Buttoned cardigans are essential for winter. They’re easy to bundle up in, are endlessly customizable in terms of design and fit, and they’re super stylish! Try knitting your very own using this casual-chic design that features a handy front pocket.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Bust circumference 30 (34, 37¾, 41½, 45¼, 49, 52¾)” [76 (86.5, 96, 105.5, 115, 124.5, 134) cm], buttoned with 1″ [2.5 cm] overlapping buttonband
Gauge: 17 sts and 25 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in St st with larger needles
Materials
Yarn:
O-Wool Classic Worsted (100% certified organic merino; 99 yards [91 meters]/50 grams): Peacock (11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) skeins)
Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm) and US size 6 (4.0 mm) 32″ (80 cm) circular and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles
Notions: US size G/6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook and smooth waste yarn for provisional CO, stitch holders or waste yarn, stitch markers, five 1″ buttons
Abbreviations
LLI: (Left Lifted Increase): Use left needle to pick up the st 2 sts below the last st on the right needle, then knit into it.
p2tog: Purl 2 sts together
RLI: (Right Lifted Increase): Use right needle to pick up the st below the next st on the left needle, then knit into it
ssk: (slip, slip, knit): Slip 2 sts, 1 at a time, knitwise to the right needle; return sts to left needle in turned position and knit them together through the back loops
ssp: (slip, slip, purl): Slip 2 sts, 1 at a time, knitwise to the right needle; return sts to left needle in turned position and purl them together through the back loops
Special Stitches
Provisional Cast-on Method: With waste yarn, beg with slipknot on crochet hook. *Wrap yarn around knitting needle counter-clockwise, then use crochet hook to draw yarn through loop on hook; rep from * for desired number of sts. Fasten off.
Three-Needle BO: With an equal number of sts on 2 needles and the RS of garment pieces together (to form ridge on inside of garment), hold the needles parallel. With a third needle knit the first st of front and back needles together, *knit next st from each needle together, (2 sts on right needle), BO 1 st; rep from * until all sts are BO.
Wrap and Turn
Knit row: Wyb, sl next st purlwise onto right needle, bring yarn to front of work, return slipped st to left needle, bring yarn to back of work, then turn work.
Purl row: Wyf sl next st purlwise onto right needle, bring yarn to back of work, return slipped st to left needle, bring yarn to front of work, then turn work.
Work Wraps together with Wrapped Stitch
Knit row: Pick up the wrap from the front with the right needle and knit together with the st it wraps.
Purl row: Pick up the wrap through back of loop with right needle and purl together with the st it wraps.
Pattern Notes
Circular needle is used to accommodate large number of sts. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.
Sleeves are knit first, from the cuff to the underarm, then held while the body is knit. Body is worked from the bottom up, beginning with the hem. Before joining the hem to the body the pockets are shaped with short-rows. The hem and body are joined together and the body is knit to the top of the pockets, where the body and pocket are joined. The body continues to the underarm where it is joined with the sleeves. The sleeves and upper body are worked at the same time, while shaping the armholes and sleeve caps. A few short-rows are worked to shape the top of the sleeve cap, then the shoulders are joined with a three-needle bind-off. The selvedge edge of the pockets is joined to the body while picking up the stitches for the button bands through both layers.
Pattern
Sleeve
Use the provisional method and waste yarn, CO 36 (36, 36, 38, 38, 38, 40) sts. Divide sts evenly over smaller dpns. Pm for beg of rnd and join to work in the rnd.
With working yarn, k 7 rnds.
Turning Rnd: Purl.
Change to larger dpns and k 6 rnds.
Joining Rnd: Carefully unravel waste yarn and place 36 (36, 36, 38, 38, 38, 40) provisional CO sts onto smaller dpns. Fold at the Turning Rnd, keeping the larger dpns on the outside, then k2tog (1 st from smaller and 1 st from larger dpns) until all sts are joined. (36 (36, 36, 38, 38, 38, 40) sts)
K 2 rnds.
Shape Sleeve
Inc Rnd: K1, RLI, k to last st, LLI, k1. (2 sts inc’d)
K 8 (7, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3) rnds.
Rep the last 9 (8, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4) rnds, 5 (5, 2, 2, 2, 6, 1) more times. (48 (48, 42, 44, 44, 52, 44) sts)
[Rep Inc nd, then k 10 (9, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5) rnds] 4 (5, 10, 10, 12, 9, 15) times. (56 (58, 62, 64, 68, 70, 74) sts)
Cont working even in St st (k all sts, every rnd) until piece meas 18″ [45.5 cm] from Turning Rnd.
