Classic Lace Cardigan
Look pretty and polished in the Classic Lace Cardigan. This gorgeous light and lacy knit cardigan pattern features a timeless shape and a flattering, v-shaped neckline. Perfect for the intermediate knitter, the Classic Lace Cardigan is a piece you'll love being able to say you made. We love this charming knit in the sea foam color as shown, but any other solid color DK weight yarn would look equally as lovely.
Knitting Needle Size5 or 3.75 mm, 6 or 4 mm, Circular Knitting Needles
Yarn Weight(3) Light/DK (21-24 stitches to 4 inches)
Knit a matching cardigan for your little girl! Find the child size pattern here.
Materials:
- Patons Astra (50 g/1.75 oz) Sizes S, M, L, XL (8,8, 9, 10) balls
- Sizes 3.75 (U.S. 5) and 4 mm (U.S. 6) knitting needles
- Size 3.75 (U.S. 5) circular knitting needle or size needed to obtain tension
- St holder
- 7 buttons
Gauge: 21 sts and 34 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in lace pat.
MEASUREMENTS
To fit bust measurement
S 34 ins [86.5 cm ]
M 36 ins [91.5 cm]
L 38 ins [96.5 cm ]
XL 40 ins [101.5 cm ]
Finished bust measurement
S 39 ins [99 cm ]
M 41½ ins [105.5 cm ]
L 44 ins [112 cm ]
XL 47 ins [119.5 cm ]
INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ).
BACK
With smaller needles, cast on 99 (106-113-120) sts.
1st row: (RS). P1. *P1. K2. yfwd. Sl1. K1. psso. P2. Rep from * to end of row.
2nd row: *K2. P4. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
3rd row: P1. *P1. K2tog. yfwd. K2. P2. Rep from * to end of row.
4th row: As 2nd row.
These 4 rows form Eyelet Rib Pat.
Work a further 8 rows in Eyelet Rib Pat, inc 3 sts evenly across last row. 102 (109-116-123) sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace Pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K5. yfwd. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.
3rd row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K4. yfwd. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
5th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K3. yfwd. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
7th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K2. yfwd. K3. Rep from * to last st. K1.
9th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K1. yfwd. K4. Rep from * to last st. K1.
11th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last st. K1.
13th row: K1. *yfwd. K5. K2tog. Rep from * to last 3 sts. K3.
15th row: K2. *yfwd. K4. K2tog. K1. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2.
17th row: K3. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
19th row: K4. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to end of row.
21st row: K5. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 6 sts. yfwd. K1. K2tog. K3.
23rd row: K6. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 5 sts. yfwd. K2tog. K3.
24th row: Purl.
These 24 rows form Lace Pat.
Cont in Lace Pat until work from beg measures approx 12 ins [30.5 cm], ending on a 16th row of Lace Pat.
Armhole shaping: 1st row: (RS). Cast off 3 sts (1 st rem after cast off). yfwd. K2. K2tog. K2. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: Cast off 3 sts. Purl to end of row.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K1. K2tog. K3. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to last 4 sts. yfwd. K2. K2tog.
4th row: P2tog. Purl to end of row.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K5. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 3 sts. K1. K2tog.
6th row: Purl.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K4. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2tog.
8th row: P2tog. Purl to last 2 sts. P2togtbl. 88 (95-102-109) sts.
Beg with 1st row of Lace Pat, cont even in pat until armhole measures approx 7 (7½-8-8½) ins [18 (19-20.5-21.5) cm], ending on a 10th (12th-14th-18th) row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 13 (14-15-17) sts beg next 2 rows, then cast off 13 (15-16-17) sts beg following 2 rows. Leave rem 36 (37-40-41) sts on a st holder.
LEFT FRONT
**With smaller needles, cast on 50 (57-57-64) sts.
Work 12 rows in Eyelet Rib Pat as given for Back, inc 3 sts evenly across last row. 53 (60-60-67) sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace Pat as given for Back until work from beg measures approx 12 ins [30.5 cm], ending on a 16th row of Lace Pat.**
Armhole and V-neck shaping:
1st row: (RS). Cast off 3 sts (1 st rem on needle after cast off). yfwd. K2. K2tog. K2. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last 8 sts. yfwd. K3. K2tog. K1. K2tog.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K1. K2tog. K3. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to last 6 sts. yfwd. K2. (K2tog) twice.
4th row: Purl.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K6. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 4 sts. K2. K2tog.
6th row: Purl.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K6. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2tog.
8th row: Purl to last 2 sts. P2togtbl. 42 (49-49-56) sts.
Dec 1 st at V-neck edge only on next and every alt row 5 (11-5-11) times, then every 4th row from previous dec 10 (8-12-10) times. 26 (29-31-34) sts.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending on a 10th (12th-14th-18th) row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 13 (14-15-17) sts beg next row.
Purl 1 row. Cast off rem 13 (15-16- 17) sts.
RIGHT FRONT
Work from ** to ** as given for Left Front.
Armhole and V-neck shaping:
1st row: (RS). Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: Cast off 3 sts. Purl to end of row.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to last 4 sts. yfwd. (K2tog) twice.
4th row: Purl.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 3 sts. K1. K2tog.
