Easy Cardigan Knitting Patterns

After sharing the pattern for a super simple boxy cardigan yesterday, I got to thinking more about cardigan knitting. I used to say that I didn’t like cardigans, but now I have a “house cardigan” that I wear as an extra layer around the house pretty much every day.

I’ve been meaning to upgrade it to a handmade version for a long time now, so this collection of easy cardigan knitting patterns is as much for me as it is for you. Let’s all be cozy at home or anywhere else in these cute and easy to knit cardigan.

The Knit Coat pattern from Mama in a Stitch is a literally large project, but it’s not at all difficult to make. Worked in super bulky yarn, it’s made in panels knit flat with minimal shaping. You don’t even have to make buttonholes; just stick the button between two stitches if you want to close up your coat. It even has a hood! This one is available in 5 sizes and is meant to be work with positive ease.

The Carefree Cardigan from Premier Yarns would be a great first garment project. It’s worked in garter stitch from side to side using two colorways of a self-striping yarn to make it look scrappy without the work (though of course you could use leftovers for this project, too). It uses DK weight yarn and you can get the free pattern from Premier Yarns.

Use all sorts of fun stitches (and all your leftover sock yarn) to make the Pockets Full Cardigan from Tina Tse. This one uses two strands of yarn held together so it’s perfect for using up leftovers to get that scrappy look. It also uses lots of different (but still easy) stitch patterns to give it tons of texture. And have you seen those giant pockets? This one has 10 size options and you can grab a copy on Ravelry.

If your idea of a good cardigan is slouchy and cozy, look no further than Ozetta’s Field Day Jacket. This classic “grandpa” style cardigan has buttons up the front, which can be made with snap buttons if you don’t want to work buttonholes. It uses worsted weight yarn, comes in 9 sizes, and you can buy it on Etsy.

Ready to try a raglan? The Let’s Boogie Raglan from A Honey Knits on Etsy is super easy to knit in worsted weight yarn held double. It’s a great introduction to top-down knitting and a sweater you’ll reach for all the time. Nine sizes are available.

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Free Pattern Long Cable Knit Cardigan

Use All Your Yarn Scraps on This Great Cardigan Knitting Pattern

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I have probably told you this before, but I spent a long time not being a vest person. But when fall hits where I live, that’s all I want to knit, and most of what I want to wear.

Lion Brand Yarn technically calls this one a cardigan, the McInness Cardigan, to be exact, but I just see a long vest that’s open at the front and perfect for all your fall activities.

Take one look at this thing and tell me you want to wear anything else at the pumpkin patch or going apple picking. I didn’t think so.

This is a really easy project, worked in one piece back and forth in rows from the bottom up. The front bands are integrated into the sweater so there’s no finishing there. The pieces are divided at the shoulder seams and worked in three parts separately (each of the fronts and the back). The pattern calls for binding off and then sewing the shoulder seams together, but you could also hold all the stitches and either do a three-needle bind off or graft the stitches together if you’d rather.

The collar is then picked up and knit from the top of the garment, and the armholes are edged with applied I-cord.

The pattern comes in six sizes, with a finished bust measurement ranging from 36 to 56 inches, or 91.5 to 142 cm. It isn’t meant to close in the front so you can choose the amount of ease that works for you to have a good fit across your back.

This looks like a great project for TV knitting or if you’re traveling or watching sports in person or at home. It’s pretty in a solid color as shown but would also be great with stripes or using a multicolored yarn. It’s a great blank canvas that you can make your own in lots of different ways.

You can grab the pattern as a free download from Lion Brand.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn.]

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