Free Knitting Pattern: The Coziest Cardigan You’ll Ever Knit

I can’t come right out and say that the Oh So Cozy cardigan from Caron/Yarnspirations is the coziest cardigan ever, because I’ve never knit it. But it certainly looks like it could be a contender.

I love a good long cardigan. With pockets? And a belt? This pattern is definitely hitting all the notes I would look for in a great cardigan knitting pattern.

The project calls for Caron Simply Me Mosaic yarn, a bulky blend of acrylic, nylon and wool that brings the warmth, shine and durability, but is also machine washable and dryable. This particular version of Simply Me also has a subtle multicolor that’s self striping, making this project look a little more interesting without any extra work.

It comes in four sizes that fit a range of bodies. The finished chest measurement of the garment ranges from 46 to 64 inches, or 122 to 165.5 cm, so you can pick the amount of ease that you would like depending on your size. I’d definitely want a bit of room because this one is meant to be an outer layer, whether you wear it at home or out and about.

Let’s be real, if I knit this one it would definitely become my new wear around the house sweater.

The sweater is worked from the bottom up in one piece, starting with the bottom edge of double stockinette stitch (which involves strategically slipping stitches to make a fabric that looks knit on both sides).

The rest of the body is worked in regular stockinette, and the minimal shaping means that this project is suited to newer knitters. There is some finishing involved, though, as the bands, sleeves and pockets (and optional belt loops) are all worked separately and then sewn on.

But I feel like all of that would be worth it to have this cozy cardi in your wardrobe. If you make it I want to hear how it turns out! Grab the free pattern from Yarnspirations.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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There are two schools of thought when it comes to instructional books about knitting. Either focus in one particular technique or kind of knitting (stranded knitting, say, or brioche) or try to cover a little bit of everything in a reference book that knitters will use throughout their careers.

The Knitting Book by Frederica Patmore and Dr. Vikki Haffenden aims to be the second kind. The subtitle is: a step-by-step guide to creating imaginative projects for the home and to wear. I’m not sure it does that, exactly, but it does include a quick look at a lot of different techniques and stitch patterns you might use in your projects.

A “guide to creating imaginative projects” sounds to me like it’s about design, but this book is not. There’s 1/3 of a page about altering patterns that only talks about how to add length to a sleeve and adjust where the increases go.

There’s nothing about measuring your body (the section on choosing a size in a pattern only suggests measuring a garment you already own), general garment construction, ease or stitch pattern multiples. The section on gauge (which is the last third of the page with choosing a garment size and altering patterns, discussed above) just says to knit a swatch, block and measure it to compare to a pattern, with no discussion on how you might use your swatch to design your own project or alter a pattern to meet your gauge.

If you ignore the subtitle, what you will find is a lot of information about different kinds of knitting and various techniques you might want to try on your projects. There are 20 cast ons and 15 bind off options, for instance, all discussed before you learn how to knit or purl. (Another quibble I have with this book is the order in which things are presented, but that’s relatively minor.)

You’ll find quick hits on increases and decreases, twists and cables, lace, colorwork, textured effects like fisherman’s rib and brioche, loops, mosaic knitting, double knitting, decorative stitches, shadow knitting, bias knitting, mitered squares, entrelac and more. There are tips for selvedge stitches, knitting with beads, adding buttonholes, picking up stitches and more.

A few patterns at the back give knitters a taste of some of the techniques included, but they’re not rated by skill level and the first one is a bias knit gradient scarf worked in six different colors of mohair, which isn’t a thing I’d wish on any beginner.

And I guess that’s maybe what my issue with the book is. I don’t know if it’s meant for beginners and it doesn’t seem to, either. I feel like this book would be overwhelming to new knitters and doesn’t really give you a place to start or all the information you might need to do projects well.

The variety of techniques included is fun, and there are also stitch patterns in the back you can use on your own projects, but again it doesn’t really provide any guidance for how to design your own projects so I don’t know how helpful all of that is.

I want to like books like this because having one reference that helps you with a lot of different things is great, I’m just not sure this is the one. If you can find it at your library or local book store and flip through it before buying, I think that would be a great idea to see if it’s a book that would be helpful for you.

And if you have this book and love it please let me know! I’m sure it’s good for someone I’m just not sure who.

About the book: 336 pages, hardcover. Published 2026 by DK. Suggested retail price $40.

Have you read?