Dream of a Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Have you ever made a new clothing garment, put in all the hours, patiently seamed it, diligently wove in ends so it would be just perfect, and in the end you are absolutely in love with it? You love it so much you would wear it every day it is so comfortable, would be appropriate for lounging around the house to wearing to work, and basically just want to live in it. That is this cardigan and why I call this pattern the Dream of a Cardigan, because it is just like a dream it is so fantastic.

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The pattern is also a dream since it works up easily and fast in the Loops & Thread Cotton Creme yarn, which I will definetly be using again. Worked on size 10 needles, or a midgauge knitting machine, this pattern took me no time to make by machine or hand. The gauge and yarn create a soft and cozy fabric, but is open enough for a nice drape.

The cardigan is made by working 2×2 ribbing and stockinette. Nothing fancy like lace, but just classic details. You have a decrease at one edge for the front neck edge, and increases for the sleeves. A youtube video can be found showing every step of the way for both hand and machine knitting.

Don’t just take my word for it. My 11 year old daughter tried mine on and fell in love with it so much she begged me to have it. That look in her eyes made it hard for me to disappoint her, but I wanted to keep my cardigan! So, watch out for a child’s version soon. I told her I’m keeping mine, but that I would make her very own kid size one!

Other knit patterns by City Farmhouse Studio:

Knit Dream of a Cardigan 
by City Farmhouse Studio

See the machine knit version of the pattern HERE

Get the printable PDF version of the pattern (without ads) HERE
Add it to your Ravelry queue HERE

Loops & Threads Creme Cotton – 5.29 oz/150g – 324 yd/296 m – 87% Cotton/13% Nylon – Category 4 Medium Yarn – 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 5) skeins

Alternative yarn recommendations: Lang Yarns Amira, Malabrigo Rios or So Crafty Aran 75/25

US 10 – 6mm knitting needles

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL)(2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) 
(model in images has 35” dia bust and wearing a size M)
Back width:  18 (20, 21, 23, 25) (28, 30, 32, 35) inches
Garment Length:  28.5 (29, 29.25, 29.5, 29.75) (30, 30, 30.5, 30.5) inches
Cuff to Cuff measurement:  56 (58, 59, 61, 63) (64, 66, 66, 67) inches

Gauge: 16 sts and 20 rows in stockinette = 4” x 4”

Notes: A YouTube video showing all the steps of construction can be seen at https://youtu.be/YIMKEWY3VTg

Abbreviations:
RS – right side of work
WS – wrong side of work
Sts – stitches
Skp – slip, knit, pass first stitch over just knit stitch
K2tog – knit 2 together
Rli – right leaning increase
Lli – left leaning increase

Front Right Panel:
Long tail cast on 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) (56, 60, 64, 68) sts.  

Starting as RS, knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib, beginning and ending the right side rows with 3 knit stitches, and wrong side rows with 3 purl stitches.  Note:  refer to youtube video for more information on rib pattern set up.  

Knit 90 (94, 86, 88, 80) (90, 90, 92, 100) rows in stockinette, or 18 (18.8, 17.2, 17.6, 16) (18, 18, 18.4, 20) inches (not including ribbing).  End after a wrong side row. 

Begin decrease for neck edge.  Knit the first 2 stitches.  Decrease one stitch with a skp.  Knit the remainder of the row. Work 3 rows in stockinette.  Repeat for a total of 9 (9, 11, 11, 13) (11, 11, 11, 9) decreases.  Sts left in work:  27 (31, 33, 37, 39) (45, 49, 53, 59).  Bind off all stitches.

Front Left Panel:
Long tail cast on 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) (56, 60, 64, 68) sts.  

Starting as RS, knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib, beginning and ending the right side rows with 3 knit stitches, and wrong side rows with 3 purl stitches.  Note:  refer to youtube video for more information on rib pattern set up.  