Divide for Underarms
Remove beg of rnd m, k2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5), place the last 4 (4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10) sts worked onto a st holder or waste yarn for underarm. (52 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) sts rem)
Place rem sts onto st holder or waste yarn for Sleeve. Break yarn and set aside.
Make a second Sleeve the same as the first.
Body
With smaller circular needle, using the provisional method and waste yarn, CO 124 (140, 156, 172, 188, 204, 220) sts. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.
Beg with a RS row, work 7 rows even in St st (knit on RS, purl on WS), ending after a RS row.
Turning Row (WS): Knit.
Change to larger needle.
Work 6 rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.
Shape Right Pocket
Short-Row 1 (RS): K30 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36), wrap next st and turn so WS is facing, p to end.
Short-Row 2 (RS): K to 2 sts before wrapped st from previous row, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing, p to end.
Short-Row 3 (RS): K to 1 st before wrapped st from previous row, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing, p to end.
[Rep Short-Row 2 and Short-Row 3] 0 (1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3) more times.
Rep Short-Row 3 only, 22 (20, 20, 18, 18, 16, 16) times. (5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts rem unwrapped at beg of needle)
Pocket Edging
Short-Row 4 (RS): K to the last wrapped st, knitting each st with its wrap as they appear, k last wrapped st, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing, k to last 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short-Row 5 (RS): K to wrapped st, k last wrapped st, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing, BO all sts to wrapped st, k wrapped st, working together with its wrap, BO that st, k to end. (4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) sts rem)
Sl 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) rem Right Pocket sts onto st holder or waste yarn and break yarn.
Shape Left Pocket
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the left of the Right Pocket and k to end. (92 (107, 122, 137, 152, 167, 182) sts rem)
Short-Row 1 (WS): P30 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36), wrap next st and turn so RS is facing, k to end.
Short-Row 2 (WS): P to 2 sts before wrapped st from previous row, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing, k to end.
Short-Row 3 (WS): P to 1 st before wrapped st from previous row, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing, k to end.
[Rep Short-Row 2, and Short-Row 3] 0 (1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3) more times.
Rep Short-Row 3 only, 22 (20, 20, 18, 18, 16, 16) times. (5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts rem unwrapped at beg of needle)
Pocket Edging
Short-Row 4 (WS): P to last wrapped st, wrapping each st as they appear, p last wrapped st, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing, p to last 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing.
Short-Row 5 (WS): P to wrapped st, p last wrapped st, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing, BO all sts pwise to wrapped st, p wrapped st, working together with its wrap, BO that st, p to end. (4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) sts rem)
Sl 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) rem Right Pocket sts onto st holder or waste yarn and break yarn. (60 (74, 88, 102, 116, 130, 144) sts rem on needle)
Body
Carefully unravel waste yarn and place 124 (140, 156, 172, 188, 204, 220) provisional CO sts onto smaller cir needle. Beg at edge of Right Pocket, with WS of Provisional CO sts facing, use the larger cir needle to k32 (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) provisional CO sts, hold sts from larger cir needle in front of the prov CO sts, then k2tog (1 st from each needle) until all sts are joined, k32 (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) rem prov CO sts. (124 (140, 156, 172, 188, 204, 220) sts)
Cont to work even in St st (k on RS, p on WS) for 8 rows, ending after a RS row.
Pm for sides (WS): P30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54) sts, pm for side, p64 (72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112) sts for Back, pm for side, p30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54) sts to end.
Shape Waist
Dec Row (RS): *K to 4 sts before side m, ssk, k2, sl m, k2, k2tog; rep from * once, k to end. (120 (136, 152, 168, 184, 200, 216) sts rem)
Work 7 rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.
[Rep Dec Row, then work 9 rows even in St st] 3 times. (108 (124, 140, 156, 172, 188, 204) sts rem)
Pocket Joining Row (RS): Return 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) held sts from the Right Pocket to larger dpn and hold in front of working needle, k2tog (1 st from dpn and 1 st from working needle) until all Pocket sts are joined to Body, k to last 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) sts, return 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) held sts from the Left Pocket to larger dpn and hold in front of working needle, k2tog (1 st from dpn and 1 st from working needle) until all Pocket sts are joined to body.
Cont to work 7 (7, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3) rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.
Inc Row (RS): *K to 2 sts before side m, LLI, k2, sl m, k2, RLI; rep from * once more, k to end. (4 sts inc’d)
Work 7 rows even.
Rep the last 8 rows 2 (2, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0) more times. (120 (136, 148, 164, 176, 192, 208) sts)
[Rep Inc Row, then work 5 rows even] 1 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) times. (124 (140, 156, 172, 188, 204, 220) sts)
Cont to work even in St st until piece meas 15½” [39.5 cm] from Turning Row, ending after a RS row.
