Chunky Cardigan Knitting Pattern

This chunky cardigan knitting pattern is an easy knit for anyone who is looking to make their first garment.

Knit only in garter stitch, the cardigan has simple shaping through increases and decreases.

Scroll down to view the free pattern or you can purchase a printer-friendly ad-free PDF here.

The Oversized Knit Cardigan Trend

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.

Make Your Own Oversized Cardigan

The chunky oversized cardigan was knit with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn in the color graphite

It has three sizes-small, medium, and large.

This cardigan is pretty oversized so I would recommend sticking to your size and not size up or it will probably be huge on you!

A Cozy 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 knitted flat and then seamed together to create the garment.

A Chunky Knit Cardigan For Advanced Beginner Knitters

As well as being super comfy to wear, this chunky cardigan is a great project for any advanced knitters looking for something to make for themselves on a weekend.

The cardigan is really warm and can be worn around the house in the cold weather, for collecting firewood or wherever else you want to go.

A Long Cardigan That Can Easily Be Adjusted

I wanted to make this cardigan in a dark color, 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.

More 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, babies, kids, pets, and the home.

You may also enjoy these posts –

• Oversized Chunky Knit Sweater Pattern
• Chunky Turtleneck Sweater Knitting Pattern
• Pom Pom Scarf Knitting Pattern
• Rainbow Cardigan Knitting Pattern
• Cardigan Knitting Pattern (Stay Home)
• Irish Moss Stitch Cardigan

Chunky Cardigan Pattern

Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.

Skill Level – Easy

Notes

This chunky cardigan knitting pattern is an easy knit for anyone who is looking to make their first garment.

Knit only in garter stitch, the cardigan has simple shaping through increases and decreases.

This is an oversized super bulky knit that will keep you cozy in the coldest of months!

Copyright Info

• Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
• If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
• You may sell items produced using this pattern.
• Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
• Please give pattern credit to Louise Bollanos or tag @handylittleme.

Skill Level – Easy

Gauge – 9 sts and 18 rows, to 10 x 10 cm/4×4 inches in garter stitch using size 10mm (US 15) knitting needles.

Measurements + Sizes

• S (Small), M (Medium) L (Large)
• The first number of stitches is for the small size, and the following numbers in brackets are for the medium and large sizes.
• For example – cast on 27 – S / 29 -M / 31 -L sts.

To fit sizes –

• Small – 34 – 36 inches / 86 – 91 cm.
• Medium – 38 – 40 inches / 97 – 102 cm.
• Large – 42 – 44 inches / 107 – 112 cm.

Actual Measurement – Approx

• 50 inches/127cm.
• 54 inches/138cm.
• 58 inches/148cm.

Side seam – All sizes = 16 inches/41cm.

Length

• Small – 30 inches/77 cm.
• Medium – 31 inches/79cm.
• Large – 32 inches/82cm.

Sleeve Seam with the cuff turned back = 16.25 inches/41.5cm.

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

• 9 (10, 11) balls of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Yarn (170g/106yds/97m) in Graphite (151).
• Total yardage – S – 954 / M – 1,060 / L – 1, 166
• Total meters – S – 873 / M – 970 / L – 1,067
• Total grams – S – 1,530 / M – 1,700 / 1,870
• Yarn weight – Super Bulky 06/Super Chunky/18-20 ply
• Yarn weight guide

Needles

• 10mm (US 15) Knitting needles

Notions

• Tape measure
• Darning needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Abbreviations

• Alt – Alternate
• Beg – Beginning
• CO – Cast on
• Cont – Continue
• Foll – Following
• Garter st – Knit every row
• K – Knit
• M1 – Make one stitch (increase)
• K2tog – Knit two stitches together (decrease)
• Sts – Stitches
• Rep – Repeat
• RS – Right side
• WS – Wrong side
• W+T – Wrap and turn – Short row shaping

Cardigan Pattern

Pattern Notes

• The pattern is written for all sizes starting with the small size – with changes for different sizes listed in all necessary places.
• To follow the pattern more easily, circle or highlight all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.
• The cardigan is worked in 5 pieces: Back, 2 Fronts, and 2 Sleeves.
• Each piece is worked in garter stitch from the lower edge upwards.
• A circular needle can be used to accommodate the number of stitches.
• If you use circular needles work back and forth as if working on straight needles.
• You can add more rows to make the length of the cardigan longer or fewer rows to make it shorter.

