Cotton Comfort Easy Knit Cardigan Pattern

In this pattern post, I want to share with you the cotton comfort easy knit cardigan pattern.

I am moving into designing more cardigans and sweaters and want to offer something for beginners as well as the more advanced knitter.

This cardigan is really soft and comforting, due to the drape and fit.

It’s baggy and cozy, it wraps around you and somehow you feel comforted just wearing it!

Scroll down for the free pattern or you can grab your printer-friendly ad-free PDF here.

An Easy Level Knitting Pattern

This is an easy pattern for those of you who are advanced beginner level, and the techniques you will need to know are knit, purl, k2tog and knitting in the round.

Using mainly knit and purl stitches, it will also introduce you to decreasing and shaping.

This cotton cardigan is wonderful for the spring/summer months when there is a slight breeze in the air or a storm is coming over.

It could also be made in another yarn to wear any time of the year.

Knit on size 8mm (US 11) needles, you could use a different yarn and make a wonderfully cozy blanket cardigan for the winter.

Easy Cardigan Knitting Pattern

This is a great project for anyone who is an advanced beginner and looking to make a garment for the first time.

Knit mostly in garter stitch, you will use simple increases and decreases to shape.

The cardigan is knit in 5 pieces, back, left front, right front and two sleeves.

How To Knit A Cardigan – The Basics You Need To Know

Before you knit a cardigan or sweater there are some basic knitting skills you should already know how to do.

The knitting basics like being able to cast on and cast off, knit and purl stitches.

You will also need to know some basic increases and decreases, like being able to sl 1, K2tog for example.

Great for all skill levels

You should also be confident in reading an easy skill level knitting pattern and know simple knitting abbreviations.

Knitting skill level is sometimes not that important, as you read through the pattern and see if it looks like something you could do.

If you read through it and think – ‘yes! ok, I can do this’ then give it a go, there are always tutorials out there to help you with anything unfamiliar.

Resources And Tutorials That Will Help You To Knit This Cardigan

To make the cardigan you mainly need to know how to knit and purl.

You will be creating the main knitted fabric of the piece in garter stitch (knitting every row) and the selvedge edges are where you need to do a purl stitch.

The purl stitches are also used when you create the collar that runs on the left and right fronts.

If you are new to knitting and still finding your feet with all of the knitting terms and abbreviations, you can find some tutorials and information here;

• Knitting Abbreviations
• How to cast on
• How to cast off
• How to knit the garter stitch
• How to purl

Oversized Knit Sweaters Have Comfort In Mind

The stitch pattern looks very soft in this cotton which is from Rico yarns.

Using the 8mm (US 11) needles with this yarn created a comfy, drapey piece that wraps around you like a hug.

The sleeves are purposely loose and baggy, for extra comfort.

Why Is This Cardigan So Easy To Knit?

1. It uses only knit and purl stitches.
2. It works up quickly as you will use 8mm (US 11) needles and two strands of cotton aran which is a medium weight yarn (04).
3. Has minimal shaping and a loose baggy fit.
4. The shaping is clear and simple to understand.
5. All of the pieces are knit flat (even though I used circular needles to accommodate the number of stitches).

Great For The Beach!

If you follow my blog, IG, or Facebook and know a little about me, you know that I live in Corfu, Greece, and love to be at the beach!

I feel so inspired by nature and colors here on the island, with the lush Corfiot landscape rich in greens and the shores with crystal clear waters in many shades of blue.

My summer pieces generally have color inspiration from the sea and the pebbled shores.

This knit cardigan was made in teal-colored cotton (color name Patina) and echoed the wonderful colors in the water.

Cozy and oversized to wear

I wore this cardigan during a trip to the north of the island to visit Avlaki beach and then to visit a family-run taverna in Roda.

The loose-knit sweater was worn, as a storm was coming and the wind really picked up, making it much needed.

The cotton I knit it with, Rico Creative Cotton Aran in Patina, is really soft cotton.

After wearing it for a while, I felt so cozy and sleepy, the baggy fit, as well as the drapey style, made it perfect for throwing over a sundress.

An easy first garment for beginners

This would make a great project for anyone who wants to make their first garment.

The cotton comfort cardigan is knit by creating a back panel, a left front, a right front and two sleeves.

The collar is extended on both front pieces so that it can be folded over and stitched at the neck to stay in place.

You could adjust the length of the cardigan if you wish – by adding more rows to the back and front panels.

