LETTERMAN CARDIGAN SWEATER (FREE KNITTING PATTERN)
Knit this easy-to-wear classic style cardie with preppie appeal. It’s great in these colors or in your favorite school or team colors!
Thanks to Red Heart for the permission to share this pattern.
What you will need:
RED HEART® Super Saver®: 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) skeins 387 Soft Navy A, 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein 316 Soft White B
RED HEART® Super Tweed®: 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins 7911 Mulberry C
Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 4 mm [US 6] and 5 mm [US 8]
Yarn needle, six 3/4" (19 mm) buttons in navy.
GAUGE: 17 sts = 4(10 cm); 24 rows = 4
(10 cm) in Stockinette st (knit on right side, purl on wrong side). CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.
Step 1
Directions are for size X-Small. Changes for sizes Small, Medium, Large, 1X and 2X are in parentheses
Finished Bust: 33 (37, 40, 44, 49, 53)” (84 (94, 101.5, 112, 124.5, 134.5) cm) Finished Length: 21½ (23, 24, 25, 25½, 26)” (54.5 (58.5, 61, 63.5, 65, 66) cm)
Special Stitches M1L (Make 1 Left Increase) = Insert left needle from front to back under strand between needles, knit strand through the back loop, twisting it to prevent a hole.
M1R (Make 1 Right Increase) = Insert left needle from back to front under strand between needles, knit strand through the front loop, twisting it to prevent a hole.
M1P (Make 1 purl Increase) = Lift strand between needles to left-hand needle and purl strand through the back loop, twisting it to prevent a hole.
ssk = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time as if to knit, to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts together through back loop.
Notes Cardigan is worked in five pieces: Back, two Fronts, and two Sleeves. Each piece is worked from lower edge upwards. Front bands and neck band are worked after main five pieces are seamed across raglan, sleeve, and side edges.
Step 2
BACK With smaller needles and A, cast on 66 (74, 82, 90, 98, 106) sts.
Row 1 (right side): With A, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: (wrong side): With B, purl.
Row 3: With B, repeat Row 1.
Rows 4 and 5: With A, repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Rows 6–13: Repeat Rows 2–5 twice.
Change to larger needles. Cut B and continue with A only.
Row 14 (increase row): [P13 (15, 16, 18, 14, 15), M1P] 4 (4, 4, 4, 6, 6) imes, purl to end of row—70 (78, 86, 94, 104, 112) sts.
Work even in Stockinette st until piece measures 13½ (14½, 14½, 4½, 14½, 14)” (34.5 (37, 37, 37, 37, 35.5) cm) from beginning; end with a wrong side row.
Step 3
Shape Raglan Armholes
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 4 (5, 6, 6, 8, 8) sts, knit to end of row—66 (73, 80, 88, 96, 104) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 4 (5, 6, 6, 8, 8) sts, purl to end of row—62 (68, 74, 82, 88, 96) sts.
Decrease Row: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2—60 (66, 72, 80, 86, 94) sts.
Next Row: Purl. Repeat last 2 rows 15 (15, 16, 19, 19, 22) times—30 (36, 40, 42, 48, 50) sts. Repeat Decrease Row—28 (34, 38, 40, 46, 48) sts.
Next 3 Rows: Work even in Stockinette st for 3 rows.
Repeat Decrease Row—26 (32, 36, 38, 44, 46) sts.
Repeat last 4 rows 2 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) more times—22 (26, 28, 30, 34, 36) sts. Bind off.
Step 4
RIGHT FRONT With smaller needles and A, cast on 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 52) sts.
Row 1 (right side): With A, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Shape Raglan Armhole
Row 1 (wrong side): Bind off 4 (5, 6, 6, 8, 8) sts, purl to end of row—28 (31, 34, 38, 40, 46) sts.
Decrease Row: Knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2— 27 (30, 33, 37, 39, 45) sts.
