Looking for an easy cardigan knitting pattern that doesn’t involve complicated cables, lace charts or difficult construction? This collection brings together free cardigan knitting patterns for women that keep the knitting relatively straightforward while still giving you a cardigan you’ll actually want to wear.
The patterns include simple garter stitch and stocking stitch cardigans, classic button-front styles, relaxed open cardigans, long cosy designs and lighter short-sleeved options.
I’ve also looked at why each pattern is considered easy, because “easy” can mean very different things in garment knitting. Some have extremely simple stitch patterns but require seaming, while others reduce the finishing by using one-piece or top-down construction.
If you have never knitted a full garment before, you may also want to see my beginner cardigan knitting patterns, where I’ve specifically selected patterns suitable for knitters making their first cardigans.
Which Easy Cardigan Should You Knit?
If you’re not sure where to start, use this quick guide to match a pattern to the type of cardigan you want to make.
| If you want… | Try… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of simple knit stitches | Sawtelle Cardigan | The body is made entirely with knit stitches and requires very little seaming. |
| Simple garter stitch | Avocet B | Garter stitch keeps the actual stitchwork straightforward while waist shaping creates a more fitted cardigan. |
| A classic button-front cardigan | Season-Spanning Cardigan | Straightforward stocking stitch and ribbing with traditional cardigan construction. |
| Simple colour blocking | Helan Cardigan | Two colours create the effect without requiring stranded colourwork. |
| A lightweight cardigan | Skagit Cardigan | Three-quarter sleeves and a lightweight yarn make it useful for warmer weather. |
| A short-sleeved cardigan | Biscuitroot Cardigan | Integrated cap sleeves mean there are no separate sleeves to knit and set in. |
| A long winter cardigan | Cozy Car Coat | Super bulky yarn and large needles make this substantial cardigan surprisingly quick to knit. |
| A cardigan with pockets | Long Cardigan with Pockets | Straightforward stocking stitch construction with simple patch pockets. |
| A hooded cardigan | Hooded Cardigan | Simple stocking stitch and ribbing with a hood and useful pockets. |
| Minimal seaming | Drapey Cardigan | Clever one-piece construction eliminates separate sleeves and shoulder seams. |
| A top-down cardigan | Billie Cardigan | Raglan construction lets you work the cardigan from the neckline down with fewer seams. |
| A long cardigan coat | Asia Cardigan | A simple seed stitch creates an impressive long sweater coat without complicated stitchwork. |
Billie Cardigan
The Billie Cardigan from Lion Brand is a relaxed, open-front raglan cardigan designed to show off the gradual colour changes of Lion Brand Ferris Wheel yarn. It has a simple stocking stitch body, deep ribbed hem and cuffs, and a wide ribbed front and neck band. The pattern has an especially useful size range, running from XS through 5X.
Why it is easy: This is one of the more approachable constructions in the collection because the cardigan is knitted in one piece from the neck down. Raglan increases form the yoke, then the sleeve stitches are placed on holders while you continue knitting the body. This eliminates separate front and back pieces and avoids shoulder and side seams. The knitting itself is mainly straightforward stocking stitch and K2, P2 ribbing, with no cables, lace or complicated colourwork—the self-striping yarn creates the colour effect for you. You do need to manage raglan increases, pick up stitches and sew the sleeve seams, so I would recommend it for an advanced beginner ready to try a first top-down cardigan.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Lion Brand Ferris Wheel
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted
- Construction: Top-down raglan, worked in one piece to the underarms
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X and 5X
- Finished bust: Approximately 34–63 in
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, K2 P2 ribbing, raglan increases, decreases, picking up stitches and minimal seaming
- Get the free pattern: Billie Cardigan by Lion Brand
Long Cardigan with Pockets
The Long Cardigan with Pockets by Laines du Nord is a cosy longline cardigan with a relaxed shape, deep patch pockets and a simple two-button front. Worked in a soft, fluffy yarn, the design lets the yarn provide most of the visual interest while the cardigan itself stays classic and uncomplicated. The finished length is approximately 76 cm, making this a good choice if you want an easy cardigan with plenty of coverage.
