Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
If you loved Baby Wheat Cardigan and Youth Wheat Cardigan and wanted on for yourself, you’re in luck! Adult Wheat Cardigan is FINALLY here!
Everything you loved about Wheat Cardigan for the smaller sizes – crew neck, button up, over-sized, super soft yarn, simple lace – is now in a size for you! I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to have my own.
Fair warning though, it is a fingering weight sweater so she is a labor of love. But I promise, she is totally worth it. The fingering weight makes it a perfect cool spring/summer night layer or a great layer for those buildings with the a/c pumping a little too strongly.
To pick up the yarn for this project, Knit Picks Capretta, click here.
Materials and Info
Size: xs, s (m, l) xl, 2x (3x, 4x)
Materials: Approximately 8, 8 (9, 9) 10, 10 (12, 13) balls of KnitPick Capretta (230y/50g), 13, 13 (13, 13) 13, 14 (14, 14) 3/8in buttons, yarn needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 1(US) 2.5mm & 2(US) 3mm straight and dpn
Gauge (tension): 32sts & 40 rows to make 10cm square, using size 2(US) 3mm needles
Chest Measurement: 74, 78 (82, 90) 98, 107 (119, 131) cm
METHOD
This pattern is for a drop sleeve style that is worked flat from the bottom up with 10cm of ease.
Row 1 – k5, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 2 – purl across
Row 3 – k4, k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 4 – purl across
Row 5 – k3, k2tog, k5, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 6 – purl across
Row 7 – k2, k2tog, k6, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
Row 8 – purl across
Row 9 – k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k4
Row 10 – purl across
Row 11 – k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k3
Row 12 – purl across
Row 13 – k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k5, ssk, k2
Row 14 – purl across
Row 15 – k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k6, ssk, k1
Row 16 – purl across
Note: when increasing or decreasing be sure there is a dec for every inc
Adult Wheat Cardigan Pattern
BACK
Cast on 142, 144 (156, 162) 170, 190 (212, 226) sts using the smaller circular needles
Work 2.5 cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Start your lace pattern as follows:
knit 1, 2 (1, 4) 1, 4 (1, 1) sts, work in lace pattern until you have 1, 2 (1, 4) 1, 4 (1, 1) sts remaining, knit across.
Work in lace pattern until your work measures 35, 35 (35, 35) 35, 35 (35, 35) cm OR desired length (underarm to bottom) measured from the cast-on edge. Place markers on each end of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 53.5, 54 (54.5, 55) 56, 57 (58, 58.5) cms from cast on edge ending after completing a wrong side row. (If you added or subtracted length for a customized cast on-underarm measurement, be sure to add or subtract the difference from 35cm to this number. Example: you knit 37cms to underarm, so add 2cms to this measurement)
SHOULDERS
Bind off 12, 12 (14, 15) 15, 18 (21, 23) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Bind off 12, 12 (14, 15) 15, 18 (21, 23) sts at the beginning of the next row, work 19, 19 (20, 20) 22, 25 (27, 28) sts put remaining sts on a stitch holder or spare yarn.
Turn and bind off 5 sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off remaining 14, 14 (15, 15) 17, 20 (22, 23) sts
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to the sts on the stitch holder/spare yarn, bind off 56, 58 (60, 62) 66, 68 (74, 78) sts, work remaining 31, 31 (34, 35) 37, 43 (48, 51) sts.
Bind off 12, 12 (14, 15) 15, 18 (21, 23) sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off 5 sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off remaining 14, 14 (15, 15) 17, 20 (22, 23) sts
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 70, 70 (76, 79) 84, 93 (104, 111) sts using smaller needle.
Work 2.5 cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Start your lace pattern as follows:
knit 0, 0 (3, 4) 0, 4 (3, 0) sts, work in lace pattern until you have 0, 0 (3, 5) 0, 5 (3, 1) sts remaining, knit across.
Work in lace pattern until your work measures 35, 35 (35, 35) 35, 35 (35, 35) cm OR same measurement as length to sleeve marker on back, measured from the cast-on edge. Place marker on sleeve end of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 47, 47.5 (47.5, 48) 48.5 49 (49, 49.5) cms from cast on edge ending after completing a right-side row. (If you added or subtracted length for a customized cast on-underarm measurement, be sure to add or subtract the difference from 35cm to this number. Example: you knit 37cms to underarm, so add 2cms to this measurement)
NECK
Next row – Bind off 18, 18 (19, 20) 22, 21 (23, 24) work to end of row [52, 52 ( 57, 59) 62, 72 (81, 87) sts]
Decrease 1 st at the neck edge of the next 8, 8 (8, 8) 9, 9 (10, 10) rows. [44, 44 (49, 51) 53, 63 (71, 77) sts]
Decrease 1 st at neck edge every other row 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 5 (5, 5) times [40, 40 (45, 47) 49, 58 (66, 72) sts]
Decrease 1 st at neck edge every 4th row 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 3) times [38, 38 (43, 45) 47, 56 (64, 69) sts]
Continue in pattern until work measures 53.5, 54 (54.5, 55) 56, 57 (58, 58.5) cms OR the same as the back (from cast on edge to right before shoulder shaping begins), ending after completing a wrong side row.