Next Row: Purl. Repeat last 2 rows 15 (15, 16, 19, 19, 22) times—12 (15, 17, 18, 20, 23) sts
Row 2: With B, purl.
Row 3: With B, repeat Row 1.
Rows 4 and 5: With A, repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Rows 6–13: Repeat Rows 2–5 twice. Change to larger needles. Cut B and continue with A only.
Row 14: [P10 (11, 13, 14, 15, 17), M1P] twice, purl to end of row—32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 54) sts. Work even in Stockinette st until piece measures 13½ (14½, 14½, 14½, 14½, 14)” (34.5 (37, 37, 37, 37, 35.5) cm; end with a right side row.
Shape Neck and Continue Raglan Shaping
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 2 (2, 1, 2, 1, 4) sts, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2—9 (12, 15, 15, 18, 18) sts.
Rows 2–4: Work even in Stockinette st for 3 rows.
Row 5: Bind off 2 sts, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2—6 (9, 12, 12, 15, 15) sts. Repeat last 4 rows 0 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3) more time(s)—6 sts.
Next 3 Rows: Work even in Stockinette st for 3 rows.
Next Row: Bind off 2 sts, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1—3 sts. Bind off.
Step 5
LEFT FRONT Work same as Right Front to raglan shaping; end with a wrong side row.
Shape Raglan Armhole
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 4 (5, 6, 6, 8, 8) sts, knit to end of row—28 (31, 34, 38, 40, 46) sts.
Row 2: Purl. Decrease Row: K2, ssk, knit to end of row— 27 (30, 33, 37, 39, 45) sts. Repeat last 2 rows 15 (15, 16, 19, 19, 22) times—12 (15, 17, 18, 20, 23) sts.
Shape Neck and Continue Raglan Shaping
Row 1 (wrong side): Bind off 2 (2, 1, 2, 1, 4) sts, purl to end of row—10 (13, 16, 16, 19, 19) sts.
Row 2: K2, ssk, knit to end of row—9 (12, 15, 15, 18, 18) sts.
Rows 3 and 4: Work even in Stockinette st for 2 rows.
Row 5: Bind off 2 sts, purl to end of row—7 (10, 13, 13, 16, 16) sts.
Row 6: K2, ssk, knit to end of row—6 (9, 12, 12, 15, 15) sts. Repeat last 4 rows 0 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3) more time(s)—6 sts.
Next 2 Rows: Work even in Stockinette st for 2 rows.
Next Row: Bind off 2 sts—1 st remains. Fasten off.
Step 6
LEFT SLEEVE With C and smaller needles, cast on 30 (34, 38, 38, 42, 46) sts.
Row 1 (right side): With C, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 (wrong side): With B, purl.
Row 3: With B, repeat Row 1.
Rows 4 and 5: With C, repeat Rows 2 and 3.
Rows 6–13: Repeat Rows 2–5 twice.
Change to larger needles. Cut B and continue with C only.
Row 14 (increase row): [P10 (11, 13, 8, 8, 9), M1P] 2 (2, 2, 4, 4, 4) times, purl to end of row—32 (36, 40, 42, 46, 50) sts. Work even in Stockinette st for 6 rows.
Increase Row (right side): K1, M1R, knit to last st, M1L, k1—34 (38, 42, 44, 48, 52) sts. Work even in Stockinette st for 5 rows. Repeat Increase Row—36 (40, 44, 46, 50, 54) sts. Repeat last 6 rows 8 (3, 10, 14, 11, 12) more times—52 (46, 64, 74, 72, 78) sts.
Sizes X-Small (Small, Medium, X-Large, XXLarge) ONLY: Work even Stockinette st for 7 rows. Repeat Increase Row—54 (48, 66, 74, 80) sts. Repeat last 8 rows 2 (6, 1, 1, 1) more time(s)—58 (60, 68, 76, 82) sts.