The back is longer

As you can see from the photographs, the back piece has been knit slightly longer than the two front panels.

I normally like a long cardigan to cover my bum and to feel a little like a blanket.

So this length felt right for me, but you can adjust it to your own preferences.

The cotton yarn I used is from Rico Design

The design of the loose-knit cardigan is basic – so simple yet also affordable depending on which cotton or type of yarn you want to use.

I used the Rico cotton knit with two strands together and it didn’t break the bank.

This cotton is of good quality and yet affordable.

The Cotton Comfort Cardigan Pattern

Grab your inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.

• 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.
• For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.

There are 5 sizes available – small, medium, large, XL and XXL.

In the photographs, I am wearing the medium size for a UK size 10/12 / US size 6/8.

Please read the notes section of the pattern below before starting to knit.

Notes

The pattern is written for all sizes starting with the small size – with changes for different sizes listed in all necessary places.

Further Notes

• The cardigan is made from 5 pieces – back, 2 fronts, and 2 sleeves
• Circular needles are used because there are many stitches, work back and forth on those needles, and do not join in the round for any piece.
• Each row of each piece begins with a slip stitch and ends with a purl stitch for any selvedge.
• Selvedge stitches create a neat edge for seaming.
• You can slip as if to knit or to purl, whichever you prefer.
• The back piece is about 5 inches (13cm) longer than the front pieces.

Skill Level – Easy

Gauge – 10 x 10 cm /4 x 4 inches = 10 sts and 16 rows in garter stitch.

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

• Rico Creative Cotton Aran in Patina – 50g / (85m/93 yards).
• This is an Aran/Worsted/10 Ply yarn – knit with two strands together.
• If you want to knit with a single strand only – you will need Bulky/Chunky/12 Ply yarn.
• For the following sizes you will need;
• Small – 14 – 50g (700g)
• Medium – 16 – 50 g (800g)
• Large – 20 – 50g (1000g)
• XL – 24 – 50g (1200g)
• XXL – 28 – 50g (1400g)
• Yarn weight guide

Needles

• 8mm (US 11) knitting needles – if using circulars – with a 40cm cable

Notions

• Tape measure
• Darning needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Measurements/Sizes

Sizes – S / M / L / XL / XXL

Finished Bust

S – 32-34” – 87cm

M – 36-38” / 97 cm

L – 42 – 44” / 112cm

XL – 50 – 52” / 132cm

XXL – 60 – 62” / 155cm

Finished Back Length

S – 31” / 79cm

M – 32” / 82cm

L – 33” / 85cm

XL – 34”” / 87cm

XXL – 35” / 90cm

Finished Front Length (not including the collar extension)

S – 27”/ 69cm

M – 28” / 72cm

L – 29” / 74cm

XL – 30” / 77cm

XXL – 31” / 79cm

Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List

• Beg – beginning
• K – knit
• K2tog – knit two stitches together
• P – purl
• PM – place marker
• Rem – remaining
• Rep – repeat
• RS – right side
• Sl – slip
• St(s) – stitch (es)
• WS – wrong side

Pattern

Back Piece

• Cast on – 57 (75, 93, 111, 129) sts
• Row 1 – Sl 1 (selvedge), K to last st, p1 (selvedge).
• Rep row one until the back piece measures – from the beginning: 23”/59cm ( 24”/61cm, 25”/64cm, 26”/67cm, 27”/69cm)
• End with a WS row as the last row you work.

Shape the shoulders

• Cast off 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) sts at the beg of the next 8 (10, 12, 14, 16) rows. 49 (55, 57, 55, 49) sts.
• Cast off 2 sts (S/M) 3 sts (L/XL/XXL) at the beg of the next 12 (10, 8, 6, 4) rows. 25 (35, 33, 37, 37) sts.
• Cast off.

Left Front

• Cast on 33 (39, 51, 57, 69) sts.
• Row 1: Sl 1, P6, PM, K to last st, p1.
• Row 2: Sl 1, K to last 7 sts, (slide marker) p 6 sts, p1.
• Rep the last two rows, cont to slip marker as you come to it.
• Continue to work pattern as established until piece measures: 20”/51cm (20.5”/52cm, 21”/53.5cm, 21.5”/54.5cm, 22”/56cm) from beg, end with a WS row as the last row you work (not the collar end).