SHOULDERS
Bind off 12, 12 (14, 15) 15, 18 (21, 23) sts, work to end of row.
Work the next row without shaping.
Bind off 12, 12 (14, 15) 15, 18 (21, 23) sts, work to end of row.
Work the next row without shaping.
Bind off remaining 14, 14 (15, 15) 17, 20 (22, 23) sts
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 70, 70 (76, 79) 84, 93 (104, 111) sts using smaller needle.
Work 2.5 cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Start your lace pattern as follows:
knit 0, 0 (3, 5) 0, 5 (3, 1 sts, work in lace pattern until you have 0, 0 (3, 4) 0, 4 (3, 0) sts remaining, knit across.
Work in lace pattern until your work measures 35, 35 (35, 35) 35, 35 (35, 35) cm OR same measurement as length to sleeve marker, measured from the cast-on edge. Place marker on sleeve end of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 47, 47.5 (47.5, 48) 48.5, 49 (49, 49.5) cms from cast on edge, ending after completing a wrong side row. (If you added or subtracted length for a customized cast on-underarm measurement, be sure to add or subtract the difference from 35cm to this number. Example: you knit 37cms to underarm, so add 2cms to this measurement)
NECK
Next row – Bind off 18, 18 (19, 20) 22, 21 (23, 24) work to end of row [52, 52 (57, 59) 62, 72 (81,87) sts]
Decrease 1 st at the neck edge of the next 8, 8 (8, 8) 9, 9 (10, 10) rows. [44, 44 (49, 51) 53, 63 (71, 77) sts]
Decrease 1 st at neck edge every other row 4, 4 (4, 4) 4, 5 (5, 5) times [40, 40 (45, 47) 49, 58 (66, 72) sts]
Decrease 1 st at neck edge every 4th row 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 2 (2, 3) times [38, 38 (43, 45) 47, 56 (64, 69) sts]
Continue in pattern until work measures 53.5, 54 (54.5, 55) 56, 57 (58, 58.5) cms from cast on edge, ending after completing a right-side row.
SHOULDERS
Bind off 12, 12 (14, 15) 15, 18 (21, 23) sts, work to end of row.
Work the next row without shaping.
Bind off 12, 12 (14, 15) 15, 18 (21, 23) sts, work to end of row.
Work the next row without shaping.
Bind off remaining 14, 14 (15, 15) 17, 20 (22, 23) sts.
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
Cast on now 72, 72 (72, 72) 72, 72 (86, 86) sts on smaller circular/straight needles.
Work 2.5 cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles
Start the lace pattern as follows:
Knit 1, work lace pattern to last st, knit across
Work 3 more rows in lace pattern.
Next row: inc 1 sts on each end of the next row, then every 4th row 12, 16 (19, 23) 30, 38 (25, 36) times, then every 6th row 15, 14 (11, 9) 5, 0 (9, 2) times. 128, 130 (134, 138) 144, 150 (156, 164) sts]
Continue working in lace pattern until work measures 43, 43.5 (44, 45) 46, 46.5 (47, 47.5) cms from cast on edge. Bind of all stitches.
NECK
Join both shoulder seams, using yarn on a tapestry/yarn needle.
With right side facing and smaller needles pick up and knit 18, 18 (19, 20) 22, 21 (23, 24) sts along right from bind off edge, 27, 27 (27, 28) 29, 30 (32, 35) sts up right front of neck, 66, 68 (70, 72) 76, 78 (84, 88) sts from back neck, 27, 27 (27, 28) 29, 30 (32, 35) sts up left front and side of neck, 18, 18 (19, 20) 22, 21 (23, 24) sts along left from bind off edge. [156, 158 (162, 168) 178, 180 (194, 206) sts]
Work 2.5 cms of (k1, p1) rib.
Bind off all sts in pattern.
FRONT RIB EDGES
LEFT FRONT EDGE
Pick up and knit 163, 163 (167, 169) 169, 176 (176, 176) sts along the edge with the smaller sized circular needles.
Work 9 rows of rib (k1, p1).
Bind off in established rib pattern.
RIGHT FRONT EDGE
Pick up and knit 163, 163 (167, 169) 169, 176 (176, 176) sts along the edge with the smaller sized circular needles.
Work 4 rows in k1p1 ribbing.
Buttonhole row: Work 2, 2 (4, 5) 5, 2 (2, 2) sts in established rib pattern, k2tog yo, *work 11 sts in established rib pattern, work k2tog, yarn over*, repeat from * to * to the last 3, 3 (5, 6) 6, 3 (3, 3) sts, work 3, 3 (5, 6) 6, 3 (3, 3) sts in rib.
Work 4 rows in k1p1 ribbing.
Bind off in established rib pattern.
FINISHING
Sew the sleeves on, side seams and sleeve seams. I prefer to use the mattress stitch because it almost appears seamless. Weave in all ends. Sew the buttons on along the left front edge across from the buttonholes.
Abbreviations
K – knit
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
K2tog -knit 2 stitches together
YO – yarn over
SSK – slip, slip, knit the slipped sts together
M1R – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from back to front, then knit this strand
M1L – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from front to back, then knit this strand through the back loop
Download Adult Wheat Cardigan PDF
