An oversized cardigan knitting pattern in chunky yarn: hem and cuffs in 1x1 rib, a stockinette body and sleeves picked up and worked in the round from the armhole. The one-minute video shows the fit, sleeve shape and overall construction; the full pattern with every number is below.
Materials
- 6 skeins of FACES yarn by The Woolcatcher
- 12 mm circular needles
- 15 mm circular needles
- Tapestry needle for seaming
Pattern
1. Body
- Cast on 78 stitches on 12 mm needles
- Work 8 rows of 1x1 rib
- Switch to 15 mm needles
- Knit 34 rows in stockinette stitch
- Divide the stitches: 17 sts front / 44 sts back / 17 sts front
- Knit each part separately for 22 rows, then bind off
- Sew the shoulders using mattress stitch
2. Sleeves
- Pick up 48 stitches around the armhole
- Knit in the round for 32 rounds, decreasing 1 stitch every 4th round
- On the next round, knit every 2nd and 3rd stitches together
- Switch to 12 mm needles and adjust to 26 stitches
- Work 8 rows of 1x1 rib, then bind off
- Repeat for the second sleeve
3. Front band and neckline
- Pick up 131 stitches
- Work 6 rows of 1x1 rib
- Bind off
Common mistakes
- Binding off the front band too tightly. If the edge pulls, the cardigan won’t hang straight. Bind off with a larger needle.
- Picking up sleeve stitches unevenly. Spread the 48 stitches regularly around the armhole so no pockets form.
- Skipping the swatch. On 15 mm needles a small tension difference changes the width a lot.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different yarn?
Yes, as long as it is an equivalent weight and you swatch to check that 78 stitches give you the width you want.
How do I make it longer?
Add rows in stockinette before dividing the body stitches. Every extra row adds to the total length.
Can it be knitted seamlessly?
The sleeves are already worked in the round. Only the shoulder seams remain, sewn with a tapestry needle.