Divide Back and Front (WS): *Pl to side m, remove m, p2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5), place last 4 (4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10) sts worked onto st holder or waste yarn for underarm; rep from * once more, work to end. (28 (32, 35, 39, 42, 46, 49) sts rem each Front and 60 (68, 74, 82, 88, 96, 102) sts rem for Back)
Yoke
Cont working with larger circular needle and yarn attached to Right Front.
Joining Row (RS): K28 (32, 35, 39, 42, 46, 49) Right Front sts, pm, place 52 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) held sts from one Sleeve to empty end of cir needle and k across, pm, work 60 (68, 74, 82, 88, 96, 102) Back sts, pm, place 52 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) held sts from second Sleeve onto empty end of cir needle and k across, pm, work 28 (32, 35, 39, 42, 46, 49) Left Front sts. (220 (240, 256, 276, 292, 312, 328) sts)
Shape Armhole
Dec Row (WS): *P to 2 sts before m, p2tog, sl m, p to next m, sl m, ssp; rep from * once more, p to end. (4 sts dec’d)
Dec Row (RS): *K to 2 sts before m, ssk, sl m, k to next m, sl m, k2tog; rep from * once more, k to end. (4 sts dec’d)
Rep the last 2 rows 1 (2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5) more times. (204 (216, 224, 236, 252, 264, 280) sts rem, 24 (26, 27, 29, 32, 34, 37) sts each Front, 52 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) sts each Sleeve, and 52 (56, 58, 62, 68, 72, 78) sts for Back)
Shape Sleeve Cap
Work 1 WS even as est.
Dec Row (RS): *K to m, sl m, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before next m, ssk, k1, sl m; rep from * once more, k to end. (4 sts dec’d)
Rep the last 2 rows 10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) more times. (160 (168, 172, 180, 192, 200, 212) sts rem, 24 (26, 27, 29, 32, 34, 37) sts each Front, 30 sts each Sleeve, and 52 (56, 58, 62, 68, 72, 78) sts for Back)
Shape Neck and Sleeve Cap
Next Row (WS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts, *p to m, sl m, p1, ssp, p to 3 sts before next m, p2tog, p1, sl m; rep from * once more, work to end. (10 (10, 11, 11, 12, 12, 13) sts dec’d)
Next Row (RS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts, *k to m, sl m, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before next m, ssk, k1, sl m; rep from * once more, k to end. (10 (10, 11, 11, 12, 12, 13) sts dec’d)
Rep the last 2 rows once more, BO 4 sts at the beg of each row instead of 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts. (124 (132, 134, 142, 152, 160, 170) sts rem, 14 (16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts rem each Front, 22 sts rem each Sleeve, and 52 (56, 58, 62, 68, 72, 78) sts for Back)
Cap Dec Row (WS): *P to m, sl m, p1, ssp, p to 3 sts before next m, p2tog, p1, sl m; rep from * once more, p to end. (4 sts dec’d)
Neck and Cap Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog, *k to m, sl m, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before next m, ssk, k1, sl m; rep from * once more, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (6 sts dec’d)
Rep the last 2 rows 2 more times, then work Cap Dec Row once more. (94 (102, 104, 112, 122, 130, 140) sts rem, 11 (13, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) sts each Front, 8 sts each Sleeve, and 52 (56, 58, 62, 68, 72, 78) sts for Back)
Shape Top of Right Front Sleeve cap with short-rows as foll:
(Note: Sts on sleeves are not wrapped when turning but sts for the back neck are wrapped.)
