How to Knit Your First Comfy Cardigan

Today, you’ll learn how to knit your first Cardigan:  It’s comfy, super easy to do, and oversized, perfect for beginners!

It’s a 5-piece dropped shoulder cardigan, (bottom-up construction), and the only techniques required are knit + purl stitches, pick up and knit, and bind off knitwise.

The back and the fronts of the Cardigan are simple rectangles knitted in Stockinette stitch, with a 1 x 1 ribbing for the hems and cuffs.

Nevertheless, if you prefer to knit rather than purl, you can change the Stockinette (Stocking) parts for the Garter stitch.

By way of contrast, for the sleeves, I used the Hurdle Stitch we practiced a couple of months ago. A four-row repeat pattern which is also super easy but very pretty!

Although I used bulky yarn, the cardigan is light, because of the needle size, which also helps to make it super quick to knit 😉

Last but not least, in the video tutorial I’ll show you how to join the pieces (right front, left front, back, and sleeves) using the mattress stitch (or invisible seaming).

Ok, it’s time for action!

But first, please take the time to read the pattern through 😉

Materials

Number 5, or Bulky weight yarn, in the following quantities:

Size S:   520 gr

Size M:    550 gr

Size L:  580 gr

Size XL:  610 gr

Size XXL: 640 gr

I used 100% Peruvian Highland Wool yarn (for 8 mm / US 11 needles). Each ball contains 100 gr. / 3.5 oz and 140 m / 153 yds. 

You can use the yarn of your preference, as long as the same gauge (number of stitches per cm/inch) is obtained.

US 11 / 8 mm straight needles and US 11 / 8 mm circular needles (and at least a 32 in / 80 cm cable) #ad

US 15 / 10 mm straight needles

Scissors

Measurement tape or rule

Tapestry needle #ad

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Abbreviations

st.: stitch

K: Knit

P: Purl

kfb: Knit one stitch front and back

CO: Cast on

BO: Bind off

RS: Right side of the work

WS: Wrong side of the work

Gauge swatch

A 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in) square knitted in Stockinette stitch, using the larger needles = 10 stitches and 15 rows.

If you are getting more stitches per cm/in, go up a needle size; if you are getting less stitches, go down a needle size.

Please note that if your gauge is different, the size of the finished cardigan will be different too.

It’s essential to obtain the same gauge to be successful!

To Fit Bust Measurement

S: 81-86.5 cm / 32-34″

M: 91.5-96.5 cm / 36-38″

L: 101.5-106.5 cm / 40-42″

XL: 112-117 cm / 44-46″

XXL: 122-137 cm / 48-54″

Finished bust measurement after seaming (23 cm / 9 in of positive ease approx.)

S: 109 cm / 43″

M: 119 cm / 47″

L: 130 cm / 51″

XL: 140 cm / 55″

XXL: 150 cm / 59″

Total Length

S: 56.5 cm / 22″

M: 58 cm / 23″

L: 60 cm / 24″

XL: 62 cm / 24.5”

XXL: 64 cm / 25″

Notes before starting:

I designed this pattern for the smallest size (S). You’ll find the instructions for larger sizes (M, L, XL, and XXL) between parenthesis, in the same order.

Circular needles are the best option to pick up and knit the stitches for the collar. Although we won’t be knitting in the round, the long cable allows us to allocate a large number of stitches.

However, if your straight needles are long enough (at least 15 in / 40 cm), then you can try with them.

How to Knit Your First Comfy Cardigan

The Back

Ribbing

Using the smaller needles, CO 57 (62 – 67 – 72 – 77) st.

Work 11 rows in 1 x 1 Rib stitch pattern, as follows:

1º and every odd row (WS): *K1, P1*. 

If you started with an odd number of st, repeat from * to *, to last st, K1.

If you started with an even number, repeat from * to *, to end.

2º and every even row: *P1 K1*. Repeat from * to *, to end.

If you started with an odd number of st, repeat from * to *, to last st, P1.

If you started with an even number, repeat from * to *, to end.

Next row: Change to larger needles and start the Stockinette stitch section.

Row 1 and every odd row (RS): K across

Row 2 and every even row: P across

Repeat these two rows until the piece measures 56.5 (58 – 60 – 62 – 64) cm / 22 (23 – 24 – 24 1/2 – 25) in from the cast on row, ending with a WS row.

