Turn leftover yarn into a fun patchwork cardigan—perfect for beginners!
This gorgeously colorful knit patchwork cardigan is easier to make than you'd think—you simply knit identical strips and sew them together. You can adjust the cardigan's length and width by changing the size of the pieces. Use up leftover yarn and other treasures from your yarn basket in this patchwork knit!
Size: S(M). Each piece measures approximately 13 × 13 (15 × 15) cm. The size of the pieces may vary slightly depending on the yarns used.
Measurements:
- Chest circumference: approximately 120(135) cm
- Shoulder to hem: approximately 57(77) cm
- Sleeve length: approximately 41(33) cm
- Sleeve circumference: approximately 39(45) cm
Note! In size M, the sleeve length is shorter because the larger pieces cause the shoulder seam to sit lower than in the smaller size.
Knit patchwork cardigan – materials:
- Leftover yarns of various colors and weights totaling approximately 560(730) grams
- Circular needles or straight needles size 6 mm (US 10), and for the ribbing, circular and double-pointed needles size 5 mm (US 8)
- A blunt-tipped tapestry needle
- 3–4 large buttons.
Yarn consumption
The smaller cardigan used approximately 560 grams of various wool, alpaca, and silk mohair yarns, and the larger one used 730 grams. These amounts are approximate because the yarn weight affects the consumption. Fingering and sport weight yarns are knitted double, and pieces made from silk mohair are knitted with the yarn held fourfold.
Gauge: 15 stitches × 19 rows = 10 cm.
Patchwork cardigan – instructions:
1. Cast on 20(23) stitches. Purl the first row and knit the second row. Continue in stockinette stitch [in Finnish] until you have knitted 26(28) rows. Cut the yarn.
2. Switch colors and knit another identical piece as a continuation of the previous one. Knit a strip of 8(10) pieces and bind off the last piece.
3. Knit a total of four similar long strips and additionally one half-length strip of 4(5) pieces. The half strip will go at the center back.
4. Optional: wet the pieces, block them, and allow them to dry.
5. Sew together two of the long strips, trying to align the color change points. Do the same with the other two long strips. Sew the shorter strip between these, as shown in the picture.
6. Next, make the sleeves. Knit a strip of 3(2) pieces. You will need six of these in total, three per sleeve.
7. Join the sleeve strips together side by side.
8. Sew the sleeve to the body of the cardigan. If you wish, you can align the sleeve and shoulder so that the color change points match, as shown in the picture above. Be careful not to sew the seam too tightly.
9. Sew the side seams of the cardigan and sleeves.
10. Finally, using 5 mm (US 8) circular needles, knit the ribbing for the hem, neckline edges, and sleeves. Pick up 174(186) stitches from the hem and knit 2 knit 2 purl ribbing for about 4(5) cm. Bind off loosely to prevent the edge from becoming tight.
11. Pick up 206(222) stitches along the neckline and knit 2 knit 2 purl ribbing for about 4(5) cm. When you have knitted approximately 2(2.5) cm, make buttonholes on the next (right side) row: knit 7 stitches, bind off the next 3 stitches, *knit 17 stitches, bind off 3 stitches*. Repeat *–* until you have made a total of 3(4) buttonholes.
12. On the next (wrong side) row, cast on 3 new stitches over the bound-off stitches. Continue knitting as usual until the ribbing is about 4(5) cm. Bind off loosely.
13. With 5 mm double-pointed needles, pick up 36(32) stitches along the sleeve edge and knit 2 knit 2 purl ribbing for about 4(5) cm. Bind off.
14. Finish by sewing the buttons in place.
Tip!
You can also finish the cardigan with pockets: knit a single piece for the pocket, which you attach by sewing it to your desired spot. The pocket edge won't curl if you knit a few rows of ribbing at the top edge of the piece.