Short-Row 1: With RS facing, k to 1 st before m, k1, sl m, ssk, turn work so WS is facing, sl 1 pwise wyf, sl m, p to end. (1 st dec’d)
Rep Short-Row 1 one more time. (6 sts rem for Right Sleeve)
Shape Top of Right Back Sleeve cap and neck using short rows as foll:
Short-Row 2: With RS facing, k to 1 st before m, k1, remove m, ssk, k to 2 sts before next m, k2tog, sl m, k18 (20, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) sts, wrap next st, turn work so WS is facing, p to m, sl m, sl 2 sts pwise wyf, turn work. (4 sts rem on Right Sleeve)
Short-Row 3: With RS facing, k2tog, sl m, k14 (16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts, wrap next st and turn work so WS is facing, p to m, sl m, sl 2 sts pwise wyf, turn work. (3 sts rem on Right Sleeve)
Shape Top of Left Back Sleeve cap and neck using short rows as foll:
Short-Row 4: With RS facing, k2tog, sl m, k to next m hiding wraps as they appear, sl m, ssk, turn work so WS is facing, sl 1 pwise wyf, sl m, p18 (20, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) sts, wrap next st, turn work so RS is facing. (2 sts rem on Right Sleeve, 7 sts rem on Left Sleeve)
Short-Row 5: With RS facing, k to m, sl m, ssk, turn work so WS is facing, sl 1 pwise wyf, sl m, p14 (16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts, wrap next st, turn work. (6 sts rem on Left Sleeve)
Shape Top of Left Front Sleeve cap using short rows as foll:
Short-Row 8: With RS facing, work to m, remove m, ssk, work to 2 sts before next m, k2tog, sl m, work to end. (4 sts rem on Left Sleeve)
Short-Row 9: With WS facing, work to m, sl m, sl 2 sts pwise wyf, turn work so RS is facing, k2tog, sl m, work to end. (3 sts rem on Left Sleeve)
Rep the last Short-Row once more. (78 (86, 88, 96, 106, 114, 124) sts rem, 11 (13, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) sts each Front, 2 sts each Sleeve, and 52 (56, 58, 62, 68, 72, 78) sts for Back)
Next row (WS): P to m, remove m, sl 2 sts pwise wyf, sl m, work 11 (13, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) sts, BO center 30 (30, 32, 32, 34, 34, 36) sts for Back Neck hiding wraps as they appear, work to next m, remove m, sl 2 sts pwise wyf, work to end. (24 (28, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44) sts rem each side for Shoulders)
Divide sts on each Shoulder in half onto 2 larger dpn. Hold the needles parallel with RS facing tog and use the three-needle method (see Glossary) to BO sts tog.
Finishing
Join Underarms: Slip held underarm sts onto smaller dpns, picking up 1 additional st at each end of each needle. (6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12) sts on each dpn)
Hold the needles parallel with RS facing tog and use the three-needle method to BO sts tog.
Rep for second underarm.
Block piece to measurements.
Button Band: With larger circular needle and RS facing, beg at Left Front Neck Edge, pick up and k82 (87, 87, 92, 92, 97, 97) sts evenly along Left Front edge, working through both layers of Pocket and body when you come to the pocket. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.
Work 6 rows even in St st, ending after a RS row.
Change to smaller circular needle.
Turning Row (WS): Knit.
Work 6 rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.
Joining Row (RS): Fold at turning row, BO while working as follows: *use left needle tip to pick up 1 st from back of pick-up row and k that st together with the next st on needle, k1; rep from * until all sts are BO. Fasten off.
Buttonhole Band: With larger circular needle and RS facing, beg at lower edge of Right Front, pick up and k82 (87, 87, 92, 92, 97, 97) sts evenly along Right Rront edge, working through both layers of Pocket and body as necessary. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.
P 1 WS row.
Outer Buttonhole Row (RS): K2, k2tog, [yo] 3 times, *k13 (14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16), k2tog, [yo] 3 times; rep from * 4 more times, k3.
Next Row (WS): *P to triple yo, p into yo dropping extra wraps; rep from * 5 more times, p to end.
Next Row (RS): *K to yo, k into the yo in the row below; rep from * 5 more times, k to end.
Next Row (WS): *P to yo, p into yo 2 rows below; rep from * 5 more times, p to end.
K 1 RS row.
Change to smaller circular needle.
Turning Row (WS): Knit.
K 1 RS row.
Inner Buttonhole Row (WS): P3, [yo] 3 times, p2tog, *p13 (14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16), [yo] 3 times, p2tog; rep from * 4 more times, p2.
Next Row (RS): *K to triple yo, k into yo dropping extra wraps; rep from * 5 more times, k to end.
Next Row (WS): *P to yo, p into the yo in the row below; rep from * 5 more times, p to end.
Next Row (RS): *K to yo, k into the yo 2 rows below; rep from * 5 more times, k to end.
P 1 WS row.
Joining Row (RS): Fold at turning row, BO while working as follows: *use left needle tip to pick up 1 st from back of pick-up row and k that st together with the next st on needle, k1; rep from * until all sts are BO. Fasten off.
Attach buttons to buttonband, opposite buttonholes.
Thread yarn onto tapestry needle and whipstitch around the inner and outer buttonholes to join them together.
Neck Trim: With smaller circular needle and RS facing, beg at neck edge of buttonhole band, pick up and k 4 sts through both layers of buttonhole band, 12 (12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 15) sts along front neck BO sts, then 12 sts evenly to shoulder, 32 (32, 34, 34, 36, 36, 38) sts along back neck, 12 sts along left front neck to BO sts, 12 (12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 15) sts along BO sts, then 4 sts through both layers of the buttonband. (88 (88, 92, 92, 96, 96, 100) sts)
K 2 rows.
BO all sts kwise.
Block again if desired. Weave in ends, using tails near the lower edge of buttonbands to join them closed if desired. 