Why it is easy: The cardigan is worked primarily in stocking stitch with simple 1×1 and 2×2 ribbing, so there are no cables, lace patterns, colourwork or charts to follow. It uses very traditional construction: the back, two fronts and sleeves are all knitted separately and then sewn together. Even the pockets are simple stocking-stitch squares. The main skills beyond basic knitting are straightforward V-neck decreases, sleeve increases, seaming and attaching the separately knitted front and neckline band. Laines du Nord officially rates the pattern Easy, and I would recommend it for an advanced beginner who wants to practise traditional cardigan construction.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Laines du Nord Teddy B
- Construction: Five pieces knitted flat separately and seamed
- Finished back width: 50 cm
- Finished length: 76 cm
- Pockets: Two 16 x 16 cm patch pockets
- Needles: 3.5 mm and 5 mm, plus 5 mm circular needle for the finishing band
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, 1×1 and 2×2 ribbing, increases, decreases, V-neck shaping, buttonholes, seaming and attaching pockets
- Get the free pattern: Long Cardigan with Pockets by Laines du Nord
Hooded Cardigan
The Hooded Cardigan from Lion Brand is a cosy everyday cardigan with a roomy hood, large built-in pockets and a classic five-button front. The simple stocking stitch body is finished with wide K2, P2 ribbed edges, giving it a substantial jacket-like look without relying on decorative stitchwork. It is a particularly practical choice if you want an easy cardigan with pockets and a hood.
Why it is easy: The main cardigan is worked almost entirely in stocking stitch and simple K2, P2 ribbing, with no cables, lace, colourwork or charts to follow. The back, fronts and sleeves are knitted flat from the bottom up, so the construction is traditional and easy to understand. The pattern does introduce a few useful garment-making skills—including raglan shaping, integrated pockets, picking up stitches and constructing the hood—so it is slightly more involved than some of the basic cardigans in this collection. Lion Brand rates it Easy+, making it a good choice for an advanced beginner ready to build their garment-knitting skills.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy+
- Yarn: Martha Stewart Crafts Lion Brand Alpaca Blend
- Yarn weight: Bulky
- Construction: Back, two fronts and two sleeves knitted flat from the bottom up and seamed; hood picked up and knitted from the neckline
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, 1X, 2X and 3X
- Finished chest: 40–60 in
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, K2 P2 ribbing, increases and decreases, raglan shaping, pockets, picking up stitches, hood construction, buttonholes and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Lion Brand Hooded Cardigan
Season-Spanning Cardigan
The Season-Spanning Cardigan is a classic button-front cardigan with a simple, wearable shape that can easily become an everyday wardrobe piece. It is worked mainly in stocking stitch with ribbed edges, keeping the overall look clean and traditional. The fitted shape and neat collar make it a good choice if you want an easy cardigan that still looks polished when finished.
Why it is easy: The main body uses straightforward stocking stitch rather than cables, lace or complicated textured patterns, so you can concentrate on the garment shaping and construction. It is knitted flat in separate pieces, making it easier to see how the back, fronts and sleeves come together. There is some shaping, seaming and picking up of stitches for the bands, so I would consider this a good pattern for an advanced beginner or someone knitting one of their first cardigans, rather than a complete first knitting project.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Red Heart Collage
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in pieces and seamed
- Sizes: Small to 2X
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, ribbing, basic shaping, seaming, picking up stitches and buttonholes
- Get the free pattern: Season-Spanning Cardigan
Avocet B Cardigan
The Avocet B Cardigan by Norah Gaughan is an elegant garter stitch cardigan with gentle waist shaping that gives it a more fitted, feminine silhouette. It is a simplified version of the original Avocet design, making it a nice option if you want an easy cardigan that still has some shaping and structure.
