Men's Cowichan Cardigan Pattern
This Cochiwan style cardigan pays homage to a beautiful Salish knitting tradition.
Channel the spirit of Jeff Bridges' character from The Big Lebowski in the this men's Cowichan knit cardigan. This rustic knit cardigan pattern is an ode to The Dude as well as laid back men in general. Featuring an eagle motif as well as fair isle stitch work, the Men's Nordic Cardigan is sure to become your knitting pride and joy.
Knitting Needle Size10.5 or 6.5 mm, 11 or 8 mm
Yarn Weight(5) Bulky/Chunky (12-15 stitches for 4 inches)
Gauge11 sts and 16 rows = 4" [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.
Materials List
- Bernat® Roving (3.5 oz/100 g; 120 yds/109 m)
- Main Color (MC) Rice Paper (00100) - 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6) balls
- Contrast A Putty (00032) - 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6) balls
- Contrast B Flint (00033) - 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) balls
- Sizes U.S. 10½ (6.5 mm) and U.S. 11 (8 mm) knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
- 3 st holders
- Separating zipper
Pattern
Measurements
Finished bust/chest:
Extra-Small/Small 40" [101.5 cm]
Medium 44" [112 cm]
Large 48" [122 cm]
Extra-Large 50" [127 cm]
2/3 Extra-Large 58" [147.5 cm]
4/5 Extra-Large 64" [162.5 cm]
Instructions
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written
thus ( ). Numbers for each size are shown in the same color throughout the pattern. When only one number is given in black, it applies to all sizes.
BACK
With smaller needles and A, cast on 57 (61-67-69-79-89) sts.
1st row: (RS). K1. *P1. K1. Rep from * to end of row.
2nd row: P1. *K1. P1. Rep from * to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows rows of (K1. P1) ribbing for 3" [7.5 cm], ending on a 2nd row.
Change to larger needles and proceed in stocking st for 2 rows, ending on a purl row. With MC, work 2 rows in stocking st.
Work Chart I in stocking st until row 52 of Chart is complete, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right. (Chart I is shown below)
Raglan shaping
Keeping cont of Chart I, cast off 2 sts beg next 2 rows. 53 (57-63-65-75- 85) sts.
Dec 1 st each end of needle on next and every following alt row 13 (13-13-12-10-5) times more. 25 (29-35-39-53-73) sts.
Purl 1 row.
Dec 1 st each end of needle on next 2 (4-6-8-14-24) rows. 21
(21-23-23-25-25) sts.
Cast off.
Pocket Linings (make 2)
With larger needles and A, cast on 15 sts. Work 15 rows in stocking st. Break yarn. Leave sts on a st holder.
LEFT FRONT
**With smaller needles and A, cast on 31 (33-35-37-41-47) sts. Work 3" [7.5 cm] in (K1. P1) ribbing as given for Back, ending on a 2nd row and inc 0 (0-1-0-1-0) st in center of last row. 31 (33-36-37-42-47) sts.**
Change to larger needles and proceed as follows:
Next row: (RS). With A, knit to last 2 sts. P1. K1.
Next row: Sl1P. Purl to end of row.
Next row: With MC, knit to last 2 sts. P1. K1.
Next row: Sl1P. Purl to end of row.
Next row: Work 1st row of Chart II to end of row, reading row from right to left. With MC, P1. K1.
Next row: With MC, Sl1P. P1. Work 2nd row of Chart II to end of row, reading row from left to right.
(Chart II is shown below).
Chart II is now in position.
(Note: Center front 2 sts are not shown on Chart II and are worked in MC throughout).
Cont working Chart II until row 14 of Chart is complete.
Pocket placement:
Next row: (RS). Work Chart across 7 (9-12-13-18-23) sts. Cast off next 15 sts. Pat to last 2 sts. With MC, P1. K1.
Next row: With MC, Sl1P. P1. Work Chart across 7 sts. P15 from pocket st holder. Work Chart to end of row.
Work Chart II until row 52 of Chart is complete.
Raglan shaping:
Cast off 2 sts beg next row (armhole edge). 29 (31-34-35-40-45) sts.
Work 1 row even.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge on next and every following alt row 6 times more. 22 (24-27-28-33- 38) sts.
Sizes XS/S, M, L, XL and 2/3XL only:
Neck shaping:
Next row: (WS). Cast off 3 sts. Work Chart to end of row. 19 (21-24-25-30) sts.
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to end of row. Rep last 2 rows twice more. 10 (12-15-16-21) sts.
Next row: (RS). Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work Chart to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 3 (4-4-3-1) time(s) more. 2 (2-5-8-17) sts.
