Holger Cardigan

The Holger Cardigan is worked from the top down. The body is worked in stockinette stitch with stripes, while the sleeves, plackets and neck edge are each worked in a different solid color. First, the back yoke is worked back and forth with the slope of the shoulders being shaped using short rows and in stripes, which are worked at the same time. Each shoulder is then worked back and forth on a circular needle. The fronts and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked back and forth on a circular needle with stripes. The sleeves are worked down from stitches that are picked up and knitted around the armholes. At the end, the front plackets and the rib edge along the neck is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted.

Size guide

The Holger Cardigan is designed to have approx. 20-25 cm [7¾-9¾ inches] of positive ease. The sizes 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-11) 11-12 (12-14) years are designed to fit a chest circumference of 53 (54) 56 (57) 59 (62) 64 (68) 72 (75) 78 (82) cm [20¾ (21¼) 22 (22½) 23¼ (24½) 25¼ (26¾) 28¼ (29½) 30¾ (32¼) inches]. The measurements for the finished cardigan can be found on the front page of the pattern (please note that these measurements are only achieved if the correct gauge is maintained). If the intended wearer measures 62 cm [24½ inches] around the chest, you should knit a size 6-7 years. A size 6-7 years cardigan has a chest circumference of 86 cm [33¾ inches] which in the given example would give the intended wearer 24 cm [9½ inches] of positive ease. If the measured chest circumference deviates from the age guide, you can adjust the length to fit the person you’re knitting for. The same applies if the child is shorter or taller than average.

Sizes: 1-2 (2-3) 3-4 (4-5) 5-6 (6-7) 7-8 (8-9) 9-10 (10-11) 11-12 (12-14) years

Chest circumference: 72 (74) 78 (82) 82 (86) 88 (92) 96 (98) 104 (108) cm [28¼ (29¼) 30¾ (32¼) 32¼ (33¾) 34¾ (36¼) 37¾ (38½) 41 (42½) inches]

Length: 36 (38) 42 (43) 45 (48) 49 (50) 52 (53) 54 (56) cm [14¼ (15) 16½ (17) 17¾ (19) 19¼ (19¾) 20½ (20¾) 21¼ (22) inches] measured mid back excl. neck edge

Gauge: 20 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 inches] in stockinette stitch on 4 mm [US6] needles

Needles: Circular needles: 4 mm [US6] / 60 or 80 cm [24 or 32 inches] and 3.5 mm [US4] / 40 and 60 and/or 80 cm [16 and 24 and/or 32 inches]; Double-pointed needles: 3.5 mm [US4] and 4 mm [US6] (unless the Magic Loop technique is used)

Materials: 7 different colors of Peer Gynt by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 91 m [98 yds]) or Peruvian Highland Wool by Filcolana (50 g = 100 m [109 yds]) or Double Sunday by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 108 m [118 yds])

Stripe colors for the body: Approx. 65 (74) 79 (84) 89 (102) 110 (116) 120 (128) 136 (145) g in each color

Rib hem on the body: Approx. ca. 23 (23) 25 (25) 27 (27) 27 (29) 29 (30) 33 (33) g

Sleeves: Approx. 31 (36) 40 (45) 50 (52) 54 (57) 61 (64) 67 (71) g in each color

Neck edge: Approx. 11 (11) 11 (11) 12 (12) 12 (12) 13 (13) 14 (14) g

Front plackets: Approx. 20 (22) 22 (25) 27 (29) 29 (30) 32 (32) 34 (34) g

5 buttons (Ø = 18 mm)

Difficulty: ★ ★ ★ (3 out of 5)

See the classification of difficulty here. 

This pattern is digital and will be sent as a pdf-file to your e-mail.

The multicolored Holger Cardigan is knitted in Peer Gynt by Sandnes Garn in the colors Almond [2511], Night sky [5591], Cacao nibs [3091], Camel [2542], Spiced apple [3854], Above the clouds [6050] and Sunny lime [9825].

M1R:

M1L:

k2tog:

Skp:

German Short Rows:

Begin:

Picking up stitches for shoulder:

Backwards Loop Method:

Changing colors when working In the round:

Tip for knitting stripes without weaving in ends:

Italian bind-off:

Picking up stitches for sleeves:

Picking up stitches for front plackets:

Buttonholes:

Picking up stitches for neck edge:

Sewing a button onto knitwear: