Free knitting patterns for women's cardigans with colorful stripes and patterns. Includes stash busters. Updated 5/5/25
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Free Patterns
Fireside Cardigan
Cozy color blocked cardigan with pockets knit flat. Sizes XS to 4XL. Quick knit in bulky weight yarn. Web pattern is free.. Designed by CJ Design.
The Snug Cardigan
Have fun with color with this classic open cardigan with contrasting garter stitch blocks on sleeves and bottom of body, as well as ribbed bands. Sizes 37" to 61". Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Afifa.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page (pattern link on Ravelry doesn't work)
- Get the recommended Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 yarn
Red Squares on Point Cardigan
The great Kaffe Fassett designed this colorful cardigan with diamonds in squares at hem and cuffs. Sizes 32" to 50" / 81cm to 127cm. Great use for leftover DK weight yarn. Designed by Irina Poludnenko.
Slip Stitch Cardigan
Open front jacket knit flat with slip stitch colorwork in a 14 row repeat (one color of yarn per row). Sizes S to 2X. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Irina Poludnenko.
Annett Cardigan
Open cardigan with pretty lace work on the shoulders, cuffs, and down the front of the sweater. Knit seamlessly from the top down. Sizes Bust 35" to 70" / 89 to 150cm. Designed to showcase variegated DK weight yarn. Designed by Berroco Design Team.
Doce Cardigan
Geometric intarsia color blocking adds fun to this classic cardigan. Sizes XS to XXL. Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Filipa Carneiro. Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese
Lamatakki Cardigan
Stash buster cardigan designed for you to play with your leftover yarn with stripes, polka dots, flowers, chevrons, and other simple stranded patterns for interest. This pattern encourages you customize the design so it's not a row by row instruction. Worked from top down in one piece without any seams. Sizes XS to 3XL. Sport weight yarn. Designed by adelheid.
Maplewood Cardigan
Button-front cardigan knit with a fun leafy stripes in slipped stitch colorwork (one color per row). The pattern calls for self-striping yarn to be cut into separate colors so I think this would be ideal for stash busting DK weight yarn instead. Designed by Irina Poludnenko.
More Free Patterns
She's Electric Cardigan
A flattering colorful waistband creates a slimming silhouette on this short-sleeved cardigan. Knit in one piece from the top down with a slipped-stitch pattern for the waist that only requires using one color per row and creates shaping. Sizes 32 to 52 inch bust. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Ann Weaver for Knitty.
Sweater with Lace Shoulder
Open front cardigan with contrasting lace yoke in an 8 row repeat and contrasting borders. 3 sizes. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Jytte Slente.
Pheon Cardigan
I love the way the stripes on this cardigan look like they wrap continuously going over the sleeves to the back and then dip into a v-shaped wave. Sizes 33" to 59.5". Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Bristol Ivy.
Summer Cardigan with Stripes
Striped cardigan with collar knit in seed stitch. There are no button bands though stitches are picked up for the collar. 3 Sizes. Great stash buster for Sport weight yarn. Designed by Ann Højgaard Slot. The pattern assumes you know how to knit seed stitch which is basically a one row repeat of k1 p1 on an odd number of stitches.
Ottolie Chevron Cardigan with Pockets
Striped v-neck cardigan with pockets knit with colorful zigzag stripes in 4 colors. Sizes 100 to 166cm / 39 to 65". Aran weight yarn. Designed by Robyn Macdonald. A kit is also available.
Schraffur Cardigan
Women's open front cardigan knit with stripes of two color Brioche at the bottom and collar. The unique look of the stripes in the sample is achieved by using a contrast color that incorporates the solid yarn color in its colorway. Knitted seamlessly top down. Sizes S to XXL. DK weight yarn. Designed by Edith "dieDita" Frank. Available in English and German
Fusing Cardigan
Women's open front cardigan knit in ribbing with colorful rib on the sleeves and lower body, created with slip stitch colorwork, one yarn per row. Sizes To Fit Chest: 93.5 cm to 180 cm / 37" to 70". DK weight yarn. Designed by Marie Régnier. A kit is also available.
Summertime Cardigan CY1821
Colorful women's cardigan knit with easy garter ridges and moss stitch colar and borders that showcases the color of self-striping cake yarn. I think you could also adapt it for stash busting. Bust Sizes 90 to 121cm / 35½ to 47 in. DK weight yarn. Designed by Cygnet.
Patterns for Purchase
Evie Cardigan
Stash buster cropped cardigan knit seamlessly. Designed for 9 colors so it's a great stash buster for Worsted weight yarn. 8 Sizes XS to 4XL. Designed by knitstitchrepeat who says it's beginner friendly, with only a few techniques used, all supported by videos. A kit is also available.
Western Winter Fair Isle Cardigan
Colorful long cardigan with V-neck, full-length drop shoulder sleeves and inset pockets knit with stripes of zigzags, diamonds, and more. Fingering weight. Designed by Evelyn Siatra.
Crossing Continents Cardigan
Argyle inspired cardigan knit with elongated diamonds inspired by flickering flames. Sizes 28in (71cm) to 54in (37cm) bust. Designed by Sirdar.
Unicorn Tapestry Cardigan
Fanciful cardigan inspired by the medieval "Unicorn Rests in a Garden" tapestry with a crest on the front of a flower plucked from the garden in the back. The pattern also comes with optional flower rings along the cuffs, as well as the option to turn your swatch into little patch pockets. DK weight. Designed by Tamara Jordan.
Bi-Colour Cardigan
Classic cardigan jacket with moss stitch sleeves knit half in one color and half in another (though you could knit in one color!). Chunky weight yarn.. Size 28-58". Designed by Anxiousgirlknits.
Clouds Cotton Cardigan
Striped long cardigan with pockets. Great stash buster for Worsted weight yarn.. Size 28-64" (XS-5X). Designed by LovelybyLee.