Next row: BO knitwise.

How to Knit the Fronts (Left and Right)

Ribbing

Using the smaller needles, CO 19 (19 – 21 – 23 – 27) st.

In this design the fronts don’t overlap; there’s some room between them. 

If you want them to overlap, add 5 stitches 24 (24 – 25 – 28 – 32) st.

Work 11 rows in 1 x 1 Rib stitch pattern, as follows:

1º and every odd row (WS): *K1, P1*. 

If you started with an odd number of st, repeat from * to *, to last st, K1.

If you started with an even number, repeat from * to *, to end.

2º and every even row: *P1 K1*. Repeat from * to *, to end.

If you started with an odd number of st, repeat from * to *, to last st, P1.

If you started with an even number, repeat from * to *, to end.

Next row: Change to larger needles and start the Stockinette stitch section.

Row 1 and every odd row (RS): K across

Row 2 and every even row: P across

Repeat these two rows until the piece measures 56.5 (58 – 60 – 62 – 64) cm / 22 (23 – 24 – 24 1/2 – 25) in from the cast on row, ending with a WS row.

Important note: Before binding off, make sure that you have the same amount of rows in the fronts and the back.

Next row: BO knitwise.

How to Knit the Sleeves

Ribbing

Using the smaller needles, CO 31 (33 – 33 – 37 – 37) st.

Work 11 rows in 1 x 1 Rib stitch pattern, as follows:

1º and every odd row (WS): *K1, P1*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, K1.

2º and every even row: *P1 K1*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, P1.

Row 12 (RS): Change to larger needles and increase 18 (20 – 22 – 21 – 21) st, as follows:

Size S: *K1, kfb*. Repeat from * to * 12 times, K1. Now, kfb 6 times. 49 st remain.

Size M: *K1, kfb*. Repeat from * to * 12 times, K1. Now, kfb 8 times. 53 st remain.

Size L: *K1, kfb*. Repeat from * to * 9 times, K2. Now, kfb 13 times. 55 st remain.

Sizes XL and XXL: *K1, kfb*. Repeat from * to * 11 times, K5. Now, kfb 10 times. 58 st remain.

Row 13 (WS): K across

How to Knit the Hurdle Stitch Pattern Section

Sizes S to XL:

Row 1 (RS): *K1, P1*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, K1.

Row 2: *P1, K1*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, P1.

Rows 3 and 4: K across

Size XXL:

Row 1 (RS): *K1, P1*. Repeat from * to *, to end

Row 2: *K1, P1*. Repeat from * to *, to end

Rows 3 and 4: K across

Repeat these last four rows until the piece measures 35 (37 – 37 – 42 – 42) cm / 13 3/4 (14 1/2 -14 1/2 -16 1/2 – 16 1/2) in from the cast on row, ending with a wrong side row.

Next row, work in Stockinette Stitch, as follows:

Row 1 (RS): K across

Row 2: P across

Until the sleeve measures 46 (48 – 48 – 43 – 43) cm / 18 (19 – 19 – 17 – 17) in from the cast on edge, ending with a wrong side row.

Next row (RS): BO knitwise.

Repeat the process for the second sleeve.

Please note that it’s better to block your pieces before joining them!

How to join the Cardigan

First, join the shoulders (front and back for each side).

Second, with the smaller needles, pick up and knit an odd number of stitches, starting at the right front, then the neck, and finally, from the left front (watch the video further down to see how to knit the ribbed collar).

Work 5 rows in 1 x 1 Rib (as explained for the ribbings of the back and fronts).

Next row (RS): BO working each stitch as it presents.

Now, join one sleeve to the back and left front, and the other, to the back and right front.

Sew up the sides from the hem to the armhole, and finish closing the sleeves, from the armhole to the cuff.

Watch the video to see how to do the mattress stitch or invisible seaming.

And weave in the ends…

It’s time to celebrate 🙂 Stand up, and make a Mexican wave! YES!

Enjoy the video tutorial: 

How to Knit Your First Cardigan

Don’t forget to share your knits on Instagram and tag me (@sowoolly), so I can see your work!

Happy knitting 🙂

Carolina – So Woolly

PS: Do you prefer a sweater? Click here to see how to knit a gorgeous one!