6 Beautiful Cardigan Patterns That Will Have You Running for Your Needles

Whether you’re on your first cardigan or your 50th, you’ll find a pattern in this list to knit and love

Do you have a favorite category of clothing?

I have two. My first favorite is jeggings. No, that’s not a typo–I love leggings that look like jeans. They’re comfortable and cute. Sadly, I’ve yet to see a knitting pattern for them. (If you ever see one, please send it my way. 😂)

My second, and the one relevant to this post, is the humble cardigan.

Sweaters, in general, are wonderful, but I absolutely adore the cardigan. It’s just so flipping versatile. Let’s list all the ways cardigans can make your life better.

• Chilly? Slip the cardigan on.
• A little too warm? Ease it back off.
• Going somewhere and aren’t sure whether it’ll be colder than you’d like? Tie it around your waist.

Pullover sweaters just don’t have this level of convenience and versatility. They require a bit more commitment; if you have hair that is at all sensitive to being touched, either putting it on or taking it back off will be a challenge. And tying a pullover around your waist simply isn’t as comfortable as tying a cardigan is. (I’m not sure why this is, but I’ve learned from years of experience.)

Sadly, I have not knitted a cardigan in a very long time. I knitted three of them (all the same pattern) not long after I picked up and fell in love with knitting. It was the Pinwheel Sweater (a pattern that has sadly been discontinued), and I knitted one for my mom, for my older kiddo, and for my younger daughter.

I enjoyed knitting this sweater, but for whatever reason, I never attempted another cardigan.

If you’re like me, and you would like to try again sometime soon, why don’t you join me in taking a look at the cardigan patterns I’ve collected here?

I’ve divided these patterns into simple and spicy, to make it easier to decide which pattern to tackle. Enjoy!

Simple Cardigans for Simple Knitting Pleasure

1. Paulie

• What you’ll need to make it: 1840 to 2300 yards fingering weight yarn (460 yards in a separate color); US Size 2.5 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; 5 3/4-inch buttons; stitch markers; stitch holders (or spare DPNs or scrap yarn); blocking supplies; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: This pattern to me epitomizes the cardigan. It’s full-sleeved, full-length (ie, falls to your hips), and fully-buttoned. I love the stripes and the hint of texture at the yoke. It’s one of Ravelry’s most popular free cardigan patterns, and for good reason!

2. Loupy Striped Cardi

• What you’ll need to make it: 770 to 1320 yards aran weight yarn; US Size 10 and 6 circular needles; cable stoppers as needed; stitch markers; scrap yarn; 8 to 10 buttons plus sewing needle and thread; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: First thing I love about this pattern is it’s ideal for stashbusting and using up odds and ends. Its skinny stripes make this a perfect pattern for that! Second, I love what the designer refers to as a “batwing shape,” with the majority of the cardigan taken up by the drapey sleeves. Finally, I think the cinched waist at the bottom is genius. I also appreciate that the directions offer a variety of ways to make the sweater larger or smaller, depending how you want it enlarged or shrunk.

3. Harvest Cardigan

• What you’ll need to make it: 250 to 2300 yards worsted/aran weight yarn (depending on the size you’re knitting); US Size 8 and 6 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stitch markers; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: I tend to love Tin Can Knits patterns in general, and specifically, I think this one is genius. It’s one of only two cardigans on this list that doesn’t call for buttons. (If you want to close it, a shawl pin will do nicely.) It’s also the cardi offering the largest range of sizes; how often do you see a cardigan pattern that runs from infant to 6XL?! I also love that you can make it as snug as you like or as slouchy as you prefer. Out of all the patterns in this collection, this might be the one I most want to try first.

Spicy Cardigan Patterns for Eye-Popping Knitting Enjoyment

4. Everyone’s Favorite Cardigan / Saturday Morning Hoodie

• What you’ll need to make it: 1275 to 2070 yards chunky weighty yarn; US Size 11 and 13 needles; US Size G crochet hook; stitch holders, spare DPNs, or scrap yarn; 5 7/8 buttons plus needle and thread; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: This is the only hoodie in this collection, which is really the only thing that truly makes it “spicy.” It’s probably the simplest of this part of the bunch; the hood and pockets make it a bit more time-consuming, but it’s still within reach of most advanced beginner knitters. (Also, even though a man is featured in the photo, this is a truly unisex pattern.)

5. Aidez 2.0

• What you’ll need to make it: 790 to 1705 yards chunky weight yarn; US Size 10 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; cable needle or spare DPN; stitch markers

• Why you’ll want to: This gorgeous Aran-style cardigan features stunning latticework in the back, sides, and sleeves. No buttons required for this cozy, stylish sweater.

6. Ardsley Jacket

• What you’ll need to make it: 1190 to 1775 yards worsted weight yarn; US Size 9 needles; US Size 8 and 7 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stitch markers; 3 1 1/8-inch buttons plus sewing needle and thread; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: This is probably the cardigan in this collection that looks the most like a coat–yes, even more so than the hoodie! Something about its style–the diagonal buttons, the lack of buttons at the bottom, the pockets, the texture throughout body and sleeves–just seems to say “coat” more than “cardigan.” But I happen to think that makes it the most stylish cardi in this collection.

So whether you want your next cardigan to be simple or spicy, I hope you’ll find your next cardi delight here!