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Claire’s Modern Blue Cardigan (Seersucker Stitch)

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In this post, you will see a modern version of Claire’s Blue Cardigan.

Inspired by the cardigan seen worn by Claire in Outlander seasons 5 and 6.

This cardigan has lots of texture as it is knit in the seersucker stitch pattern.

Scroll down to view the free pattern online or grab the ad-free, printable PDF pattern here.

Claire's modern blue cardigan seersucker stitch

Claire’s Blue Cardigan Made Modern

Claire’s knitted blue cardigan definitely stood out as one of the main knitted pieces from season 5 and again in season 6.

I have a version of this cardigan made in worsted weight yarn that resembles the original more closely here – Outlander Claire’s Blue Cardigan Knitting Pattern.

The first version I made is in Irish moss stitch and this new more modern version is knit in the seersucker stitch pattern.

The Seersucker Stitch

This seersucker stitch pattern is just so great to work up.

This 8-row repeat knit stitch pattern has a really noticeable texture, with rows of 3D diamond shapes.

This may look like a complicated stitch to master but it is just a combination of knit and purl stitches.

Learn more here: Seersucker Stitch Pattern Ideal For Beginners

Seersucker stitch pattern

Is it reversible?

This is not a reversible pattern, as you will see that the right and wrong sides are different.

The diamond shapes on the cardigan pieces almost look like quilting.

This knitting pattern requires you to work in the seersucker stitch pattern as well as shape through increases and decreases while following the same 8-row repeat.

Claire's modern blue cardigan
Seersucker stitch cardigan

More Outlander Knitting Patterns

You can see more of my Outlander patterns, which include both knit and crochet.

There are also men’s knits and a dog sweater inspired by the Fraser tartan.

Take a look at the collections below…

chunky knit cardigan

Claire’s Modern Blue Cardigan (Knitting Pattern)

Grab the ad-free PDF pattern here.

Get all of the knitting patterns from my Outlander Season 6 collection here.

Make a loose-fitting, oversized, comfortable cardigan with raglan sleeves.

The cardigan is textured using the seersucker stitch on all panels.

This cardigan pattern is great for anyone who is an intermediate knitter.

claires modern cardigan free knitting pattern

Copyright info

  • Please do not copy, sell, redistribute, or republish this pattern. 
  • If you wish to share this pattern, please provide a link to the pattern page only.
  • You may sell items produced using this pattern with pattern credit going to Handy Little Me (Louise Bollanos).
  • Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
  • Please link back to the original pattern page and credit Louise Bollanos/Handy Little Me as the designer.
  • Tag @handylittleme in any Facebook or IG posts.
  • For the copyright T&C, please read my Terms of Use.
hue and me knitted cardigan

Pattern Notes

Skill Level – Intermediate

The pattern is written for all sizes, starting with the small size and with changes for different sizes listed in all necessary places.

To follow the pattern more easily, circle or highlight all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

  • The cardigan is worked in 5 pieces: Back, 2 Fronts, and 2 Sleeves.
  • Each piece is worked in the seersucker stitch from the lower edge upwards, beginning with a ribbed lower band.
  • A circular needle is used to accommodate the number of stitches.
  • Work back and forth on the circular needle as if working on straight needles.
  • When you see ‘work as established’ in the instructions, this means continuing in the current pattern stitch.

Video Tutorial – If you need help with decreasing and staying in the stitch pattern, please see my video tutorial here.

knit cardigan close up

Measurements and Sizes

The sizes – S / M / L / (1X / 2X)

Finished Bust About – 36 (40, 42, 46) in.

Finished Length About 30 (30, 31, 31) in.

*In the photographs, the model is wearing a medium size; this is one size up from her actual size (small).

This cardigan is meant to be loose and oversized, so the fit is not fitted or tight to the body.

Gauge: 4 inches/10 cm = 12 stitches / 16 rows in a seersucker stitch pattern using 6.5mm (US 10 needles).

Claire's blue cardigan

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

Lion Brand Hue and Me – Magic Hour (125g/4.4oz/137 yds/125m) 80% acrylic/ 20% Wool.

For the following sizes, you will need approx:

  • Small – 8
  • Medium – 8
  • Large – 9
  • 1X/2X – 10

Bulky/Chunky/12 Ply Yarn.

