You’ve always dreamed of making one of those intricate Celtic womens cable knit sweater pattern but feel like you don’t have the skills you’d need?
This easy cable knit sweater pattern free is for you! With minimal shaping, so you can focus on the cables (which are only a combination of the basic right-leaning and left-leaning cables) and sized XS to 5XL, everyone can make it.
No time right now? Pin the free easy cable knit sweater pattern for later!
*This post contains affiliate links (only for products I love, use and spend my own money on obviously). This means I earn some yarn money if you make a purchase through one of these links (of course at no extra cost for you!), which I promise to use to create more awesome patterns like this one. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.
Watch out! Your wardrobe’s about to get a new favorite sweater with this easy cable knit sweater pattern free. Despite it’s intricate appearance, it’s easier than you think! With minimal shaping, you can focus on the cable pattern using basic cables, and my detailed illustrated pattern will walk you through every step of the way.
You’ll get so many compliments on this women’s cable knit sweater, you’ll be making one for everyone you know (good thing you purchased the pattern!). You can’t go wrong with this classic women’s cable knit sweater. It’ll keep you comfortable and warm all fall and winter.
Still intimidated by cables? Check out my detailed cable tutorial (includes videos) and start with my Braided Bridge Cable Scarf!
Downloadable PDF Easy Cable Knit Sweater Pattern
Scroll down for the free version but I recommend you purchase the ad-free PDF Pattern to get all the instructions and pictures in a nice PDF you can print and take notes on without relying on your phone or an internet connection, I’ve got you covered!
The easy cable sweater knitting pattern is now available on Ravelry or in my Etsy shop. Grab your copy before you forget!
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Before you Start your Women’s Cable Knit Sweater
- Purchase the large print, ad-free printable on Etsy HERE.
- Add this easy cable sweater pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.
- Pin the sweater pattern to your Pinterest boards HERE.
Materials
- 5 mm/ US 8 knitting needles. I use circular needles for convenience but you can use straight needles for the main parts and circulars for the collar only. Confused about all these types of knitting needles? Here’s a complete overview that will answer all your questions.
- Worsted weight Zeeman Royal yarn (100% acrylic, 241m /264yd, 100g) in Mustard colorway :
- XS: 6 skeins
- S: 6 skeins
- M: 6 skeins
- L: 7 skeins
- XL: 8 skeins
- 2XL: 9 skeins
- 3XL: 10 skeins
- 4XL: 10 skeins
- 5XL: 11 skeins
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I love this set as it has different eye sizes for different yarn thicknesses and it comes in a small tube which is very convenient so I don’t lose them.
- Optional: stitch markers
Because the yarn I used is not available everywhere, and I know how painful it is to try to find equivalent yarn which will give you the same effect I have selected a few equivalent yarns for you. I haven’t tried them out myself, but they look so pretty, check them out!
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease They have this yarn in about 20 colors, I’m sure you’ll fall in love with more than one.
- La Mia Just Wool
elann Wool Mate- RED HEART Super Saver Yarn. This yarn also exists in more than 60 colors.
Size
The easy cable knit sweater pattern is available in the following sizes: XS to 5XL. Sizes are noted throughout the pattern in the following way: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). The pictures illustrate the Medium size.
Tip: Don’t want to get confused by all these numbers. Get the ad-free PDF version and start by highlighting your size throughout the pattern.
Final garment measurements are:
- XS: 90 cm / 35.5” bust, 62 cm / 24.5” long, upper arm circumference 31.5 cm / 12.25”
- S: 100 cm / 39.25” bust, 62 cm / 24.5” long, upper arm circumference 33 cm / 13”
- M: 110 cm / 43.25” bust, 62 cm / 24.5” long, upper arm circumference 34 cm / 13.25”
- L: 120 cm / 47.25” bust, 62 cm / 24.5” long, upper arm circumference 36.5 cm / 14.25”
- XL: 130 cm / 51.25” bust, 67.5 cm / 28” long, upper arm circumference 38 cm / 15”
- 2XL: 140 cm / 55” bust, 67.5 cm / 28” long, upper arm circumference 41 cm / 16”
- 3XL: 150 cm / 59” bust, 67.5 cm / 28” long, upper arm circumference 46 cm / 18”
- 4XL: 160 cm / 63” bust, 67.5 cm / 28” long, upper arm circumference 50 cm / 19.75”
- 5XL: 170 cm / 67” bust, 67.5 cm / 28” long, upper arm circumference 53.5 cm / 21”
The sweater is designed with a loose fit 10 – 15 cm / 4” – 6” ease at the bust.
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern, in stockinette stitch, is 16.5 st by 23 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).
Need help figuring out your gauge and how to adjust it? Find out all you need to know about knitting gauge here.
Abbreviations & Instructions
- st = stitch
- k = knit
- p = purl
- CxF = Cable x stitches wide, hold stitches to the front (if needed, refer to this tutorial for more details).
- CxB = Cable x stitches wide, hold stitches to the back (if needed, refer to this tutorial for more details).
- p2tog = purl 2 stitches together
Repeat instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round/row.
The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round/row between < >.
Special Stitches and Techniques
- Stockinette stitch = knit on one side of the project and purl on the other side.
- For videos and a detailed explanation on how to knit cables refer to this tutorial.
- The big central cable is made by having two simple cables directly next to each other and going in opposite directions. Refer to the video below.
The Actual Easy Womens Cable Knit Sweater Pattern
The Back Panel
Cast on 92 (100, 108, 116, 124, 132, 140, 148, 156) st.
