I really thought the cap sleeve on this sweater was going to break me. I would just never figure it out, and I would quit blogging forever.

The #pennydreadfulkal may make me a tad bit dramatic. That said, with the help of a fabulous knitting friend, and a remarkable number of books stolen from her library (thank you, Pat Sylvester! Go take one of her knitting classes if you’re in ABQ!) I figured it out!!!!! Pleats and all.

Pleated Cap Sleeve Pattern:

Cable cast on 38 stitches.

Rows 1-18: K1, K2, P2, K1 (Ribbing with selvedge knit stitches on each side)

Row 19: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, K1, 39 stitches

Row 20-22: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 23: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 41 stitches

This increase will happen every fourth row until we reach 65 stitches. I’ve written it out long form for you here, since I lose track of rows and like to overshare in order to keep count:

Row 24-26: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 27: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 43 stitches

Row 28-30: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 31: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 45 stitches

Row 32-34: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 35: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 47 stitches

Row 36-38: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 39: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 49 stitches

Row 40-42: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 43: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 51 stitches

Row 44-46: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 47: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 53 stitches

Row 48-50: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 51: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 55 stitches

Row 52-54: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 55: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 57 stitches

Row 56-58:  K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 59: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 59 stitches

Row 60-62: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 63: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 61 stitches

Row 64-66: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 67: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 63 stitches

Row 68-70: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 71: K1, M1L, continue in moss stitch until last stitch in row, M1R, K1, 65 stitches

Rows 72-85: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 86: Bind of 3, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

Row 87: Bind of 3, moss stitch to last stitch, K1, 59 stitches

Row 88: Sloping bind off 2, moss stitch to end of row, 57 stitches

Row 89: Sloping bind off 2, moss stitch to end of row, 55 stitches

Row 90-100: Sloping bind off 1 stitch at the beginning of each row, continue in moss stitch to the end of each row, until 45 stitches remain.

Row 101-121: K1, moss stitch to last stitch, K1

The bind off will create pleats which will give the sleeve cap the body we want for this cardigan. It’s a bit intimidating at first, but once you get the idea, it’s pretty easy! A full photo tutorial for this bind off can be found here.

Bind off 1 stitch. **Slip 4 stitches to a cable needle. These are the front stitches. Slip the next 5 stitches from your left needle to another cable needle. These are your middle stitches. Turn your middle stitch cable needle clockwise, so they middle stitches face the front stitches. Slip 1 stitch from the middle cable needle to the right needle, knit the first stitch from the left needle and pass the 2 stitches on the right needle over it 1 at a time.

*Slip 1 stitch from the front cable needle and the middle cable needle to the right needle. Knit the first stitch from the left needle and pass the 3 stitches over it 1 at a time. Repeat from * 3 times until 1 stitch remains on the right needle.

Repeat from ** twice more. Bind off last remaining stitch. 

#PennyDreadfulKAL Shoutout to Friends:

Special shout out to: Thorntonkp.ma for signing up for the mailing list!

You too can be a part of the knit-a-long! If you’d like to knit-a-long, use the hashtag #PennyDreadfulKAL on Instagram, comment on my Penny Dreadful Knit-A-Long posts, or you can sign up for my weekly newsletter here. Anyone who uses the hashtag on Instagram, or signs up for my newsletter, or comments, will be emailed a PDF version of the finished pattern once the knit-a-long concludes. (Probably in July. I think I’m going to need a little time to get this pattern tech-edited.)