Cardigan Sweater Recipe
Learn how to knit a cardigan sweater that is customizable to ANY size! In this sweater knitting tutorial, Madeline from Knitting House Square takes you through each step needed from measurements & working a gauge swatch, to calculating your stitch counts and each step of the pattern from cast-on to seaming the pieces. The free pattern download can be found linked below on the Knitting House Square website - look for the 'PDF Pattern' button.
Materials
• Tapestry Needle Amazon
• US 13 (9mm) circular knitting needle with 40”+ cord length Amazon
• Scissors
• Fabric Tape Measure Amazon
• 4 Buttons
• Super Bulky Weight Yarn (#6) - Shown in Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick - see pattern for yardage calculations Amazon
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Written Pattern
The original downloadable pattern remains available above. Follow the size, yarn, and needle options that match your project.
Pattern directions - page 1
Cardigan Sweater Recipe - Knit Flat
By: Knitting House Square
YouTube Tutorial: https://youtu.be/hUxh-hgw0n4
Materials
• US 13 (9 mm) Circular Knitting Needle with 40”+ cord length (note the piece is knit flat in
pieces, but a long knitting needle is needed to work the ribbing around the neckline)
• Large Tapestry Needle to seam & and weave in the ends
• Scissors
• Fabric Tape Measure
! !
• 4 Buttons (1 𝑡𝑜 1 in diameter)
" #
Gauge
6.75 sts x 13 rows = 3” x 3” garter stitch knit flat
Abbreviations
• SSK (Slip, slip, knit): Slip 2 stitches individually from the left to right needle as if to knit,
pass the two stitches back over to the left knitting needle, and knit the two stitches
together through the back loop
• K2T (Knit two together): knit the next two stitches on the left knitting needle together
• WS (Wrong Side): back side of your work (inside of the sweater)
• RS (Right Side): front side of your work (outside of the sweater)
Measurements
Identifier Inches Description
[A] Top of Shoulder to Desired Length
[B] Bust Circumference + 6”
[C] Center Neck to Wrist (arm stretched straight)
[J] Top of Arm Circumference + 4”
[K] Wrist Circumference + 2”
Knitting House Square Ó 2023. Pattern for personal use only. 1
Pattern directions - page 2
Yarn Calculations
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky (#6)
• Shown in Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick
o Blue Version: Seaglass & Succulent
o Pink Version: Seashell & Rouge
Border Color (Solid Color)
= 0.5∗(2∗[𝐴]+2∗[𝐾]+[𝐵]) = ________ yds
Main Fabric Color
[%]
Sleeve Length = [𝐶]− −2 = _______
'
[(])[*]
Average Sleeve Circumference = = _______
#
= ([𝐴]∗[𝐵]+ 2∗𝑆𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ∗𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑆𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒)∗0.5 =_______ yds
Gauge Swatch
• Using the border color cast-on 16 stitches using the long-tail cast-on or the German
twisted cast-on
• Ribbing Row: Knit 1, Purl 1 repeat between *’s across the row
• Continue repeating the ribbing row until the work measures 3”
• Switch to the main fabric color yarn (if applicable)
• Garter Row: Knit
• Continue repeating the Garter Row for an additional 5”
• Cast-off all stitches
• Soak in lukewarm water, roll up in a towel to remove excess water and lay flat to dry
Knitting House Square Ó 2023. Pattern for personal use only. 2
Pattern directions - page 3
Back Panel
Calculations
Identifier Calculation Description
[D] [%] ∗2.25 = Number of stitches to cast on for the back panel
#
*round answer up to the
nearest number divisible by 2
[E] [𝐴] – 3” = Length of back panel before neck decreases
begin.
[F] [+],!- Stitch count needed for neckline decreases
=
#
Using the Border Color cast-on [D] stitches using the long-tail cast-on or the German twisted
cast-on.
Ribbing Row: Knit 1, Purl 1, repeat between *’s across the row
Continue working the ribbing for a total of 6 rows. When you complete the ribbing and turn
your work to begin the next row, the side of your work facing you will be the Right Side (RS) of
your work. It may be helpful to mark the RS of your work with a stitch marker or piece of waste
yarn. The opposite side of your work is the wrong side (WS)
Cut the Border Color and join the Main Fabric Color.