Knit 90 (94, 86, 88, 80) (90, 90, 92, 100) rows in stockinette, or 18 (18.8, 17.2, 17.6, 16) (18, 18, 18.4, 20) inches (not including ribbing).  End after a wrong side row. 

Begin decrease for neck edge.  Knit until 4 stitches remain.  Decrease one stitch with a k2tog.  Knit the last stitch. Work 3 rows in stockinette.  Repeat for a total of 9 (9, 11, 11, 13) (11, 11, 11, 9) decreases.  Sts left in work:  27 (31, 33, 37, 39) (45, 49, 53, 59).  Bind off all stitches.

Back Panel: Long tail cast on 72 (80, 84, 92, 100) (112, 120, 128, 140) sts.

Starting as RS, knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib stitch, keep the beginning and end first stitch as knit stitch.  Begin pattern repeat with 2 purls. Note:   Refer to Youtube video for more information.

Knit 126 (130, 130, 132, 132) (134, 134, 136, 136) rows in stockinette, or 25.2 (26, 26, 26.4, 26.4) (26.8, 26.8, 27.2, 27.2) inches.  Bind off all stitches.  

Ribbing: Option 1:  Long tail cast on 246 (254, 254, 262, 266) (266, 266, 266, 266) stitches.  Knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib stitch, beginning and ending the right side rows with 2 knit stitches and wrong side with 2 purl stitches.  Bind off.  Sew evenly around front opening of garment (after shoulder seams have been seamed for front and back panels).

Option 2:  Pick up 246 (254, 254, 262, 266) (266, 266, 266, 266) stitches evenly around front garment (after shoulder seams have been seamed for front and back panels).  Knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib stitch, beginning and ending the right side rows with 2 knit stitches and wrong side with 2 purl stitches.  Bind off.

Option 3:  Pick up 115 (119, 119, 123, 123) (123, 123, 123, 123) stitches evenly on front panel along the decrease edge.  Knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib stitch, having the right side rows with 2 knit stitches at the bottom hem, and 3 knit stitches near neck; on the wrong side with 2 purl stitches at the hem and 3 purl at the neck.  Bind off.

Pick up 20 (20, 20, 20, 24) (24, 24, 24, 24) stitches evenly on back panel, skipping 26 (30, 32, 36, 38) (44, 48, 52, 58) stitches on each side for the shoulder seam.  Knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib stitch, having the right side rows start with 1 knit stitch followed by 2 purl, and the row end with 2 purl stitches and then 1 knit stitch; wrong side starts with 1 purl stitch followed by 2 knit stitches, and the row ends with 2 knit stitches and then 1 purl stitch.  Bind off.

Sleeve: Long tail cast on 34 (34, 34, 38, 38) (38, 42, 42, 42) sts.  

Starting as RS, knit 16 rows of 2×2 rib stitch.  The edge will begin with 3 knit stitches on the right side and end with 1 knit stitch.  

Knit 24 (12, 2, 2, 30) (22, 22, 12, 2) rows in stockinette.

Begin increases for sleeve width.  Knit the first stitch.  RLI over the next stitch.  Knit to till 2 stitches remain.  LLI over the next stitch.  Knit the last stitch.  Knit 3 (3, 3, 3, 1) (1, 1, 1, 1) rows in stockinette.  

Repeat increase row and plain rows for a total of 14 (17, 19, 19, 24) (27, 27, 29, 32) increases.

Final stitches in work:  62 (68, 72, 76, 86) (92, 96, 100, 106). Bind off.  Make one more sleeve.

Finishing: Sew shoulders of front panels to coordinating back shoulder if not done so for ribbing.  Sew sleeves starting 7.75 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10.75) (11.5, 12, 12.5, 13.25) inches down from shoulder on each side front and back (armhole depth in rows on each side:  39 (43, 45, 48, 54) (58, 60, 63, 66)).  Sew sleeves together continuing down body sides.  Weave in all ends.