[k1, p1] across for 8 rows.
From here onwards we start the cable repeat which is an 8 row repeat.
Cable Repeat:
Row 1 (Right Side): P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), k4, p6, k2, p6, k4, p10, k16, p10, k4, p6, k2, p6, k4, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 2 (Wrong Side): K6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), p4, k6, p2, k6, p4, k10, p16, k10, p4, k6, p2, k6, p4, k6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 3: P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p10, k16, p10, k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), C4B, p6, k2, p6, C4B, p10, k16, p10, C4B, p6, k2, p6, C4B, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p10, C8B, C8F, p10, k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat these 8 rows until you reach a total length of 53.5 (53.5, 53.5, 53.5. 59, 59, 59, 59, 59) cm / 20.75 (20.75, 20.75, 20.75, 20.75, 23.25, 23.25, 23.25, 23.25)”. Finish on a Row 6.
Now we need to form the neck. While doing so keep working the cable pattern.
On the next row, cast off the middle 16 st (these are the stitches of the big central cable) and finish the row. Work the next row in pattern.
From here onwards, each side is worked separately. Start with the left side (as this is where your yarn is now).
On the next 5 right side rows cast off the first 2 stitches (at the neck area). Keep working the wrong sides in pattern. <28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60) st>
Work 2 more rows in pattern without casting off stitches. Then cast off all the remaining stitches and leave a long tail for sewing.
Go back to the other side. Join yarn and start with a row on the right side. On the next 5 wrong side rows cast off the 2 first stitches (at the neck area), follow the cable pattern for the rest of the row. Keep working the right sides rows in pattern.
Work 2 more rows in pattern without casting off stitches. Then cast off all the remaining stitches and leave a long tail for sewing.
Front Panel
The front panel is very similar to the back panel. I’ve bolded parts that are different to make sure you don’t miss them.
Cast on 92 (100, 108, 116, 124, 132, 140, 148, 156) st.
[k1, p1] across for 8 rows.
Row 1 (Right Side): P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), k4, p6, k2, p6, k4, p10, k16, p10, k4, p6, k2, p6, k4, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 2 (Wrong Side): K6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), p4, k6, p2, k6, p4, k10, p16, k10, p4, k6, p2, k6, p4, k6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 3: P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p10, k16, p10, k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), C4B, p6, k2, p6, C4B, p10, k16, p10, C4B, p6, k2, p6, C4B, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: P6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38), k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p10, C8B, C8F, p10, k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p6 (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38).
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat these 8 rows until you reach a total length of 48 (48, 48, 48, 48, 53.5, 53.5, 53.5, 53.5) cm / 19 (19, 19, 19, 19, 20.75, 20.75, 20.75, 20.75)”. Finish on a Row 6.
Now we need to form the neck as we did for the back panel. While doing so keep working the cable pattern.
On the next row, cast off the middle 16 st (these are the stitches of the big central cable) and finish the row. Work the next row in pattern.
From here onwards, each side is worked separately. Start with the left side (as this is where your yarn is now).
On the next 5 rows on the right side of the project cast off the first 2 stitches (at the neck area). Keep working the wrong side rows in pattern. <28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60) st>
Work an additional 5.5 cm /2.25” in pattern without casting off stitches. Then cast off all the remaining stitches and leave a long tail for sewing.
Go back to the other side. Join yarn and start with a row on the right side. On the next 5 wrong side rows cast off the 2 first stitches (at the neck area), follow the cable pattern for the rest of the row. Keep working the right side rows in pattern.
Work an additional 5.5 cm /2.25” in pattern without casting off stitches. Then cast off all the remaining stitches and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sleeves
Both sleeves are identical, make 2.
Cast on 56 (58, 60, 64, 66, 72, 80, 86, 92) st.
The sleeves are also made with an 8 row cable repeat. On the wrong side, all knit stitches are knit and all purl stitches are purled.
Sleeve Repeat:
Row 1: P17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35), k4, p6, k2, p6, k4, p17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35).
Row 2: K17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35), p4, k6, p2, k6, p4, k17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35).
Row 3: P17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35), k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35).
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: P17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35), C4B, p6, k2, p6, C4B, p17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35).
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: P17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35), k4, p6, C2F, p6, k4, p17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 32, 35).
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat these 8 rows for a total of 9 (9, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10) repeats. Finish on a Row 8. From here onwards, decrease on every Row 1 and 5 for a total of 6 decrease rows. Keep working the other rows in pattern.
The decreases are made 2 stitches from the edge on both sides: p2, p2tog, work in pattern until last 4 st, p2tog, p2.
Finish with a Row 6.
On the next row [p3, p2tog] repeat across to last 1 (3, 0, 4, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2) st, p to end. <45 (47, 48, 52, 53, 58, 64, 69, 74) st>
Finish with 8 rows of 1*1 ribs: [k1, p1] repeat across.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Blocking and Assembly
Put your needles to the side for now. Before sewing the pieces together, carefully block each part.
Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.
With the wrong sides out sew both panels together at the shoulder seams.
Attach the sleeve to the main panels. I like to fold the sleeve in half and start at the top to make sure it’s positioned in the middle. Sew the underside of the sleeve.
Finally, sew the sides closed.
Collar
Pick up 130 st around the neck section. Knit in the round in 1*1 ribbing: [k1, p1] around for 4 rounds.
Cast off and weave in all ends.
Enjoy your sweater!
I love seeing what you make! Share a picture of your project and tag me @knittingwithchopsticks or use #knittingwithchopsticks.