Sizes XL and 2/3XL only:
Next row: (RS). Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog. Rep last 2 rows (1-4) time(s) more. 2 sts.
Size 4/5XL only:
Neck shaping:
Next row: (WS). Cast off 3 sts. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog. 34 sts.
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog. Rep last row 6 times more. 20 sts.
Next row: (WS). Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog. Rep last 2 rows 5 times more. 2 sts.
All sizes:
Next row: P2.
Next row: K2tog. Fasten off.
RIGHT FRONT
Work from ** to ** as given for Left Front. Change to larger needles, A and proceed as follows:
Next row: (RS). Sl1. P1. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: With MC, Sl1. P1. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: With MC, Sl1. P1. Work 1st row of Chart III to end of row, reading row from right to left.
Next row: Work 2nd row of Chart III to last 2 sts, reading row from left to right. With MC, P2. (Chart III is shown below).
Chart III is now in position.
(Note: Center front 2 sts are not shown on Chart III and are worked in MC throughout).
Work Chart III until row 14 of Chart is complete.
Pocket placement:
Next row: (WS). With MC, Sl1. P1. Work Chart across 7 sts. Cast off next 15 sts. Work Chart to end of row.
Next row: Work Chart across 7 (9-12-13-18-23) sts. P15 from pocket st holder. Pat to last 2 sts.
With MC, P2.
Work Chart III until row 53 of Chart is complete.
Raglan shaping:
Cast off 2 sts beg next row (armhole edge). 29 (31-34-35-40-45) sts.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge on next and every alt row 6 times more. 22 (24-27-28-33-38) sts.
Sizes XS/S, M, L, XL and 2/3XL only:
Neck shaping:
Next row: (WS). Work Chart to last 3 sts.
Cast off last 3 sts.
Next row: Rejoin yarn to rem sts. Work2tog (neck edge). Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog. Rep last 2 rows twice more. 10 (12-15-16-21) sts.
Next row: (RS). Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work Chart to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 3 (4-4-3-1) time(s) more. 2 (2-5-8-17) sts.
Sizes XL and 2/3XL only:
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to end of row. Rep last 2 rows (1-4) time(s) more. 2 sts.
Size 4/5XL only:
Neck shaping:
Next row: (WS). Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Cast off last 3 sts. 34 sts.
Next row: Rejoin yarn to rem sts. Work2tog (neck edge). Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog.
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog. Rep last row 5 times more. 20 sts.
Next row: (WS). Work2tog.
Work Chart to end of row.
Next row: Work2tog. Work Chart to last 2 sts. Work2tog. Rep last 2 rows 5 times more. 2 sts.
All sizes:
Next row: P2.
Next row: K2tog. Fasten off.
SLEEVES
With smaller needles and A, cast on 29 (29-31-31-33-33) sts. Work 3" [7.5 cm] in (K1. P1) ribbing as given for Back, ending with a 2nd row and inc 1 st in center of last row. 30 (30-32- 34-36-36) sts.
Change to larger needles and work Chart IV for Left Sleeve or Chart V for Right Sleeve in stocking st to end of Chart, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right and inc 1 st each end of needle on 7th and every following 6th row to 44 (44-46- 48-50-50) sts. (Charts IV and V shown below).
Raglan shaping:
Cast off 2 sts beg next 2 rows. 40 (40-42-44-46-46) sts.
Dec 1 st each end of needle on next and every alt row 13 (13-15- 16-17-17) times more, then dec 1 st each end of needle on every row 2 (2-0-0-0-0) times more.
Cast off rem 8 (8-8-10-10-10) sts.
FINISHING
Sew raglan seams.
Collar:
With smaller needles and A, cast on 3 sts.
1st row: (RS). Sl1. (Inc 1 st in next st) twice. 5 sts.
2nd row: Sl1. Knit to end of row.
3rd row: Sl1. Inc 1 st in next st. Knit to last 2 sts. Inc 1 st in next st. K1.
4th row: Sl1. Knit to end of row. Rep last 2 rows 8 (8-9-9-10-10) times more. 23 (23-25-25-27- 27) sts. Place marker at each end of needle.
Cont in garter st (knit every row) until Collar from markers
measures 13½ (14-14½-14½-15- 15)" [34.5 (35.5-37-37-38-38) cm], ending on a WS row.
Next row: Sl1. K2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. K2tog.
Next row: Sl1. Knit to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 8 (8-9-9-10-10) times more. 3 sts. Cast off.
Sew Collar to neck edge. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew pocket linings in position on WS. Sew zipper in position.
Chart I
Chart II and III
Chart IV and V