Why it is easy: The entire cardigan is worked in garter stitch, so there are no cables, lace patterns or complicated stitch sequences to follow. The pieces are knitted flat on straight needles, allowing you to concentrate on the straightforward increases and decreases used to create the waist, armholes and shoulders. There is seaming and some finishing around the neckline, so I would place this at advanced beginner/easy level rather than recommend it as a very first knitting project.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
- Yarn weight: Worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, 1X and 2X
- Main techniques: Garter stitch, increases, decreases, garment shaping and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Avocet B Cardigan by Berroco
Estuary Cardigan
The Estuary Cardigan by the Berroco Design Team is a classic V-neck buttoned cardigan with a simple two-colour design. The contrasting colour across the shoulders and upper sleeves adds interest without requiring complicated colourwork, while the stocking stitch body and ribbed edges keep the overall design clean and wearable.
Why it is easy: Most of the cardigan is worked in straightforward stocking stitch and ribbing, with no cables, lace or complex stitch pattern to keep track of. The colour change is also simple—you switch to the contrast yarn rather than working stranded colourwork. The cardigan is knitted flat in separate pieces, so the construction is easy to understand. There is traditional shaping, seaming and a picked-up button/neck band, making this better for an advanced beginner than someone who has only just learned to knit.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Berroco Tuscan Tweed
- Yarn weight: Worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed
- Finished bust: 32–52 inches
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, ribbing, increases and decreases, simple colour changes, seaming, picking up stitches and buttonholes
- Get the free pattern: Estuary Cardigan by Berroco
Simple Cardigan
The Simple Cardigan is a classic crew-neck cardigan with a neat button front and a relaxed, timeless shape. It is worked primarily in stocking stitch, allowing the softly shaded yarn to provide the visual interest rather than relying on decorative stitch patterns. With eight bust sizes included, it is also a useful option for knitters looking for a traditional everyday cardigan.
Why it is easy: This cardigan keeps the actual knitting very straightforward. The back, fronts and sleeves are worked flat, mainly in stocking stitch, with simple knit rows used at the edges. There are no cables, lace charts, colourwork or complicated stitch repeats to follow. The main challenge is learning basic garment shaping for the armholes, neckline and shoulders and then seaming the pieces together, making it particularly suitable for an advanced beginner ready to knit a first or early cardigan.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn weight: Chunky
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed
- To fit bust: 32–46 in (81–117 cm)
- Needles: 5.5 mm and 6.5 mm
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, basic increases and decreases, armhole and neckline shaping, seaming and buttoned finishing
- Get the free pattern: Simple Cardigan
Sawtelle Adult Cardigan
The Sawtelle Adult Cardigan by Berroco is a relaxed, casual cardigan with a wide garter-stitch collar, three-button front and contrasting edges. The body is worked in one piece to the underarms before being divided for the fronts and back, while the sleeves are picked up and knitted down from the armholes.
Why it is easy: This is one of the easier cardigans in the collection because the body is made entirely with knit stitches—there are no cables, lace patterns or complicated stitch repeats to follow. There is also very little seaming, with only the shoulder seams needing to be sewn. The sleeves are worked in stocking stitch in the round, so although you will need to be comfortable picking up stitches and using circular needles, the actual knitting remains simple and repetitive. It’s a particularly good choice for an advanced beginner who wants to try a cardigan without lots of sewing and finishing
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Berroco Remix
- Yarn weight: Worsted
- Construction: Body knitted in one piece; sleeves picked up and knitted in the round
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, 1X and 2X
- Finished chest: 32–52 in
- Main techniques: Garter stitch, knitting in the round, simple decreases, picking up stitches, buttonholes and minimal seaming
- Get the free pattern: Sawtelle Adult Cardigan by Berroco
Moment’s Notice Cardigan
The Moment’s Notice Cardigan by Lorna Miser is a simple V-neck cardigan with a single-button closure and wide ribbed edging. Rather than ordinary stocking stitch, the body uses reverse stocking stitch, giving the cardigan a subtle textured appearance while keeping the actual knitting very straightforward.