Needles

Notions

Claire's modern blue cardigan - Knit cardigan back view

Abbreviations

  • Beg – begin(ning)(s)
  • Cont – continue
  • K – knit
  • K2tog – knit 2 stitches together
  • M1 – make one stitch
  • P – purl
  • Patt – pattern
  • PM – place marker
  • Rep – repeat
  • Rib – 1×1 ribbing
  • RS – right side
  • SSK – slip, slip, knit
  • SM – slip marker
  • St(s) – stitch(es)
  • St St – stockinette stitch
  • WS – wrong side

Stitch Explanations

M1 (make 1) An increase worked by lifting the horizontal strand lying between needles and placing it onto the left needle. Knit this new stitch through the back loop – 1 st increased.

SSK (slip, slip, knit)Slip next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle; insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and knit them together – 1 st decreased.

1 x 1 ribbing K1, P1 (It is obtained by alternating knit and purl stitches in one row and “knitting by pattern” in every next row. This means that we make a knit stitch when the previous row stitch looks like V and make a purl stitch when the previous looks like a bump.)

  • Cast On: even number of stitches.
  • Row 1 (RS): (k1, p1) till the end of the row.
  • Row 2 (WS): (k1, p1) till the end of the row.
  • Repeat these two rows.

Work each stitch in the manner it presents this means to work each stitch as it faces you – you will knit the knit stitches and purl the purls.

Oversized cardigan knit in seersucker stitch

Cardigan Pattern

Back

With 6 mm (US 10) needles cast on 63 (71, 75, 83), sts.

Work in 1×1 ribbing until the work measures 2.5 inches from the CO edge, ending with a WS row as the last row you work.

Change to 6.5mm (US 10.5) needles – Beg with a (RS) row and work in the 8-row seersucker stitch pattern (below) until the piece measures S (18″) M (18.5″) L (19″) 1X/2X (19.5″) from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row as the last row you work.

  • K1 (edge), *K1, P1, K1, P1* – rep from * to * to last 2 sts, K1, K1 (edge).
  • Work each stitch in the manner it presents.
  • K1 (edge), *P1, K3* – rep from * to * to last 2 sts, P1, then K1 (edge).
  • Rep row 2.
  • Rep row 1.
  • Rep row 2.
  • K1 (edge), *K2, P1, K1* – rep from * to* to last 2sts, K1, then K1 (edge).
  • Rep row 2.

Shape The Armholes

Continue to work in the 8-row seersucker stitch repeat pattern AT THE SAME TIME as you make the decreases.

  • Row 1 (RS): Cast off 3 (5, 6, 8) sts, work in patt to end of row. 60 (66, 69, 75) sts.
  • Row 2 (WS): Cast off 3 (5, 6, 8) sts, work in patt to end of row. 57 (61, 63, 67) sts
  • Row 3 (RS) Decrease Row: K2, K2tog, work in patt to last 4 sts, SSK, K2. 55 (59, 61, 65) sts.
  • Row 4 (WS): Work in patt.
  • Work rows 3 and 4 – for 16 (17, 18, 19) more times. 23 (25, 25, 27) sts
  • Cast off.
blue cardigan with raglan sleeves

Left Front

With 6mm (US 10) needles – Cast on 44 (48, 52, 56) sts

  • Work in 1×1 ribbing for 2.5 inches (until it measures the same length as the back rib) ending with a WS row as the last row you work.

Change to 6.5mm (US 10.5) needles.

Now start to work in the 8-row seersucker stitch pattern on page 6.

  • Row 1 (RS): Work seersucker stitch patt to last 9 sts, PM work in 1×1 rib to end of row.
  • Row 2 (WS): Work in 1×1 rib as established to marker, SM, work seersucker stitch patt to end of row (you may want to start with a P1, K1 instead of a K1, P1). 
  • Rep last 2 rows, slipping the marker as you work until the piece measures the same length as back before shaping, end with a WS row as the last row you work.
  • S (18″) M (18.5″) L (19″) 1X/2X (19.5″).

Shape Raglan Armhole and Front Edge

Video Tutorial – if you need help with decreasing and staying in the stitch pattern, please see my video tutorial here.

  • Row 1 (RS): Cast off 3 (5, 6, 8) st, work in patt to marker, SM, work in rib as established to end of row. – 41 (43, 46, 48) sts.
  • Row 2 (WS): Work in rib to marker, SM, work in patt to end of row.
  • Row 3 (RS): Decrease Row: K2, K2tog, work in patt to 2 sts before marker, SSK, SM, work in rib to end of row. – 39 (41, 44, 46) sts.
  • Row 4 (WS): Rep row 2.
  • Row 5 (RS): K2, K2tog, work in patt to marker, SM, work in rib to end of row. – 38 (40, 43, 45) sts.
  • Rep rows 2-5 until you have 14 sts.

