I still remember the first time I knit a top down raglan sweater. It made no sense to me. I just couldn’t picture in my head what I was doing. Removing sleeve, working underarm. What were they talking about! This is why I’ve added a full workshop option for my new cardigan. This is a top down cardigan knit in a super soft chunky yarn, Franca. I wish I had a video tutorial the first time I was doing it. It would have taken so much of the guesswork out of it!

Of course if you’re a more experienced knitter and just want a cute, super fast cardigan to knit then Breac is the one for you! You can find the pattern by itself on both my website here and on Ravelry. It’s cropped to reduce the weight of the heavier yarn and add to the speed of knitting.

Construction

Breac begins at the neck, casting on all the stitches. The shoulders are shaped using raglan shoulder shaping. You can see that I’ve used an open, yarnover lace style increase. I really like this increase with a chunky yarn as it adds a bit of lightness to the fabric.

At the end of the yoke where you have all the increases complete but you still need a little extra length I’ve added an option to keep that lace pattern intact to the underarm.

To avoid having too much weight I’ve kept the cardigan length on the cropped side. Along the bottom garter hem I’ve echoed the yarnover lace detail with a little yarnover/cdd chevron detail around the bottom. As the yarn is heavier I left the sleeves nice and long as this is most likely to be worn I think as a cosy winter extra layer? It feels like putting on a cotton wool hug it’s so soft!

Pattern Details

So here are the details of the pattern size, yarn and gauge:

SIZES

To Fit Actual Bust Circumference Up To: 32.5 (34, 37.25, 40.5, 43.75, 47, 50, 53.25, 56.5, 58)”/ 82.5 (86.5, 94.5, 103, 111, 119.5, 127, 135.5, 143.5, 147.5) cm

1-3” / 2.5-7.5 cm of positive ease recommended.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust Circumference: 33.5 (35, 38.25, 41.5, 44.75, 48, 51, 54.25, 57.5, 59)”/ 85 (89, 97, 105.5, 113.5, 122, 129.5, 138, 146, 150), buttoned

Length: 17 (17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5, 20, 20.5, 21, 21.5)”/ 43 (44.5, 45.5, 47, 48.5, 49.5, 51, 52, 53.5, 54.5) cm

Size 35” / 89 cm modeled with approx. 0.5” / 1.5 cm of positive ease.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS

US size 13 / 9 mm circular needles, 40”/ 100 cm long (or longer for larger sizes)

US size 13 / 9 mm dpns if magic loop not being used for sleeves

Stitch markers (4 large and 4 lockable), waste yarn, tapestry needle, 1 button approx 1.5”/ 4 cm diam.

GAUGE

10 sts and 16 rows / rnds = 4″/ 10 cm in St St

10 sts and 21 rows / rnds = 4″/ 10 cm in Garter St

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Yarn Details

The yarn I used for my sample is Franca by Manos del Uruguay. It’s a singles superwash chunky yarn and it’s one of the softest yarns I’ve every held!

Chunky weight yarn approx. 422 (445, 507, 569, 631, 688, 754, 805, 876, 930) yds / 389 (410, 467, 524, 582, 634, 695, 742, 806, 856) m

Sample: Manos Del Uruguay ‘Franca’ (60% Merino, 20% Yak, 20% Linen; 114 yds / 105m per 1.76 oz / 50 g); colour: Indigo (F9052): 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) skeins

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Different Purchase Options

Pattern Only: Ravelry or Website

Kit Only Here

Workshop Only Here

If you want 10% off the workshop only you can use code TOPDOWN here before the end of January. (Note adding a bundle of the kit and pattern or workshop together on my website will save you 5% off the bundle).