Musgo

Musgo, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Musgo

beauty shot

by

Tangy

 

Musgo is a deceptively simple cardigan—easy to knit and effortless to wear. Its lightweight fabric and elegant drape evoke a sense of calm, comfort, and understated sophistication, while reflecting a deep appreciation for handcrafted work.

The design combines approachable construction with carefully considered details, making it appealing to a broad range of knitters—from adventurous beginners seeking a polished garment to experienced makers who value refined simplicity and balanced proportions. What makes Musgo distinctive is its quiet aesthetic. Rather than relying on complex techniques or dramatic shaping, the cardigan celebrates texture, natural fibers, subtle color contrasts, and everyday wearability. It is a garment designed to become part of daily life—timeless, tactile, and emotionally resonant. Its clean construction, combined with an artisanal yarn and natural dyeing process, aligns closely with contemporary knitwear values: sustainability, authenticity, and a meaningful connection to natural materials.

spacer model + photos: Isabel Nascimento

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
sample shown in Size S with 2 inches/5 cm positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/bust:  35.25[36.75, 38.25, 40, 42.25, 44, 47.25, 50.25, 53.25] inches / 89.5[93.5, 97.5, 101.5, 107.5, 112, 120, 127.5, 135] cm
Length:  17.75[18, 19.25, 20, 20.75, 21.75, 21.75, 23.25, 24] inches / 45[46, 49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 59, 61] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Dyed by Alfinete Sul [100% Portuguese Wool; 481 yd/440 m per 100 g skein];
spacer [MC] Green, 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] skeins, approx 9.5[10.5, 11.5, 12.75, 13.75, 14.75, 16, 17, 18] oz / 270[300, 330, 360, 390, 420, 450, 480, 510] g
spacer [CC] Green with brown, 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] skein, approx 1[1, 1.5, 1.5, 1.75, 1.75, 1.75, 2, 2] oz / 27[30, 40, 40, 50, 50, 50, 60, 60] g


Yarn Characteristics
spacer The sample is made in a fine, single-ply 100% Portuguese wool yarn. The yarn creates a lightweight, fluid fabric with a natural texture and an organic appearance. When substituting, choose a fine wool yarn with a similar meterage and a single-ply construction, which produces a fabric with comparable drape and lightness. Natural-looking, artisanally dyed or subtly colored yarns will complement the aesthetic of the design.


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer 1 set US 3 / 3.25 mm circular needle, 32–40 inches / 80–100 cm long

Notions
spacer yarn needle
spacer stitch markers
spacer stitch holder
spacer 6[6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8] buttons, approx 0.5-0.75 inch / 15–18 mm

GAUGE

31 sts x 38 rows/rnds = 4 inches / 10 cm in St st

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction method
The sweater is worked top-down from the shoulders. The fronts are worked separately down to the underarm, then the back is worked down from the shoulders and fronts and back are joined at armholes. Sleeves are picked up and shaped with short rows, then knit in the round.

Techniques:

DIRECTIONS

RIGHT FRONT
With MC cast on 31[33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: Knit.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1–2 once more.

Right neck shaping:
Increase row [RS]: Knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row: Knit
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows 14[15, 16, 16, 14, 16, 17, 17, 17] times more. 46[49, 52, 53, 52, 56, 58, 60, 61] sts.

Right neck shaping/Armhole Increases:
Size XS[S, -, -, 1X, 2X, -, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows 1[1, -, -, 3, 1, -, -, -] times more.

Size XS[S, -, -, 1X, 2X, 3X, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to end. 1 st increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Increase row 2: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows 2[2, -, -, 1, 1, 0, -, -] times more.

Size -[-, -, -, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, -]
Increase row [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, 1, 3, 8, 11] times more.

Size -[-, -M, L, -, -, -, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Increase row 2: K2, M1R, knit to end. 1 st increased.
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows -[-, 2, 3, -, -, -, -, -] times more.

Increase row 3 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, 1, 0, -, -, -, -, -] times more.

Size -[-, -, -, 1X, -, -, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: Knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 1 st increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.

Size -[-, , -, -, -, -, -, 5X]
Increase row 1 [RS]: Knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 1 st increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 1] times more.

Increase row 2 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 12] times more.
 59[62, 65, 67, 71, 74, 79, 84, 89] sts.

Place the stitches on hold. Cut yarn.

LEFT FRONT
Cast on 31[33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: Knit.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1–2 once more.

