Men’s Cable Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF | Classic Pullover XS–5XL

Knit a timeless wardrobe staple with this Men’s Cable Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF.

The Classic Men’s Cable-Knit Sweater features a traditional crew neckline, a centered cable panel on the front, classic stockinette construction, ribbed edges, and set-in sleeves for a structured, tailored look.

Worked flat from the bottom up in separate pieces, this sweater is then seamed and finished with a picked-up ribbed neckband.

With 9 sizes from XS through 5XL, this pattern offers a wide size range and detailed shaping instructions for the body, neckline, shoulders, sleeves, and sleeve caps.

Pattern Details

• Pattern Type: Digital knitting pattern PDF
• Sizes Included: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL
• Construction: Bottom-up
• Garment Construction: Worked flat in separate pieces
• Sleeves: Set-in sleeves
• Style: Classic men’s crew neck pullover
• Design: Centered front cable panel
• Yarn Weight: Worsted Weight
• Main Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm
• Ribbing Needles: US 6 / 4.0 mm
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette after blocking
• Fit: Approximately 3–5" / 7.5–12.5 cm positive ease

Sizes Included

This pattern includes 9 fully graded sizes from XS through 5XL.

Finished chest measurements:

• XS: 38"
• S: 42"
• M: 46"
• L: 50"
• XL: 54"
• 2XL: 58"
• 3XL: 62"
• 4XL: 66"
• 5XL: 70"

Finished body lengths range from approximately 26" to 30", depending on size.

Choose a finished chest measurement that gives approximately 3–5 inches of positive ease over the wearer’s actual chest measurement.

Yarn Requirements

Use a worsted-weight wool or wool-blend yarn.

Approximate yarn requirements:

• XS: 6 skeins
• S: 7 skeins
• M: 8 skeins
• L: 9 skeins
• XL: 10 skeins
• 2XL: 11 skeins
• 3XL: 12 skeins
• 4XL: 13 skeins
• 5XL: 14 skeins

Exact yardage may vary depending on the yarn selected.

What You'll Need

• Worsted-weight wool or wool-blend yarn
• US 6 / 4.0 mm needles for ribbing
• US 7 / 4.5 mm needles for the main fabric
• Cable needle
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Blocking supplies

What's Included

Your downloadable knitting pattern includes:

• Complete written sweater instructions
• 9 sizes from XS through 5XL
• Finished measurement chart
• Schematic measurements
• Gauge information
• Yarn guidance
• Knitting abbreviation guide
• Center cable-panel instructions
• Sleeve rope-cable instructions
• Detailed stitch-count reference
• Back shaping instructions
• Front neckline shaping
• Shoulder shaping
• Set-in sleeve instructions
• Sleeve-cap shaping
• Neckband instructions
• Seaming and finishing directions
• Printable project checklist

Classic Center Cable Design

The front of the sweater features a 24-stitch cable panel worked in an 8-row repeat.

The cable panel is centered on the front of the sweater and surrounded by a clean reverse-stockinette background, creating a classic textured look without covering the entire garment in cables.

The back remains simple stockinette for a balanced, traditional finish.

Each sleeve also includes a smaller rope cable that coordinates with the front panel.

Traditional Bottom-Up Construction

This sweater is worked flat in four main pieces:

• Back
• Front
• Sleeve 1
• Sleeve 2

The body pieces are worked from the hem upward before the armholes, neckline, and shoulders are shaped.

The sleeves are worked from the cuffs upward with gradual increases followed by shaped sleeve caps.

Once the pieces are blocked, the shoulders and side seams are joined, the sleeves are set into the armholes, and stitches are picked up around the neckline for the ribbed neckband.

Detailed Size Grading

The pattern includes dedicated shaping tables for all 9 sizes, including:

• Body cast-on counts
• Sleeve cast-on counts
• Armhole shaping
• Back neckline
• Front neckline
• Shoulder bind-offs
• Sleeve increases
• Sleeve-cap decreases

These reference tables make it easier to follow the correct numbers throughout the project.

A Timeless Men’s Sweater

This pattern is a great choice for:

• Classic men’s knitwear
• Handmade wardrobe staples
• Fall and winter sweaters
• Cable knitting projects
• Handmade gifts
• Traditional sweater construction
• Knitters ready to try set-in sleeves
• Men’s sweaters in extended sizes

Choose a neutral wool for a timeless look or use a rich seasonal shade to make the cable panel stand out.

PLEASE NOTE — DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERN

This listing is for a DIGITAL KNITTING PATTERN PDF only.

No finished sweater or physical product will be shipped.

You will receive the knitting instructions needed to make the Classic Men’s Cable-Knit Sweater yourself.