Mossflower was inspired by many nature walks through the woods when my children were young. The original design was for children’s sizes, but I decided that I needed one as well! The cable patterns were chosen to represent the moss, trees and vines blossoming there in the spring, to create a nice cozy sweater not only for early spring walks but also perfect for fall and winter.
Tutorials
Sizes
Finished bust 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56)” [81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142) cm] to fit bust size 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54)” [76 (86.5, 96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm] with 2″ of positive ease recommended. Shown in size 40.
Finished Length: 22½ (22½, 23, 23½, 23½, 24, 24½)” [57 (57, 58.5, 59.5, 59.5, 59.5, 62) cm]
Yarn
Willow Yarns Daily DK (100% Superwash Wool; 284 yd [260 m]/ 100 g: #0011 Jade 6 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8) balls
Needles
US size 4 [3.5 mm] needles
US size 6 [4 mm] needles or size to obtain correct gauge
US size 6 [4 mm] 16″ [40 mm] or 24″ [61 cm] circular needle
Notions
Stitch markers; stitch holders or waste yarn; tapestry needle
Gauge
24 sts and 32 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Moss Stitch after wet blocking
86 st cable panel = approximately 11½” [29 cm]
Abbreviations
Please see our standard abbreviations.
C2B – Knit in front of second stitch, leaving on needle, then knit in first stitch and drop both off needle
T2F – Slip 1 st to cn and hold to front, purl next st, knit st from cn
T2B – Slip 1 st to cn and hold in back, knit next st, purl st from cn
C3F – Cable 3 Front; slip 2 sts to cn and hold to front, k next st then k2 from cn
C3B – Cable 3 Back; slip 1 st to cn and hold to back, k next 2 sts, then k1 from cn
C4F – Cable 4 Front; slip 2 sts to cn and hold to front, k 2 sts, then k2 from cn
C4B – Cable 4 Back; slip 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k 2 sts, then k2 from cn
T4F – Twist 4 Front; slip 2 sts to cn and hold in front, purl next 2 sts, knit 2 sts from cn
T4B – Twist 4 Back; slip 2 sts to cn and hold to back, knit next 2 sts, purl 2 sts from cn
C6F – Cable 6 Front; slip 3 sts to cn and hold to front, k 3 sts, then k3 from cn
C6B – Cable 6 Back; slip 3 sts to cn and hold to back, k 3 sts, then k3 from cn
Techniques
Stitch Guide
Moss Stitch
Row 1 (RS): K1, p1 across.
Row 2 (WS): K1, p1 across.
Row 3: P1, k1 across.
Row 4: P1, k1 across.
Cable 1
Use these written directions, or follow the chart below.
Worked over 12 sts.
Row 1 (RS): P3, C3B, C3F, p3.
Row 2 (WS): K3, p6, k3.
Row 3: P2, C3B, k2, C3F, p2.
Row 4: K2, p8, k2.
Row 5: P1, C3B, k4, C3F, p1.
Row 6: K1, p10, k1.
Row 7: C3B, k1, C4B, k1, C3F.
Row 8: Purl.
Rep these 8 rows for Cable 1.
Cable 2
Use these written directions, or follow the chart below.
Worked over 9 sts.
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: C6F, k3.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K3, C6B.
Row 8: Purl.
Rep these 8 rows for Cable 2.
Cable 3
Use these written directions, or follow the chart below.
Worked over 24 sts.
Row 1 (RS): K2, p4, T4F, p1, C2B, p1, T4B, p4, k2.
Row 2 (WS): P2, k6, (p2, k1) twice, p2, k6, p2.
Row 3: T4F, p4, T4F, T4B, p4, T4B.
Row 4: K2, p2, k6, p4, k6, p2, k2.
Row 5: P2, C4F, p4, T2F, T2B, p4, C4B, p2.
Row 6: K2, p4, k5, p2, k5, p4, k2.
Row 7: T4B, T4F, p3, C2B, p3, T4B, T4F.
Row 8: P2, k4, (p2, k3) twice, p2, k4, p2.
Rep these 8 rows for Cable 3.
Charts
Cable 1
Cable 2
Cable 3
Key
Pattern Notes
This pullover is worked from the bottom up in pieces and seamed together. The shoulders are shaped with short rows and joined by a three needle bind off. Then the neckband is picked up and worked in the round. The sleeves are shaped at the sides of the center cable panel.
