Free knitting patterns for cardigans knit with garter stitch, most are easy and many are suitable for beginners. Many of the patterns are free. Updated 8/28/23
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.
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Free Patterns
Sasha Boxy Jacket
Garter stitch cardigan with collar. Sizes Finished Chest 38 to 52 in. / 96.5 to 132 cm. Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand.
Asheville Cardigan
Garter stitch cardigan knit seamlessly from the top down with the wide ribbed collar knit first. Sizes Finished garment chest measurement: 36” (38”, 40.5”, 43.25”, 46”). Designed by The Noble Thread.
Long Swing Waist Coat
Sleeveless cardigan vest knit sideways in garter stitch, with options for short or long length. No picking up stitches. Sizes To Fit Bust: 109cm/41in to 124cm/49in. Designed by Ros Wilson for Manos del Uruguay. Aran weight yarn.
Short-Sleeved Garter Stitch Cardigan
Short-sleeved slightly cropped, boxy cardigan worked in one piece in garter stitch. Sleeves and sides are sewn. Sizes 36½ to 68½”. Designed by Premier Yarns Design Team. Bulky weight yarn.
My First Cardigan
Cropped garter stitch cardigan knit in garter stitch with ribbed cuffs, front bands, and hem. Sizes XS to 3X, Approx 32” (80 cm) to 57” (148 cm). Designed by Loopy Mango. Super Bulky weight yarn.
Biased Cardigan
Cardigan jacket with convenient insert pockets knit flat in 4 garter stitch panels worked on the bias to gives it personality without complicated stitches. The sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch with a classic 1×1 cuff ribbing. Sizes 35” bust, 32 cm to 67” bust, 52 cm. Web version is free. PDF is for purchase. Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Knitting with Chopsticks.
Avalon Cardigan
The lace weight yarn gives this garter stitch cardigan an airy sophisticated look. Long sleeved v-neck cardigan knit flat in garter stitch with ribbed cuffs and hem. Sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL. Designed by Au bout du pré for Hobbii. Lace weight yarn. A kit is also available.
Oh-So-Simple Cardigan
Easy cardigan with pockets knit in garter stitch and neatly finished knit on edge. Sizes: 40 to 60 in. / 101.5 to 152.5 cm. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand
Carefree Cardigan
Easy striped cardigan knit sideways in garter stitch in two pieces and joined in the back. No picking up stitches! Knit with two colors of gradient yarn to let the yarn do the striping work. Sizes To Fit Bust: Bust: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) (56, 60, 64, 68)”. Designed by Amy Gunderson for Premier Yarns. DK weight yarn.
Leyland Jacket
Easy color-blocked cardigan sweater worked in simple garter stitch with three-quarter length sleeves and slightly asymmetrical fronts. Sizes To Fit Bust: 30in to 50in. Designed by Amanda Keep Williams. Aran weight yarn.
Echo Jacket
Cardigan sweater knit in diagonal garter stitch. Sizes To Fit Bust: 32-34 (36-40, 42-44, 46-50)“. Designed by Heather Lodinsky. Aran weight yarn.
Cloud Cardi
Easy bomber style cardigan jacket knit flat in garter stitch. No picking up stitches or tricky shaping. Designer says it is suitable for newbie knitters. Sizes XXS (XS, S, SM, M, L, XL, XXL). Quick knit Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Emily Bolduan. May only be free for a limited time.
Color Block Cardigan and Bag
Garter stitch cardigan sweater with pockets and matching purse with colorful trim. Sizes Bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)”; Bag Width: 11” Height: 7”. Designed by Premier Yarns Design Team. Worsted weight yarn.
Bellissima Jacket and Sweater
Easy garter stitch cardigan jacket or pullover sweater with color blocking knit flat. The standing collar or neckband are picked up but the rest is beginner friendly. Sizes 81-127cm/32-50in. Designed by Stylecraft. Jacket is in Chunky weight yarn, Pullover in DK.
Rasmine Coat
Garter stitch cardigan coat or jacket in 3 different lengths. Sizes S, M, L, XL. Designed by Irene Rasch for Hobbii. Bulky weight yarn.
Downtown Cardigan
Cardigan sweater knit flat in garter stitch. Sizes XS/S, M/L, XL/2X, 3X/4X. Web version is free. PDF is for purchase. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Stephanie Jessica Lau.
Corallina Cardigan
Striped cardigan sweater knit in garter stitch. Sizes 32-34 (36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50)" 81-86 (91-97, 102-107, 112-117, 122-127) cm. DK weight yarn. Designed by Martin Storey.
