The Capricorn Cardi
Work with multiple colors, but just one at a time. #MyZodiacSweater
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Detailed PDF pattern
♑︎ Step-by-step instructions
♑︎ Tutorial photos and schematics to guide you along the way
Difficulty level
♑︎ Intermediate
Size-inclusive
♑︎ Pattern written for 11 sizes with instructions on customization
♑︎ Fits busts from 25.25″ to 71.25″ (64 to 181 cm)
What you'll need
♑︎ Bare Naked Wools Kent DK 60/40 Merino Romney Wool or any DK weight yarn you can meet gauge with, in the amounts shown below.
♑︎ Your 4.0 mm hook (main gauge) and 3.5 mm hook (secondary gauge), or sizes needed to obtain gauge. I used my Clover Amour hooks.
♑︎ Two sets of 1″ (2.5 cm) buttons.
♑︎ Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 10 stitch markers, blocking mats and pins.
Pattern support
♑︎ For pattern related questions, please join my Facebook support group or contact me at thecrochethighway [at] gmail.com
Join my Facebook support Group
I proud myself with writing ultra-detailed patterns for you, so that your crocheting experience is as smooth and seamless as possible. But whenever you have a pattern related question, my Facebook support group is the place to ask. There you can also share your WIPs and brag about your FOs with the community!
The Capricorn Cardi
The Capricorn Cardi is a highly textured cardigan that looks completely different when turned inside out. Wear it with the right side out for an elegant look where the main color is dominant and the beauty of the beloved alpine stitch shines. Or flip it and see the magic of the contrast color come to life through horizontal stripes on the wrong side!
Just like the all the other designs in the #MyZodiacSweater collection, for this sweater you’ll only have to work with 1 color at a time, dropping the inactive yarn at the start of a round and picking it back up at the start of the new round.
The pattern
Like most CrochetHighway patterns, the Capricorn Cardi also comes with step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos including on how to check for gauge. The instructions walk you through every step along the way with no guesswork left for you.
The pattern calls for DK weight yarn (category 3) in at least 1 main color (MC), and 1 contrast color (CC). My testers used a variety of yarns and color combinations to show off this design – check out the tester photo gallery below to find all the details on yarns and yardages from my testers!
Quick metrics from my testers:
Difficulty rating: 2.6 / 5
Average completion time: 59 hours
Designer sample
For my sample I used Bare Naked Wools Kent DK 60/40 Merino Romney Wool DK Weight in White Caps as MC and Wet Sand, Beachglass, Driftwood, Kelp, Coconut Husk, and Mussel Shell as CC.
The WPI of this yarn is 11. Learn how to measure the WPI of your yarn.
Check out this amazing sample made by the lovely folks from Bare Naked Wools! They used the same yarn, but switched up the color combo. This sample shows White Caps as MC, and White Sand, Gray Pearl, Beach Pebble, Tide Pool, Folkstone, and Mussel Shell as CCs. I think the cardigan turned out fabulous, and the model is absolutely rocking the photoshoot!
Photo credit: Bare Naked Wools by Knitspot
Tester highlights
Scroll down for the complete tester lookbook, where you can find photos, yarn & yardage info from all my testers, as well as certain modifications they made to their cardigans for the perfect, customized fit.
A word from my testers
Materials and yardage
Hooks: 4.0 mm hook (main gauge) and 3.5 mm hook (secondary gauge), or sizes needed to obtain gauge. I used my Clover Amour hooks. I’m a tight crocheter, so you may have to go down in hook sizes.
Notions: Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 10 stitch markers, blocking mats and pins.
Yarn: Bare Naked Wools Kent DK 60/40 Merino Romney Wool or any DK weight yarn you can meet gauge with, in the amounts shown below.
