The Brick and Mortar Cardigan is a drop shoulder cardigan with a cropped, boxy fit and options for either puffed or tapered sleeves. It utilizes two different yarn weights and slipped stitches to create a pattern that looks like stacked bricks.

The cardigan is constructed seamlessly from the top down, starting with the back neck and working shoulder and front increases until the desired shoulder width is achieved. The piece is then separated into the back, left, and right front sections which are knit to the depth of the armholes while finishing front increases before being rejoined to knit the body flat in one piece. The body is then placed on hold before working the hem. The button band is picked up and worked in 1x1 ribbing in both directions starting at the center back neck. The button band and body stitches are then rejoined to work the bottom hem in one piece in 1x1 ribbing. The hem is finished with a sewn Italian bind off.

Stitches are then picked up around the armholes and the sleeves are knit either straight with decreases just before the cuff to create a puff sleeve, or with gradual decreases to create a tapered sleeve before the cuff is knit in 1x1 ribbing. The cuffs are finished with a sewn Italian bind off to match the body hem.

The slip stitch pattern becomes very intuitive once established, and this pattern includes full row-by-row directions for every size and video tutorials for starting the button band and working short rows.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) (8, 9, 10)

Finished Measurements
All measurements are rounded to the nearest 1” or 0.5cm

Bust/body circumference
38 (42, 46, 50) (54, 58, 62) (66, 70, 74)” / 96.5 (106.5, 117, 127) (137, 147, 157.5) (167.5, 178, 188) cm

Sleeve length (puff)
14 (14.5, 14.5, 14.5) (14.5, 15, 15) (15, 15.5, 15.5)” / 36 (37, 37, 37) (37, 38, 38) (38, 39, 39) cm

Sleeve length (tapered)
15 (15.5, 15.5, 15.5) (15.5, 16, 16) (16, 16.5, 16.5)” / 38 (39, 39, 39) (39, 40.5, 40.5) (40.5, 42, 42) cm

Cuff circumference (puff)
7 (7, 8, 8) (8, 8.75, 8.75) (9.5, 9.5, 9.5)” / 18 (18, 20, 20) (20, 22, 22) (24, 24, 24) cm

Cuff circumference (tapered)
8 (8, 9.5, 9.5) (9.5, 11, 11) (12.5, 12.5, 12.5)” / 20 (20, 24, 24) (24, 28, 28) (32, 32, 32) cm

Upper arm circumference
14 (14, 16, 16) (16, 18, 18) (20, 20, 20)” / 35.5 (35.5, 40.5, 40.5) (40.5, 45.5, 45.5) (51, 51, 51) cm

Length (collar to hem)
21 (22, 22, 22) (22, 23, 23) (23, 24, 24)” / 55 (56, 56, 56) (56, 58.5, 58.5) (58.5, 61, 61) cm

Notes on choosing a size
This cardigan is designed to be worn with 4-10” / 15-25 cm recommended positive ease at the bust. A size closer to the lower end of the recommended ease range will result in a more traditional fit, while a size closer to the higher end of the recommended ease range will result in an oversized fit.
If you are knitting for a body with greater than a 3” / 7.5 cm difference between the full and upper bust measurements, sizing down or using the upper bust measurement can help you choose a size that will achieve the desired fit. I am modeling both fits so you can decide which look you’re going for!

Tan/grey sample shown in Size 3 on 41” / 104 cm full bust, 38” / 96.5 cm upper bust circumference with a tapered sleeve (traditional fit with 5” ease at the full bust).

Pink/cream sample shown in Size 4 on 41” / 104 cm full bust, 38” / 96.5 cm upper bust circumference with a puff sleeve (oversized fit with 9” ease at the full bust).

Suggested Needles
Main: US 8 / 5.0 mm
Ribbing: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge and a fabric you love.

Yarn
MC: 800 (850, 925, 1000) (1075, 1150, 1250) (1350, 1475, 1575) yds /
732 (777, 846, 914) (983, 1052, 1143) (1234, 1349, 1440) m worsted/aran weight blown yarn

CC: 275 (300, 340, 385) (435, 500, 565) (635, 725, 820) yds /
252 (274, 311, 352) (398, 457, 517) (581, 663, 750) m fingering weight yarn

These are just approximations and cover both sleeve shaping options (the difference between the two amounts was subtle). The total amount used will depend on the yarn you use, your gauge, and any modifications you may make.

Recommended Yarn
MC: The Wandering Flock Fluff (35% Baby Suri / 15% Wool / 50% Pima Cotton, 131 yds / 120 m per 50g)
CC: The Wandering Flock Fingering Singles (100% Extra Fine Superwash Merino Wool, 400 yds / 365 m per 100g)

Pink/cream sample uses Fluff in “Rosewood” and Fingering Singles in “Dune”
Tan/grey sample uses Fluff in “Sand” and Fingering Singles in “Black Jeans”

Notions

• 3 buttons, 23-25mm
• Stitch marker for BOR
• 4 or more additional stitch markers for marking shoulder and edge seam stitches
• 6 removable stitch markers for marking button placement
• Spare yarn or stitch holders for placing stitches on hold
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors

Gauge
20 sts & 32 rows = 4”/10 cm on main needle
Measured over Brick & Mortar slip stitch pattern knit flat, after blocking (pattern includes swatching instructions)

21 sts & 36 rows = 4” / 10 cm on Ribbing needle, measured over 1x1 ribbing knit flat, after blocking

Techniques Used

• Long-tail cast on
• Backwards loop cast on
• Judy’s Magic or Turkish cast on
• German short rows
• Increasing and decreasing
• Picking up stitches
• Slipping stitches
• Using multiple yarn colors and weights
• Italian bind off
• Buttonholes
• Sewing on buttons

Note: Sizes 8, 9, and 10 have not been tested. If you’re interested in knitting one of these sizes and would like to receive the pattern in exchange for feedback, please reach out to me!