Pattern picks
5 Easy Cardigan Knitting Patterns You Can Actually Finish
The easiest cardigans to knit are worked top down or bottom up in one piece, in stockinette or garter stitch, on medium to chunky yarn. Our five favorites right now are the Ballerina Cardigan, ScandiCardi, Colorfluff Cardigan, Summer Cardigan and Bliss Cardi. All five live in the Knit&Note app with step by step guidance.
By the Knit&Note team
A cardigan sounds like a big project. It does not have to be. Pick one knitted in one piece, in a simple stitch, and you mostly knit calm, even rows while the shape takes care of itself.
Here are five cardigans we keep coming back to, and an honest word on what makes each one easy.
1. Ballerina Cardigan, by WeLoveKnitters
A short, airy cardigan with bows in the front, knitted top down without any seaming. The construction is simple, the yarn is chunky mohair, and the gauge is 13 stitches per 10 cm, so it grows fast.
Yarn: Sandnes Garn Ballerina Chunky Mohair. Needles: 6 and 7 mm.
Easy because: top down in one piece, chunky gauge, no sewing at the end.
2. ScandiCardi, by Klin Cocos
Klin Cocos calls this the lightest and easiest cardigan in her collection, and we agree. Oversized, fluffy and soft, knitted bottom up with double thread at 9 stitches per 10 cm.
Yarn: Permin Bella held double. Needles: 10 and 12 mm.
Easy because: big needles, forgiving fluffy yarn that hides uneven stitches, relaxed oversized fit so gauge is less critical.
3. Colorfluff Cardigan, by Klin Cocos
The fluffiest of the five. Originally designed for the Pink Ribbon campaign, knitted bottom up with double thread at just 8 stitches per 10 cm. If you want a cardigan finished this week, this is the one.
Yarn: Dale Garn Myk Påfugl held double. Needles: 9 and 12 mm.
Easy because: the chunkiest gauge on this list. Every row is visible progress.
4. Summer Cardigan, by Jord Clothing
The quiet one. Knitted back and forth, top down, in garter stitch, which means you knit every stitch. No purling, no pattern to follow row by row, just knitting.
Yarn: Jord Clothing Woolly. Needles: 4 mm.
Easy because: garter stitch is the first stitch everyone learns. The thinner yarn means it takes longer than the chunky ones, but there is nothing in it that can confuse you.
5. Bliss Cardi, by Knit&Note
Our own Bliss Cardi is the cardigan version of the Bliss Tee. Knitted top down in stockinette with Merino and Cashmere Mohair held together, starting at the back of the neck. The finest gauge on this list at 24 stitches per 10 cm, so it asks for a little more patience, and repays it with the most polished result.
Yarn: Knit&Note Merino with Knit&Note Cashmere Mohair. Needles: 3 and 3.5 mm.
Easy because: the construction is straightforward even though the yarn is fine. A good second cardigan.
How to pick between them
Start from how you want to knit, not how the cardigan looks on the hanger.
Fastest finish: Colorfluff Cardigan or ScandiCardi
Simplest knitting: Summer Cardigan
Most elevated result: Bliss Cardi
Something in between: Ballerina Cardigan
FAQ
What is the easiest cardigan construction for a first timer?
One piece, top down or bottom up, with no seaming. You avoid the step most new knitters dread, sewing the parts together, and you can try the cardigan on as you go.
How much yarn do I need for a cardigan?
It depends on your size and the yarn weight, so check the amounts table in the pattern. Every pattern in the app lists yarn amounts per size, so you buy right the first time.
Do I really need to knit a gauge swatch?
For a fitted cardigan, yes. Knit a small square, count your stitches over 10 cm and compare with the pattern. Too many stitches, go up a needle size. Too few, go down. Ten minutes here saves a cardigan that fits someone else.
In the Knit&Note app
All five patterns live in the Knit&Note app. The reader keeps your place with a row counter, explains the abbreviations when you tap them, and shows the numbers for your size only, so you never lose track mid row. Start with the size guide and the app will carry you through to the last bind off.
