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IntermediateFree Cardigan Knitting Pattern
This summer cardigan features seamless construction and raglan sleeves for comfort. The cardigan is knitted from the top down without seams. It uses a seed stitch, which gives it the "heather" look that inspired the name. The cardigan is made oversized, with 4 inches of positive ease.
I used 3 yarn colors to make the cardigan. It's pretty easy to use more or less colors, and have more or less color changes.
Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 38 [42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66] inches (95 [105, 115, 125, 135, 145, 155, 165] cm)
Length: 23 [24, 25, 26, 26, 26, 27, 27] inches (58 [60, 62, 64, 64, 66, 66, 68] cm)
Materials: DMC (affiliate link) Natura Just Cotton Medium Denim aran weight yarn (100% cotton), 82 yards (75 meters)/ 50 gr, color 136 – 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14) balls (MC)
DMC (affiliate link) Natura Just Cotton Medium Denim aran weight yarn (100% cotton), 82 yards (75 meters)/ 50 gr, color 16 – 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls (CC1)
DMC (affiliate link) Natura Just Cotton Medium Denim aran weight yarn (100% cotton), 82 yards (75 meters)/ 50 gr, color 06 – 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls (CC2)
Needles: circular US #7 (4.5 mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE
Gauge for seed st: 15 sts x 25 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm)
Pattern Notes
Abbreviations
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
k - knit
p - purl
Make 1 increase - I used the increase described by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row purl as a regular stitch.
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
Seed Stitch in rows:
Even number of sts
Row 1(RS):k1, p1
Row 2: p1, k1
Repeat rows 1-2
Seed Stitch in rounds:
Even number of sts
Round 1(RS):k1, p1
Round 2: p1, k1
Repeat rounds 1-2
Selvedge
The front openings of the cardigan are finished with chain selvedge. There is 1 selvedge st added at the beginning and the end of the row.
At the beginning of each row slip 1 st knitwise
At the end of each row purl 1
Raglan increases: Increase for raglan by making 1 st (m1) on each side of marked stitch in every right side (RS) row as follows: m1, sm, k1 (raglan st), m1. Include the increased stitches in the seed stitch pattern.
Cardigan
The cardigan is worked from top to bottom, back and forth without seams. The cardigan is knitted in the seed stitch.
Cast on 38 (42, 44, 44, 48, 48, 52, 54) sts and purl one row (wrong side). Divide sts as follows and place markers on raglan lines:
1 st (selvedge) + 1 st (front) + 1 st (raglan, place a marker before the stitch) + 6 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) sts (sleeve) + 1 st (raglan, place a marker before the stitch) + 18 (20, 22, 22, 24, 24, 26, 28) sts (back) + 1 st (raglan, place a marker before the stitch) + 6 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) sts (sleeve) + 1 st (raglan, place a marker before the stitch) + 1 st (front) + 1 st (selvedge).
Work seed stitch in rows.
Work 24 (22, 28, 36, 36, 32, 30, 32) rows increasing by 8 sts (double increase at the raglan sts) in each odd row as follows: m1, mm, k1 (raglan st), m1 at the raglan st.
For another 22 (28, 26, 24, 28, 36, 42, 44) rows, continue to increase back and fronts at raglan lines in each odd row. For the sleeves, increase in every 4th row 6 (7, 7, 6, 7, 9, 11, 11) times.
V-Neck Shaping
At the same time increase by 1 st at the beginning and the end of the row (2 sts per row)in every 6th row 1 (1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6) times and in every 4th row 10 (11, 12, 9, 10, 11, 9, 10) times starting from the 1st row.
That means that in some RS rows you are going to increase for 10 sts per row: 8 stitches at raglan stitches and 2 stitches for V-neck shaping.
Stitch count before division for sleeves: 224 (238, 262, 286, 304, 314, 330, 346)sts.
Divide for sleeves
Row 47 (51, 55, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77): work the left front sts, transfer the left sleeve sts to a length of yarn, cast on 4 (6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17) sts with single cast on for the underarm, work back sts, transfer right sleeve sts to a length of yarn, cast on 4 (6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17) sts with single cast on and work right front stitches. Include raglan sts with the fronts and back. Place markers at the center of the underarm. Continue to work seed stitch in rows.
Buttonholes
Starting from row 49 (53, 57, 63, 67, 71, 75, 79) work buttonholes at the end of this row and in rows 69 (73, 77, 83, 87, 91, 95, 99), 87 (91, 95, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117), 105 (109, 113, 119, 123, 127, 131, 135), 123 (127, 131, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153) and 141 (145, 149, 155, 159, 163, 167, 171) as follows: work seed st pattern to last 4 st, yo, k2tog, 1 st as est, p1 (selvedge st).
Continue to work body as established in MC for 34 row after division for sleeves.
Work 32 rows as established in CC1.
Work 32 rows as established in CC2.
If you would like to change the length of the cardigan, change the number of rows in each color by the same amount, to maintain a balanced look.
Bind off.
Sleeve
Sleeves are worked in rounds in seed stitch pattern in MC.
Transfer sleeve sts from the yarn to the needles and pick up 4 (6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17) sts over the 4 (6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17) underarm sts. Place a marker at the beginning of the round.
Work 24 rounds or to desired length. Bind off.
Finishing
Weave in the ends. Block. Sew on the buttons.
Have fun!
