This chunky cardigan knitting pattern is relatively easy, but I marked it intermediate because if you are a beginner who has never picked up the needles before, this might be a daunting first project.
However, if you are a beginner who has many easy projects under their belt and is looking to get into something a little more complicated, then this would be a great first garment project for you.
*Please scroll down to see the printable pattern + don’t forget to pin and share!*
Knit Cardigan
Oversized cardigans are back year after year – and why not?!
They are comfy, cozy and perfect for wearing around the house or when you are out and about.
Better than wearing an actual blanket in the cold weather, oversized cardigans can be worn with anything from sweats to jeans.
Oversized Cardigan
The chunky oversized cardigan was knit with a dark grey super bulky knit yarn, using both 8mm (US 11) and 9mm (US 13) knitting needles.
It has four available sizes – small, medium, large and XL.
If you want it to be SUPER slouchy and even more like a blanket, you could always make it in a size up.
Long Cardigan Sweater
The long cardigan sweater pattern uses garter stitch, in a really simple way to create the body of the fabric.
Through increases and decreases, you will shape the back, left front, right front and collar.
The separate pieces are knit flat and then seamed together to create the garment.
Chunky Knit Cardigan
As well as being super comfy to wear, this chunky cardigan is a great project for any of you advanced knitters looking for something to make for yourself in a weekend.
The cardigan is really warm and can be worn around the house in the cold weather, for collecting the firewood or wherever else you want to go.
I wore this on a recent trip to Agios Athanasios, a beautiful place in the mountains in mainland Greece, staying at a lovely traditional style guesthouse – Guesthouse Papastoikou.
Long Cardigan
I wanted to make this cardigan in a dark colour, choosing to make the length long, so that it was really cozy and comfy to lounge around in.
Lying on the sofa, drinking coffee, knitting and watching Netflix with the fire on is made even better when you are wearing something that wraps you up like a blanket!
You could adjust the length, as you may want the cardigan to be shorter or longer depending on your height.
This would mean working more or fewer rows for the back piece, left front and right front.
Free Knitting Patterns
If you are new to knitting and want to learn how to knit there are many easy and free patterns on my website, just take a look at my women’s knitting pattern library, with patterns for women, there are also sections for men, baby, kids, pets and the home.
You may also enjoy these posts –
Chunky Knit Cardigan Pattern
Materials
- 8, (9/10/10) balls of 170g Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Yarn
- Super bulky yarn 06
Tools
- 8mm (US 11) Knitting needles
- 9mm (US 13) Knitting needles
- Tape measure
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Darning needle
Instructions
Back Piece
- With the 8mm (US 11) knitting needles cast on 50 (54/58/60) sts and beg with a wrong side row, work 5 rows in garter stitch.
- Change to the 9mm (US 13) knitting needles and beg with a right side row, cont to work in garter stitch for 64 rows.
- Mark each end of the last row with a stitch marker, for the side seams.
- Work in garter stitch for a further 44 (46/48/50) rows.
For the shoulders
- Cast off 4 (4/3/3) sts at the beg of each of the next 2 rows
- 3, (4/3/3) sts at the beg of the following 2 rows,
- Then 3, (3/4/4) sts at the beg of each of the next 8 rows.
- Cast off the rem 12 (14/14/14) sts.
Left Front
With the 8mm (US 11) knitting needles cast on 27 (29/31/32) sts and beg with a wrong side row, work 5 rows in garter stitch.
Change to the 9mm (US 13) knitting needles and work a further 54 rows in garter stitch.
To shape the collar
- K to last 3 sts, KFB, K2 (28, (30/32/33) sts
- Work a further 7 rows in garter stitch
- Rep row 1
- K 1 row
- Mark the end of the last row - to show the end of the side seam.
- Work a further 6 rows in garter stitch
- K to last 3 sts, KFB, K2,
- Work a further 7 rows in garter st
Rep the last 8 rows twice more, then row 1 again - 34, (36/41/42) sts
Work a further 2, (4/6/8) rows in garter stitch, ending with a right side row.