Why it is easy: The cardigan relies on just ribbing and reverse stocking stitch, so there are no cables, lace, colourwork or complicated stitch patterns to follow. The back, fronts and sleeves are worked flat, making the garment construction easy to understand. The pattern does introduce useful next-step skills—including shaping the V-neck and armholes, a three-needle bind-off, setting in sleeves and picking up stitches for the front edging—so it is best suited to an advanced beginner who is comfortable with basic knit and purl stitches.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Red Heart Artesano
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in pieces and seamed
- To fit bust: 30–48 in
- Finished bust: 36–52 in
- Main techniques: Ribbing, reverse stocking stitch, increases and decreases, V-neck shaping, three-needle bind-off, seaming, picking up stitches and a buttonhole
- Get the free pattern: Moment’s Notice Cardigan
Simple Spring Swing Cardigan
The Simple Spring Swing Cardigan by Jodi Snyder is a lightweight, short-sleeved cardigan with a gently shaped body and an open, swing-style silhouette. It combines smooth stocking stitch with garter stitch across the upper body and edges, finished with a simple three-button front. The shorter sleeves make this a particularly nice easy cardigan for spring or transitional weather.
Why it is easy: The cardigan uses just stocking stitch and garter stitch, with no cables, lace charts or complicated stitch repeats. The back and fronts are worked flat, and the sleeves are picked up directly around the armholes and knitted down, which removes the need to shape and set in separate sleeves. There is some straightforward waist and neckline shaping plus picking up stitches for the bands, making this a good advanced-beginner cardigan once you are comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Red Heart Eco-Ways
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted
- Construction: Back and fronts knitted flat; sleeve stitches picked up at the armholes
- Finished bust: 36–52 in
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, 1X and 2X
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, garter stitch, decreases, neckline shaping, picking up stitches, buttonholes and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Simple Spring Swing Cardigan
Skagit Cardigan
The Skagit Cardigan by Berroco is a relaxed, open-front cardigan with three-quarter-length sleeves and a generous fit. Its unusual construction gives a simple stocking stitch cardigan a more contemporary shape: the entire upper section is worked sideways from one sleeve to the other, then stitches are picked up along the lower edge to knit the body downwards. The wide collar finishes the relaxed look.
Why it is easy: Although the construction is a little different from a traditional cardigan, the knitting itself is very straightforward. The pattern relies mainly on stocking stitch and simple ribbing, with no cables, lace, colourwork or complicated stitch repeats. The upper body and sleeves are worked as one continuous piece, which also reduces the amount of seaming—you only need to sew the sleeve seams. Picking up stitches for the lower body and collar adds a useful next-step skill, so I would recommend Skagit for an advanced beginner who is comfortable with basic knit and purl stitches and wants to try a less traditional cardigan construction.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Berroco Linsey
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted
- Construction: Upper body worked sideways from sleeve to sleeve; lower body picked up and knitted down
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, 1X and 2X
- To fit bust: 30–50 in
- Finished bust: 40–60 in, designed with approximately 10 in of ease
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, ribbing, simple increases and decreases, picking up stitches and minimal seaming
- Get the free pattern: Skagit Cardigan by Berroco
Long Purple Cardigan
The DROPS 92-13 Long Cardigan is a feminine longline cardigan with an A-line shape, round neckline and five-button front. The design is mostly worked in stocking stitch, while a contrasting thicker yarn is used to create the distinctive decorative spiral detail around the lower part of the cardigan. It is a good option if you want an easy cardigan with something a little more unusual than a basic everyday design.
