Lillian Cardigan
I've been on a garment-making streak lately and my most recent design is no exception. In search of the perfect long and lean silhouette, I created the Lillian Cardigan - a cozy, slim fitted number with a thin ribbed collar and pockets. As the weather transitions into spring, I wanted something a little less chunky than my usual designs and decided Lion Brand's Touch of Alpaca would be the perfect yarn for the job. Considering it is a worsted weight yarn and this is a pretty long cardigan, it actually works up fairly fast because it's made on larger needles than what the yarn calls for. As always, read on to discover the free pattern, purchase a printable, ad-free PDF here, or get the full yarn kit from Lion Brand here.
The Lillian Cardigan makes a great companion for lounging around the house or an elegant addition to any ensemble for strolling the streets. Side vents, patch pockets, and a narrow collar add simple but chic elements to this sophisticated style. This is the kind of piece you will want in cream, brown, black, navy, and every other color of the rainbow so you always have one to match your outfit!
I love the way the length of this cardigan drapes and how the extra wide ribbed bottom pulls in to show off the side slits.
When I set out to design this piece, I knew I wanted to try a couple new techniques to diversify it from some of my other patterns. The collar is worked right along with the front pieces, so there's no need to pick up stitches along the center front edges the way all of my other knit cardigan patterns are designed. I chose to do patch pockets not as an afterthought but so that they can be placed exactly where the maker wants them to fit their body accordingly.
This is an easy level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are the knit and purl stitches, the k2tog and ssk decreases, seaming, and grafting with kitchener stitch.
MATERIALS:
5 (6, 8) skeins Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca in Taupe (123)
Size US 10 (6mm) circular knitting needles, 24”/60cm or longer
Size US 10.5 (6.5mm) circular knitting needles, 24”/60cm or longer
Stitch holders
Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
Width across back: 19”/48cm (XS/S), 23”/122cm (M/L), 27”/69cm (XL/XXL)
Length: 32”/81cm (XS/S), 33.5”/85cm (M/L), 35”/89cm (XL/XXL)
Sleeves: 19.5”/50cm (XS/S), 20”/51cm (M/L), 20.5”/52cm (XL/XXL)
*cardigan is shown in size XS/S
GAUGE:
15 sts + 20 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette
ABBREVIATIONS:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms
CO – cast on
K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 together
P – purl
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
SSK – slip, slip, knit
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
Note: Sweater is worked from the bottom up for back and front pieces and from the top down for sleeves. Pockets are worked separately and seamed onto body of cardigan. All sts are slipped purlwise with yarn in back on odd (RS) rows and purlwise with yarn in front on even (WS) rows to create a selvedge edge for easy seaming and a clean edge. Pattern is written in three sizes: XS/S (M/L, XL/XXL)
BACK:
With smaller needles, CO 71 (87, 103) sts.
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, *P 1, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 for 4.5”/11cm from CO, ending with a WS.
Change to larger needles.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, K 1, P 1, K to last 4 sts, (P 1, K 1) twice.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, K 1, P 1, K 1, P to last 4 sts, (K 1, P 1) twice.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 5.5”/14cm from CO, ending with a WS row.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 23.5”/60cm (24”/61cm, 24.5”/62cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.
Next row (RS): Bind off 6 (6, 8) sts, K to end of row. (65, 81, 95 sts)
Next row (WS): Bind off 6 (6, 8) sts, P to end of row. (59, 75, 87 sts)
Next row (RS): Sl 1, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 6.5”/17cm (7.5”/19cm, 8.5”/22cm) from bind offs, ending with a WS row.
Size XS/S only:
Next row (RS): Bind off 4 sts, K to end of row. (55 sts)
Next row (WS): Bind off 4 sts, P to end of row. (51 sts)
Rep last 2 rows four more times. (19 sts)
Bind off remaining 19 sts.
Size M/L only:
Next row (RS): Bind off 5 sts, K to end of row. (70 sts)
Next row (WS): Bind off 5 sts, P to end of row. (65 sts)
Rep last 2 rows three more times. (35 sts)
Next row (RS): Bind off 6 sts, K to end of row. (29 sts)
Next row (WS): Bind off 6 sts, P to end of row. (23 sts)
Bind off remaining 23 sts.
Size XL/XXL only:
Next row (RS): Bind off 6 sts, K to end of row. (81 sts)
Next row (WS): Bind off 6 sts, P to end of row. (75 sts)
Rep last 2 rows four more times. (27 sts)
Bind off remaining 27 sts.
FRONT RIGHT:
With smaller needles, CO 42 (50, 58) sts.
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, *P 1, K 1, rep from * to last st, P 1.
Rep row 1 until work measures 4.5”/11cm from CO.
Change to larger needles.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times, K to last 5 sts, (P 1, K 1) twice, P 1.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, (P 1, K 1) twice, P to last 8 sts, (K 1, P 1) four times.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 5.5”/14cm from CO, ending with a WS row.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, P to last 8 sts, (K 1, P 1) four times.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 17.25”/44cm (15.5”/39cm, 13.75”/35cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.
Begin front shaping:
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times, SSK, K to end of row. (41, 49, 57 sts)
Next 7 rows: Work as established, slipping the 1st st of each row, knitting the K sts and purling the P sts.
