Opa Cardigan

Sale Price: $5.50 Original Price: $7.50

New Pattern Sale!! - The Opa Cardigan will be on sale for 25% off through January 31, 2026. Happy Knitting.

Contact me with your Ravelry user name if you would like to have the pattern added to your Ravelry Library.

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

New Pattern Sale!! - The Opa Cardigan will be on sale for 25% off through January 31, 2026. Happy Knitting.

Contact me with your Ravelry user name if you would like to have the pattern added to your Ravelry Library.

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 – 30.5 cm Shown in size 4, modeled with 11”/28 cm of ease.

 

Yarn:

Best worked in heavy sport, dk or worsted weight yarn.

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. 22 sts = 4” on edging needle slightly stretched.

 

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 5 (3.75mm) or needles two sizes 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