Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in the entirety of Australia who despises the heat, but summer is finally over and the temperatures are finally dropping to an acceptable level. While I’m not one to complain too much, I do find myself with a new problem- it’s still too hot to wear my big jackets, but too cool to just wear a t-shirt! I’ve been an oversized-t-shirt-and-jeans-all-year-round kind of person for most of my life, but now that I’ve started making garments for myself, I’ve begun to realise that I have a lot of holes in my wardrobe, and I think it’s time to start filling them.
What better way to start doing that by making a cardigan? While I haven’t made one before, I have made some jumpers (or sweaters, for those of you in the US) so.. it can’t be that different, right? Now all I need to do is.. decide on a pattern. That sounds kind of hard, so I’ve decided to put together a list of 10 cardigans that seem a bit more on the simple side and that I want to knit!
The Step-By-Step Cardigan by Florence Miller
Honestly, this is the pattern that inspired this post, because it’s a new release pattern (at the time of writing this) from a well-known designer so of course it caught my eye when I checked Ravelry yesterday. Designed to be a companion to the step-by-step sweater, this cardigan has a really simple and easy construction that even I’d understand. I haven’t really been into worsted weight knits previously but honestly? This (and many other patterns in this post) could easily change my mind. The stockinette sections look nice and open but then the ribbing and the double knit band are both much tighter, which brings the garment together really nicely. I’ve seen Florence’s tutorials before and they are all extremely easy to follow, so I expect that this cardigan is no exception to that.
The Step-by-step Cardigan calls for Noro Madara yarn, which Aussies can pick up from Little Woolie Makes for AU$34 per skein. I absolutely adore the tweed texture, but I’d probably look into an alternative worsted weight yarn that didn’t break the bank quiiiite as much- Maybe Cascade 220? I think I’m honestly just looking for an excuse to try that yarn out.
The pattern comes in 9 sizes and ranges from a 75-155cm bust and is available for £6.00 or pay-what-you-can pricing.
The Field Day Cardigan by Ozetta Knitwear
I’ve never actually tried making a drop shoulder garment, but good lord I love that they look both professional and cozy at the same time. The Field Day Cardigan is absolutely no exception to this, and I think this could really add a little special something to my wardrobe while maintaining an overall casual vibe- perfect for heading out for a quick coffee or grocery run, or throwing on if I need to make a trip to my mum’s place to help her move some furniture. It’s also made with DK yarn, which is very much in my wheelhouse when it comes to knitting.
While it’s not quite as beginner friendly as the step-by-step sweater, it would be a great opportunity to practise some new-to-me techniques like buttonholes and a sewn tubular bind-off, not to mention the German Short Rows (I promise you, they aren’t as scary as they look!)
It calls for Woolfolk STRÅ, which Aussies can get from Sunspun for $33 per skein. However, I have seen some knitters make this one with BWM Luxury and it still looks lovely too! It looks lovely in a plain colour, but could you imagine this with some stripes or colour blocking? Ugh, Gorgeous.
This pattern comes in 9 sizes and fits a 76-152cm bust size. That said, I could absolutely see myself going up a size to get a bit more of an oversized fit for extra casual vibes. (needs pattern price)
The Can-Do Cardigan by What Lydia Made
I’m a big fan of Lydia Morrow’s designs in general, but I think the Can-Do Cardigan might be one of my favourites of hers! It’s extremely cute with the slightly puffy cuffed sleeves, and I adore that it includes multiple options for shaping and size and on top of all that? It’s super inclusive! I do appreciate when a knitting pattern allows me to make multiple different garments, don’t you? The use of duplicate stitch to add further personalisation is such a great idea and while I know you can do this on any stockinette garment, I really enjoy the fact that this is highlighted for this pattern.
The pattern calls for Merino DK Yarn by The Fiber Fox, who is a UK-based hand dyer (and while their yarn looks gorgeous, I’m far too impatient for international shipping!). I think any kind of DK-Weight Superwash Merino yarn would do really well here- perhaps some Chaffey 8ply from Nundle Woolen Mill? It has such a wide range of colours that I feel you could make this fit into any wardrobe pretty comfortably!
Lydia’s designs are always super size-inclusive, and this pattern is absolutely no exception. IT comes in 10 sizes and fits a chest circumference in the range of 67.5-147.5cm As I mentioned above, it also comes with shaping options so if you don’t need as much bust allowance but will want a cute cardigan, you can make a unique garment that fits. The pattern will cost you around AU$24, but there is an option for more inclusive pricing if the base price isn’t quite within your means.