Shape Shoulder

• Row 1: (RS) cast off 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) sts, then work in pattern as established.
• Row 2: Work in pattern as established to end of row. 32 (37, 48, 53, 64) sts.
• Rep rows 1 and 2 a further 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) times more. 29 (29, 33, 29, 29) sts.
• Next row: Cast off 3 sts, work in pattern as established to the end of the row – (26, 26, 30, 26, 26) sts.
• Next Row: Work even in pattern as established.
• Rep last two rows: 3 (3, 3, 2, 1) more times. 17 (17, 21, 20, 23) sts.

Collar Extension

• Cont in pattern as established, slipping the first st and purling the last st for selvedges for about 3.5”/9cm (4”/10cm, 4”/10cm, 4¼ / 11 cm, 4 ¼ / 11 cm), ending with a WS row as the last row you work.
• Next row: Cast off 5 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts then work in pattern as established to end of row. 12 (11, 14, 13, 15) sts.
• Next row: Work even in pattern as established.
• Rep last two rows once more.
• Cast off rem: 7 (5, 7, 6, 7) sts.

Right Front

• Cast on 33 (39, 51, 57, 69) sts.
• Row 1: Sl 1, K to last 7 st, PM, p6, p1.
• Row 2: Sl 1, p6, slip marker, k to last st, p1.
• Rep the last two rows, cont to slip marker as you come to it.
• Continue to work pattern as established until piece measures: 20”/51cm (20.5”/52cm, 21”/53.5cm, 21.5”/54.5, 22”/56cm) from beg, end with a WS row as the last row you work (not the collar end).

Shape Shoulder

• Row 1: (RS) cast off 1, (2, 3, 4, 5) sts, then work pattern as established to end of row. 32 (37, 48, 53, 64) sts.
• Row 2: Work in pattern as established.
• Rep rows 1 and 2 a further 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) times more. 29 (29, 33, 29, 29) sts.
• Next row: Cast off 3 sts, work in pattern as established to the end of the row. 26 (26, 30, 26, 26) sts.
• Next Row: Work even in pattern as established.
• Rep last two rows: 3 (3, 3, 2, 1) more times. 17 (17, 21, 20, 23) sts.

Collar Extension

• Cont in pattern as established, slipping the first st and purling the last st for selvedges for about 3.5”/9cm (4”/10cm, 4”/10cm, 4 ¼ / 11 cm, 4 ¼ / 11 cm), ending with a WS row as the last row you work.
• Next row: Cast off 5 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts then work in pattern as established to end of row. 12 (11, 14, 13, 15) sts.
• Next row: Work even in pattern as established.
• Rep last two rows once more.
• Cast off rem: 7 (5, 7, 6, 7) sts.

Sleeves – Make 2

• Cast on 39 (45, 51, 57, 63) sts.
• Row 1: sl 1 (selvedge), k to last st, p1 (selvedge).
• Rep row 1 until the piece measures: 15.5”/40cm (16”/41cm, 16.5”/42cm, 16.5”/42cm, 15.5”/39.5cm) from beg.

Shape cap – top of sleeve:

• Rows 1-5: Bind off: S – 4sts / M – 5sts.
• Rows 1-6: L – 6sts / XL – 7sts / XXL – 8sts.
• Work in pattern as established to end of row – S = 19 sts / M = 20 sts in row 5 / L / XL / XXL: 15 sts in row 6.
• Cast off.

Finishing

• Sew shoulder seams – lie the pieces out on a large surface and align the fronts onto the back piece.
• Match up the shoulders and seam using the mattress stitch, once you have done this the next steps should seem easier to follow.
• Place markers on side edges of back and fronts, about:
• S – 5”/13cm / M – 5.5”/14cm / L – 6”/15cm / XL – 7”/17cm / XXL – 7.5”/19cm, below shoulder seams.
• Sew side and sleeve seams, leaving the lower 4 inches of the back piece un-sewn – you can see in the photographs, that the back piece is longer than the fronts.
• Sew ends of collar extensions together (the ends first with the mattress stitch) and stitch the edge of the collar extension to the back of the neck.
• You can see something similar in the making up of this cardigan pattern here this also has neck extensions that are seamed in the same way.
• Use a simple whip stitch seam for garter stitch sections, or your preferred seaming method – you can also use the mattress stitch.
• Weave in loose ends.

If you like this pattern you may also like the sea glass shawl pattern.

Made in blue, green and white cotton, the shawl is an easy knit, with a video tutorial to help you.

You may also like this Rainbow Cardigan Knitting Pattern or this Chunky Cardigan Knitting Pattern.

I love seeing your finished projects!

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