Any Color Comfy Cardi
If you're anything like the rest of the world, picking out a cardigan that matches your favorite outfits is a real struggle. If you knit an Any Color Comfy Cardi or seven, you'll never have that problem again. These adorable knitted sweaters look just as good in grey as they do in green. Fun free knitting patterns always seem to work with only one specific kind of yarn, and they're never in the colors you want. Worked with Caron Simply Soft, which has a ton of basic colors, you won't worry about that anymore.
BONUS! If you're just starting your knitting journey and you're not sure what materials you need, be sure to check out our article, Beginning Knitting Supplies: The Ultimate Knitting Tools List, for all the information you need.
Knitting Needle Size8 or 5 mm
Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
Gauge1 stitches, 2 rows, 3 inches. stockinette stitch
Materials:
- Caron® Simply Soft® (6 oz /170.1 g; 315 yds/288 m) Sizes S (M, L, XL) Any color - 3 (4, 4, 5) balls
- One pair size U.S. 8 (5 mm) needles or size to obtain gauge.
- Stitch marker.
- Yarn needle.
- Two buttons, 1" (2.5 cm) diameter.
- Two stitch holders.
- Yarn needle.
Measurements:
Finished bust measurement
Small: 37 1/4" [94.5cm]
Medium: 41 3/4" [106cm]
Large: 44 1/4" [112.5 cm]
X-Large: 48 1/4" [122.5cm]
Finished length measurement
Small: 25" [63.5 cm]
Medium: 25 1/2" [65 cm]
Large: 26" [66 cm]
X-Large: 26 1/2" [67.5 cm]
Abbreviations:
Alt = Alternate
Beg = beginning
Cont = Continue
Dec = decrease(ing)
Inc = Increase
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit next 2 stitches together.
Pat = pattern
Psso = pass slipped stitch over
Rem = remaining
Rep = repeat
RS = right side
Sl1 = Slip next stitch knitwise
St(s) = stitch(es)
WS = wrong side
Yo = yarn over the needle (makes 1 extra stitch).
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4" [10 cm].
Instructions
The instructions are written for smaller size. If changes are necessary for larger size the instructions will be written thus ( ).
Lace Pattern (multiple of 6 sts + 5 sts):
1st row: (RS). K4. *yo. sl1. K2tog. Psso. yo. k3. Rep from * across, ending last rep k4.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.
3rd to 8th rows: As 1st and 2nd row 3 times.
9th row: K1. *yo. Sl1. K2tog. Psso. yo. K3. Rep from * across, ending yo. sl1. K2tog. Psso. yo. K1.
10th row: Purl.
11th to 16th row: As 9th and 10th rows 3 times.
1st to 16th rows form Lace pat.
BACK
Cast on 87 (93-99-105)sts. Knit 23 (23-31-27) rows (garter st), noting 1st row is RS, ending on a RS row.
Next row: (WS). Purl, dec 4 sts evenly across row. 83 (89-95-101) sts.
Work 1st to 16th row of Lace pat.
Keeping cont of Lace pat, dec 1 st each side of next row, then every 16th row 3 times more. 75 (81-87-93) sts.
Work even until piece measures 17 (17-17-16½)" [43 (43-43-42) cm] from beg, ending on a WS row.
Shape Armholes
Maintaining pat, cast off 4 (5-6-7) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 67 (71-75-79) sts.
Dec 1 st each side every RS row 7 times. 53 (57-61-65) sts.
Work even in pat until piece measures 23½ (24, 24½, 25)" [59.5 (61-62-63.5) cm] from beg, ending on a WS row.
Shape Shoulders and Neck
Next row: (RS). Pat across 18 (19-21-22) sts. Place next 17 (19-19-21) sts on a st holder. Join a new ball of yarn. Pat to end of row.
Working both sides at the same time, cast off 3 sts at beg of each neck edge once, 2 sts once, and 1 st once. 12 (13-15-16) sts each shoulder. Work even in pat until piece measures 25 (25 ½, 26, 26½)" [63.5 (65-66-67.5) cm] from beg, ending on a WS row.
Cast off rem sts knitwise.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 50 (56-60-64) sts. Knit 23 (23-31-27) rows (garter st), noting 1st row is RS, ending on a RS row.
Next row: (WS). K13 (13-17-15) sts place these sts on st holder for front band. Purl to end of row, dec 2 sts evenly across. 35 (41-41-47) sts.