All Sizes: Work even in Stockinette st until piece measures about 16½ (17, 18, 18½, 19, 19½)” (42 (43, 46, 47, 48, 49) cm; end with a wrong side row.
Step 7
Shape Raglan Cap
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 4 (5, 6, 6, 8, 8) sts, knit to end of row—54 (55, 62, 68, 68, 74) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 4 (5, 6, 6, 8, 8) sts, purl to end of row—50 (50, 56, 62, 60, 66) sts. Decrease Row (right side): K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2—48 (48, 54, 60, 58, 64) sts.
Next Row: Purl. Repeat Decrease Row—46 (46, 52, 58, 56, 62) sts. Repeat last 2 rows 18 (18, 21, 22, 20, 22) more times—10 (10, 10, 14, 16, 18) sts. Work even in Stockinette st for 3 rows. Repeat Decrease Row—8 (8, 8, 12, 14, 16) sts. Repeat last 4 rows 1 (1, 1, 3, 4, 5) more time(s)—6 sts.
Shape Top/Neck Edge Next Row (wrong side): Bind off 2 sts, purl to end of row—4 sts.
Next Row: Knit. Repeat last 2 rows once more—2 sts. Bind off remaining 2 sts.
Step 8
RIGHT SLEEVE Work same as Left Sleeve until 6 sts remain
Thanks to Red Heart for the permission to share this pattern.
Step 9
Shape Top/Neck Edge Next Row: Purl. Next Row (right side): Bind off 2 sts, knit to end of row—4 sts. Repeat last 2 rows 2 more times. Fasten off.
Step 10
FINISHING Sew raglan seams. Sew side and sleeve seams.
Step 11
Button Band With right side facing, smaller needles and A, beginning at left front neck edge, pick up and k80 (88, 88, 90, 92, 94) sts evenly spaced across left front edge. Work in Garter st (knit every row) for 7 rows. Bind off all sts.
Buttonhole Band With right side facing, smaller needles and A, beginning at lower edge of right front, pick up and k80 (88, 88, 90, 92, 94) sts evenly spaced across right front edge. Work in Garter st for 4 rows.
Buttonhole Row (wrong side): K6 (8, 8, 9, 10, 11) sts, *k2tog, yarn over, k12 (13, 13, 13, 13, 13); repeat from * 4 times, k2tog, yarn over, knit to end of row. Work in Garter st for 3 rows. Bind off all sts.
Neck Band With right side facing, smaller needles and A, pick up and knit 5 sts across the top of buttonhole band, 13 (15, 16, 17, 19, 20) sts across right front neck, 6 sts across top of right sleeve, 22 (26, 28, 30, 34, 36) sts across back neck, 6 sts across top of left sleeve, 13 (15, 16, 17, 19, 20) sts across left front neck and 5 sts across top of button band—70 (78, 82, 86, 94, 98) sts.
Row 1 (wrong side): Cut A, slip first 8 sts from left needle to right needle, rejoin A, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 10 sts, p2, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 2: With B, ssk, knit to last 9 sts, k2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 3: P2tog, k1, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 9 sts, p2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 4: With A, ssk, knit to last 7 sts, k2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 5: P2tog, k2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 7 sts, p2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 6: With B, ssk, knit to last 5 sts, k2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 7: P2tog, k2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 5 sts, p2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 8: With A, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 9: P2tog, k2 *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, p2tog, slip 1 st from left needle to right needle, turn. Row 10: Bind off in rib until 2 sts remain on left needle, p2tog, then continue to bind off.
Step 12
FINISHING Sew buttons to button band, opposite buttonholes Sew around edges of buttonholes to strengthen. Weave in ends and block cardigan lightly.
Step 13
ABBREVIATIONS A, B, C = Color A, Color B, Color C; k = knit; k2tog = knit 2 stitches together; p = purl; p2tog = purl 2 stitches together; st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.
Thanks to Red Heart for the permission to share this pattern.
