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.

Knit a Simple Cropped Cardigan with Poufy Sleeves

Free Pattern Long Cable Knit Cardigan

Use All Your Yarn Scraps on This Great Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Generally I like knitting patterns where I feel like you can use whatever yarn you have (because my stash is big enough and I want to use it, thanks) and make a successful project. This is one of those times when a special yarn makes the process that much easier.

The Floral Bouquet Shawl from Xandy Peters uses a specific extended color pooling yarn from Feisty Fibers, which allows you to place the bobble flowers with increasing frequency as you knit the project.

It starts with a solid color yarn, then the two color yarn is added in, and you make a bobble whenever you encounter the color pops. This would be hard to replicate with other yarn that doesn’t have the extended color pooling built in.

The background of the shawl is ribbed, making the project reversible.

The shawl uses fingering/sock yarn and comes out to be an asymmetrical triangle that’s 54 inches/137 cm long and 36 inches/ 90 cm deep and 60 inches/150 cm across the top edge.

Xandy says the pattern is for intermediate to advanced knitters. Knowing how to work traditional bobbles would probably help, but there’s a great video tutorial for how to work the floral bobbles so you can practice on other yarn or even incorporate the bobbles into other projects.

The bobbles are five-petaled flowers but they also kind of look like starfish to me, which could be fun on a child’s cardigan or other pattern. They’d also be fun on the leg of a sock or around the brim of a hat for extra whimsy.

The pattern includes photo and video tutorials, and written and charted instructions. It also includes tips on what to look for if you choose to use different yarn for the project, and instructions on how to dye your own yarn to use in the project.

If you want to give it a try, you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Xandy Peters]

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