Why it is easy: The majority of the cardigan uses simple stocking stitch, so there are no complicated cables, lace charts or repeating textured stitch patterns to master. The cardigan is worked from the bottom up using traditional garment construction, with straightforward shaping for the A-line body, armholes and neckline. The contrasting spiral embellishment looks more elaborate than the knitting actually is. There is shaping and finishing involved, so I would classify this as an advanced-beginner/easy cardigan rather than a first-ever knitting project.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy / advanced beginner
- Yarn: DROPS Silke-Tweed with DROPS Snow for the contrasting detail
- Yarn weight: Light yarn for the main cardigan with a super bulky contrast yarn
- Construction: Bottom-up cardigan with set-in sleeves
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL and XXL
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, basic shaping, set-in sleeves, seaming, buttonholes and decorative spiral detail
- Get the free pattern: Long Cardigan
Knit Ribbed Cardigan
The Knit Ribbed Cardigan by Heather Lodinsky is a short, classic cardigan with a wide folded collar and a subtle all-over texture. Rather than conventional ribbing, the cardigan uses a simple Double Garter Stitch pattern, alternating pairs of purl rows with pairs of knit rows. The oversized collar and large buttons give an otherwise straightforward cardigan a little more character.
Why it is easy: The entire cardigan uses the same four-row Double Garter Stitch repeat, so once you have established the pattern there is very little to remember. There are no cables, lace charts or colourwork. The back, fronts and sleeves are all knitted flat, using standard increases, decreases and bind-offs for shaping. The finishing is the more involved part—you’ll need to seam the pieces, set in the sleeves and pick up stitches for the collar—so this is a good advanced-beginner cardigan for practising traditional garment construction
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Red Heart Eco-Ways
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XL and 2XL
- Finished bust: 38–54 in
- Main techniques: Knit and purl stitches, four-row textured stitch pattern, basic shaping, picking up stitches, buttonholes, set-in sleeves and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Knit Ribbed Cardigan
Adult Knit Crew Neck Cardigan
The Adult Knit Crew Neck Cardigan is a traditional button-front cardigan with a simple crew neckline, long sleeves and classic ribbed edges. It is the sort of straightforward wardrobe cardigan that works particularly well for knitters who want to learn conventional garment construction without also having to manage a decorative stitch pattern. The pattern includes both women’s and men’s versions, with adjustments to the body and sleeve lengths.
Why it is easy: Almost all of the cardigan is worked in stocking stitch with simple K2, P2 ribbing, so there are no cables, lace, colourwork or charts to follow. The back, fronts and sleeves are knitted separately on straight needles, making it easy to understand how the garment is constructed. The raglan shaping uses regular decreases, which are repeated in a predictable way. The finishing does involve sewing the raglan and side seams and picking up stitches for the neck and button bands, so I would call this an advanced-beginner cardigan and a good introduction to traditional cardigan construction.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces with raglan shaping, then seamed
- Sizes: XS/S, M, L, XL, 2/3XL and 4/5XL
- To fit chest: 28–62 in
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, K2 P2 ribbing, increases and decreases, raglan shaping, seaming, picking up stitches and buttonholes
- Get the free pattern: Adult Knit Crew Neck Cardigan
Helan Cardigan
The Helan Cardigan by Berroco is a classic V-neck cardigan with a simple two-colour design and button front. The colour changes partway up the body create a strong colour-block effect without introducing complicated colourwork, while the stocking stitch fabric keeps the cardigan clean and easy to wear.
