Oxford Boyfriend Cardigan
With a collegiate look and a straight, boxy silhouette, this masculine cardigan has an instant lived-in feel to it. It's the kind of thing you never want to take off and the simplicity of the pattern makes it a quick knit that is sure to become a wardrobe staple. Scroll down for the free pattern, click here for the purchasable ad-free PDF.
If you've been following my designs for a while you know that uneven striping is my main jam. I love the combination of classic and whimsy and the uneven stripes tick both boxes. Worked up in Lion Brand's new Fast-Track yarn (which since this post has been discontinued), this cardigan has a bouncy but structured vibe that's perfect for chilly nights or breezy days.
When I first started working with Fast-Track, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. I've seen so many crocheted bags and bowls and home-related pieces made with similar style tape yarn, but I really wanted to do something unexpected with it. After attempting the typical crochet look I'd seen, I decided I was more drawn to the knitted fabric. I was really interested in making a sort of staple wardrobe piece, and a cardigan was the first thing that came to mind.
I got to work on this over the holidays while I was home in Ohio, and it provided the perfect environment to create this cozy every day cardigan. I finished it toward the beginning of teh trip and seriously wore it every day after (and maaaaaay still have it on a month later ...). It's so comfortable and seems to go with every outfit in my closet :) I hope it becomes an essential part of your wardrobe too!
MATERIALS:
4 skeins Lion Brand Fast Track in Dune Buggy Denim or approx. 596yds/544m of another super bulky weight, cat. 6 yarn for Color A
2 (3) skeins Lion Brand Fast Track in Truckers Taupe or approx. 298yds/272m (447yds/408m) of another super bulky weight, cat. 6 yarn for Color B
Size US 15 (10mm) circular needles, at least 29”/75cm long
Stitch holders or scrap yarn
Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
Width across back: 21”/53cm (S/M), 25”/63.5cm (L/XL)
Length: 25”/63.5cm (S/M), 27”/68.5cm (L/XL)
Sleeves: 19”/48cm
Collar: 4”/10cm (S/M), 4.5”/11cm (L/XL)
GAUGE:
10 sts x 13 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette
ABBREVIATIONS:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms*
CO - Cast on
K - Knit
K2tog - Knit 2 together
L - Left
P - Purl
Rep - Repeat
R - Right
RS - Right side
SSK - Slip, slip, knit
St(s) - Stitch(es)
Note: Garment is worked from the bottom up in three pieces. Sleeves are worked separately from the top down and seamed to garment. Collar is worked by picking up stitches along center fronts and back neckline. Do not cut yarn at the end of each color change; instead, carry the unused yarn up until it is used again to avoid weaving in many ends and wasting yarn. Be careful to follow the instructions for the size you are working: S/M (L/XL).
BACK:
With color A, CO 54 (64) sts.
Row 1-6: *K 1, P 1, rep from * across row.
Row 7 (RS): K.
Row 8: P.
Rows 9 and 10: Rep rows 7 and 8.
Change to color B.
Row 11: K.
Row 12: P.
Change to color A.
Row 13: K.
Row 14: P.
Rows 15 and 16: Rep rows 13 and 14.
Change to color B.
Row 17: K.
Row 18: P.
Rows 19-24: Rep rows 17 and 18.
Change to color A.
Row 25: K.
Row 26: P.
Change to color B.
Row 27: K.
Row 28: P.
Rows 29-34: Rep rows 27 and 28.
Change to color A.
Row 35: K.
Row 36: P.
Rows 37-40: Rep rows 35 and 36.
Change to color B.
Row 41: K.
Row 42: P.
Rows 43 and 44: Rep rows 41 and 42.
Change to color A.
Row 45: K.
Row 46: P.
Rows 47-52: Rep rows 45 and 46.
Change to color B. Row 53: K.
Row 54: P.
Change to color A. Row 55: K.
Row 56: P.
Size S/M only:
Shape armholes:
Row 57: Bind off 6 sts, K to end of row. (48 sts)
Row 58: Bind off 6 sts, P to end of row. (42 sts)
Row 59: K.
Row 60: P.
Row 61-66: Rep rows 59 and 60.
Change to color B.
Row 67: K.
Row 68: P.
Change to color A.
Row 69: K.
Row 70: P.
Rows 71-80: Rep rows 69 and 70.
Shape neckline:
Row 81: Bind off 3 sts, K 9, bind off next 16 sts, K to end of row. Place the 10 sts on the right side of the neckline on a stitch holder. You will now work the remaining sts on the needles to form the left shoulder.
Left shoulder:
Row 82 (L): Bind off 3 sts, P to end of row. (10 sts)
Row 83 (L): K.
Row 84 (L): Bind off 3 sts, P to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 85 (L): K.
Bind off remaining sts on needles. Rejoin yarn at right neckline and place sts from holder onto needles to form the right shoulder.
Right shoulder:
Row 82 (R): P.
Row 83 (R): Bind off 3 sts, K to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 84 (R): P.
Bind off remaining sts on needles.
Size L/XL only:
Rows 57-60: Rep rows 55 and 56.
Shape armholes:
Row 61: Bind off 6 sts, K to end of row. (58 sts)
Row 62: Bind off 6 sts, P to end of row. (52 sts)
Row 63: K.
Row 64: P.
Row 65-70: Rep rows 63 and 64.
Change to color B.
Row 71: K.
Row 72: P.
Change to color A.
Row 73: K.
Row 74: P.
Rows 75-88: Rep rows 73 and 74.
