by Naomi Odean

There's nothing cozier than an oversized sweater on a cold gray morning. This one features what looks like one wide cable winding up the center.

Very large cables generally don't work very well, though. They're difficult to knit and pull the fabric around them so that it puckers weirdly. This pattern gets around that problem by forming a large 12 stitch cable out of several smaller cables. The cable splits at the neckline to form a flattering wide v.

It's a quick project for a sweater, and a fun variation on the traditional cable.

SIZE
XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size S with 6" ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 35.5[39, 42.5, 46, 49.5, 53, 56.5] inches
Length: 23[23, 23, 23, 23, 23, 23] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
GGH Husky [50% acrylic, 50% wool; 55yd/50m per 50g skein]; white; 11[12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #13/9mm needles

Notions
Yarn needle

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

2/2 RC (right leaning cable over 4 sts):
sl 2 sts to cn and hold at back, k2, k2 from cn.

DIRECTIONS

Rep Rows 1-24 2 more times (total of 72 rows worked).

Put 22[24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34] sts for left front on waste yarn.

Size XS only:
Row 11 [RS]: K2tog, k4. 5 sts. 1 st decreased.

Sizes S[M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] only:
Row 11 [RS]: P2tog, 0[0, 0, 0, 1, 1] times, p1[3, 4, 4, 5, 7], k2tog, k5. 7[9, 10, 10, 12, 14] sts. 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2] sts decreased.
Row 12 [WS]: P5, p2tog, k0[2, 3, 3, 5, 7]. 6[8, 9, 9, 11, 13] sts. 1 st decreased.

Sizes M[L, 2X, 3X] only:
Row 13 [RS]: P1[2, 4, 6], k2tog, k5. 7[8, 10, 12] sts. 1 st decreased.
Row 14 [WS]: P6, k1[2, 4, 6]

Size 3X only:
Row 15 [RS]: P5, k2tog, k5. 11 sts. 1 st decreased.

All sizes:
5[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] sts remain for shoulder.
Work even in pattern as set until armhole measures 7.75[8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.5, 10.75] inches.
BO 5[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] sts.

Size XS only:
Row 11 [WS]: P2tog, p4. 5 sts. 1 st decreased.

Sizes S[M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] only:
Row 11 [WS]: K2tog, 0[0, 0, 0, 1, 1] times, k1[3, 4, 4, 5, 7], ssp, p5. 7[9, 10, 10, 12, 14] sts. 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2] sts decreased.
Row 12 [RS]: K5, ssk, p0[2, 3, 3, 5, 7]. 6[8, 9, 9, 11, 13] sts. 1 st decreased.

Sizes M[L, 2X, 3X] only:
Row 13 [WS]: K1[2, 4, 6], ssp, p5. 7[8, 10, 12] sts. 1 st decreased.
Row 14 [RS]: K6, p1[2, 4, 6]

Size 3X only:
Row 15 [WS]: K5, ssp, p5. 11 sts. 1 st decreased.

All sizes:
5[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] sts remain for shoulder.

Work even in pattern as set until armhole measures 7.75[8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.5, 10.75] inches.
BO 5[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] sts.

BO 3[3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts at start of next two rows.

Decrease by one stitch at start of every row for 4[6, 8, 8, 8, 10, 12] rows. 34[36, 38, 42, 44, 46, 48] sts. 4[6, 8, 8, 8, 10, 12] sts decreased.

Continue to work back neck as follows:
Row 1 [RS]: P2tog, p10[11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17], bind off 10 center sts, p11[12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18].

Row 2 [WS]: K2tog k10[11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17]; attach a second ball to the other side and k11[12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18].

Row 3 [RS]: P2tog, p7[8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14], p2tog; p2tog, p9[10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16].

Row 4 [WS]: K2tog, k6[7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13], k2tog; k2tog, k7[8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14].

Row 5 [RS]: P2tog, p4[5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11], p2tog; p2tog, p6[7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13].

Row 6 [WS]: K2tog, k3[4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10], k2tog; k2tog, k4[5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11].

Sizes L[1X, 2X, 3X] only:
Row 7 [RS]: P6[7, 8, 9] p2tog; p2tog, p6[7, 8, 9].

All sizes:
Work in reverse stockinette stitch until armhole measures 7.75[8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.5, 10.75] inches.
BO 5[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] sts on each side.

SLEEVES (make two the same)
Cast on 23[24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29] sts

Work in reverse stockinette for 26 rows (or until your elbow), then increase one stitch on each side every 6[6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3] rows 5[5, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10] times. 33[34, 37, 38, 43, 44, 49] sts. 10[10, 12, 12, 16, 16, 20] sts increased.

Increase 1 st at beg of next two rows.

BO 3[3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts at start of next 4 rows.

Decrease by 1[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2] sts at the start of next 2[2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6] rows, then bind off all sts.

FINISHING
Sew together all pieces and weave in the ends.

Naomi is a graduate student in neuroscience and occasional clothing designer. She recently moved to New York where she first experienced a snowy winter and all the wonderful things you can knit when it's cold outside.

You can find her at her blog.