Pattern
Back
Using smaller needle, long tail CO 98 (110, 122, 134, 146, 158, 170) sts. Knit 4 rows.
Row 1 (RS): K1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 3: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 4: P1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rep these 4 rows for Moss Stitch, working even until Back measures 2″ [5 cm]. Change to larger needle and work until Back measures 15″ [38 cm] or to desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.
Shape Underarms
Use Sloped Bind off method to bind off 2 sts at beg of next 6 (10, 12, 16, 18, 18, 22) rows; 86 (90, 98, 102, 110, 122, 126) sts.
Work even until Back measures 22½ (22½, 23, 23½, 23½, 24, 24½)” [57 (57, 58.5, 59.5, 59.5, 59.5, 62) cm], ending with a WS row.
Note: Read shaping instructions before continuing. Neck and shoulder shaping takes place at the same time.
Neck Shaping and Shoulder Shaping
Right Back Shoulder
Work 19 (21, 23, 24, 26, 31, 31) sts, k2tog, k1, turn, placing remaining sts on a stitch holder.
Short Row set 1: P1, work 13 (15, 15, 17, 17, 21, 21), W&T. Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Short Row set 2: P1, work 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10), W&T. Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Short Row set 3: P1, work to end, picking up all wraps. Work to end.
Place shoulder sts on holder. Set aside.
With RS facing, place next 40 (42, 46, 48, 52, 54, 58) sts for back neck on holder for neck, work to end.
Left Back Shoulder
Next row (WS): Work to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1.
Short Row set 1: K1, work 13 (15, 15, 17, 17, 21, 21), W&T. Work to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1.
Short Row set 2: K1, work 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10), W&T. Work to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1.
Short Row set 3: Knit across all sts, picking up wraps. Work to end.
Place shoulders sts on holder. Set aside.
Front
Using smaller needle, long tail CO 112 (124, 136, 148, 160, 172, 184) sts. Knit 3 rows.
Set-Up Row (WS): K13 (19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49), pm, k12, pm, k5, pm, k9, pm, k5, pm, k24, pm, k5, pm, k9, pm, k5, pm, k12, pm, k to end.
Begin cable charts, slipping all markers as you come to them.
Rows 1, 5 (RS): K1, *k1, p1; rep from * to m, work Cable 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 2, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 3, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 2, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 2, 6 (WS): P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to m, work Cable 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 2, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 3, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 2, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 1,*k1, p1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rows 3, 7: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to m, work Cable 1, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 2, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 3, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 2, p1, (k1, p1) twice, work Cable 1,*p1, k1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 4, 8: P1, *p1, k1; rep from * to m, work Cable 1, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 2, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 3, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 2, k1, (p1, k1) twice, work Cable 1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Repeat these 8 rows until Front measures 2″ [5 cm]. Change to larger needles and continue as established until Front measures same as Back to underarm, ending with a WS row.
Shape Underarms
Use Sloped Bind off method to bind off 2 sts at beg of next 6 (10, 12, 16, 18, 18, 22) rows; 100 (104, 112, 116, 124, 136, 140) sts.
Work even until armholes measure 4½ (5, 5, 5½, 6, 6, 6½)” [11.5 (12.5, 12.5, 14, 15, 15, 16.5) cm], ending with a WS row.
Shape Neck
Work 33 (35, 39, 40, 44, 48, 49) sts for left shoulder; place rem sts on a stitch holder or waste yarn.
Using sloped bind off method, bind off 5 sts at beg of next WS row, then 0 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts at beg of next WS row.
Dec Row (RS): Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Dec Row (WS): For left neck; P1, p2tog, work to end.
Rep RS & WS Dec Rows 2 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) more times, then rep RS Dec Row every RS row 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4) times; 19 (21, 23, 24, 26, 31, 31) sts rem.
Work even until armhole measures same as Back to shoulders, ending with a WS row.
Short Row Shoulders
Left Front Shoulder
Work across 19 (20, 23, 24, 26, 31, 31) shoulder sts.
Short Row set 1 (WS): P1, work 13 (15, 15, 15, 17, 21, 21), W&T. Work to end.
Short Row set 2: P1, work 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10), W&T. Work to end.
Short Row set 3: P1, work to end, picking up all wraps. Work to end.
Place shoulder sts on holder. Set aside.