Sawtelle Cardigan
This easy sweater designed by Amanda Keep Williams made entirely of knit stitches (garter stitch) and the only seaming is at the shoulders. Bust 32 (36-40-44-48-52)” in Pictured project by schmidtknits
More Free Patterns
Red Hot Sweater Jacket
Easy shawl collared cardigan knit flat in garter stitch and seamed. No picking up stitches. Designer says it's suitable for beginners. Sizes 37 (39, 43, 46) in. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Mari Lynn Patrick for Lion Brand. Pictured projects by blucoyote using Noro yarn and the designer.
VuxenVinkel
Easy cropped cardigan or shrug knit flat in one piece with diagonal garter stitch. Basic shaping creates an angled shape to make fronts, sides, and back in one piece that is then seamed. Option for button fastening. Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. Rated easy by Ravelrers. VuxenVinkel means "Adult Angle." A perfect project for self striping yarn. Aran weight yarn. Designed by Yarn-Madness. Child vesion also available.
Sideways Garter Vest
Designed by Purl Soho, this versatile vest / wrap is a rectangle of garter stitch with two well-placed slits for armholes, nothing could be simpler to make. Can be worn many different ways, with the collar up or down.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get worsted yarn for this project on Etsy
- See more Vest Knitting Patterns
Scrappy Duster
Long sleeved cardigan knit with garter stitch in simple rectangular shapes and tons of spare scrap yarn! The color-change tie offs at the end of the rows are integrated into the funky side fringe, eliminating the need to weave in ends. Size is customizable. Designed by Regina Weiss of Morale Fiber.
Jutka Cardigan
Short sleeved garter stitch cardigan knit with bulky yarn. Body knit in one piece. Sleeves knit separatedly. Neck edge is finished by picking up and knitting one row. Sizes S (M, L, 1X, 2X). Rated easy by the designer Irina Poludnenko.
Side Street Cardigan
This short sleeved cardigan is knit in one piece from side to side in garter stitch. Sizes XS to 5X. Quick knit in bulky yarn. Rated beginner level by Yarnspirations
Garter Stitch Jacket
Cardigan sweater with three-quarter length sleeves knit in garter stitch with ribbed lapels. Sizes To Fit Bust: 81cm to 127cm, 32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50". Designed by Debbie Bliss. DK weight yarn.
Minimalist Jacket
Long cardigan with elblow length sleeves is knit flat in garter stitch. Sizes XS/S, M, L, XL, 2/3XL, 4/5XL. Rated easy and suitable for beginners by designer Yarnspirations Design Studio. Quick knit in super bulky yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended Bernat Softee Chunky yarn at Amazon
- See more Quick Sweater Knitting Patterns
Garter Stitch Swingy Sweater
Jenn Pellerin’s simple asymmetrical top-down raglan cardigan is worked in all knit stitches. Rated as easy by more than 100 Raverlrers. Pictured project by lbeckste
Avocet B
Nora Gaughan designed this easy elegant garter stitch cardigan with shaping. XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X)
Patterns for Purchase
Loopy Puffy Cardigan
Cozy oversized garter stitch cardigan with dropped shoulders and puffy shaped sleeves and 1x1 rib trim. Sizes XS/S, M/L, XL/2XL. The assembly of this cardigan is super easy as the only seams you need to sew are the shoulder seams. Knitting with super bulky yarn and large needles means you will be able to whip up this cardigan in no time at all! Designed by Gillian Docherty - Loopy Handmade. A kit is also available.
Jong
Easy one-size-fits-all cardigan jacket in garter stitch designed by by Julie Tootill. Quick knit in super bulky yarn. Ravelrers have rated it very easy and easy. Pictured project by devaknits
Lagoon Cardigan
Easy cardigan knit top down in garter stitch. Instructions included for creating a gradient effect. Size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. Worsted or fingering weight yarn. Designed by CamexiaDesigns
Writer's Block Cardigan
Striped stitch cardigan featuring a v-neck with a generous shawl collar and pockets. Great stashbuster! 11 Sizes from XS to 7X. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Alex Capshaw-Taylor
Liva Cardigan
Cardigan sweater in garter stitch and mitered squares. Great showcase for self-striping yarn. Size: Bust (closed): (34, 38, 42) [46, 50, 54, 58] {62, 66, 70}" / (86.5, 96.5, 106.5) [117, 127, 137, 147.5] {157.5, 167.5, 178} cm. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Amy Christoffers for Berroco.
Easy Hooded Jacket
This long sleeved cardigan with hood is a quick knit in garter stitch and bulky yarn. Size: S- M- L- XL
Britte Jacket
Relaxed fit cardigan worked in garter stitch. 2 front pockets. 3 sizes.
Hooded Wrap Cardigan
Versatile sweater pattern knit in easy garter stitch designed by Audrey Wilson.
Dolman Sleeved Cardigan
Easy sweater pattern knit in garter stitch as one piece in just 500 grams of Aran weight yarn. Just two side seams. Designed by Audrey Wilson.