Rep last 8 rows until 28 (34, 38) sts remain, ending with the 8th row. AT THE SAME TIME, bind off 6 (6, 8) sts at the beginning of a WS row when work measures 23.5”/60cm (24”/61cm, 24.5”/62cm for underarm.
Size XS/S only:
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Bind off 4 sts, P to last 8 sts, (K 1, P 1) four times. (24 sts)
Rep last 2 rows four more times. (8 sts)
Size M/L only:
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Bind off 5 sts, P to last 8 sts, (K 1, P 1) four times. (29 sts)
Rep last 2 rows three more times. (14 sts)
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Bind off 6 sts, P to last 8 sts, (K 1, P 1) four times. (8 sts)
Size XL/XXL only:
Next row (RS): Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Bind off 6 sts, P to last 8 sts, (K 1, P 1) four times. (32 sts)
Rep last 2 rows four more times. (8 sts)
All sizes:
Next row: Sl 1, P 1, (K 1, P 1) three times.
Rep last row until work measures 2.5”/6cm (3”/8cm, 3.5”/9cm) from last bind off.
Do not bind off. Place sts on holder.
FRONT LEFT:
With smaller needles, CO 42 (50, 58) sts.
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, *K 1, P 1, rep from * to last st, K 1.
Rep row 1 until work measures 4.5”/11cm from CO.
Change to larger needles.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, (K 1, P 1) twice, K to last 8 sts, (P 1, K 1) four times.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, K 1, (P 1, K 1) three times, P to last 5 sts, (K 1, P 1) twice, K 1.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 5.5”/14cm from CO, ending with a WS row.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, K to last 8 sts, (P 1, K 1) four times.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, K 1, (P 1, K 1) three times, P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 17.25”/44cm (15.5”/39cm, 13.75”/35cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.
Begin front shaping:
Next row (RS): Sl 1, K to last 10 sts, K2tog, (P 1, K 1) four times. (41, 49, 57 sts)
Next 7 rows: Work as established, slipping the 1st st of each row, knitting the K sts and purling the P sts.
Rep last 8 rows until 28 (34, 38) sts remain, ending with the 8th row. AT THE SAME TIME, bind off 6 (6, 8) sts at the beginning of a RS row when work measures 23.5”/60cm (24”/61cm, 24.5”/62cm for underarm.
Size XS/S only:
Next row (RS): Bind off 4 sts, K to last 8 sts, (P 1, K 1) four times. (24 sts)
Next row (WS): Sl 1, K 1, (P 1, K 1) three times, P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows three more times. (12 sts)
Rep first of last 2 rows one more time. (8 sts)
Size M/L only:
Next row (RS): Bind off 5 sts, K to last 8 sts, (P 1, K 1) four times. (29 sts)
Next row (WS): Sl 1, K 1, (P 1, K 1) three times, P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows three more times. (14 sts)
Next row (RS): Bind off 6 sts, K to last 8 sts, (P 1, K 1) four times. (8 sts)
Size XL/XXL only:
Next row (RS): Bind off 6 sts, K to last 8 sts, (P 1, K 1) four times. (32 sts)
Next row (WS): Sl 1, K 1, (P 1, K 1) three times, P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows three more times. (14 sts)
Rep first of last 2 rows one more time. (8 sts)
All sizes:
Next row: Sl 1, K 1, (P 1, K 1) three times.
Rep last row until work measures 2.5”/6cm (3”/8cm, 3.5”/9cm) from last bind off.
Do not bind off. Place sts on holder.
SLEEVES (make 2):
With larger needles, CO 50 (58, 66) sts.
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, K to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, P to end of row.
Rows 3-10: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Row 11: Sl 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (48, 56, 64 sts)
Rows 12-16: Work as established, slipping the 1st st of each row, knitting the RS rows and purling the WS rows.
Rows 17-76 (82, 88): Rep rows 11-16. (28, 34, 40 sts)
If necessary, continue as established, slipping the 1st st of each row, knitting the RS rows and purling the WS rows with no increases until work measures 16”/41cm (16.5”/42cm, 17”/43cm) from CO.
Change to smaller needles.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, *P 1, K 1, rep from * to last st, P 1.
Rep last row until ribbing measures 3.5”/9cm.
Bind off loosely.
POCKETS (make 2):
With larger needles, CO 25 sts.
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, *P 1, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Rep rows 1 and 2 for 1.5”/4cm from CO, ending with a WS.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, K to end of row.
Next row (WS): Sl 1, P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until work measures 6.5”/17cm.
Bind off.
CONSTRUCTION:
Block all pieces to eliminate curling and open up/expand all ribbed portions.
Seam shoulders, lining up shaping. Seam sides of extended collar of front pieces to back neckline. Use kitchener stitch to graft center back of collar together.
With front/back pieces lying open and unfolded at the shoulders, seam the top of each sleeve first at the horizontal underarm, then up and around the shoulder, then at the underarm on the other side.
Fold cardigan at shoulders and seam, starting 4.5”/11cm from bottom edge, up each side to the underarm and then down the length of the sleeve.
Seam sides and bottom edges of pockets to front pieces, approx. 1”/2.5cm above ribbing.
Secure and weave in all ends.
Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.
Purchase the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.
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