Yardage
(5, 6, 7) (7, 8, 9) (10, 10, 11) (11, 13) hanks of BNW Kent DK, or (1415, 1600, 1830) (2025, 2175, 2470) (2725, 2780, 3120) (3235, 3760) yds / (1295, 1465, 1675) (1850, 1990, 2260) (2490, 2540, 2855) (2960, 3440) m
Contrast color:
(3, 3, 3) (3, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5) (5, 6) hanks of BNW Kent DK, or (625, 705, 805) (895, 960, 1090) (1205, 1230, 1375) (1430, 1660) yds / (570, 645, 735) (820, 880, 995) (1100, 1125, 1255) (1310, 1520) m
Sizing
All my garment patterns are #sizeinclusive up to at least a 60” bust circumference.
Bust sizing:
Finished bust circumference (inches): (31.25, 34.5, 39.25) (42.5, 47.25, 50.5) (55.25, 58.5, 63.25) (66.5, 71.25) inches
Finished bust circumference (cm): (79, 88, 100) (108, 120, 128) (140, 149, 161) (169, 181) cm
This cardigan is designed to be worn with 0 to +6″ (15 cm) of positive ease around the bust.
TRIED & TESTED SUBSTITUTION YARNS
Looking for yarn substitution ideas? Here’s a list of yarns my testers used and loved! In this list you’ll find yarn substitution ideas sorted alphabetically – I only include yarns that my testers can personally recommend!
- Bernat Softee Cotton
- Cascade Yarns Ultrapima Fine
- Hobbii Rainbow Bamboo
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
- Lion Brand Coboo
- Lion Brand Truboo
- Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK
- Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 Ply Cotton
- Drops Baby Merino
- Loops And Threads Delicate DK
- Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120
- Scheepjes Scrumptious
- Stylecraft Special DK
- Yarnart Jeans
Photo by tester Laura (@one_pinksunshine on Instagram)
Tester lookbook
My patterns would not be so smooth without the input of my team of talented testers. Swipe left & right for more photos of your favorite versions!
Want to test my future patterns? Check out how you can become a pattern tester for CrochetHighway!
Erika (Sayyestotheyarn on Ravelry)
Size 1
1160 yds of Lion Brand Coboo as MC and 464 yds of Lion Brand Coboo as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 4 mm
Mods: None.
Heather (heathershemmings on Ravelry)
Size 4
1551 yds of Baby Bee Sweet Delight as MC and 633 yds of Baby Bee Sweet Delight as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 2.75
Mods: None.
Size 6
1840 yds of Fiddlesticks Cedar as MC and 700 yds of Fiddlesticks Cedar as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3 mm; 3.5 mm
Mods: I did some of the optional rounds to reduce the sleeves and I made the sleeves slightly longer because of how I prefer them to fit.
Size 4
1904 yds of Elements Simply Satin as MC and 720 yds of Walnut Tree Cotton And Bamboo as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 4 mm
Mods: I only altered the button hole to fit my 2.5-inch buttons. 1 extra chain and 1 extra skipped stitch.
Kimberly (KayCee65 on Ravelry)
Size 6
1228 yds of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK as MC and 819 yds of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 4 mm
Mods: None.
Size 5
2270 yds of Cloudborn Pima Cotton as MC and 915 yds of Cascade Yarns Ultrapima Fine as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3 mm; 3.5 mm
Mods: None.
Laura (@one_pinksunshine on Instagram)
Size 3
1560 yds of Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 170 as MC and 660 yds of Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 170 as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3 mm; 3.5 mm
Mods: None.
Lea (@crochetworld_byleiko on Instagram)
Size 5
1356 yds of Yarnart Jeans as MC and 1044 yds of Yarnart Jeans as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3 mm
Mods: I just made shorter sleeves, which is why I just made it till the first decrease at edging part (59 sc instead of 38 sc).
Size 5
2050 yds of Paintbox Cotton DK as MC and 800 yds of Paintbox Cotton DK as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 4 mm
Mods: I added extra increases on the sleeve to make larger. I made the sleeves longer. I added an additional button hole.
Size 7
1968 yds of Camarose Hverdagsuld as MC and 820 yds of Camarose Hverdagsuld as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 4 mm
Mods: None.