The Coffee Bean Cardigan by Elizabeth Smith
Another worsted pattern? Maybe I should start stashing worsted weight yarn. This lovely striped number is just interesting enough that it makes a statement, and you could make that statement pretty loud depending on the colours you use! There are a few patterns similar to this on Ravelry, but I picked this one mostly for the ribbing- there’s just something so nice about wider rib fabric in knitting, you know? There’s also a fair few solid versions of this sweater if you check out what other knitters have done with it and while they do look nice, I think I prefer the stripes- I especially love how the sample version looks with some jeans- that’s exactly how I’d wear it.
This pattern uses Berroco Ultra wool, which I don’t think is locally available to us here in Australia, but if you are the type to shop internationally for your fibers, then you can pick this up on Lovecrafts for AU$25 for a skein. Usually my eyes would water a bit at that price but it is for a 200g ball so it’s not actually the worst, especially if you’re doing a big order from them anyway. Given how fitted the sleeves are on this one, I’d even consider splashing out on some Blue Sky Fibers Sweater yarn, which you can grab at Woolarium– I’ve used it before and it is one of the softest yarns I’ve ever felt! If you had some hand-dyed variegated yarn, you could even pair it with a solid colour to get some really wild stripes- ohh, that’s actually really tempting.
I’m also really surprised at the size range on this one – ten sizes! The finished garment ranges from 86-163cm, and is intended to be worn with around 3-10cm of positive ease. The pattern is about $13AUD.
Sorn by Stolen Stitches
I have a confession to make- I love high necks. I used to wear a lot of turtlenecks when I was younger because i loved how cozy and protective they felt. Nowadays they tend to give me look like I have a double-chin (I swear I don’t!) but that still doesn’t stop me from adoring them! Anyway, where was I? Oh, right, Sorn by Stolen Stitches looks so comfy, and is almost a winter garment- it must be that bulky fabric. I keep telling myself I’m not a fan of bulky knits but this might just make me change my mind on that because look how snuggly it is! The reverse stockinette is something I, a Framework Bralette Enjoyer really appreciate too, especially with that ribbed-style detail on the back- kind of like a racing stripe? Yeah, I’m going with that for sure. The sleeve length is also just perfect for that rugged-up look. I’d maybe even extend the ribbing a little longer and add thumb holes- mmm, I’m feeling warmer just thining about it!
The pattern calls for Studio Donegal Chunky, which you can pick up from Woolarium for AU$30 a skein, though you could also go for something like Patons Fairhaven which is sold in loads of stores but I’m going to link you to Craftee Cottage specifically.
Sorn also comes in 10 sizes (hell yeah size inclusivity!) and fits a 76-147cm bust size. The pattern costs AU$13 but includes a full workshop, so it would make for a really good first cardigan or even a first garment in general, thanks to that extra guidance you get.
Le Pouf by Hedgehog Fibres
When I first signed up to Ravelry and begun browsing patterns, the Le Pouf sweater was one of the first designs that ever caught my eye. Now that I’m a bit more experienced and have a bit of a grasp on what I like, I think I like the cardigan version of this design even more than I do the sweater! I really like the shape of the sleeves here too, it reminds me of the sweaters you wear in primary school and there’s just something about that makes me happy. This could make for a such a good stashbuster, too. I got my first yarn advent calendar for christmas 2023 and while I did make an excellent finished project with it, I have a lot more leftovers than I anticipated – maybe I could use them up one this one? Looking at the finished projects for this one is also extremely inspiring, and that pile of sock yarn leftovers (a fair bit of it is actually by hedgehog fibres) could make for a very fun and unique garment.
Naturally, the pattern calls for Hedgehog Fibres Sock yarn but again, if you’re impatient and want to go local, you could pick some up from Little Woolie Makes who stocks a huge range. Otherwise, it would be very fun to go through your stash of impulse-bought sock yarn and pick out some that would make for a nice fade, or have a bit of a spending spree with your favourite local indie dyer! Oh no, now I’m tempted..
Le Pouf comes in 9 sizes, and is available for free! It’d be an excellent pick for a first cardigan or for learning how to do those lovely fades!
Be Thankful Cardigan by Lily Kate France
What can I say? This is such a lovely classic cardigan but with a deeper V neck and cute puffy sleeves. I don’t normally like cropped cardis but I think that might just be because I don’t really have much to wear with them. Maybe if I were to make this cardigan, It’d give me an excuse to buy some cute new clothes? I also really like the contrast of the chunkier ribbing and the puffy sleeves. While the sample is beautiful (obviously), it’s the finished project photos that really show off how versatile this pattern is so definitely check those out to get some inspiration! This would be so nice to throw over a cami or singlet with some mom jeans, or pair with a cute dress? something with a high waist?