Shape the extra length on the collar
- 1st and 2nd turning rows: K10, for 1st row, turn, slip 1, then K to end for 2nd row.
- Work 2 rows in garter stitch across all sts.
- Rep the last 4 rows, 3 times more.
- Work 3 rows in garter st.
Shape the shoulder
- Cast off 4, (4/3/3) sts at the beg of the next row,
- 3, (4/3/3) sts on the following alternate row
- Then 3, (3/4/4) sts on the next 4 alternate rows - 15, (16/19/20) sts.
- Work a further 7 (9/9/10) rows in garter st for the back of the neck extension.
- Cast off.
Right Front
With the 8mm (US 11) knitting needles cast on 27 (29/31/32) sts and beg with a wrong side row, work 5 rows in garter stitch.
Change to the 9mm (US 13) knitting needles and work a further 54 rows in garter stitch.
To shape the collar
- K2, KFB, K to end of row,
- Work 7 rows in garter st
- Rep row 1
- K 1 row
- Mark the beg of the last row - to show the end of the side seam.
- Work 6 rows in garter st.
- K2, KFB, K to end of row
- Work 7 rows in garter st
Rep the last 8 rows twice more and then row 1 again - 34 (36/41/42) sts
Work a further 3, (5/7/9) rows ending with a wrong side row.
Shape the extra length on the collar
- 1st and 2nd turning rows: K10, for 1st row, turn, slip 1, then K to end for 2nd row.
- Work 2 rows in garter stitch across all sts.
- Rep the last 4 rows, 3 times more.
- Work 3 rows in garter st.
Shape the shoulder
- Cast off 4, (4/3) sts at the beg of the next row,
- 3, (4/3) sts on the following alternate row
- Then 3, (3/4) sts on the next 4 alternate rows - 15, (16/19/20) sts.
- Work a further 7 (9/9/10) rows in garter st for the back of the neck extension.
- Cast off.
Sleeves (Make 2)
- With 9mm (US 13) knitting needles cast on 24, (26/28/30) sts and beg with a right side row, work 32 rows in garter st.
- Cont in garter st and inc extra sts as follows -
- KFB at each end of the next row and the 8 following 6th rows - 42, (44/46/48) sts.
- Work 3 rows in garter st.
- Cast off
Making Up
Join the shoulder seams.
Stitch back neck extensions across the back of the neck, joining cast on and cast off edges together with an invisible seam.
Stitch cast off edge of sleeves between markers on back and fronts.
Join sleeve seams, reversing seam for approx 14 rows at lower edge for fold back.
Join side seams.
Fold collar and cuffs over to the right side.
Notes
Sizes
The sizes are for the following sizes - S (Small), M (Medium) L (Large) XL - (Extra Large).
The first number of stitches is for the small size, the following numbers in brackets are for the medium and large sizes.
For example - cast on 27 -S (29 -M / 31 -L / 32 - XL) sts
To fit sizes -
- Small - 34-36 inches
- Medium - 38-40 inches
- Large - 42-44 inches
- XL - 46 inches
Side seam - All sizes = 16 inches
Length
- Small - 39 inches
- Medium - 39 inches
- Large - 40 inches
- XL - 41 inches
Sleeve Seam with the cuff turned back = 16.25 inches
Gauge - 8 sts and 17 rows, to 10 x 10 cm in garter stitch using size 9mm (US 13) knitting needles
Abbreviations
Beg - Beginning
CO - Cast on
Cont - Continue
Garter st - knit every row
K - Knit
KFB - Knit into the front and back of the stitch to increase
K2tog - Knit two stitches together
Slip 1 - slip one stitch
Sts - Stitches
Rep - Repeat
If you enjoyed making the cardigan, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Happy Knitting! xoxo
Hi,
I really love your pattern! After working the five rows, do we do 64 additional rows to make it a total of 69, or do we work up until the 64th row?
Thanks!
Author
Hello Ali, You work the 64 rows after the first 5, so you would have 69 at the end of that. I hope that helps 🙂 Thanks for visiting the site and taking a look around!