Cornflower Knit Cardigan Pattern
This free long cardigan knitting pattern is perfect for any season.
The Cornflower Knit Cardigan Pattern is easy to love because of its forgiving shape, its breezy construction, and its trendy color. Free knit cardigan patterns at thislength are hard to find, but they are so beloved because of the effortless, drapey look they produce and the extra warmth they provide, whether you're sitting in an overly air-conditioned office or trudging through the winter snow. The gorgeous seed stitch border along the open front and the hem takes a bit longer to complete, but the beautiful effect is worth the extra time taken.
Knitting Needle Size10.5 or 6.5 mm
Yarn Weight(5) Bulky/Chunky (12-15 stitches for 4 inches)
Gauge12 sts = 4" [10 cm]; Rows 1–13 = 3" [7.5 cm] in Lace pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.
Materials List
- RED HEART® Dreamy™ yarn: 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) balls 9002 Denim
- Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 6.5mm [US 10.5]
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
Cardigan
Notes
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Sizes:
Finished Bust: 47½ (50½, 55½, 58½, 63½, 66½)" [120.5 (128.5, 141, 148.5, 161.5, 169) cm]
Finished Length: 38½ (39, 39½, 40, 40½, 41)" [98 (99, 100.5, 101.5, 103, 104) cm] -
Directions are for size Small; changes for sizes Medium, Large, 1X, 2X and 3X are in parentheses. Cardigan is designed to be oversized.
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Cardigan is worked in 5 pieces: Back, left front, right front, and two sleeves.
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Each piece is worked, back and forth in rows, beginning with a Seed stitch lower band. After the lower band is complete, the body is worked in Lace pattern
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Back, fronts, and sleeves can be worked with straight needles or circular needle. If you choose to use a circular needle, work back and forth in rows on circular needle as if working with straight needles.
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When instructed to work in pattern(s) "as established" simply work next row of indicated pattern(s).
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Two sleeve lengths are given: a normal sleeve length and an extra-long length (shown in photo) for coziness.
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kfb (Knit into front and back) = Knit next stitch but do not remove from needle, knit into back loop of same stitch and remove from needle – 1 st increased.
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ssk (slip, slip, knit) = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of stitches, knit these sts together through back loop – 1 st decreased
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Seed Stitch (worked over an odd number of sts)
Row 1: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 for Seed stitch. -
Lace Pattern (worked over an odd number of sts)
Row 1 (wrong side): Knit.
Rows 2–6: Beginning with a right side (knit) row, work in Stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) for 5 rows.
Row 7 (eyelet row – wrong side): P1, *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Rows 8–12: Beginning with a right-side row, work in Stockinette stitch for 5 rows.
Row 13 (wrong side): Knit.
Rows 14–22: Beginning with a right side (knit) row, work in Stockinette stitch for 9 rows.
Rows 23–25: Work in Garter stitch (knit every row) for 3 rows.
Row 26 (eyelet row – right side): P1, *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Rows 27–29: Work in Garter stitch for 3 rows.
Rows 30–38: Beginning with a right-side row, work in Stockinette stitch for 9 rows.
Repeat Rows 1–38 for Lace pattern.
Instructions
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BACK
Cast on 75 (81, 87, 93, 99, 105) sts.
Lower Band
Work in Seed stitch until piece measures about 2½" [6.5 cm] from beginning.
Shape Sides
Beginning with Row 1 of pattern, work in Lace pattern for 21 rows.
Decrease Row (right side): K1, k2tog, work Lace pattern as established to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—73 (79, 85, 91, 97, 103) sts.
Work in Lace pattern as established for 21 rows.
Repeat Decrease Row—71 (77, 83, 89, 95, 101) sts.
Repeat last 22 rows for 3 more times—65 (71, 77, 83, 89, 95) sts.
Work even in Lace pattern as established until piece measures about 30" [76 cm] from beginning, ending with Row 13 of pattern.
Shape Armholes
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work Lace pattern as established to end of row—62 (67, 72, 78, 83, 89) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work Lace pattern as established to end of row—59 (63, 67, 73, 77, 83) sts.
Row 3: Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work Lace pattern as established to end of row—57 (61, 65, 71, 74, 80) sts.
Row 4: Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work Lace pattern as established to end of row—55 (59, 63, 69, 71, 77) sts.
Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Rows 3 and 4—51 (55, 59, 65, 65, 71) sts.
Row 7: Bind off 1 st, work Lace pattern as established to end of row—50 (54, 58, 64, 64, 70) sts.
