Opa Cardigan by Jennifer Owens

Opa Cardigan

Knitting
December 2025
Sport (12 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches
in St St
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
968 - 1661 yards (885 - 1519 m)
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)
English
This pattern is available for $7.50 USD buy it now

New Pattern Sale! This pattern will be on sale for 25% off through January 31, 2026. No coupon necessary. Happy Holidays everyone!

Opa is an oversized Grandpa style cardigan featuring dropped shoulders, intriguing cables on the front, back and sleeves and classic European style shoulders with the shoulder “seam” in the back.

Opa is worked from the top down starting with the ribbed collar. From there, stitches for the back are picked up and the shoulders are shaped with increases. The back is then worked down to the underarm. Stitches for the fronts are picked up from the back shoulders and worked down to the underarm while shaping the neck. Once at the underarm, the fronts and back are joined together, and the body is worked in one piece down to the hem. Stitches for the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. You will enjoy minimal finishing (other than sewing on the buttons) and a sweater that you and your grandpa can wear!

Instructions are provided in both chart and written formats and video tutorial links are included for tricky techniques

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished Measurements:
Bust 38, (40, 42, 44, 46) (48, 52, 56, 60)”/ 96.5 (101.5, 106.5, 112, 117) (122, 132, 142, 152.5) cm.
Center back length without regard to collar: 21 ½ (22, 22 ½, 23 ¼, 23 ½) (24, 24 ½, 25, 25 ½)”/ 54.5 (56, 57, 59, 59.5) (61, 62, 63.5, 64.5) cm.
Recommended ease: 4-12” / 10 – cm Shown in size 4, modeled with 10”/20 cm of ease.

Yarn:
Best worked in heavy sport, dk or worsted weight yarn.
The sample shown was knit in Blue Sky Alpaca Sport (100% Baby Alpaca) in color 501, dark brown; 9 (10, 11, 12, 12) (13, 14, 15, 16) 50g / 110 yd / 100 m skeins.

Approximate yarn amounts:
448 (482, 518, 558, 572) (605, 656, 700, 755) grams / 968 (1060, 1140, 1228, 1258) (1331, 1443, 1540, 1661) total yards / 885 (969, 1042, 1123, 1150) (1217, 1319, 1408, 1519) meters

Gauge:
18 sts, 26 rows = 4”/10 cm in st st on main needle. 26 sts = 4” in cable pattern on main needle.

Needles:
Main needle: You will need the following needles in US Size 7 (4.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge:
a long circular needle or straight needles, a 16”/ 40cm circular needle (for sleeves) and needles preferred for working a small circumference in the round.
Edging needle: You will need the following needles in US Size 6 (4mm) or one size smaller than the main needle:
a long circular needle or straight needles and needles preferred for working a small circumference in the round.

Notions: Stitch markers (m), stitch holders, cable needle, five 1” (2.5cm) buttons.

Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced