This is a great easy knit cardigan – perfect for beginners or for those looking for a quick and satisfying project. There are no stitches to pick up for the edges, as they’re knitted as you go, which makes this an ideal “first cardigan” pattern. Or maybe it’s one of those “I love that yarn shade and need a cardigan to match” kind of projects!

I love designing from knitters’ requests. Sometimes they’re passing comments, shared as someone browses yarn for their next project – little dreams or wishes that I make a note of and add to my ever-growing list. This V neck cardigan came from one of those moments, as a knitter picked yarn for the Philippa Jumper.

There are so many shapes we all like to have in our wardrobe – I don’t think I’m alone in that! For me, a soft handknit jumper brings comfort on cold winter days, but as the seasons change, I find myself reaching for a simple, stylish V neck cardigan like this one. Wool is brilliant at regulating temperature, and because the Purl &Jane studio always seems to stay cool, I wear my woollens all year round.

I’m planning to wear this cardigan through every season… and of course, after this was in the studio, another knitter said they’d love a sleeveless version. So I designed the Matilda Waistcoat too!

CONSTRUCTION
The back, left front, right front and two sleeves are knitted flat from the bottom up in separate pieces and joined together. The sleeves are set in. The neck edge is knitted at the same time as when knitting the fronts so no stitches to pick up.

TECHNIQUES USED
Cast on, knit, purl, increasing on sleeves, decreasing on main pieces, buttonholes, cast off, sewing on buttons. Joining seams. Optional but recommended to create a joy of joining your pieces: mattress stitch and three needle cast off.

YARN
5(6:6:7:7) 100g WYS Bluefaced Leicester Aran.
100% British Bluefaced Leicester wool, 166m/182yds per 100g

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
5mm.

NOTIONS
One button.

GAUGE (tension)
18 stitches and 24 rows to 10cm/4ins square over stocking stitch pattern. I obtained this gauge with 5mm needles.
It is important to obtain the correct gauge so do work a swatch before you start the pattern and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
I recommend a negative to positive ease of 0-4ins/0-10cm at the chest.

Size
1, (2, 3, 4, 5)

Chest circumference
88, (97, 109, 121, 130)cm
34½, (38, 42¾, 47½, 51)ins

Length (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
58, (60, 64, 66, 68)cm
22¾, (23½, 25¼, 26, 26¾)ins

Sleeve length (from underarm to cast on edge)
44, (44, 44, 44, 44)cm
17½, (17½, 17½, 17½, 17½)ins

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.