Left neck shaping:
Increase row [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to end
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row: Knit
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows 14[15, 16, 16, 14, 16, 17, 17, 17] times more. 46[49, 52, 53, 52, 56, 58, 60, 61] sts

Left neck shaping/Armhole Increases:
Size XS[S, -, -, 1X, 2X, -, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows 1[1, -, -, 3, 1, -, -, -] times more.

Size XS[S, -, -, 1X, 2X, 3X, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: Knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 1 st increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Increase row 2: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows 2[2, -, -, 1, 1, 0, -, -] times more.

Size -[-, -, -, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, , -, 1, 3, 8, 11, -] times more.

Size -[-, M, L, -, -, -, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Increase row 2: Knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 1 st increased.
Next row: Purl.
Repeat the last 4 rows -[-, 2, 3, -, -, -, -, -] times more.

Increase row 3 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, 1, 0, -, -, -, -, -] times more.

Size -[-, -, -, 1X, -, -, -, -]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to end.
Next row [WS]: Purl.

Size -[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 5X]
Increase row 1 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to end. 1 st increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 1] time more.

Increase row 2 [RS]: K2, M1R, knit to 2 st before end, M1L, k2. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 12] times more.
 59[62, 65, 67, 71, 74, 79, 84, 89] sts.

Do not cut yarn.

Back
Row 1 [RS]: With RS facing and new working yarn, pick up and knit 31[33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43] sts from Left Shoulder cast-on edge, cast on 40[42, 44, 44, 48, 50, 56, 60, 66] , pick up and knit 31[33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43] sts from Right Shoulder cast-on edge. 102[108, 114, 116, 122, 128, 136, 144, 152] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.

Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat the last 2 rows until the Back measures 6.75[7, 7.5, 7.5, 6.75, 7.5, 7.75, 7.75, 7.75] inches / 17[18, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, 5, 20] cm from the shoulder.

Armhole increases
Next row [RS]: K1, M1R, knit to last st, M1L, k1. 2 sts increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Repeat these 2 rows 7[7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12] times more. 118[124, 130, 134, 142, 148, 158, 168, 178] sts. Cut yarn.

Join fronts and back:
Place all sts on one long needle, and work with yarn from Left Front:
Next row [RS]: Knit across Left Front sts, cast on 16[16, 16, 18, 20, 20, 22, 24, 26] sts, knit across Back sts, cast on 16[16, 16, 18, 20, 20, 22, 24, 26] sts, knit to the end of Right Front sts. 268[280, 292, 304, 324, 336, 360, 384, 408] sts.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Work until piece measures 12.5[12.5, 13.5, 14.25, 14.75, 15.25, 15.25, 16.5, 17.25] inches / 31.5[32, 34.5, 36, 37.5, 39, 39, 42, 43.5] cm from armhole.

Next row [RS]: K1 with MC, k1 with CC.
Next row [WS]: Work sts as they appear.
Work until piece measures 2.75[3, 3.25, 3.25, 3.25, 3.25, 3.25, 3.75, 4] inches / 7[7.5, 8, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10] cm from the start of the 2-color section, ending with a WS row.

Next row [RS]: Knit with MC.
Next row [WS]: Purl with MC.
Work until piece measures 16.25[16.75, 18, 18.75, 19.5, 20.25, 20.25, 21.75, 22.5] inches / 41.5[42.5, 45.5, 47.5, 49.5, 51.5, 51.5, 55.5, 57.5] cm from the shoulder.

Work ribbing:
Next row [RS]: K3, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 5 sts, p2, k3.
Next row [WS]: Work sts as they appear
Work in ribbing as est for 1.5 inches / 3.5 cm. Bind off.

Sleeves (make 2)
Beginning in the center of the cast on sts, pick up 41[44, 47, 51, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80] sts along the front of the armhole and 41[44, 47, 51, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80] sts along the back of the armhole (approximately 1 stitch every 2 rows). 82[88, 94, 102, 112, 124, 136, 148, 160] sts.

Place a marker for BOR and then place additional markers as shown in the diagram below.

Begin working short rows as follows:
Short row 1: Work to Marker 3, wrap and turn, work to Marker 2, wrap and turn.
Short row 2: Work to the wrapped stitch, knit this st as 1 st, wrap the next st and turn, work to wrapped st, purl together as 1 st, wrap the next sts and turn.
Repeat Short row 2 until all sts to the BOR marker have been wrapped.
Switch to working in the round. Work in St st until the sleeve measures 1.25 inches / 3 cm from the underarm.

Begin sleeve decreases:
Decrease rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before marker, ssk, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Work 11[11, 8, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2] rnds in St st.

Repeat the last 12[12, 9, 7, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3] rnds 8[8, 11, 11, 13, 15, 21, 24, 30] times more. 64[70, 70, 78, 84, 92, 92, 98, 98] sts.