Neck Extension

  • Row 1 (RS): cast off 5 sts, remove marker, work in rib to end of row. (9 sts)
  • Row 2 (WS): Work in rib to end of row.
  • Row 3 (RS): Work in rib to end of row.
  • Rep rows 2 and 3 until neck extension measures 7 (7, 8, 8) inches.
  • Cast off.
Oversized cardigan knitted in hue and me yarn

Right Front

With 6mm (US 10) needles – Cast on 44 (48, 52, 56) sts

  • Work in 1×1 ribbing for 2.5 inches (until it measures the same length as the back rib) ending with a WS row as the last row you work

Change to 6.5mm (US 10.5) needles.

Now start to work in the 8-row seersucker stitch pattern on page 6.

  • Row 1 (RS): Work in rib as established over the next 9 sts (you may want to start with P1, K1), PM, work in seersucker stitch patt to end of row.
  • Row 2 (WS): Work in seersucker stitch patt to marker, SM, work in rib as established to end of row.
  • Rep last 2 rows, slipping marker as you come to it until the piece measures the same length as back before shaping, end with a RS row as the last row you work.
  • S (18″) M (18.5″) L (19″) 1X/2X (19.5″).

Shape Raglan Armhole and Front Edge

  • Row 1 (WS): Cast off 3 (5, 6, 8) sts, work in patt to marker, SM, work in rib to end. – 41 (43, 46, 48) sts
  • Row 2 (RS) Decrease Row: Work in rib to marker, SM, K2tog, work in patt to last 4 sts, SSK, K2 – 39 (41, 44, 46) sts.
  • Row 3 (WS): Work in patt to marker, SM, work in rib to end.
  • Row 4 (RS): Work in rib to marker, SM, work in patt to last 4 sts, SSK, K2 – 38 (40, 43, 45) sts.
  • Row 5 (WS): Rep row 3.
  • Rep rows 2-5 until you have 14 sts.

Neck Extension

  • Row 1 (WS): Cast off 5 sts, remove marker, work in rib to end. (9 sts)
  • Row 2 (RS): Work in rib to end of row.
  • Row 3 (WS): Work in rib to end of row.
  • Rep rows 2 and 3 until neck extension measures 7 (7, 8, 8) inches.
  • Cast off.
Claire's modern blue cardigan close up

Sleeves

 With 6mm (US 10) knitting needles – Cast on 33 (35, 37, 41) sts

  • Work in 1×1 ribbing for 2.5 inches (until it measures the same length as the back rib) ending with a WS row as the last row you work.

Shape Sleeve

Change to 6.5mm (US 10.5) knitting needles.

Now start to work in the 8-row seersucker stitch pattern on page 6.

Incorporate new stitches made into the seersucker stitch pattern as you work

  • Row 1 (RS) Increase Row: K1, M1, work in patt to last st, M1, K1 – 35 (37, 39, 43) sts
  • Next row (WS) Start to work in patt for 5 (5, 3, 3) rows then rep row 1.
  • Rep last 6 (6, 4, 4) rows for 6, (8, 10, 11) more times. 49 (55, 61, 67) sts.
  • Work even in patt until the piece measures about 17 (17.5, 17.5, 18) inches from the cast-on edge.

Shape Raglans

Row 1 (RS): Cast off 3 (5, 6, 8) sts, work in patt to end of row. – 46 (50, 55, 59) sts

Row 2 (WS): Cast off 3 (5, 6, 8) sts, work in patt to end of row. – 43 (45, 49, 51) sts

Row 3 (RS) Decrease Row: K2, K2tog, work in patt to last 4 sts, SSK, K2. – 41 (43, 47, 49) sts

Row 4: Work in patt.

Rep rows 3 and 4 for 16 (17, 18, 19) more times.

Cast off rem 9 (9, 11, 11) sts.

chunky knit cardigan in Lion brand hue and me yarn

Finishing / Making Up

  • Sew sleeves to back and fronts along raglans.
  • Sew ends of neck extensions together, then sew (either mattress stitch or catch down) long edge of extension to tops of sleeves and the back of the neck.
  • Sew sleeve and side seams.
  • Weave in ends.

Seaming Tutorial

You can see a tutorial on using the mattress stitch to seam here. – The Mattress Stitch – How To Seam Knitting

seersucker stitch cardigan

Could you share your work with us?

I love seeing your finished projects.

If you enjoyed making the cardigan, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme or #handylittleme to be featured.

If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo. 

I’d love to see your work.

Happy Knitting!

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