Top-Down Turtleneck Cardigan + Henley in Echo Wool

Easygoing in spirit yet thoughtful in every detail, our Top-Down Turtleneck Cardigan is an all-time classic. We’ve updated this beloved pattern for our exceptionally soft new recycled wool yarn, Echo Wool, and while we were at it, we added a charming henley option—perfect for layering!

Cardigan or henley, both start the same way, beginning with the charmingly unfussy stockinette stitch collar. From there, you continue knitting from the top down and all in one piece, shaping the saddle shoulders and set-in sleeve caps that give this relaxed sweater its structure and fit.

Once you’ve set aside stitches for the sleeves, it’s time to choose your path: continue working flat for the cardigan or join in the round for the henley. Either way, you can try your sweater on as you go and find just the right length for the body and sleeves. Finished with a split hem and rolled edges all around, this sweater has inviting details that pair beautifully with the lived-in comfort of Echo Wool.

The mill that makes Echo Wool reclaims fibers from their own production waste to create this 100% recycled wool yarn. With a woolen-spun 2-ply structure and a slightly relaxed twist, it blooms generously as you knit—wonderfully versatile on the needles for happy knitting across a range of gauges from sport to DK weight. For the Top-Down Turtleneck, the sweet spot is on the denser side, for a soft fabric with plenty of drape and a cozy feel.

Echo Wool’s palette includes 16 heathered colors, each speckled with lively nepps for a slightly nubbly tweed fabric. Some colors feature brighter, more varied speckles, while colors like this stormy Blue Brume are flecked with more understated, tone-on-tone hues. Each color carries the memory of its making—all those wool fibers in layered harmony.

Cast on for the Top-Down Turtleneck Cardigan + Henley and knit a comforting staple with a quiet sophistication—especially satisfying if you make both versions to wear together! Grounded in the integrity of a process where nothing is wasted, Echo Wool lends the perfect softness and substance to this wonderful knit.

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.

Materials

• 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) (6, 7, 7, 8) balls of Purl Soho’s Echo Wool, 100% recycled wool yarn. Each ball of this sport- to light worsted/dk-weight yarn is 328 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1150 (1200, 1420, 1555, 1690) (1850, 2085, 2260, 2365) total yards required. We used the color Blue Brume for the Cardigan and Tilled Field for the Henley.
• US 4 (3.5 mm), 16-inch circular knitting needles
• US 4, 32-inch circular needles
• A set of size US 4 double pointed needles
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders or scrap yarn
• For Cardigan Version: 9 (9, 9, 9, 10) (10, 10, 10, 10) ½-inch buttons, like Purl Soho’s Medium Corozo Buttons in Gray Denim.
• For Henley Version: 6 (6, 6, 6, 7) (7, 7, 7, 7) ½-inch buttons, like Purl Soho’s Medium Corozo Buttons in Kiln Red.
• A Top-Down Turtleneck Cardigan + Henley Pattern PDF

NOTE: If you want to use Magic Loop, you won’t need the 16-inch circular or double pointed needles… Just stick with the 32-inch ones and have a spare circular or double pointed needle handy, size US 4 or smaller!

GAUGE

25 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

SIZES

NOTE: For help picking a size, please check out our Understanding Ease + Selecting Your Size Tutorial!

34¼ (38, 42½, 46½, 50¼) (54, 58, 62½, 66¼)

To fit actual chest circumference 27–31 (31–35, 35–39, 39–43, 43–47) (47–51, 51–55, 55–59, 59–63) inches, with 3–7 inches of ease

• Finished Chest Circumference: 34¼ (38, 42½, 46½, 50¼) (54, 58, 62½, 66¼) inches, buttoned
• Finished Length from Shoulder to Bottom Edge: 24 (25, 25, 25¼, 25½) (25¼, 26½, 26½, 27½) inches
• Finished Length from Underarm to Bottom Edge: 14¼ (15, 14¼, 14, 14) (14, 14¾, 14¾, 15½) inches
• Finished Length from Cuff to Underarm: 16¾ (17, 18, 18¼, 18¼) (18¼, 18½, 18½, 18¾) inches

Samples: The sweaters shown here both are size 42½, worn with 6½ inches of ease.

PATTERN

The Top-Down Turtleneck Cardigan + Henley Pattern is available as a PDF download.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!