Cropped High/Low Cable Cardigan
Design Journal
This is not a traditional knitting pattern.

It is a Design Journal documenting how this cardigan was constructed using Tuulia Salmela’s Tailored Sweater Method, with integrated cable panels and personal design decisions layered on top.

It assumes you are comfortable generating your own stitch counts and working from cable charts.

The Garment
A cropped, top-down cable cardigan with tailored shoulders, integrated front bands, and a slightly longer back hem created with short rows.

Cable panels begin at the shoulder cast-on and continue through the body and sleeves, including a compound cable at the centre back and sleeve caps. Faux seams add subtle structure. Four 3 cm buttons complete the front.
This is focused knitting — especially at the beginning, where short rows, cables, and shaping happen simultaneously.

Size
One size shown (fits approx. 95 cm bust as worn).

To create your size, generate your base garment using the Tailored Sweater Method spreadsheet and integrate the cable logic described in the journal.

Gauge (after blocking)
Body stockinette (flat): 15 sts / 10 cm, 23 rows / 10 cm
Sleeves & cable fabric: 17 sts / 10 cm, 23 rows / 10 cm
Body and sleeve gauges differ intentionally.

Materials
• Approx. 460 g mixed stash yarn (3 strands held together)
• 5 mm and 4 mm circular needles
• Cable needle
• 4 buttons (3 cm)
• Small amounts of crochet cotton and silk yarn for optional embroidery

Skills Required
• Familiarity with the Tailored Sweater Method
• Confident cable sourcing and knitting from charts
• Short rows
• Vertical buttonholes
• Basic crochet

What You’ll Find Inside
• How cables were integrated from the shoulder cast-on
• Waist shaping decisions
• Cropped front / longer back shaping
• Sleeve cable placement
• Button spacing logic
• Embroidery additions
• Reflections on managing complexity at the start

This journal is for knitters who enjoy autonomy, problem-solving, and understanding how a garment evolved — not just following instructions.

If you like structured silhouettes, uninterrupted cable lines, and thoughtful construction, this document invites you to explore the process behind the piece.