Shape neckline:
Row 89: Bind off 5 sts, K 11, bind off next 18 sts, K to end of row. Place the 12 sts on the right side of the neckline on a stitch holder. You will now work the remaining sts on the needles to form the left shoulder.
Left shoulder:
Row 90 (L): Bind off 5 sts, P to end of row. (12 sts)
Row 91 (L): K.
Row 92 (L): Bind off 5 sts, P to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 93 (L): K.
Bind off remaining sts on needles. Rejoin yarn at right neckline and place sts from holder onto needles to form the right shoulder.
Right shoulder:
Row 90 (R): P.
Row 91 (R): Bind off 5 sts, K to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 92 (R): P.
Bind off remaining sts on needles.
FRONT RIGHT:
With color A, CO 19 (23) sts.
Row 1: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to last st, K 1.
Row 2: *P 1, K 1, rep from * to last st, P 1.
Rows 3-6: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Size S/M only:
Row 7-56: Follow instructions as for back.
Row 57: K.
Shape armhole:
Row 58: Bind off 6 sts, P to end of row. (13 sts)
Row 59: K.
Row 60: P.
Row 61-66: Rep rows 59 and 60.
Change to color B.
Row 67: K.
Row 68: P.
Change to color A.
Row 69: K.
Row 70: P.
Rows 71-80: Rep rows 69 and 70.
Row 81: Rep row 69.
Shape shoulder:
Row 82: Bind off 3 sts, P to end of row. (10 sts)
Row 83: K.
Row 84: Bind off 3 sts, P to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 85: K.
Bind off.
Size L/XL only:
Row 7-60: Follow instructions as for back.
Row 61: K.
Shape armhole:
Row 62: Bind off 6 sts, P to end of row. (17 sts)
Row 63: K.
Row 64: P.
Row 65-70: Rep rows 63 and 64.
Change to color B.
Row 71: K.
Row 72: P.
Change to color A.
Row 73: K.
Row 74: P.
Rows 75-88: Rep rows 73 and 74.
Row 89: Rep row 73.
Shape shoulder:
Row 90: Bind off 5 sts, P to end of row. (12 sts)
Row 91: K.
Row 92: Bind off 5 sts, P to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 93: K.
Bind off.
FRONT LEFT:
Follow instructions as for Front Right through row 56 (60).
Size S/M only:
Shape armhole:
Row 57: Bind off 6 sts, K to end of row. (13 sts)
Row 58: P.
Row 59: K.
Row 60: P.
Row 61-66: Rep rows 59 and 60.
Change to color B.
Row 67: K.
Row 68: P.
Change to color A.
Row 69: K.
Row 70: P.
Rows 71-80: Rep rows 69 and 70.
Shape shoulder:
Row 81: Bind off 3 sts, K to end of row. (10 sts)
Row 82: P.
Row 83: Bind off 3 sts, K to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 84: P.
Bind off.
Size L/XL only:
Shape armhole:
Row 61: Bind off 6 sts, K to end of row. (17 sts)
Row 62: P.
Row 63: K.
Row 64: P.
Row 65-70: Rep rows 63 and 64.
Change to color B.
Row 71: K.
Row 72: P.
Change to color A.
Row 73: K.
Row 74: P.
Rows 75-88: Rep rows 69 and 70.
Shape shoulder:
Row 89: Bind off 5 sts, K to end of row. (12 sts)
Row 90: P.
Row 91: Bind off 5 sts, K to end of row. (7 sts)
Row 92: P.
Bind off.
SLEEVES (make 2):
With color A, CO 38 (44) sts.
Row 1 (RS): K.
Row 2: P.
Rows 3-20: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Row 21: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (36, 42 sts)
Row 22: P.
Row 23: K.
Row 24: P.
Row 25: K.
Row 26: P.
Row 27: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (34, 40 sts)
Row 28: P.
Change to color B.
Row 29: K.
Row 30: P.
Row 31: K.
Row 32: P.
Change to color A.
Row 33: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (32, 38 sts)
Row 34: P.
Change to color B.
Row 35: K.
Row 36: P.
Change to color A.
Row 37: K.
Row 38: P.
Row 39: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (30, 36 sts)
Row 40: P.
Row 41: K.
Row 42: P.
Row 43: K.
Row 44: P.
Change to color B.
Row 45: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (28, 34 sts)
Row 46: P.
Change to color A.
Row 47: K.
Row 48: P.
Row 49: K.
Row 50: P.
Row 51: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (26, 32 sts)
Row 52: P.
Row 53: K.
Row 54: P.
Change to color B.
Row 55: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (24, 30 sts)
Row 56: P.
Size S/M only:
Change to color A.
Row 57: K.
Size L/XL only:
Change to color A.
Row 57: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (28 sts)
All sizes:
Rows 58-63: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Bind off.
CONSTRUCTION:
Block each piece to reduce curling. Seam the two front pieces to the back at the shoulders. With front/back pieces laying open and unfolded at the shoulders, use the tapestry needle to seam the top of each sleeve first at the horizontal underarm, then up and around the shoulder, then at the underarm on the other side.
Fold sweater at shoulders and seam up each side to the underarm and then down the length of the sleeve. Secure and weave in all ends.
COLLAR:
With color B, starting at bottom right center front, and with right side facing up, pick up and knit 64 (70) sts evenly up the right front (approx. 3 sts per 4 rows), 24 (26) sts around back neck, and 64 (70) sts down the left front for a total of 152 (166) sts.
Rows 1-13 (15): *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Bind off loosely. Weave in any remaining ends.
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