Keshia (theleftieyarner on Ravelry)
Size 2
1412 yds of Dapper Dreamer Summer as MC and 520 yds of Dapper Dreamer Summer as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 2.5 mm; 3 mm
Mods: None.
Emily (@stitchesbyemmy on Instagram)
Size 1
1100 yds of Loops And Threads Delicate DK as MC and 650 yds of Loops And Threads Delicate DK as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 4 mm
Mods: None.
Size 3
1413.75 yds of Baby Bee Sweet Delight as MC and 565.37 yds of Fibra Natura Kingston Tweed as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 4 mm
Mods: Because I noticed my gauge became smaller, I made the sleeves a few rows longer (went until 1 inch above my wrist), which made it so that I was back to the pattern length. The smaller gauge also affected the body length, which ended up being more cropped.
Pippa (pippasmakes on Ravelry)
Size 3
1228.9 yds of Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK as MC and 560.6 yds of Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm
Mods: On the body: I worked the pattern repeat 6 times instead of 10 times (32 body rounds). On the sleeves: I worked the pattern repeat 7 times instead of 17 times (36 sleeve rounds).
Size 2
1337 yds of Drops Baby Merino as MC and 573 yds of Drops Baby Merino as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm
Mods: I added 2 repeats on the body length.
Size 2
1031 yds of locally sourced yarn as MC and 403 yds of locally sourced yarn as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 4 mm
Mods: I made short sleeves.
Size 6
1875 yds of Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4 Ply as MC and 800 yds of Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4 Ply as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.75 and 3.25
Mods: None.
Norma (NDCreations on Ravelry)
Size 7
1638 yds of Hobbii Rainbow Bamboo as MC and 683 yds of Hobbii Rainbow Bamboo as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 3.75
Mods: I chose to do the optional decreases on the sleeves.
Prachi (@autodidactic.crocheter on Instagram)
Size 3
1410 yds of Lion Brand Truboo as MC and 860 yds of my own yarn made out of polyester threads as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 3.75
Mods: I reduced the body and sleeve length to accommodate my small body.
Michelle (fxgrl605 on Ravelry)
Size 5
1234 yds of Baby Bee Sweet Delight as MC and 391.5 yds of Baby Bee Sweet Delight Pomp as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 4 mm
Mods: I made short sleeves.
Roberta (@lescreationsderobs on Instagram)
Size 1
1356 yds of Mondial Ciao as MC and 569 yds of Mondial Ciao as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3 mm
Mods: None.
Tuba (Craftrovebyt on Ravelry)
Size 3
775 yds of Bernat Softee Cotton as MC and 400 yds of Bernat Softee Cotton as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3 mm
Mods: None.
Solange (Solange77NL on Ravelry)
Size 5
1591 yds of Scheepjes Scrumptious as MC and 679 yds of Scheepjes Scrumptious as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 2.5 mm
Mods: I omitted one pattern repeat on the sleeves because it was long enough.
Swarna (Swarnads on Ravelry)
Size 2
1370 yds of Loop N Craft Mercerised Cotton as MC and 550 yds of Papatya Sundae as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm
Mods: None.
Swathi (Tvishasfashion on Ravelry)
Size 4
1770 yds of Papatya Batik as MC and 650 yds of Stylecraft Special DK as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.75
Mods: None.
Susan (Crochetlea on Ravelry)
Size 5
1787 yds of Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 Ply Cotton as MC and 622 yds of Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 Ply Cotton as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 2 mm; 2.5 mm
Mods: None.
Lianna (Buffnplush on Ravelry)
Size 6
2468 yds of The Frosted Stitch Snowflake Sport as MC 1148 yds of Goosey Fibers Sport as CC (sport weight)
Hook size(s) used: 4 mm
Mods: Added extra room in shoulders using the modification provided in the pattern, added extra length to the sleeve and body.
Dina (aarabydina on Ravelry)
Size 5
1640 yds of Vardhman Cotone as MC 684 yds of Vardhman Cotone as CC (DK weight)
Hook size(s) used: 3.5 mm; 4 mm
Mods: Did a couple of more repeats to get the cardigan to sit on my hips.
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