Colorwork Cardigan Knitting Patterns

As I go about my perusal of the Internet and social media, I collect knitting patterns of various types that catch my eye. Sometimes a single pattern will inspire me to write a whole post, while other times I wait and gather and see if a theme will emerge that I can write a longer post about that includes more patterns.

That’s how this colorwork cardigan knitting patterns collection came about. These projects all use color in different ways — from stripes to allover stranded knitting, intarsia color blocks and bands of colorwork — and hopefully they’ll inspire you to add more color to your projects.

The Camden Cardigan is a simple, boxy striped cardigan that has been on my personal knit list for a while. It’s worked in two colors of bulky yarn and comes in five sizes. Designed by Vladimir Teriokhin, it’s a free pattern on Lion Brand’s website.

Work stripes of colorwork with tuck stitches that give them a vintage flair in the Mohn Cardigan pattern from EKnitsShop on Etsy. Inspired by a 1950s cardigan, the pattern is knit flat and the sleeves are worked separately and sewn in. The pattern information on Etsy doesn’t give all the details but I looked it up on Ravelry and it comes in 12 sizes from 32 to 62 inches.

Melanie Berg’s Pandau cardigan is a longer cardigan that has colorwork in bands below the armholes. There are some standard stripes and some mosaic/slip stitch designs. This one uses bulky yarn in five colors, comes in seven sizes, and is available on Ravelry.

The intarsia color blocking on this super long cardigan from The Blue Mouse on Etsy looks like a lot of fun to stitch. It uses worsted weight yarn and comes in one size with a 56 inch chest measurement (142 centimeters) so depending on your size it can have lots of ease for wearing as a coat or less to wear as a cardigan.

Practice allover colorwork with the Beckham cardigan from Kyle Kunnecke. This pretty DK weight design is covered with repeating diamond patterns. It’s worked flat and the colorwork pattern is charted. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Get a super cozy cardigan with Cowichan style with the Patons True North cardigan. Worked flat in pieces in bulky yarn, this design features stripes and intarsia-knit trees and bears. It uses five colors and comes in six sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 38 to 63 inches (96.5 to 160 cm).

When my daughter was in early elementary school we were at Joann together (RIP) and she picked out some variegated pink and white blanket yarn for me to knit a blanket for her bed. Now probably 10 years later, it’s one of her favorite possessions. I note this because the blankets we give to little ones might seem simple on the surface, like something they need to keep warm, but they can turn into so much more.

Take the Pocketful of Love Blanket from Purl Soho. On the surface this is a pretty but also easy to knit blanket for a little one. It’s worked in garter stitch stripes using sport weight yarn (the sample is a superwash wool, but this would also be nice in cotton or a blend) and available in a crib or small throw size. Though of course because it’s garter stitch, it’s pretty easy to make it any size you want.

But what makes this blanket extra special is the little details. The slip stitch selvedges and I-cord bind off give it a crisp look that’s perfect with the garter stitch of the body.

And then there’s the pocket.

This is a big pocket. At 10 inches wide and 12.25 inches tall (that’s 25.4 by 31 cm) for the crib size and 12.75 by 14.25 inches (32.4 by 36 cm) for the throw, you can easily fit a favorite stuffed animal, toy or book into the pocket.

I love how even though it uses the same striped garter stitch pattern as the blanket, it’s stitched down so the stripes run the opposite way (horizontal when the blanket stripes are vertical), though of course you can match stripes if you’d rather.

I think this blanket has the potential to be greatly loved by the little one its given to, and by the knitter look for an easy, pretty baby blanket with a little extra useful twist.

Grab the free pattern from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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