Garter Row: Knit
Continue repeating the Garter Row for [E]”. Finish after a WS row.
Back Neckline Cast-Off Row [RS]: Knit [F], cast-off 16 stitches, knit remaining [F] stitches
For the next portion you will be only working the stitches up until the cast-off portion. This is
called the Left Back, because these should be the stitches on the left shoulder when you are
looking at the RS of the back panel.
Left Back Decrease Row 1 [WS]: Knit until 4 stitches remain, K2T, knit 2
Left Back Decrease Row 2 [RS]: Knit
Left Back Decrease Row 3 [WS]: Knit until 4 stitches remain, K2T, knit 2
Left Back Decrease Row 4 [RS]: Knit
Left Back Decrease Row 5 [WS]: Knit until 4 stitches remain, K2T, knit 2
Left Back Decrease Row 6 [RS]: Cast-off the remaining Left Back stitches. Cut yarn, leaving a
long tail (approx. 20”+) for seaming.
With the WS of your work facing you, join your yarn to begin working across the Right Back
stitches
Right Back Decrease Row 1 [WS]: Knit 2, SSK, knit remaining stitches
Right Back Decrease Row 2 [RS]: Knit
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Pattern directions - page 4
Right Back Decrease Row 3 [WS]: Knit 2, SSK, knit remaining stitches
Right Back Decrease Row 4 [RS]: Knit
Right Back Decrease Row 5 [WS]: Knit 2, SSK, knit remaining stitches
Right Back Decrease Row 6 [RS]: Cast-off the remaining Right Back stitches. Cut yarn, leaving a
long tail (approx. 20”+) for seaming.
Front Left Panel
Calculations
Identifier Calculation Description
[G] [+],' Number of stitches to cast on for each side panel
=
#
[H] [𝐴] – 9” = Length of each side panel before decreases begin
Using the Border Color cast-on [G] stitches using the long-tail cast-on or the German twisted
cast-on.
Ribbing Row: Knit 1, Purl 1, repeat between *’s across the row
Continue working the ribbing for a total of 6 rows. When you complete the ribbing and turn
your work to begin the next row, the side of your work facing you will be the Right Side (RS) of
your work. It may be helpful to mark the RS of your work with a stitch marker or piece of waste
yarn. The opposite side of your work is the wrong side (WS)
Cut the Border Color and join the Main Fabric Color.
Garter Row: Knit
Continue repeating the Garter Row for [H]”. Finish after a WS row.
Front Left Panel Decrease Row 1 (RS): Knit 2, SSK, knit remaining stitches
Front Left Panel Decrease Row 2 (WS): Knit
Front Left Panel Decrease Row 3 (RS): Knit
Front Left Panel Decrease Row 4 (WS): Knit
Repeat Front Left Panel Decrease Rows 1-4 a total of 7 times.
Repeat Front Left Panel Decrease Rows 1-2 a total of 2 times.
Cast-off the remaining stitches. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail (approx. 20”+) for seaming. Note:
remaining stitch count should match the number of stitches cast-off on each side of the back
panel.
Front Right Panel
Using the Border Color cast-on [G] stitches using the long-tail cast-on or the German twisted
cast-on.
Knitting House Square Ó 2023. Pattern for personal use only. 4
Pattern directions - page 5
Ribbing Row: Knit 1, Purl 1, repeat between *’s across the row
Continue working the ribbing for a total of 6 rows. When you complete the ribbing and turn
your work to begin the next row, the side of your work facing you will be the Right Side (RS) of
your work. It may be helpful to mark the RS of your work with a stitch marker or piece of waste
yarn. The opposite side of your work is the wrong side (WS)
Cut the Border Color and join the Main Fabric Color.
Garter Row: Knit
Continue repeating the Garter Row for [H]”. Finish after a WS row.
Front Right Panel Decrease Row 1 (RS): Knit until 4 stitches remain, K2T, knit 2
Front Right Panel Decrease Row 2 (WS): Knit
Front Right Panel Decrease Row 3 (RS): Knit
Front Right Panel Decrease Row 4 (WS): Knit
Repeat Front Right Panel Decrease Rows 1-4 a total of 7 times.
