Knit This in a Weekend: The DIY Puffed Sleeves Merino Cardigan

by Nina Ellis February 2, 2026

Do you ever see those stunning, oversized hand-knit cardigans in high-end boutiques and wish you could justify the £350 price tag? What if we told you that you could create that exact same luxury look in just three days for a fraction of the cost?

In our latest video, we break down the process of creating the COUER Cardigan—a statement piece that combines cozy comfort with high-fashion drama.

The Luxury Math: High-End Look, DIY Price

If you were to purchase a hand-knit piece like this in a boutique, you'd easily spend upwards of £350. By making it yourself, you aren't just creating a garment; you're saving serious money.

Materials Cost: Approximately £90 for high-quality wool [01:08]. And by the way, the yarn used for this project can be found here: https://www.nineldesign.com/collections/yarns-needles/products/super-chunky-merino-wool-100g-ball-in-mink
Total Savings: Over £260!
The Zero-Cost Option: If you have stash yarn or an old chunky sweater you can upcycle, your total cost could be zero [01:33].

What You’ll Need

To get that signature chunky, soft texture, we used:

The Yarn: 100% Merino Wool (Chunky weight).
Quantity: 900g (Approx. 9 balls) for sizes M or L [00:57].
Specs: Each ball is roughly 100g and 65m (71 yards) [00:35].

The Construction: Simple Enough for Beginners

Don't be intimidated by the oversized silhouette. The construction of the Couer Cardigan is surprisingly straightforward, making it a perfect project for a relaxing weekend [01:43].

It is built in five main panels [01:52]:

The Back
Left Front
Right Front
Two Massive Sleeves

The cardigan is knit from the bottom up. We use a specific combination of knit and purl stitches that allows the piece to grow incredibly fast while remaining beginner-friendly [02:02].

The Secret to Perfect Puffed Sleeves

Attaching massive sleeves is where most knitters get nervous, but there is a trick to making them look professional rather than messy [02:11].

The Pinning Method:

Start at the sides: Lay the sleeve against the body and pin the edges flat without any folding [02:49].
The Shoulder: Find the center of the sleeve, fold it, and pin it directly to the shoulder seam [03:11].
The Folds: Create two separate folds on the left and one on the right to create that beautiful "puff" volume [03:22].
The Finish: Once pinned, use a needle and matching yarn to stitch it permanently [03:35].

Ready to Build Your High-Quality Wardrobe?

This project proves that you don't need "luxury prices" to have a luxury wardrobe—you just need your own two hands and a little bit of wool.

Watch the full video here to see the assembly in action: Puffed Sleeves Merino Cardigan | Knit This in a Weekend

What color would you choose for your COUER Cardigan? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to subscribe to the NinElDesign channel for more DIY fashion inspiration!