The Twisted Cables Sweater, Free Pattern

The Idea

I love cable-knit patterns. They are beautiful to look at due to the intricacy of the interlacing and the different rhythms of the bands. Plus, it's truly the kind of sweater that makes a stunning impression, leaving your friends saying, 'Wow, you're really talented!'

However, I don't knit this type of pattern very often. I think it's because you have to stay very mentally present when knitting them, risking mistakes. So, it's not always easy to knit this type of sweater while watching TV or being on the train, which are my typical work moments. Also, the cable needles annoy me because mine constantly slip...

Nevertheless, for once, I had a strong desire to get back to it recently. Let's admit it, we are super proud of ourselves when we manage to tame this beast! And this time, I decided not to keep it simple and to design my own pattern!

The Inspiration

To get back into it, I chose to draw inspiration from the classic Sezane model, the James. I find it very nice with its central cable band and its button placket on the shoulder. Although, in the end, I chose not to put this placket on my final model so as not to stiffen it too much, I kept the principle of the motif on the body: a complex cable in the center, a simple twist on either side framed by large 8s with a textured center.

Several years ago, I was gifted a great book called '750 Knitting Stitches, the Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible' by St Martin's Griffin. It contains photos of fancy stitches, cables, etc., as well as instructions for reproducing them.

I used this book a lot to create this pattern, choosing the perfect cables to combine for a harmonious result.

I deviated from my inspiration in the choice of materials. I opted for a yarn mixed with mohair to have a fluffy effect and a more 'cuddly' feel.

For the Adaptations

I'll give you here all the instructions to reproduce this model in the same size as mine, which is an M/L, meaning a finished dimension of 55cm/21.6in wide by 55cm/21.6in high. If you want to modify it to fit your measurements, proceed as follows:

To widen or narrow the width, play with the number of purl stitches between the motifs. I plan for 5 as a base. Each stitch represents about 0.5cm. Add or reduce as needed to reach the measurements, making sure to work in pairs and symmetrically.
To increase or decrease the height, you can adjust the number of rib rows for small adjustments. Otherwise, you can add/reduce the number of repetitions of each motif. One repetition of the central motif is 5cm/1.9in, one of the simple cable is 4cm/1.6in, and one of the textured cable is 10cm/3.9in.

The pattern

The model is worked flat from bottom to top for the front and back. The sleeves and collar are knit in the round from the picked-up body stitches. The collar is made with an integrated hem and is finished with an elastic to maintain the opening's elasticity.

Materials: Approx. 880m/962 yards of yarn knitted with approx. 880m/962 yards of mohair. For a substitute, I recommend choosing a main material with structure like yak or alpaca blended wool, paired with a fluffier material like angora or brushed alpaca (but be careful with pilling effects).

Needles: Circular and double-pointed needles 4.5mm/US7 and 5mm/US8 or equivalents to achieve the correct gauge.

Gauge 10X10 cm: 18 stitches X 22 rows

Finished Size: 55cm/21.6in wide by 55cm/21.6in high for the body. 44cm/17.3in for the sleeves.

Abbreviations: see diagram

Front and Back Instructions:

Cast on 112 stitches on 4.5mm/US7 needles.
Knit 11 rows of 2/2 ribbing back and forth.
Continue on 5mm/US8 needles following the pattern 4 times in height, which is 96 more rows. Attention: place a marker on each side at the 60th row (start of the armholes).
On the 97th row, refer to the reduction diagrams for the back and front below to draw the necklines and shoulders.

Sleeves Instructions

Sew the back and front together up to the markers.
Pick up 72 stitches along the back and front with 5mm/US8 needles, 36 stitches on each side or 2 stitches every 3 rows.
Knit according to the diagram opposite, making sure to decrease 2 stitches every 10 rows by knitting 3 stitches together.
On the 97th row, switch to 4.5mm/US7 needles and knit 11 rows of 2/2 ribbing.
Bind off and repeat for the second sleeve in the same way.

Neckline Instructions

Pick up 84 stitches along the neckline of the front and back with 4.5mm/US7 needles.
Knit 9 rows in 1/1 ribbing.
Knit one purl row.
Knit 9 more rows in 1/1 ribbing and bind off.
Sew the top of the collar to the inside (it should fold right at the purl row) leaving a one-centimeter opening.
Slide a thin elastic inside to achieve the desired neckline dimension (mine is 47cm) and close the seam.
Weave in the ends and block.

And there you have it, a superb cable-knit sweater made at home!

Perfect for a boat trip or to stay warm at home!

Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, Facebook or Tiktok #terrifiknits and #twistedcablesweater or #pulltorduonce you're done or add this project to your Ravelry list ! Can't wait to discover your version !