Row 8: Bind off 1 st, work Lace pattern as established to end of row—49 (53, 57, 63, 63, 69) sts.
Rows 9–10 (10, 12, 14, 12, 14): Repeat Rows 7 and 8 for 1 (1, 2, 3, 2, 3) more times—47 (51, 53, 57, 59, 63) sts.
Work even in Lace pattern as established until armholes measure about 8 (8½, 9, 9½, 10, 10½)" [20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5) cm], ending with a wrong side row.
Shape Neck and Shoulders
Note: Shoulders and Neck are worked in Stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side).
Row 1 (right side): K15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) sts; join a 2nd ball of yarn and bind off center 17 (19, 19, 21, 21, 23) sts for neck, knit to end of row—15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) sts on each side of neck. You will now work both sides of neck AT THE SAME TIME using separate balls of yarn.
Rows 2 and 3: On first side, work in Stockinette stitch over all sts; on second side, bind off 1 st, work in Stockinette stitch to end of side—14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) sts on each side of neck.
Bind off all sts on each side. -
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 43 (45, 49, 51, 55, 57) sts.
Lower Band
Work in Seed stitch until piece measures about 2½" [6.5 cm] from beginning.
Increase Row: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, kfb, k1—44 (46, 50, 52, 56, 58) sts.
Shape Side
Row 1 (wrong side): Work in Seed stitch over first 7 sts for front band, place marker, work Row 1 of Lace pattern to end of row.
Row 2: Work next row of Lace pattern to marker, slip marker, work in Seed stitch to end of row
Row 3: Work in Seed stitch to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to end of row.
Rows 4–21: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for 9 more times.
Row 22 (decrease row – right side): K1, k2tog, work next row of Lace pattern to marker, slip marker, work in Seed stitch to end of row—43 (45, 49, 51, 55, 57) sts.
Rows 23–43: Work in patterns as established, keeping front row band in Seed stitch and remainder of sts in Lace pattern and slipping marker as you come to it, for 21 rows.
Row 44: Repeat Row 22—42 (44, 48, 50, 54, 56) sts.
Repeat Rows 23–44 for 3 more times—39 (41, 45, 47, 51, 53) sts.
Work even in patterns as established, keeping front band in Seed stitch and remainder of sts in Lace pattern and slipping marker as you come to it, until piece measures same as back to armholes, ending with Row 13 of Lace pattern.
Shape Armhole
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work in patterns as established to end of row—36 (37, 40, 42, 45, 47) sts.
Row 2: Work even in patterns as established to end of row.
Row 3: Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work in patterns as established to end of row—34 (35, 38, 40, 42, 44) sts.
Row 4: Work even in patterns as established to end of row.
Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Rows 3 and 4—32 (33, 36, 38, 39, 41) sts.
Row 7: Bind off 1 st, work in patterns as established to end of row—31 (32, 35, 37, 38, 40) sts.
Row 8: Work even in Lace pattern as established to end of row.
Rows 9–10 (10, 12, 14, 12, 14): Repeat Rows 7 and 8 for 1 (1, 2, 3, 2, 3) more times—30 (31, 33, 34, 36, 37) sts.
Work even in Lace pattern as established until armhole measures about 1" [2.5 cm] less than back armholes, ending with a right side row.
Shape Shoulder
Note: Shoulder is worked in Seed stitch and Stockinette stitch.
Row 1 (wrong side): Work in Seed stitch to marker, slip marker, p2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4) sts, [p2tog] 9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 11) times, work to end of row—14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) shoulder sts and 7 Seed stitch front band sts.
Row 2: Work in Seed stitch to marker, slip marker, knit to end of row.
Row 3: Purl to marker, slip marker, work in Seed stitch to end of row.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until armhole measures same as back armholes, ending with wrong side row.
Next Row (right side): Bind off 14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) shoulder sts and remove marker, work in Seed stitch to end of row—7 sts.
Collar Extension
Work even in Seed stitch over remaining 7 sts until collar extension measures about 3 (3¼, 3¼, 3½, 3½, 4)" [7.5 (8.5, 8.5, 9, 9, 10) cm] from shoulder bind-off.
Bind off. -
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 43 (45, 49, 51, 55, 57) sts.
Lower Band
Work in Seed stitch until piece measures about 2½" [6.5 cm] from beginning.
Increase Row: K1, p1, kfb, *p1, k1; repeat from * across—44 (46, 50, 52, 56, 58) sts.
Shape Side
Row 1 (wrong side): Work Row 1 of Lace pattern to last 7 sts, place marker, work in Seed stitch over last 7 sts for right front band.