6th row: Purl.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2tog.
8th row: P2tog. Purl to end of row. 42 (49-49-56) sts.
Proceed as follows to cont shaping V-neck only:
1st row: (RS). Sl1. K1. psso. K4. *Sl1. K1. psso. K5. yfwd. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K4. yfwd. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K2. *Sl1. K1. psso. K3. yfwd. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *Sl1. K1. psso. K2. yfwd. K3. Rep from * to last st. K1.
9th row: Sl1. K1. psso. *Sl1. K1. psso. K1. yfwd. K4. Rep from * to last st. K1.
11th row: Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd. K5. *Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last st. K1. 36 (43-43-50) sts.
Sizes M and XL only: Dec 1 st at neck edge only, as established above, on next and every alt row 4 times.
All Sizes: Dec 1 st at neck edge only, as established above, on every 4th row from previous dec 10 (9-12-11) times. 26 (29-31- 34) sts.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending on an 11th (13th-15th-19th) row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 13 (14-15-17) sts beg next row. Work 1 row even. Cast off rem 13 (15- 16-17) sts.
SLEEVES
With smaller needles, cast on 57 sts.
Work 12 rows in Eyelet Rib Pat as given for Back, inc 3 sts evenly across last row. 60 sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace Pat as given for Back, inc 1 st at each end of needle on 5th and every following 6th (6th- 4th-4th) row to 78 (84-90-94) sts, taking inc sts into stocking st.
Cont even in pat until work from beg measures 11½ ins [29 cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Top Shaping: Cast off 2 sts beg next 2 rows. Dec 1 st each end of needle on next and every following alt row 12 times. Dec 1 st each end of needle on following 6 rows. Cast off 3 sts beg next 4 rows. Cast off rem 24 (30-36-40) sts.
FINISHING
Pin garment pieces to measurements. Cover with a damp cloth leaving to dry.
Buttonhole and button band: Sew shoulder seams. With RS of work facing and circular needle, pick up and knit 63 sts up Right Front edge to V-neck shaping.
Pick up and knit 42 (44-48-50) sts up Right Front V-neck edge to shoulder seam. K36 (37-40-41) from back st holder, dec 2 sts evenly across. Pick up and knit 42 (44-48-50) sts down Left Front Vneck edge. Pick up and knit 63 sts down Left Front edge to lower edge. 244 (249-260-265) sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K3. *Cast off 1 st. K9 (including st on needle after cast off). Rep from * 5 times more. Cast off 1 st. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Knit, casting on 2 sts over each cast off st to make a loop.
Cast off purlwise (RS).
Sew in Sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew buttons to correspond to button loops.
Read NextVictorian Elegance Cardigan
Your Recently Viewed Projects
kathyb370 8817261
Jul 02, 2018
Can anyone help clarify the decreases for vneck? I'm down to 34 sts on left front but it's already longer than the back
Lisa
Jun 23, 2023
If you are arriving at the finished size too soon, the most likely cause is a gauge issue. Hope this helps, happy knitting.
mkostek630 9782160
Jun 23, 2015
Has anyone made this sweater? I am having a very hard time with it. The directions for the left and right front do not make any sense. Where do you go after row 11 on the right front. When making the decreases the pattern does not come out right. PLEASE HELP I would really like to finish this project.
Lisa
Jun 23, 2023
If you are making size M or XL you follow the next set of directions, if not skip that line and go to the next paragraph that says "all sizes" and continue with those directions. Hope this helps someone, happy knitting.
tamsinvkf 3085477
Apr 30, 2015
PLEASE HELP!! Somebody please get back to me. Left message on here April 4 and nobody has contacted me re this pattern which is wrong. It would be so nice to finish this item before the summer.
tamsinvkf 3085477
Apr 04, 2015
Having trouble with pattern. On back had to finish at row 8 NOT 18 to get measurement of 8-1/2". Left Front instructions and right front instructions do not seem to match. Also I will have to unpick the back and finish on row 18 at least (which will give me a 10" armhole) to even accommodate the amount of decrease rows I am to knit. PLEASE HELP. Do not want to unravel as I have used a very expensive wool.
plpremo1991 738320 9
Sep 13, 2015
Currently finishing up girls pattern. Had all sorts of problems but after doing a lot of changes to instructions along with making swatches before going to next step and writing down every stitch so I was sure it knitted up with the right number of stitches as well as maintaining the lace pattern. This process was particularly helpful when knitting the right front. I plan to use that same process when I'm ready to do the band going around the front pieces and neck. I don't know if this will help but I would like to know how you did. Believe me, I would never recommend this patter to even an experienced knitter. Good luck.
honeycuttr 1391327
Jun 16, 2014
I would like to have the directions for the GIRL'S size of this pattern to make for my granddaughter. Can you please send me that?
Editor AH
Jun 16, 2014
You can find the "Girl's Classic Lace Cardigan" by using the searchbar on AllFreeKnitting, or you can find it at this link: http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Childrens-Kn == it-Sweaters/Girls-Classic-Lace-Cardigan-from-Paton == s Editors of AllFreeKnitting
Report Inappropriate Comment
Are you sure you would like to report this comment? It will be flagged for our moderators to take action.
Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site.