Why it is easy: Helan is worked mainly in stocking stitch with simple garter stitch edging, so there are no cables, lace patterns or stranded colourwork to manage. The colour blocking is especially beginner-friendly because you simply change yarn colour rather than work with two colours across the same row. The pieces are knitted flat on straight needles using conventional shaping. There are decreases for the V-neck and armholes, followed by seaming and picking up stitches for the neckband, so I would consider this an advanced-beginner/easy cardigan rather than a first-ever knitting project.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Berroco Fuji
- Yarn weight: Worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, 1X and 2X
- To fit bust: 30–50 in
- Finished bust: 33½–53½ in
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, garter stitch, simple colour changes, increases and decreases, V-neck shaping, buttonholes, picking up stitches and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Helan Cardigan by Berroco
Cozy Car Coat
The Cozy Car Coat by Heather Lodinsky is a long, warm knitted cardigan-coat with a generous shawl collar and bold bands of contrasting texture near the hem. Worked in super bulky yarn on large needles, it has the cosy look of a winter coat while retaining relatively simple cardigan construction.
Why it is easy: The pattern uses mainly stocking stitch and garter stitch, with no cables, lace or complicated stitch patterns. The super bulky yarn and 15 mm needles also mean the fabric grows remarkably quickly for such a long garment. The back, fronts and sleeves are knitted flat from the bottom up, and the shawl collar is incorporated into the fronts rather than requiring a complicated separate collar. There is basic shaping and seaming to complete, so this is a good advanced-beginner project, particularly if you want to try a larger garment without difficult stitchwork.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Red Heart Grande
- Yarn weight: Super bulky
- Construction: Knitted flat in five pieces from the bottom up and seamed
- Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XL and 2XL
- To fit bust: 34–50 in
- Finished bust: 40–56 in
- Finished length: 34–36 in
- Main techniques: Garter stitch, stocking stitch, simple colour changes, increases and decreases, basic shaping, shawl collar construction and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Cozy Car Coat
Germania Cardigan
The Germania Cardigan by Berroco is a simple open-front cardigan with a softly fitted shape and clean stocking stitch fabric. Subtle waist shaping gives it more definition than a boxy cardigan, while the uncomplicated design makes it an easy piece to layer over everyday outfits.
Why it is easy: Germania is worked almost entirely in stocking stitch, with no cables, lace, colourwork or stitch charts to follow. The back, two fronts and sleeves are knitted flat separately, so the construction follows a traditional and easy-to-understand cardigan format. The shaping is created with straightforward increases and decreases at clearly defined intervals. The main next-step skills are shaping the armholes and neckline, setting in the sleeves and seaming the finished pieces, making this a good advanced-beginner cardigan once you are comfortable with knit and purl stitches.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Berroco Cirrus
- Yarn weight: Bulky
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, 1X and 2X
- To fit bust: 30–50 in
- Finished bust: 32–52 in
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, increases and decreases, waist shaping, armhole and neckline shaping, set-in sleeves and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Germania Cardigan by Berroco
Asia Cardigan
The Asia Cardigan by Norah Gaughan for Berroco is a long sweater coat with an all-over seed stitch texture, a flattering high neckline and an unusual double-button front. At 40 inches long, it has more of a coat-like silhouette than a traditional cardigan, making it a good choice if you want an easy pattern that creates a substantial statement piece.
Why it is easy: Although the finished cardigan looks impressive, the main fabric uses a very simple two-row seed stitch pattern made entirely from alternating knit and purl stitches. There are no cables, lace charts or complicated stitch motifs to follow. The back, fronts and sleeves are knitted flat on straight needles, with conventional increases, decreases and armhole shaping. The finishing requires setting in sleeves, seaming and joining the collar extensions, so I would recommend it for an advanced beginner who is comfortable with basic garment shaping and seaming. Berroco itself rates the pattern Easy.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Designer: Norah Gaughan
- Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
- Yarn weight: Worsted
- Construction: Knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L and XL
- Finished bust: 36–52 in
- Finished length: 40 in
- Main techniques: Seed stitch, increases and decreases, armhole and shoulder shaping, set-in sleeves, seaming and buttonholes
- Get the free pattern: Asia Cardigan
Biscuitroot Cardigan
The Biscuitroot Cardigan by Berroco is a relaxed short-sleeved cardigan with a softly rolled neckline and an easy, slightly oversized fit. The simple stocking stitch fabric keeps the design clean, while the integrated cap sleeves give it a different silhouette from the traditional long-sleeved cardigans in this collection. It is designed with approximately six inches of positive ease.