Row 2: Work in Seed stitch to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to end of row.
Row 3: Work next row of Lace pattern to marker, slip marker, work in Seed stitch to end of row.
Rows 4–21: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for 9 more times.
Row 22 (decrease row – right side): Work in Seed stitch to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—43 (45, 49, 51, 55, 57) sts.
Rows 23–43: Work in patterns as established, keeping front row band in Seed stitch and remainder of sts in Lace pattern and slipping marker as you come to it, for 21 rows.
Row 44: Repeat Row 22—42 (44, 48, 50, 54, 56) sts.
Repeat Rows 23–44 for 3 more times—39 (41, 45, 47, 51, 53) sts.
Work even in patterns as established, keeping front band in Seed stitch and remainder of sts in Lace pattern and slipping marker as you come to it, until piece measures same as back to armholes, ending with Row 14 of Lace pattern.
Shape Armhole
Row 1 (wrong side): Bind off 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts, work in patterns as established to end of row—36 (37, 40, 42, 45, 47) sts.
Row 2: Work even in patterns as established to end of row.
Row 3: Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work in patterns as established to end of row—34 (35, 38, 40, 42, 44) sts.
Row 4: Work even in patterns as established to end of row.
Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Rows 3 and 4—32 (33, 36, 38, 39, 41) sts.
Row 7: Bind off 1 st, work in patterns as established to end of row—31 (32, 35, 37, 38, 40) sts.
Row 8: Work even in Lace pattern as established to end of row.
Rows 9–10 (10, 12, 14, 12, 14): Repeat Rows 7 and 8 for 1 (1, 2, 3, 2, 3) more times—30 (31, 33, 34, 36, 37) sts.
Work even in Lace pattern as established until armhole measures about 1" [2.5 cm] less than back armholes, ending with a wrong side row.
Shape Shoulder
Note: Shoulder is worked in Seed stitch and Stockinette stitch.
Row 1 (right side): Work in Seed stitch to marker, slip marker, k2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4), [k2tog] 9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 11) times, knit to end of row—14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) shoulder sts and 7 Seed stitch front band sts.
Row 2: Purl to marker, slip marker, work in Seed stitch to end of row.
Row 3: Work in Seed stitch to marker, slip marker, knit to end of row.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until armhole measures same as back armholes, ending with right side row.
Next Row (wrong side): Bind off 14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) shoulder sts and remove marker, work in Seed stitch to end of row—7 sts.
Collar Extension
Work even in Seed stitch over remaining 7 sts until collar extension measures about 3 (3¼, 3¼, 3½, 3½, 4)" [7.5 (8.5, 8.5, 9, 9, 10) cm] from shoulder bind-off.
Bind off. -
SLEEVES (make 2)
Cast on 27 (29, 31, 33, 35, 37) sts.
Lower Band
Work in Seed stitch until piece measures about 2½" [6.5 cm] from beginning.
Next Row (increase row – right side): K1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), [k2, kfb] 8 times, knit to end of row—35 (37, 39, 41, 43, 45) sts.
Body
Beginning with Row 13 of pattern for shorter sleeve and Row 1 of pattern for longer sleeve, work in Lace pattern for 3 rows.
Increase Row (right side): K1, kfb, work next row of Lace pattern to last 2 sts, kfb, k1—37 (39, 41, 43, 45, 47) sts.
Work even in Lace pattern as established for 7 rows.
Repeat Increase Row—39 (41, 43, 45, 47. 49) sts.
Repeat last 8 rows 6 more times—51 (53, 55, 57, 59, 61) sts.
Work even in Lace pattern as established until piece measures 17" [43 cm] for shorter sleeve and 20" [51 cm] for longer sleeve from beginning, ending with Row 13 of pattern.
Shape Cap
Rows 1 and 2: Bind off 3 sts, work in Lace pattern as established to end of row—45 (47, 49, 51, 53, 55) sts.
Rows 3–6: Bind off 2 sts, work in Lace pattern as established to end of row—37 (39, 41, 43, 45, 47) sts.
Next 14 (16, 16, 18, 18, 20) Rows: Working in Lace pattern as established, work first st, decrease 1 st, work to end of row—23 (23, 25, 25, 27, 27) sts.
Next 4 Rows: Bind off 3 sts, work in Lace pattern as established to end of row—11 (11, 13, 13, 15, 15) sts.
Bind off. -
FINISHING
Sew shoulder seams.
Sew ends of collar extensions together then sew collar extension to back neck edge.
Sew side seams.
Sew sleeve seams.
Sew sleeve caps into armholes.
Weave in ends. -