 sts evenly around the neckline, including held stitches. Pick up about 1 st for every bound-off stitch and 3 sts for every 4 vertical rows along sloped edges; adjust to avoid puckering.

Join to work in the round, placing a marker at the beginning. Work K2, P2 rib for 3–4 cm. BO loosely in pattern. Sew the second shoulder seam, taking care not to stretch the neckband.

5. FINISHING AND ASSEMBLY

1.        Weave in all ends securely on the wrong side.

2.        Pin pieces to the schematic measurements and wet-block gently. Do not flatten the cable texture; allow the cables to remain raised.

3.        Sew shoulder seams if not already completed.

4.        Set sleeves into armholes, matching the sleeve-cap centre to the shoulder seam and distributing fullness evenly.

5.        Sew sleeve and side seams using mattress stitch, keeping ribbing and cable columns aligned.

6.        Turn the sweater right side out and check that both sleeves and side seams are even.

FIT, CUSTOMISATION & TROUBLESHOOTING

·        For a longer body, add length before beginning armhole shaping. For longer sleeves, add length before the sleeve cap.

·        If the cable fabric is much narrower than stockinette, go up 0.5 mm in needle size for the cable sections or add plain stitches at the sides.

·        If the neckline feels tight, pick up additional stitches evenly around the neck and work the rib band with a slightly larger needle.

·        Use a wool-rich yarn with good elasticity. Cotton or bamboo blends may produce a heavier, less springy fabric.

·        The finished measurements depend on blocked gauge. Always swatch and choose a size by finished chest measurement, not body measurement alone.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the yarn label. For untreated wool, hand wash gently in cool water with wool wash, press out water in a towel and dry flat. Do not hang the sweater while wet. Store folded.