Work in St st until the sleeve measures 12.5[12.75, 12.5, 12.75, 12.5, 12.5, 12.75, 12.5, 12.25] inches / 32[32.5, 32, 32.5, 32, 31.5, 32.5, 31.5, 31] cm or 1.25 inches / 3.5 cm less than final desired length.

On the next row, work decreases for your size (if needed) as follows:

  •  XS[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, -] : K3, (k2tog, k6) 7 times, k2tog, k3.
  •  -[S, M, -, -, -, -, -, -] : K4, (k2tog, k8) 6 times, k2tog, k4.
  •  -[-, -, L, -, -, -, -, -] : K4, (k2tog, k8) 3 times, k2tog, k7, (k2tog, k8) 3 times, k2tog, k3.
  •  -[-, -, -, 1X, -, -, -, -] : K2, (k2tog, k4) 13 times, k2tog, k2.
  •  -[-, -, -, -, 2X, 3X, -, -] : K2, k2tog, k5, (k2tog, k4) 12 times, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k2.
  •  -[-, -, -, -, -, -, 4X, 5X] : K3, (k2tog, k5) 13 times, k2tog, k2.
     56[63, 63, 70, 70, 70, 77, 84, 84] sts.

Work in k4, p3 rib for 1.5 inches / 3.5 cm. Bind off.

Right Front button band (buttonholes)
With MC, RS facing and starting at the hem, pick up and knit 158[158, 165, 172, 179, 186, 193, 200, 207] sts along the right front edge of the cardigan to the mid-back (approx. 3 sts for every 4 rows).

Work as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: *P4, k3; repeat from * to last 4 sts, p4.
Row 2 – buttonhole row [RS]: K2, yo, k2tog, [p3, k4, p3, k2, yo, k2tog] 5[5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] times, work in rib as established to end.
Row 3: Work as established, working each yo into the rib pattern.
Row 4: Work as established.
The button band should measure approx. 1.5 inches / 3.5 cm.
Bind off.

Left Front button band
With MC, RS facing and starting at the collar, pick up and knit 158[158, 165, 172, 179, 186, 193, 200, 207] sts along the left front edge of the cardigan to the mid-back (approx. 3 sts for every 4 rows).

Work as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: *P4, k3; repeat from * to last 4 sts, p4.
Row 2 [RS]: Work sts as established.
Work until the button band measures approx. 1.5 inches / 3.5 cm. Bind off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Block to measurements. Sew on the buttons.

On the left-hand button band, in the 2nd section of stockinette stitch from the top button (neckline), duplicate stitch over the 4 knit stitches in the ribbing using CC.

Cover the buttons with a small piece of stockinette fabric knitted in MC. For a 0.5 inch / 1.5 cm diameter button, with MC cast on 10 sts and work 1.5 inches / 4 cm in stocking stitch. Have the buttons fabric-covered by a specialist, or place the button in the centre of the fabric and bring the four corners together so that the button is completely covered. Sew the four corners together to form a small shank, allowing the button to be attached to the button band.

Attach a button in a contrasting color to the CC stitch section.

A – Bust/chest circumference: 35.25[36.75, 38.25, 40, 42.25, 44, 47.25, 50.25, 53.25] inches / 89.5[93.5, 97.5, 101.5, 107.5, 112, 120, 127.5, 135] cm
B – Length (shoulder to hem): 17.75[18, 19.25, 20, 20.75, 21.75, 21.75, 23.25, 24] inches / 45[46, 49, 51, 53, 55, 55, 59, 61] cm
C – Cross back width: 13[13.75, 14.5, 14.75, 15.5, 16.25, 17.25, 18.25, 19.25] inches / 33[35, 37, 37.5, 39.5, 41.5, 44, 46.5, 49] cm
D – Sleeve length: 14[14.25, 14, 14.25, 14, 13.75, 14.25, 13.75, 13.5] inches / 35.5[36, 35.5, 36, 35.5, 35, 36, 35, 34.5] cm
E – Upper arm circumference: 10.5[11.25, 12, 13, 14.25, 15.75, 17.25, 18.75, 20.25] inches / 26.5[28.5, 30.5, 33, 36, 40, 44, 47.5, 51.5] cm
F – Cuff depth: 1.5 inches / 3.5 cm
G – Armhole depth: 8.25[8.75, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75, 10, 10.25, 10.5] inches / 21[22, 23, 23.5, 24.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26, 26.5] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Isabel Nascimento is a knitwear designer and engineer. She divides her time between yoga and creating timeless handknit designs.

Find more of her work on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2026 Isabel Nascimento