Basic Knitted Cardigan with Crochet Finish

Free Cardigan Knitting Pattern

This Basic Knitted Cardigan with Crochet Finish is a beautiful and cozy garment that can be worked from top to bottom, back and forth, without any seams. Made from soft and warm sport weight alpaca yarn, this cardigan is perfect for keeping you comfortable on chilly days. The pattern is simple yet sophisticated, featuring the classic stockinette stitch that creates a smooth, knit fabric. Whether you're an experienced knitter or just starting out, this pattern is a great choice for your next project. So grab your needles and let's get started!

Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 34 [38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62] inches (86 [96, 106, 117, 127, 137, 147, 158] cm

Materials: Autumn Hill Llamas 100% alpaca sport weight yarn, 170 yds (155 m) / 50 gr - 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) skeins
Leaf cloak or cape clasp

Needles: circular US #2 (2.75 mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Hook: B (2.75 mm)

Stockinette in rows:
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat from row 1.

Stockinette in rounds:
All rounds knit.

Gauge for stockinette stitch: 20 sts x 28 rows = 4"x4" (10cm x 10cm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Directions:

The cardigan is worked from top to bottom, back and forth without seams.

Cast on 50 (54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78) sts and purl one row (wrong side). Divide sts as follows and place markers on raglan lines:
1st (edge) + 1st (front) + 1 st (raglan, place a marker) + 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) sts (sleeve) + 1st (raglan, place a marker) + 26 (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) sts (back) + 1st (raglan, place a marker) + 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) sts (sleeve) + 1 st (raglan, place a marker) + 1st (front) +1 st (edge)
Work stockinette - all even rows purl (wrong side), all odd rows knit (right side) - for 62 (68, 74, 80, 86, 92, 98, 104) rows increasing by 8 sts (double increase at the raglan sts) in each odd row as follows: M1, k1 (raglan st), M1 at the raglan st.
At the same time increase by 1 st at the beginning and the end of the row (2 sts per row) in rows 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72 - to shape the V-neck line. For size S, there is no increase at rows 64 and 72. For size M, there is no increase at row 72.

Divide for sleeves
Row 63 (69, 75, 81, 87, 93, 99, 105): work the left front sts, transfer the left sleeve sts on a length of yarn, cast on 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) sts with single cast on for the underarm, work back sts, transfer right sleeve sts to a length of yarn, cast on 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) sts with single cast on and work right front stitches.

Continue to work bodice back and forth for 72 (74, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100) more rows or until desired length. Stop after working a purl (WS) row. Bind off. Do not cut the yarn.
We'll crochet edging with the same yarn.

Sleeve
Sleeves are 3/4 length, they are worked in rounds.
Transfer sleeve sts from the yarn to the needles and pick up 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) sts over the 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) underarm sts. Place a marker at the beginning of the round.
Place another marker on the middle underarm st. We'll make decreases before and after this stitch in the following way: ssk before the marked st, knit the marked st, k2tog after the marked st.
Work 65 (69, 69, 73, 73, 77, 77, 81) rounds or to desired length, making decreases in the 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66 rounds.
Bind off. Do not cut the yarn, continue to crochet the edging with the same yarn.

Edging:
All hems are finished with crochet. Rounds 1 & 2 are exactly as explained in the video below, Round 3 is different.
Hold the piece RS facing and start at right front edge where the yarn ends are after binding off.
Round 1: Work sc evenly spacing across the right front, neckline, left front, bottom hem.
In the corners, for a flat turn, work 3 sc. Join the first and the last sc with a slip stitch.
Round 2: ch2 (counts as the first hdc), hdc across the round, join the first and the last hdc with slip stitch.
Round 3: this is the round of hdc with picots: *3 hdc, ch 3, with a slip stitch join into the first ch repeat from * across the round.
Start this round with ch2 (counts as the first hdc).Join the first and the last sc with a slip stitch.

Make the sleeve edging with the same pattern.

Finishing

Sew clasps to the front of the jacket.

Enjoy!