Right Front Shoulder
Work across next 34 (34, 34, 36, 36, 40, 42) sts and place on holder for front neck.
Next Row (RS): Using sloped bind off method, bind off 5 sts, then 0 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts on beg of next RS row.
Dec Row (WS): Work to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1.
Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog, work to end.
Rep WS & RS Dec rows 2 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) more times, then rep RS Dec row every RS row 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4) times, ending with a WS row;19 (21, 23, 24, 26, 31, 31) sts rem.
Work even until armhole measures same as Left Front shoulder, ending with a WS row.
Short Row set 1: K1, work 13 (15, 15, 15, 17, 21, 21), W&T. Work to end.
Short Row set 2: K1, work 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 10, 10), W&T. Work to end.
Short Row set 3: Work across all sts, picking up wraps. Work to end.
Place shoulders sts on holder. Set aside.
Sleeves
Use smaller needles and long tail cast on to cast on 42 (46, 50, 50, 50, 54, 54) sts. Knit 3 rows.
Set-Up Row (WS): K15 (17, 19, 19, 19, 21, 21), pm, k12, pm, knit to end.
Slip markers as you come to them.
Row 1, 5 (RS): K1, *k1, p1; rep to m, work Cable 1 over 12 sts, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2, 6 (WS): P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to m, work Cable 1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rows 3, 7: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to m, work Cable 1 to m, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 4, 8: P1, *p1, k1; rep from * to m, work Cable 1 to m, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rep these 8 rows until Sleeve measures 2″ [5 cm], ending with a WS row. Change to larger needle.
Shape Sleeve
Moss stitch increase before marker
To increase in a knit stitch; knit in front of stitch, purl in back of stitch, continue in pattern.
To increase in a purl stitch; purl in front of stitch, knit in back of stitch, continue in pattern.
Moss Stitch increase after marker
To increase when stitch after marker is a knit stitch; knit in front of stitch, purl in back of stitch, continue in pattern.
To increase when stitch after marker is a purl stitch; purl in front of stitch, knit in back of stitch, continue in pattern.
Inc Row (RS): K1, work to 1 st before m, work Moss St inc, sm, work Cable 1, work Moss St inc, work to end.
Rep Inc Row every 6 (6, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4) rows 19 (14, 20, 7, 9, 16, 27) times, then every 8 (8, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6) rows 5 (8, 3, 19, 17, 11, 3) times; 92 (92, 98, 104, 104, 110, 116) sts.
Work even until Sleeve measures 21¼ (21, 20¾, 20¾, 20½, 19½, 19½)” [54 (53.5, 52.5, 52.5, 52, 52, 49.5) cm] or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.
Shape Underarms
Use Sloped Bind off method to bind off 2 sts at beg of next 6 (10, 12, 16, 18, 18, 22) rows; 80 (72, 74, 72, 68, 74, 72) sts. Bind off remaining sts. Make another sleeve.
Finishing
Block pieces. Place shoulder sts back on needle and work three-needle bind off across shoulder sts.
Neck band: Place neck sts back on needle. With RS facing, using smaller needles and MC, begin at right of back neck and knit 40 (42, 46, 48, 52, 54, 58) back neck sts, approximately 32 (33, 32, 34, 38, 39, 42) along left neck edge, 28 (32, 34, 36, 36, 40, 42) from front neck, and approximately 32 (33, 32, 34, 38, 39, 42) along right neck edge. Adjust next row to a multiple of 4 if necessary.
Work in k2, p2 rib for 1″ or to desired length. Bind off in rib.
Set in sleeves. Sew underarm and sleeve seams. Weave in ends.
About the Designer: Jenny Snedecker
About the Designer: Jenny SnedeckerJenny was taught to knit as a young teenager and over the years developed her knitting skills and taught herself to design.
After designing for children since 2009, she now also designs for adults with a main focus on garments with a distinct feminine style.
Fabulous patterns! I found your Mossflower sweater and am very taken with it. I immediately wanted to knit this. I love cables and lace and the moss stitch is my go to stitch. You have presented some challenges I hope I’ll be able to master. Thank you for this beautiful pattern.
I’m so glad you like it!
The design very good. I knitted a sweate
in cables long back but I used safety pin
to shift two rings.
Thank you very much for so many verities of
Cables. I will try first as sample.
Shakuntala Rao.
you’re welcome!
cables are so addicting!