Repeat Front Right Panel Decrease Rows 1-2 a total of 2 times.
Cast-off the remaining stitches. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail (approx. 20”+) for seaming. Note:
remaining stitch count should match the number of stitches cast-off on each side of the back
panel.
Sleeves
Calculations
Identifier Calculation Description
[L] ([𝐽]∗2.25)+2 = Number of stitches to cast-on for each
*round answer up to the nearest sleeve
number divisible by 2
[M] ([𝐾]∗2.25)+2 = Number of stitches to end up with after
*round answer up to the nearest decreases for each sleeve
number divisible by 2
[N] [𝐶]− [%] −2 = Length of sleeve, excluding sleeve cuff
' ribbing
*round answer up to the nearest
whole number
[O] [𝑁]∗4.33 = Total number of rows the sleeve decreases
*round answer up to the nearest will occur over
whole number
[P] [.],[/] Total number of sleeve decrease rows
=
#
[Q] & [R] [0] Sleeve decrease row frequency
= ______ whole number [Q]
[1]
______ remainder [R]
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Pattern directions - page 6
Using the Main Fabric Color cast-on [L] stitches using the Long-Tail Cast-On or the German
Twisted Cast-On.
Work in the Garter Row, working a Sleeve Decrease Row every [Q]th row a total of [P] times.
Sleeve Decrease Row: Knit 2, K2T, knit until 4 stitches remain, SSK, knit 2
Once the above repeats are complete, work the Garter Row [R] additional times.
Cut the Main Fabric Color and join the Border Color.
Ribbing Row: Knit 1, Purl 1, repeat between *’s across the row.
Work the Ribbing row a total of 6 times, then cast-off all stitches.
Repeat for the 2nd sleeve.
Seaming & Button Band
Seam the front two panels to the back panel along each shoulder.
Button Band
Lay the sweater flat, with the front panels facing up. Pick up and knit the button band
stitches as described below, starting at the bottom of the ribbing of the front left panel.
• pick up and knit (using the Border Color yarn):
o every row along the edge ribbing
o every other row up the remainder of the right front panel
o every stitch along the back neckline
o every other row down the front right panel garter portion
o every row along the front right panel edge ribbing
Turn work to begin the first ribbing row.
Ribbing Row 1: Purl 1, Knit 1 repeat between *’s across the row, finish with
Purl 1
Note: if your final stitch would not be a Purl 1 as you work across the row
(you have an even # stitches total), work up until 2 stitches remain, drop
the 2nd to last stitch off of the knitting needle, then purl the final stitch.
Gently pull on the cast on tail to remove any extra yarn from the stitch
that was dropped.
Ribbing Row 2: Knit 1, Purl 1 repeat between *’s across the row, finish with
Knit 1
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Pattern directions - page 7
Buttonhole Calculations
Identifier Calculation Description
[S] Number of edge stitches up the straight
=_________
portion of the sweater (ribbing + front panel
*Round down to the nearest # before the neck decreases begin)
divisible by 4
[T] [2] Number of stitches between buttonholes
= ________
'
[U] [3] Number of stitches before buttonholes start
= ______
#
*Keep whole number, ignore
remainder
Buttonhole Cast-Off Round
• Work Knit 1, Purl 1 pattern for [U] stitches
• cast off 1 stitch, continue in pattern for [T] - 1 stitches
o repeat the previous bullet point 2 additional times
• Cast off 1 stitch
• Work in pattern across the rest of the row
Buttonhole Cast-On Round
• Work in pattern until the first location of a previously cast-off stitch
• Cast on 1 stitch, continue working until the next previously cast-off stitch, then
repeat again
• Once you have cast back on the 4th buttonhole stitch, continue working the
remaining [U] stitches in pattern
Ribbing Row 3: Purl 1, Knit 1 repeat between *’s across the row, finish with Purl 1
Cast-off all stitches.
Seam a sleeve onto each side of the sweater, then seam up the sides of the sweater and down
each sleeve.
Weave in all ends, then soak the sweater in lukewarm water for about 20 min, then roll in a
towel to remove excess water, and lay flay to dry.
When dry, seam the 4 buttons onto the button band, opposite to each button hole.
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