It calls for Rowan Hemp Tweed- which has been discontinued- but honestly I think that you could get away with any worsted weight merino that hits gauge. Rowan’s Felted Tweed Aran could be a similar match, which you can pick up from Morris & Sons. I dunno, I always immediately think of them when Rowan yarn gets bought up.
The pattern can be bought from Ravelry for around AU$15. It also comes in 9 sizes, fitting from a 71-152cm bust.
The Xanthia Cardigan by Meiju Knits
Oh my goodness, this basketweave texture! It looks so warm an gives off an almost quilted feel without adding bulk- not to mention that it’s also very cute. What’s really neat about this construction is that the button band is knitted alongside the body, so there’s no picking up stitches afterwards. I don’t know why, but that step always seems the most daunting to me, the cardigan beginner. I’m sure it’s not, but I can’t help but feel that way about knitting things I’ve not done yet, you know? But I guess I wouldn’t have to worry too much about that with this cardigan, and I’ve done a similar basketweave pattern before so I know that part would be pretty simple too. The collar/button band gives this such a unique look, I’d want to wear it with my hair tied back just to show it off more!
The pattern calls for Vivacious DK by Fyberspates, which just happens to be stocked by The Yarn Trader over in Adelaide- I’m so keen to visit next time I’m over that way! I think this would really look great with any semi-solid DK weight yarn, but my first thought for an alternative was the gorgeous DK Yarn by Nomad Farms, which you can also pick up from Maker Maker in Carlton.
Xanthia comes in a whopping 13 sizes (wow!) which fit bust sizes from 75-155cm. You can pick up the pattern for around AU$12.
The First Cardigan by Hive Knits
While it might not be first on this list, the First Cardigan is still a winner for sure- just look at those lovely ribbed balloon sleeves! It uses half fisherman’s rib, which is a new-to-me stitch but I’ve done a full fisherman’s rib before so it can’t be that different, right? I do love the fit of this one a lot, and while I’ve been putting off including a pattern that uses a yarn held double, I really couldn’t resist this one. That said, it’s a DK weight so I’m sure you could get away with substituting the fingering+lace weight combo for a proper DK weight yarn if you want to not bother with double holding. I think the silhouette of this piece would look so lovely buttoned up and tucked into a high-waisted maxi skirt, but I’m sure you could think of loads of different ways to style a garment like this!
The First Cardigan calls for two yarns by Ficolana – Arwetta and Tilia, both of which you can pick up from Yarn + Co over on Philip Island – maybe you could swing by before watching the penguin parade? That said, I think this would also be an amazing opportunity to bust out one of my new favourite budget yarns, Abbey Road’s The Wind Cries Merino which you can buy at your local Spotlight. I’m making a garment with it now and good golly I was not prepared for how much I like the fabric!
You can pick up this pattern for just under AU$14 and it comes in a generous 12 sizes, ranging from 75-160cm. The pattern does note that the gauge will be tighter than average, so make sure you do a gauge swatch and have some smaller needles and a bit of extra yarn, just in case.
The Korshavn Cardigan by Strikkecaffe
I know I already have a basketwave cardigan on this list but what’s wrong with another one? This has such a nice and comfy looking texture, and I really love the long ribbing at the bottom of the garment. In addition to that, this one is knit from the bottom up, which is something I’ve only done on garments like bralettes and camisoles. Surely, it’d be a good construction to learn for sleeved garments too, right? This is made with a fingering weight yarn held double, so it’s going to be extra warm- good for a late autumn or early winter cardi, perhaps? This would definitely be a good pick to wear with a simple t-shirt and some jeans, adding just enough texture to look interesting, but not too busy, you know?
The Korshavn calls for a strand of Peer Gynt and Tynn Silk Mohair, both by Sandnes Garn. You can pick up the Silk Mohair from The Yarn Bowl and Peer Gynt from Yarn + Co. That said, you could happily substitute most other DK weight yarns and Silk Mohairs to get a similar fabric, as long as you check your gauge! If you aren’t a fan of mohair, you could easily substitute for a worsted weight yarn of your choice or even just use a thicker DK weight without the mohair, but you might just see the holes in the basketweave a bit more than you would if you used the mohair. Hm, Maybe this lovely 8-ply from Wagtail yarns? Their Alpaca isn’t brushed, but will still have a slight halo have have that lovely softness and stitch definition. I’d definitely swatch it first but it could work
It comes in 7 sizes, and the finished garment is 96-140cm in the chest and is designed for a positive ease of around 15cm, so keep that in mind if you aren’t a standard size. That said, there’s a large variety of bodies in the finished projects section and it does look good on all of them! The pattern will set you back around AU$12.
Did you like the patterns I picked? Have you made any of them? Let me know by leaving a comment, I’d love to hear about your experiences!
Until next time!
