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Ponderosa Sweater is a mix of soothing stockinette and flowing cables, all about balance. Designed with a relaxed body, slim-fitting sleeves, and a crescent-shaped hem, it’s the kind of knit that finds its way into regular rotation layered over dresses, paired with high waisted jeans, or thrown on whenever a little extra warmth is needed.

The front features a braided cable motif while the back stays smooth in stockinette. Because it’s worked flat in two pieces and seamed, you can pick what you feel like knitting each day cables for interest or stockinette for an easier stretch of knitting.

If you love this design, check out its companions the single skein Ponderosa Hat and Ponderosa Socks, each one inspired by the original.

Design Details

Ponderosa is worked flat in a front and back piece and seamed using mattress stitch. The braided cable panel runs along the front while the back is worked in stockinette. The relaxed body is balanced by slim tapered sleeves and finished with a curved hem.

Pattern Highlights

• Cabled front with stockinette back so you can switch between engaging and relaxed knitting
• Worked flat and seamed for stability and structure
• Slim sleeves and relaxed body for an easy to wear shape
• Crescent hem adds a modern finish

Construction Overview

The sweater is knit flat in two pieces, front and back. After blocking, the pieces are seamed together using mattress stitch. Stitches are then picked up for the sleeves and worked in the round to the cuff.

Video tutorials guide you through cabling without a needle, mattress stitch seaming, and blocking for the best fit.

Yarn Notes

We knit our sample in Pigment & Ply Superwash Merino Sock and it highlights the depth of the cables while keeping the fabric light and drapey. It’s soft but still structured enough to hold the cable definition clearly.

Fiber: 100% superwash merino
Yardage: 437 yds (400 m) per 100g skein

Any fingering weight yarn with good stitch definition will work.

Needles & Gauge

• US 5 (3.75 mm) 16–40” circular needles
• US 6 (4.00 mm) 16–40” circular needles

22 sts x 26 rows in US 5 stockinette knit flat and in the round = 4” x 4”
One cable repeat in US 6 = approx. 2.25” wide (vertical gauge will vary slightly across panels after blocking)

Yardage Requirements

Pigment & Ply Superwash Merino Sock (437 yds / 400 m per 100g skein)

820 (940, 1080, 1180, 1360, 1480, 1650, 1800, 1920, 2100) yds
750 (860, 988, 1080, 1244, 1535, 1510, 1646, 1756, 1920) m

Finished Measurements

Ponderosa Sweater is designed for 6–12” of positive ease at the bust.

To choose your size:

1. Measure your full bust.
2. Add 6–12”.
3. Choose the pattern size that matches that number.

Example: If your bust is 40”, choose the size 49.5”.

Bust Circumference:
31.5 (36, 40.5, 45, 49.5, 54, 58.5, 63, 67.5, 72)“
80 (92, 103, 114, 126, 137, 149, 160, 172, 183) cm

D) Biceps:
12 (13, 13.5, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23)“
30 (33, 34, 36, 38, 41, 46, 51, 53, 58) cm

E) Armhole Depth:
6 (6.5, 6.75, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11.5)“
15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29) cm

F) Sleeve Length: customizable

Let’s Knit Together

Ponderosa includes video tutorials, and our Discord community is always open if you’d like help or want to share your progress.

Join us here: https://discord.gg/M64Ec9yeng

#sizeinclusive #cableknitting