Free Pattern - Crop Knitted Cardigan

This one button, crop (or not crop if you prefer) cardy is super quick to knit and will become your new favourite. Knitted in Ashford DK, two strands held together it knits up quickly and is cosy to wear.

Perfect for wearing with dresses, shirts or tees, with a shawl collar that keeps your neck warm. With all the colours available in our DK yarn it is hard to choose which colour combo I will knit next.

You will need:

Sizes S(M, L, XL) to fit 81(91, 101, 110)cm, 32(36, 40, 44)ins bust

Yarn Ashford DK knitted holding two strands together – 4(5, 6, 6) balls

8mm knitting needles

Gauge 13sts x 17rows = 10cm (4ins)

Abbreviations: St(s), stitch(s); K, Knit; P, Purl; K2tog, Knit 2sts together; Stst, Stocking stitch; SSK, Slip, slip, knit; beg, beginning; dec, decrease; inc, increase; rem, remaining; ins, inches; LF, Left front; RF, Right front; RS, Right side facing; WS, Wrong side facing.

Here’s how to knit your crop cardigan:

CHUNKY CROP KNITTED CARDIGAN PATTERN
Knit in one piece up to the armholes – (RF/Back/LF)
Cast on 110(124, 136, 148)sts and work in garter stitch (every row knit) for 9(9, 10, 10)cm, 3½(3½, 4, 4)ins.

ESTABLISHING THE FRONT BANDS
Next Row: RS – knit 9(9, 12, 12)sts (for the band), place marker, k to last 9(9, 12, 12)sts place marker, (for the band), knit to end 9(9, 12, 12)sts either end.
Following Row: Knit 9(9, 12, 12)sts to marker, purl to next marker 9(9, 12, 12)sts then knit to end.
Work in this pattern (including the bands) until piece measures 32cm (12½ins) or length desired – final row being the WS row.

SHAPE ARMHOLES
Work will become 3 pieces from here – (RF/Back/LF)
RS facing and dividing the work: Pattern 26(29, 32, 34)sts , cast off 8(10, 10, 12)sts, pattern 42(46, 52, 56)sts, cast off 8(10, 10, 12)sts and pattern last 26(29, 32, 34)sts to end.
These first 26(29, 32, 34)sts are the LF: – work one row.
Put rem sts for the back and RF on separate needle(s) or scrap yarn.
Dec Row (RS): K3, k2 tog, k (keeping band pattern at edge) (25 sts). Repeat this decrease every RS row, 1(2, 3, 4) more times 24 (25, 28, 29)sts.
Work straight until armhole measures 10(10, 12.5, 12.5)cm, 4(4, 5, 5)ins, end with the RS row.

SHAPE NECK
Cast off 9(9, 12, 12)sts, work to end – 15(16, 16, 17)sts.
Dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 6(7, 6, 7) times 9(9, 10, 10)sts.
Work straight until armhole measures 17.5(19, 20.5, 21.5)cm, 7(7½, 8, 8½)ins, ending with a WS row.
Cast off 4(4, 5, 5)sts at armhole edge once, then rem 5 sts for shoulder.

BACK
Working on the Back – 42(46, 52, 56)sts.
With RS facing, K3, k2tog, work to last 5 sts, SSK, k3 – 40(44, 50, 54)sts. Repeat this decrease every RS row, 1(2, 3, 4) more times – 38(40, 44, 46)sts.
Work until armholes measure 17.5(19, 20.5, 21.5)cm, 7(7½, 8, 8½)ins, end with a WS row.

SHAPING SHOULDERS
Cast off 4(4, 5, 5)sts at beg of the next 2 rows, then 5 sts at beg of the next 2 rows. Cast off rem 20(22,24,26)sts for back neck.

Working on the RF – (wrong side facing)
Knit in pattern.
Dec Row: (Keeping band pattern at edge) Knit to last 5 sts, SSK, k3. Repeat this decrease every RS row, 1 more times 24 (25, 28, 29)sts.
Work straight until armhole measures 7.5(7.5, 10, 10)cm, 3(3, 4, 4)ins ending with the WS row.

Buttonhole Row – (RS) – K4(4, 5, 5), cast off 3 sts, k to end.
Following Row: P to marker, k to end, casting on 3 sts over the 3 cast off on previous row. When the armhole measures the same as the LF – 10(10, 12.5, 12.5)cm, 4(4 ,5 ,5)ins last row being the WS row.

SHAPE NECK
Cast of 9(9, 12, 12)sts, work to end – 15(16, 16, 17)sts.
Dec 1 st at neck edge every WS row 6(7, 6, 7) times 9(9, 10, 10)sts.
Work straight until armhole measures 17.5(19, 20.5, 21.5)cm, 7(7½, 8, 8½)ins, ending with a RS row. Cast off 4(4, 5, 5)sts at armhole edge once, then rem 5 sts for shoulder. cast off for neck on the RS row. Cast of for shoulder on the WS row.

SLEEVES – (Knit 2)
Cast on 40(42, 44, 50) sts. Work in garter st for 9(9, 10, 10)cm, 3.5(3.5, 4, 4)ins.
Continue in stst until sleeve measures (including the bands) 5ins or length desired ending with a WS row.
Shape Cap – Cast off 4(4, 5, 6)sts at beg on the next 2 rows – 32(34, 34, 38)sts.
Dec Row (RS): K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 30(32, 32, 36)sts. Repeat this dec every RS row 8(9, 10, 11) more times, end with a WS row.
Cast off 3 sts at beg on the next 2 rows. Cast of the rem 8(8, 6, 8)sts.

COLLAR
Cast on 28(30, 32, 34)sts.
Knit 1 row. Cast on 2 sts at beg of the next 14(15, 16, 17) rows, then inc 1 st at beg of the next 8(10, 12, 14) rows – 64(70 ,76, 82)sts. Knit 1 row, cast off loosely.

FINISHING
Sew shoulder seams. Sew cast off edge of collar to neck edge. Sew sleeve seems, then sew into work. Lap right front over left front and sew button to LF band under the buttonhole of the RF.

Optional colour change – if you wish to use two colours, decide where you want the colour change.

Download the Pattern in PDF here