Crystal Cardigan
10/21/2026
Designer: Samara Varela
Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials
• Alpaya: 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins, color 7694 (Crystal), 169 m per skein.
• US size 8 (5.0 mm) and US size 9 (5.5 mm) knitting needles.
• US size 8 (5.0 mm) circular knitting needle, 32 in / 80 cm long.
• 5 wooden buttons, 0.75 in / 2 cm in diameter.
• Tracing paper for the pattern pieces.
Stitch Guide
Stockinette Stitch: Knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side.
Reverse Stockinette Stitch: Purl on the right side, knit on the wrong side.
2 × 2 Ribbing: Knit 2, purl 2, knit 2.
Pattern Stitch: Multiple of 6 stitches plus 4.
• Row 1: Knit 1, purl 2, knit 4, purl 2, knit 1.
• Row 2 and all even-numbered rows: Purl.
• Rows 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 15: Knit.
• Row 9: Knit 4, purl 2, knit 4.
• Row 17: Repeat from Row 1.
Gauge
A 4 × 4 in / 10 × 10 cm square in Pattern Stitch, following the chart or written instructions, using US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles = 17 stitches × 21 rows.
Instructions
Transfer the pattern pieces to tracing paper to use as a reference while making the garment.
NOTE: The chart and the written instructions for the Pattern Stitch represent the same stitch pattern. Follow whichever method you prefer.
Back
Using Alpaya in Crystal, cast on 80 (88, 92, 100, 112, 116) stitches using US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles. Work in 2 × 2 Ribbing (knit 2, purl 2, knit 2).
At 3.25 in / 8 cm from the beginning of the work, change to US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles, increase 2 (0, 2, 0, 0, 2) stitches, and at the same time begin working in Pattern Stitch.
Total: 82 (88, 94, 100, 112, 118) stitches.
Continue in Pattern Stitch, following the chart or the written instructions (Row 1: knit 1, purl 2, knit 4, purl 2, knit 1), continuing according to your preferred method.
At 19.75 (20.5, 21.25, 22, 22.75, 23.5) in / 50 (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) cm from the beginning of the work, bind off.
Right Front
Using Alpaya in Crystal, cast on 40 (44, 44, 52, 56, 56) stitches using US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles. Work in 2 × 2 Ribbing (knit 2, purl 2, knit 2).
At 3.25 in / 8 cm from the beginning of the work, change to US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles, increase 0 (2, 2, 0, 2, 2) stitches, and at the same time begin working in Pattern Stitch.
Total: 40 (46, 46, 52, 58, 58) stitches.
Continue in Pattern Stitch, following the chart or the written instructions (Row 1: knit 1, purl 2, knit 4, purl 2, knit 1), continuing according to your preferred method.
At 12.5 (12.5, 13, 13.5, 13.5, 13.75) in / 32 (32, 33, 34, 34, 35) cm from the beginning of the work, shape the neckline by binding off at the right edge as follows:
S: Every 2nd row: 1 stitch 10 times; every 4th row: 1 stitch 3 times.
M: Every 2nd row: 1 stitch 12 times; every 4th row: 1 stitch 3 times.
L: Every 2nd row: 1 stitch 12 times; every 5th row: 1 stitch 3 times.
XL: Every 2nd row: 1 stitch 12 times; every 6th row: 1 stitch 3 times.
2XL: Every 2nd row: 1 stitch 12 times; every 7th row: 1 stitch 3 times.
3XL: Every 2nd row: 1 stitch 12 times; every 8th row: 1 stitch 3 times.
At 19.75 (20.5, 21.25, 22, 22.75, 23.5) in / 50 (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) cm from the beginning of the work, bind off.
Left Front
Work as for the Right Front, reversing shaping.
Sleeves
Using Alpaya in Crystal, cast on 56 (64, 68, 76, 80, 88) stitches using US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles. Work in 2 × 2 Ribbing (knit 2, purl 2, knit 2).
At 2.25 in / 6 cm from the beginning of the work, change to US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles, increase 2 (0, 2, 0, 2, 0) stitches, and at the same time begin working in Pattern Stitch.
Total: 58 (64, 70, 76, 82, 88) stitches.
Continue in Pattern Stitch, following the chart or the written instructions (Row 1: knit 1, purl 2, knit 4, purl 2, knit 1), continuing according to your preferred method.
At 8.25 (8.75, 8.25, 7.75, 7, 6.75) in / 21 (22, 21, 20, 18, 17) cm from the beginning of the work, bind off.
Make the second sleeve in the same way.
Finishing
Sew the shoulder seams.
Front and Back Neckband
With Alpaya in Crystal and the US size 8 (5.0 mm) circular needle, pick up stitches along the right side of the work, beginning at the Right Front, along the fronts and the back neckline, and work in 2 × 2 Ribbing.
At 0.75 in / 2 cm from the picked-up stitches, make 5 buttonholes (knit 2 stitches together, yarn over) on the Left Front, with the first buttonhole 1 cm from the edge, and the remaining buttonholes 3.25 (3.25, 3.25, 3.5, 3.5, 3.75) in / 8 (8, 8.5, 9, 9, 9.5) cm apart.
At 1.5 in / 4 cm from the picked-up stitches, bind off.
Set the sleeves into the armholes 7 (7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.5, 9.75) in / 18 (20, 21, 22, 24, 25) cm from each side of the shoulder seams.
Sew the side and sleeve seams.
Sew the buttons to the Right Front, aligned with the buttonholes on the Left Front.
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