Back

• Cast on 50 (54, 58) sts and beg with a wrong side row, work 69 rows in garter stitch.
• 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) rows.

Shape the shoulders

• Cast off 4 (4, 3) sts at the beg of each of the next 2 rows.
• 3 (4, 3) sts at the beg of each of the following 2 rows.
• Then cast off 3 (3, 4) sts at the beg of each of the next 8 rows.
• Cast off the rem 12 (14, 14) sts.

Left Front

• Cast on 27 (29, 31) sts and beg with a wrong side row, work 59 rows in garter stitch.

Shape the collar

• Row 1 – K to last 3 sts, M1, K3. 28 (30, 32) sts.
• Rows 2-8 – Work a further 7 rows in garter stitch.
• Row 9 – Rep row 1.
• Row 10 – K 1 row.
• Mark the end of the last row – to show the end of the side seam.
• Rows 11-16 – Work a further 6 rows in garter stitch.
• Row 17 – K to last 3 sts, M1, K3.
• Rows 18-24 – Work a further 7 rows in garter st.
• Rep the last 8 rows (17-24) twice more, then row 1 again. 33 (35, 37) sts.
• Work a further 2 (4, 6) rows in garter stitch, ending with a RS row.

Shape the extra length on the collar

• 1st and 2nd turning rows: K10, for 1st row, W+T, 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.
• Cast off 3 (4, 3) sts on the foll alternate row, then 3 (3, 4) sts on the next 4 alternate rows. 14 (15, 15) sts.
• Work a further 7 (9, 9) rows in garter st for the back of the neck extension.
• Cast off.

Right Front

• Cast on 27 (29, 31) sts and beg with a wrong side row, work 59 rows in garter stitch.

To shape the collar

• Row 1 – K3, M1, K to end of the row.
• Rows 2 – 8 – Work 7 rows in garter st.
• Row 9 – Rep row 1.
• Row 10 – K 1 row.
• Mark the beg of the last row – to show the end of the side seam.
• Rows 11 -16 – Work a further 6 rows in garter st.
• Row 17 – K3, M1, K to end of row.
• Rows 18 – 24 – Work a further 7 rows in garter st.
• Rep the last 8 rows twice more and then row 1 again – 33 (35, 37) sts.
• Work a further 3 (5, 7) rows ending with a WS row.

Shape the extra length on the collar

• 1st and 2nd turning rows: K10, for 1st row, W+T, 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 a further 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 foll alternate row, then 3 (3, 4) sts on the next 4 alternate rows – 14, (15, 15) sts.
• Work a further 6 (8, 8) rows in garter st for the back of the neck extension.
• Cast off.

Sleeves (Make 2)

• Cast on 24 (26, 28) sts and beg with a RS row, work 32 rows in garter st.
• Cont in garter st and taking extra sts into garter st as they occur – inc 1 st at each end of the next row and the 8th foll 6th rows. 42 (44, 46) sts.
• Work a further 3 rows in garter st.
• Cast off

Notes on the sleeves…

Where the instructions say – Continue in garter stitch and taking extra stitches into garter stitch as they occur- inc 1 st at each end of the next row and the 8th foll 6th rows.

To clarify – this means that you need to work 6 rows of increases 8 times.

So on the next row, you will work the increase, then you will work 6 rows and make the increase on the next 6th row, repeating that 7 more times. (8 times in total).

For example, if you were knitting the small size – you will have 24 sts on your needle and you will knit 32 rows in garter stitch, then…

You make the increases – one at each end – on the next row – (26 sts)

Then again on the next 6th row (28) and again 7 more times on that 6th row – (total sts = 42)

There will be 6 rows worked 8 times.

With the 2 sts added on the 6th row.

You are increasing 1 st at each end of the row – so that’s 2 sts.

Making Up

• Join the shoulder seams.
• Stitch the back neck extensions across the back of the neck, joining the cast on and cast off edges together with an invisible seam.
• Stitch the cast-off edge of the sleeves between the markers on the back and front.
• Join sleeve seams, reversing the seam for approx 14 rows at the lower edge for fold back. (Both sleeves will have turned over cuffs)
• Join the side seams.
• Fold the collar and cuffs over to the right side.

Share your work with us…

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