The Bellwether Cardigan is perhaps the last cardigan you will ever want to knit. This pattern offers 182 different sweater possibilities across 7 sizes (26 possibilities per size). No kidding.

Bellwether is a term used by shepherds and shepherdesses to denote the leader of the herd--usually decorated with a bell around its neck to call the attention of the rest of the herd so as to follow it. Like my own bellwether, Stella, this top-down, seamless cardigan is a leader of the herd. It’s many options allow you to create the cardigan that fits you like a dream and fits perfectly into your day-to-day wardrobe and its positive ease of two inches makes it comfortable enough to wear over anything and still move with ease. The custom options include:

A-line or Straight Body
Long sleeves
Short sleeves
3/4 sleeves
Bust shaping or none
Afterthought pocket or pocketless

Bust Sizing (Blocked): 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58) inches 81.3 (91.4, 101.6, 111.8, 122, 132, 142.2) cm for chest.

When knitting this pattern, you will want to choose a size that is within 2 inches (5 cm) of your natural bust size. Sizing as listed includes positive ease, and the pattern can be blocked to an additional 2 inches of positive ease.

Yarn: Cedar Hill Farm Company’s Squee DK (246 yards/100 g); approximately 5 (6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15) skeins. Shown here in Oscar.

Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) circular (16” and 42” to 60” cables recommended); US 6 (4 mm) circular needle (16” and 42” to 60” cable recommended); US 6 (4 mm) and US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNS optional for working sleeves. Interchangeable needle tips are recommended.

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4 inches in stocking stitch on US 7 (unblocked); 20 sts and 40 rows = 4 inches on US 7 in garter stitch (unblocked); 20 sts and 36 rows on US 6 in garter stitch (unblocked).

Notions: yarn needle, 8 stitch markers, and waste yarn.