Why it is easy: Biscuitroot is worked primarily in stocking stitch, with a simple two-row rib at the lower edge, so there are no cables, lace charts, colourwork or complicated stitch repeats. An especially useful feature for newer garment knitters is that there are no separate sleeves to knit and set in. The cap sleeves are created by gradually increasing stitches as part of the back and front pieces. There is still shaping, seaming and some picking up of stitches for the sleeve bands, so I would consider this a good advanced-beginner cardigan rather than a first-ever knitting project. Berroco officially rates the pattern Easy.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Berroco Maya
- Construction: Knitted flat with integrated cap sleeves, then seamed
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, 1X and 2X
- To fit bust: 30–50 in
- Finished bust: 36–56 in
- Finished length: 25½–28½ in
- Main techniques: Stocking stitch, ribbing, increases and decreases, basic garment shaping, picking up stitches and seaming
- Get the free pattern: Biscuitroot Cardigan by Berroco
Drapey Cardigan
The Drapey Cardigan from Lion Brand is a relaxed open-front cardigan with an oversized ribbed collar, deep cuffs and an easy draped shape. A simple textured stitch gives the fabric more interest than plain stocking stitch, while the loose front and generous collar create a cosy layering cardigan without buttons or complicated closures.
Why it is easy: This cardigan has a particularly clever one-piece construction. You begin at the lower edge of the back, cast on stitches to form both sleeves, then divide the work at the neckline and continue down each front. That means there are no separately knitted sleeves to set in and no shoulder seams to sew. The textured fabric is also very simple—a two-row knit-and-purl repeat—and the cuffs and collar use familiar K2, P2 ribbing. The main challenge is handling the large number of stitches and picking up stitches for the generous collar, making this a good advanced-beginner project. Lion Brand rates it Easy+.
Pattern details:
- Skill level: Easy+
- Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
- Yarn weight: Medium / worsted
- Construction: Worked in one piece from the lower back, across the sleeves and shoulders, then down the two fronts
- Sizes: XS/S, M/L and 1X/2X
- Finished bust: 36, 48 and 56 in
- Main techniques: Knit and purl stitches, simple two-row textured stitch, K2 P2 ribbing, casting on additional stitches, picking up stitches and minimal seaming
- Get the free pattern: Drapey Cardigan by Lion Brand
More Free Knitting Pattern Roundups for Cardigans
10 Knitting patterns for ladies jackets
Free raglan cardigan knitting patterns
Free knitting pattern for long jacket
What Makes a Cardigan Easy to Knit?
An easy cardigan isn’t necessarily one that requires no garment-making skills. A better way to judge difficulty is to look separately at the stitch pattern, construction and finishing.
Many of the cardigans in this collection use stocking stitch, garter stitch, ribbing or simple knit-and-purl textures. That means you aren’t simultaneously trying to follow complicated cables or lace while shaping a garment.
Construction makes a difference too.
Easy cardigans knitted in pieces
Traditional cardigans are often made by knitting the back, two fronts and sleeves separately before sewing everything together.
This can actually be helpful when you’re new to garment knitting because each piece is manageable and you can clearly see how the cardigan is constructed.
The trade-off is that you’ll need to seam the pieces and often set in the sleeves.
Easy cardigans with minimal seaming
If sewing knitted pieces together doesn’t appeal to you, look at patterns such as Sawtelle or the Drapey Cardigan.
These use construction methods that reduce the number of separate pieces and therefore the amount of finishing required.
Easy top-down cardigans
A top-down cardigan such as the Billie Cardigan starts around the neckline and grows downwards.
This introduces skills such as raglan increases and holding sleeve stitches, but it eliminates much of the traditional seaming. Once you understand the construction, many knitters find this method very intuitive.
