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 a study in contrast, bold braided cables on the front, smooth stockinette on the back, and a modern silhouette. The relaxed body is balanced by slim, tapered sleeves and the crescent hem gives it that modern, slightly curved finish that sits so well over high waisted jeans or layered over a dress.

It's the kind of sweater that looks intentional without trying too hard and because the front and back are knit separately, you can lean into the cables when you want something engaging, or flip to the stockinette back for an easy evening of knitting.

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

Biceps:

12 (13, 13.5, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23)"

30 (33, 34, 36, 38, 41, 46, 51, 53, 58) cm

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

*Sleeve Length: customizable

Let’s Knit Together

This pattern includes video tutorials, and we'd love to have you in our community. Join the Wool & Pine Cottage on Discord for pattern support, progress shares, and a friendly place to knit alongside others. Join us here: https://discord.gg/M64Ec9yeng