Knitting pattern advice

I suggest you stick to the number of stitches, and just ignore the cabling instructions, replacing them for stocking stitch or whatever the main pattern stitch is. Nice pattern .

Thank you, Opal. That's great - and I appreciate the quick answer. I can get started on it in the morning now. :-)

If you check the pattern it should tell you how many stitches and rows for a 10cm square and, if the cabling comes out tighter than stocking stitch, it should say so.
It is probably the same tension but perhaps cabling is a little less stretchy.

Lucky niece!

I agree with pps. Lovely cardigan!
It was only doll's clothes, but I recently substituted a much simpler stitch for a very fiddly pattern I knew I could never cope with - at least not without a lot of cussing/undoing/starting again - and it was fine.

It looks like just pockets with cabling so I don't think you can simply ignore it as you will end up with very baggy pockets. If I have understood it correctly I would just have a couple of stitches more for the pockets than for the body of the cardigan. When you get to the point of making the pockets the pattern will probably tell you to make some increases to allow for the cable, at that point I would just make a few rather than however many it says. Good luck, it might be a case of trial and error.

Thank you for the advice, ladies. As Nonnie says, I think it might turn out to be a case of trial and error when I get to the pockets. I'm going to try the sleeves by just ignoring the cabling instructions. I really appreciate you taking the time to help!

I couldn't see the cable on the sleeves but suggest that if it asks for increases before the cable you just ignore them. I have just made a scarf without a pattern and I needed to increase for the cabling or it sort of bunched up.

Hi, it might be useful to do a small sample of cabling before you start - to check whether the tension is the same as stocking stitch. Love the pattern, too! - where is it from?

Thank you, Nonnie. That's good advice - I'll leave out the increases.
Also for your advice of doing a sample of cabling, humptydumpty. It is a King Cole pattern, no 4480, and my niece said she found it on eBay.

Another option maybe to replace the cabling on the pockets with the same rib pattern that you'll use at the base of the jacket and the button edgings, this would give the pocket a bit more 'stretch'. As everyone else is suggesting check the tension but you may not mind if the pockets end up slightly smaller or bigger. Good luck. Are you able to post a photo when finished, would be great to see the finished jacket.