I love draped front cardigans and jackets because the flowing lines seem so flattering and fluid. Updated 8/18/24
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
All links on this site are for informational purposes, but please note that some links are to affiliate sellers that pay me a small commission on purchases.
Follow me for more patterns:
Free Patterns
Lyra Vest
Sleeveless cardigan vest with cable border on a dramatic draped front. Knit flat. Sizes: Bust: 34 (38, 42, 48, 52, 56)”. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Premier Yarns Design Team
Fleur Cardigan
This circle sweater features a 4 row repeat Moss Stitch collar and draped front. The body is knit in the round in one piece and sleeves are added. Bulky yarn. Designed by Berroco Design Team. This pattern was featured in Season 8 of Knit and Crochet Now! and is free with registration at Annie’s
- Get the free knitting pattern with free registration at Annie’s
- Get the Knit and Crochet Now video tutorial for $3.99 (includes instruction for 2 patterns and other techniques)
- Get the recommended Berroco® Vintage® Chunky yarn at Annie’s
Carrington Cardigan
This long sleeved sweater with flattering draped front is knit in a 4 row repeat textured stitch. Sizes: XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]. Designed by Amy Palmer for Knitty
Amano Lupe Cardigan
This sweater designed by Amano yarns features a flattering draped front AND a decorative back with an openwork cable design. To Fit Bust Size: 30(34-38-42-46-50)”
Ballade Jacket
This flowing coat by DROPS Design is knit in stockinette and garter stitch. It gets its texture from boucle yarn. Size: S – M – L – XL – XXL – XXXL
Drape Front Cardigan
Julie Farmer designed this sweater for Red Heart in sizes from Small to XXL.
Cirriform Cardigan
This top-down raglan sweater features long asymmetrical fronts in macro lace, and a small lace diamond on the upper back. The designer, Emma Welform, used Berroco Kodiak, and recommends that your yarn choice be lightweight and lofty. Sizes 35.75 [40, 44.5, 48.75, 53.25, 58.75, 63.05] inches
Folded Squares Cardigan
Purl Soho’s ingenious design is three garter stitch pieces assembled to form a soft drape in six sizes available: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54)
Radha
I love the shape of this coat! This pattern by Berroco creates a lovely draped coat with ingenious concentric ribbed circles.
More Free Patterns
Short Sleeve Draped Cardigan
Lace weight yarn on larger needles helps create this drape. The recommended yarn is Australian but other lace weight superwash merino yarns come close according to Yarnsub. Size: XS S M L XL
Daedalus
Jodie Gordon Lucas’s pattern features lace and cables on a rectangular shape with sleeves that flows when worn. Sizes XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
Wayside Lace Cardigan
Schoppel-Wolle Design Team’s cardigan features cables and lace and is designed to be worn open or wrapped and pinned closed. XS/S, M/L
Blue Moon Cardigan
DROPS Design’s long sleeved cardigan is essentially a circle with sleeves. Size: S – M/L – XL /XXL – XXXL
Directional Ribs Cardigan
Irina Poludnenko’s long sleeved cardigan creates a drape with its design of vertical and horizontal ribbing.
Catherine Jacket
This flowing cardigan by Adele Cutten is just one stockinette rectangle with armholes created by seaming. The airy drape is created by knitting a worsted weight mohair blend yarn on size 11 needles.
Tango
Berroco Design Team’s short sleeve cardigan, knit in an openwork stitch, is really a rectangular shawl with sleeves. One size. Though the pattern calls for worsted yarn, the pictured project by flyingfingers11 used fingering weight yarn.
Fly Away
DROPS Design’s flowing cardigan is knit in stockinette with two strands of yarn held together. Sizes S – M – L – XL – XXL – XXXL.
Timeless Grace Cardigan
DROPS Design created this draped cardigan with lace trim. Size: S – XXXL
Bienvenidas Cardigan
Vera Sanon’s draped cardigan is knit from the top down, with a gradual reversed v-shaped-front that is very figure flattering with ¾ length or full-length sleeves. Fingering, Sport or DK weight yarn. Sizes: XS (S, M, L1, L2)(XL, 2XL, 3XL)
- Get the free knitting pattern – requires registration
- Shop for fingering weight yarn for this project at Annie’s
Silk Rosa Dolman Cardigan
Designed Pierrot yarns, this draped cardigan is knit in stockinette, seed stitch, and ribbing.
Patterns for Purchase
Lipstick Drape Front Cardigan
Lace cardigan with a flattering fit that looks great on all sizes. The oversized collar and drape front provide dramatic flair. Sizes Women’s XS to 4X. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Marly Bird.
Shawl Collar Lace Jacket
This versatile shawl collar lace jacket is knit on larger needles so the lace is open and light, and it works up quickly. The project is suitable for a beginner lace knitter, as there is absolutely no shaping! Designed by Wolfberry Knits.
Pavonis Cardigan
Dramatic lace waterfall cardigan knit as a rectangle end to end with sleeves added afterward. You can also throw an end over your shoulder like a shawl. Designed by Robynn Weldon.
Hamlin Peak Cardigan
This swingy cardigan will drape and fall beautifully across your body, making it an ideal project for any knitter. It is entirely worked from the neck down in stockinette stitch, except for some small eyelet increases for shaping. Designed by Pam Allen for Quince & Co. Note that this is not the official picture but project by CharliGee
Firefly Wrap Cardigan
Short sleeved cardigan with with front edges that drape down, then float away from the body. Worked sideways so the pattern is highly adjustable! Sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X). DK weight yarn. Designed by pamela wynne for Juniper Moon Farm.
Vitamin D
Swingy sweater is worked from the top down in one piece. The yoke involves classic raglan shaping for the sleeves, and radial eyelet increases for the back. The rounded front edges are shaped with more eyelet increases, as well as short rows. The pattern includes detailed instructions for the short rows; otherwise only very basic skills are required. Suitable for a knitter with some experience. Bust size in inches: XS(31), S(33.5), M1(36.5), M2 (39.5), L(44), XL(47), XXL(51) Sport weight yarn. Designed by Heidi Kirrmaier.
Suli Cardigan
Long-sleeved sweater with a loop collar that you can drape as you please, adorned with a lace pattern on center back, sleeve and collar. The loop collar can be worn loose, folded once behind the neck or twice in front, or folded three times around the neck in a ballerina style. To fit size: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL). Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Linda Marveng.
Setsuko Cardigan
This draped front cardigan has an infinitely long collar that can be twisted and wrapped around the head like a scarf or placed over the sides, forming a luscious shawl collar. Sizes: Bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52)” / 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122,
132) cm