Are These Cardigans Suitable for Beginners?
Most of these patterns are best described as easy or advanced beginner rather than absolute beginner projects.
If you can confidently knit, purl, cast on and cast off, you’re already capable of doing most of the actual knitting involved. The new skills tend to come from turning those stitches into a garment.
Depending on the pattern, you may encounter:
- increasing and decreasing
- shaping armholes and necklines
- picking up stitches
- buttonholes
- knitting in the round
- raglan shaping
- setting in sleeves
- seaming knitted pieces
Don’t let that list make a cardigan sound more difficult than it is. You don’t need all of these techniques for every pattern.
The Why it is easy notes beneath each cardigan will help you see exactly what is involved before choosing one.
Which Is the Easiest Cardigan to Knit?
If simple stitchwork is your priority, Sawtelle is one of the easiest patterns in this collection because its body is made entirely with knit stitches and there is very little seaming.
Avocet B is another good choice if you enjoy garter stitch. The knitting remains repetitive and uncomplicated, although you’ll still practise garment shaping and finishing.
If you’d rather avoid constructing a cardigan from several separate pieces, look at the Billie Cardigan for top-down raglan construction or the Drapey Cardigan for an unusual one-piece approach.
For a first cardigan, don’t automatically choose the pattern with the fewest instructions. Choose one where both the stitches and construction make sense to you.
How to Choose an Easy Cardigan Pattern
Before downloading a pattern, check four things.
Look at the stitch pattern. Garter stitch, stocking stitch and simple ribbing are easier to manage while you’re learning garment construction.
Check how it is constructed. Decide whether you’d rather knit separate pieces and seam them or try a seamless or nearly seamless construction.
Look at the finishing. Button bands, collars, pockets and set-in sleeves can add extra steps even when the knitting itself is easy.
Check the finished measurements. Don’t choose your size based only on the size name. Compare the pattern’s finished bust measurement with a cardigan you already like wearing and consider how much positive ease the designer intended.
Yes. Once you can comfortably knit, purl, cast on, cast off, increase and decrease, an easy cardigan is a realistic next project. A first cardigan will introduce garment construction and finishing, so choose a pattern with straightforward stitches rather than trying to learn complicated stitchwork at the same time.
For particularly approachable options, see my collection of beginner cardigan knitting patterns.
Garter stitch is one of the easiest because, when worked flat, you simply knit every row. Stocking stitch is also beginner-friendly and is used in many of the free cardigan patterns above.
The easiest cardigan isn’t necessarily the one with the easiest stitch, however. Construction and finishing can make just as much difference to the overall difficulty.
It can be, particularly if you dislike seaming. One-piece and top-down cardigans reduce the number of separate pieces that need to be assembled.
Traditional seamed cardigans have an advantage too: you’re working on smaller, clearly defined pieces. Some new garment knitters find that easier to understand.
Neither method is inherently better. Choose the construction that feels most intuitive to you.
Not necessarily. A cardigan requires an open front and may include button bands and buttonholes, which add some finishing. On the other hand, you don’t have to worry about getting a pullover over your head, and many knitters find cardigan construction easy to understand.
If you’d rather make a pullover, browse the free sweater knitting patterns.
A smooth medium-weight yarn is generally easier to work with than very fine, fluffy or novelty yarn because you can see your stitches clearly.
Worsted and similar medium-weight yarns are therefore common choices for approachable cardigan patterns. More important than the yarn name is matching the yarn requirements and gauge specified by your chosen pattern.
Use the measurements in the individual pattern rather than relying solely on labels such as Small, Medium or Large.
Compare your bust measurement with the pattern’s finished bust measurement and pay attention to the intended ease. A relaxed cardigan may intentionally be several inches larger than your actual bust measurement.
More Free Cardigan Knitting Patterns
There are hundreds more cardigan patterns to explore in the main free cardigan knitting patterns collection.
You can also narrow your search with these collections: