Free Cardigan Knitting Pattern in 7 Sizes: Eufaula Cardigan

Woman standing in the woods wearing a red, long, free cardigan knitting pattern over a blouse and jeans. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

A free cardigan knitting pattern

Eufaula Cardigan is a free cardigan knitting pattern for this casual women’s cardigan. I decided I really wanted an easy cardigan. Easy to make and easy to wear. It has a long ribbed section at the bottom, and works up to the armholes in simple rows of stockinette. The drop shoulder sleeves make the armhole shaping easy. And the rolled front edges mean that neck shaping is also a breeze.

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What materials do I need to knit this cardigan?

For this free cardigan knitting pattern you will need yarn, of course. You’ll need 3 or 4 skeins of Cascade Yarns Eco+ Hemp, which is an 80/20 blend of Peruvian Highland Wool and Hemp. Each skein weights 100 g and contains about 328 yds of DK/3/light yarn. I used the color #16 Red Dahlia.

You’ll also need circular knitting needles in order to have enough room for all the stitches. You will use size 6 (4 mm) and size 11 (8 mm) 40 inch circulars, or whichever size allows you to match my gauge. If you have much experience knitting, you may notice that these seem like rather large needle sizes for DK weight yarn. And they are. I wanted this knit cardigan to have a really drapey, light, loose feel to it, so I used extra big needles to get the fabric that I wanted.

Also, you will need a tapestry needle to weave in your ends.

Where can I get this free cardigan knitting pattern?

The free pattern is below. Just scroll down for the free version.

If you decide to use the free version, please bookmark this page and come back to it when you work on your project rather than trying to print or screenshot the page. Your time on this page helps me get paid for my work, so thank you!

You also have the option to purchase an inexpensive PDF if you prefer an ad-free option that is easy to download and print. You can purchase that on Ravelry or Etsy.

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Woman standing in the woods with her back facing the camera. She wears a long, red handknit cardigan with drop shoulder sleeves over a blouse and blue jeans. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

Eufaula Cardigan, A Free Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Difficulty Level: Easy

Available Sizes: Women’s XS [S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X] to fit bust sizes 28 [32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52] inches with about 4 inches of ease.

Finished Measurements: Length 30 [30 ½, 31, 31 ½, 31 ½, 31 ¾, 31 ¾] inches; Bottom Hem Width 25 ¾ [30 ¾, 35, 38 ¼, 42 ½, 47 ½, 50 ½] inches.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Eco+Hemp (80% Peruvian Highland Wool, 20% Hemp; 328 yds; 100 g; yarn weight cateogry: 3/DK/light): #16 Red Dahlia 3 [3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] skeins.

Knitting Needles: Size 6 [4 mm] and size 11 [8 mm] 40 inch circulars, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 13 sts x 17 rows = 4 inches square.

Body of Cardigan

For help with a K2tog decrease, see this tutorial.

With smaller needles, CO 126 [150, 171, 186, 207, 231, 246] sts.

Work in K2, P1 ribbing until piece measures 4 ½ inches from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Switch to larger needles. Not sure how to knit ribbing? Click here for a video of K1, P1 ribbing! It is slightly different than the ribbing used here, but the video should help.

Row 1: *K2tog, K1, repeat from * across – 84 [100, 114, 124, 138, 154, 164] sts.

Work in stockinette st, slipping the first st of each row, for 74 [74, 74, 74, 72, 72, 70] rows, ending with a WS row. Not sure how to knit stockinette stitch? Click here for a tutorial!

Right Front Panel

Row 1: Sl first st, K 15 [19, 23, 25, 29, 33, 35], turn, leaving rem sts unworked – 16 [20, 24, 26, 30, 34, 36] sts.

Row 2: Sl first st, P 15 [19, 23, 25, 29, 33, 35], turn.

Rows 3-34 [36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46]: Alternate repeating Rows 1 and 2, ending with a Rows 2 repeat. Bind off just the 16 [20, 24, 26, 30, 34, 36] sts of the front panel.

Close up of the sleeve and shoulders of a red handknit cardigan with ribbed sleeve cuffs and rolled hem front. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

Back Panel

Go back to the unworked sts of the cardigan body with RS facing.

Row 1: Sl first st, K 51 [59, 65, 71, 77, 85, 91], turn, leaving rem sts unworked – 52 [60, 66, 72, 78, 86, 92] sts.

Row 2: Sl first st, P 51 [59, 65, 71, 77, 85, 91], turn.

Rows 3-34 [36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46]: Alternate repeating Rows 1 and 2, ending with a Rows 2 repeat. Bind off just the 52 [60, 66, 72, 78, 86, 92] sts of the center panel.

Left Front Panel

Go back to the unworked sts of the cardigan body with RS facing.

Row 1: Sl first st, K 15 [19, 23, 25, 29, 33, 35], turn, leaving rem sts unworked — 16 [20, 24, 26, 30, 34, 36] sts.

Row 2: Sl first st, P 15 [19, 23, 25, 29, 33, 35], turn.

Rows 3-34 [36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46]: Alternate repeating Rows 1 and 2, ending with a Rows 2 repeat. Bind off.

Sleeves (make 2)

See this post for help with M1L and M1R increases.

With smaller needles CO 51 [54, 57, 54, 57, 60, 57] sts. Join to work in the round.

Work in K2, P1 ribbing until piece measures 2 inches from cast-on edge. Switch to larger needles.

Rnd 1: *K2tog, K1, repeat from * around – 34 [36, 38, 36, 38, 40, 38] sts.

Work 1 Even Rnd: K each st around.

Work 1 Increase Rnd: K1, M1R, K each st to last 3 sts, M1L, K1 — increased by 2 sts.

*Work 9 [7, 7, 7, 3, 5, 5] Even Rnds, followed by one Increase Rnd, repeat from * 1 [1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5] times.

*Work 7 [7, 7, 5, 5, 5, 3] Even Rnds, followed by one Increase Rnd, repeat from * 5 [6, 6, 9, 10, 10, 9] times – 52 [56, 58, 62, 66, 68, 72] sts.

Work 5 [3, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3] Even Rnds. Bind off.

Woman standing in the woods wearing a long, casual, red knit cardigan over a blouse and blue jeans. Text on the image reads: Banana Moon Studio.

Schematic

Sweater body

Line drawing of the shape and size of the body of a handknit cardigan. Lines and numbers along the sides show the measurements of the finished piece.

Sleeve (make 2)

Line drawing of the shape of the sleeve for a handknit cardigan. Numbers along the sides show the measurements of the different parts of the sleeve.

Finishing

For help with this, see my video tutorial about seaming sweaters!

With cardigan WS out, sew shoulder seams, leaving about a 6 inches space between front panels. I suggest using a backstitch.

With sweater WS out and one sleeve RS out, place sleeve inside of sweater. Sleeve increases line up with bottom of armhole, raw edges of sleeve and armhole even. Use clips or locking stitch markers to hold edges together as you seam. Seam sleeve to sweater. Repeat with second sleeve.

Block sweater, especially bottom ribbing. Weave in ends.

All finished! I would love to see pictures of your finished cardigan! You can share your project on Ravelry or in my Facebook group.

Happy stitching!