Work 1st tor 16th rows of Lace pat.
Keeping cont of Lace pat, dec 1 st at side edge of next row, then every 16th row 3 times more. 31 (37-37-43) sts.
Work even until piece measures 17 (17,17,16½)" [43 (43-43-42) cm] from beg, ending on a WS row.
Shape Armhole
Next row: (RS). Maintaining pat, Cast off 4 (5-6-7) sts beg of next row. 27 (32-31-36) sts. Dec 1 st at armhole edge every RS row 7 times. 20 (25-24-29) sts.
Work even in pat until piece measures 21½ (22, 22½, 23)" [54.5 (56-57-58.5) cm] from beg, ending on a RS row.
Shape Neck
Next row: (WS). Maintaining pat, Cast off 1 (5-2-6) sts at neck edge once. Dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 7 times– 12 (13-15-16) sts. Work even until same length as Back, ending on a WS row. Cast off knitwise.
Front Band
With WS facing, slip 13 (13-17-15) front band sts to needle. Knit in rows (garter st) until there 85 (87-89-91) total ridges from beg, ending on a WS row. Break yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew band to front edge.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 50 (56-60-64) sts. Knit 23 (23,31,27) rows (garter st), noting 1st row is RS, ending with a RS row.
Next row: (WS). Purl, dec 2 sts evenly across. Place rem 13 (13-17-15) sts on st holder for front band. 35 (41-41-47) sts.
Work 1st to 16th rows of Lace pat.
Keeping cont of Lace pat, dec 1 st at side edge of next row, then every 16th row 3 times more. 31 (37-37-43) sts. Work even in pat until piece measures 17 (17,17,16½)" [43 (43-43-42) cm] from beg, ending on a RS row.
Shape Armhole
Next row: (WS). Maintaining pat, Cast off 4 (5-6-7) sts beg of next row. 27 (32-31-36) sts.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge every RS row 7 times. 20 (25-24-29) sts. Work even in pat until piece measures 21½ (22,22½,23)" [54.5 (56-57-58.5) cm] from beg, ending on a WS row.
Shape Neck
Next row: (RS). Maintaining pat, cast off 1 (5-2-6) sts at neck edge once. Dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 7 times. 12 (13-15-16) sts.
Work even in pat until same length as Back, ending on a WS row. Cast off knitwise.
Front Band
With WS facing, slip 13 (13-17-15)front band sts to needle. Knit in rows (garter st) until there 82 (82-84-86) total ridges.
Next row: Buttonhole: (RS). K5 (5-7-6)sts. Cast off 3 sts. knit to end.
Next row: Knit, casting on 3 sts over cast off sts.
Knit in rows until there are 85 (87-89-91) total ridges. Do not break yarn. Sew band to front.
Neckband
Sew shoulder seams. With RS facing, beg at Right Front, K13 (13-17-15) sts from band, pick up and K16 (20-17-21) sts along Right Front neck edge and 8 sts along Back neck edge. K17 (19-19-21) sts from Back st holder. Pick up and K8 sts along Back neck and 16 (20-17-21) along Left Front neck. K13 (13-17-15) from Left front band. 91 (101-103-109) sts.
Knit 11 rows.
Work buttonhole as before over next 2 rows.
Knit 5 rows more. Cast off knitwise on WS. Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.
SLEEVES
Cast on 47 (53-53-55) sts. Knit 23 (23,31,27) rows (garter st), noting 1st row is RS and ending on a RS row.
Next row: (WS). Purl, dec 0 (0-0-2) sts. 47 (53-53-53) sts.
Beg on 1st row, work 16 (24, 8, 4) rows of Lace pat. Keeping cont of pat, inc 1 st at each edge of next row, then every 8th row 3 (2-4-6) times more, working added sts into pat. 55 (59-63-67) sts.
Work even until piece measures 12½ (13, 13, 13½)" [32 (33-33-34.5) cm] from beg, ending on a WS row.
Shape Cap
Maintaining pat, cast off 4 (5-6-7) sts beg of next 2 rows. 47 (49-51-53) sts. Work 0 (0, 2, 2) rows even.
Dec 1 st each edge every RS row until 21 sts rem, ending on a WS row. Cast off knitwise.
FINISHING
Sew in Sleeves. Sew side and Sleeve seams.
Using yarn needle, weave in ends.