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Classic Crewneck Cardigan in New Yarn
Our Classic Crewneck Cardigan pattern, beloved for its iconic wear-anywhere-with-anything versatility, is made new again in Good Wool! With 6 new colors of this beautiful Andean highland wool yarn to choose from, the possibilities for your perfect cardigan just keep growing.
The timeless appeal of the Classic Crewneck Cardigan is all in the details! Clever construction gives you the polished fit of set-in sleeves without the fuss. Knit from the bottom up (first body, then sleeves, then both together), the sleeve caps, shoulders, and neckline are shaped with short rows, leaving you with surprisingly easy finishing for such a tailored look.
Your edges can be tidy ribbing or casual rolled hems, and a button placket that you knit as you go adds just the right touch of polish. We’ve also refreshed the fit, giving the cardigan a shorter overall length for a modern update!
You can knit your Classic Crewneck Cardigan in any of three sport-weight yarns, each a pure expression of a different fiber. Good Wool has a super natural vibe with a springy bounce that adds structure to the sweater’s lines; Season Alpaca drapes luxuriously with unparalleled softness and glowing color; and Cotton Pure knits into a smooth, breathable cardigan that’s easy to toss in the wash. Decide whether to cast on with Andean highland wool, super baby alpaca, or organically grown cotton… And then knit another cardi to see how your choice of fiber determines the feel and wear!
The star of the moment is Good Wool, our 100% Andean highland wool yarn that’s buoyant, lively, and full of sheepy charm. Its huge palette begins with the 5 natural colors grown by the sheep themselves, dyed to create a thrilling range of heathers. Explore 6 brand-new shades, including the deep, mysterious Dark Aquamarine we used for our Classic Crewneck Cardigan, a color that makes you want to dive in!
Pick the yarn that’s just right for right now; find the color that makes it unmistakably yours; and cast on your perfect Classic Crewneck Cardigan, tailored by your choices and made by your own hands!
Originally designed for Purl Soho by Adam Aronowitz.
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Materials
- 3 (3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 5) skeins of Purl Soho’s Good Wool, 100% Andean highland wool yarn. Each skein of this sport-weight yarn is 383 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1025 (1080, 1170, 1230) (1330, 1395, 1470, 1550) (1645, 1765, 1855, 1960) yards required. We used the color Dark Aquamarine, with ribbed edges.
OR
- 4 (5, 5, 5) (6, 6, 6, 7) (7, 7, 8, 8) skeins of Purl Soho’s Cotton Pure, 100% organically grown cotton. Each skein of this sport-weight yarn
is 279 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1100 (1190, 1275, 1345) (1465, 1530, 1610, 1695) (1775, 1910, 2010, 2120) yards required. We used the color Warm Rock, with rolled edges.
OR
- 5 (5, 6, 6) (7, 7, 7, 7) (8, 8, 9, 9) skeins of Purl Soho’s Season Alpaca, 100% super baby alpaca. Each skein of this sport-weight yarn is 218 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1025 (1080, 1170, 1230) (1330, 1395, 1470, 1550) (1645, 1765, 1855, 1960) yards required. We used the color True Turquoise, with ribbed edges.
You will also need…
- US 3 (3.25 mm), 32-inch circular knitting needles
- US 5 (3.75 mm), 32-inch circular needles
- US 5, 16-inch circular needles
- A set of US 3 double pointed needles
- A set of US 5 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- 7 (7, 7, 7) (8, 8, 8, 8) (8, 8, 8, 8) ½-inch buttons. We used Purl Soho’s Medium Corozo Buttons in Dark Denim for the Good Wool version.
- A Classic Crewneck Cardigan Pattern PDF
NOTE: If you want to use Magic Loop, you won’t need the 16-inch circular or double pointed needles listed above… Just stick with the 32-inch ones!
GAUGE
24 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, using larger needles
SIZES
NOTE: For help picking a size, please check out our Understanding Ease + Selecting Your Size Tutorial!
36 (38, 40, 42) (44, 46, 48, 50) (54, 58, 62, 66)
To fit actual chest circumference 31–32 (32–34, 34–36, 36–38) (38–40, 40–42, 42–44, 44–46) (47–51, 52–55, 56–59, 60–63), with approximately 4–6 inches of ease
- Finished Chest Circumference (buttoned): 36 (38, 40, 42) (44, 46, 48, 50) (54, 58, 62, 66) inches
- Finished Length from Shoulder to Bottom Edge: 19 (19, 19½, 19½) (21, 21¼, 22, 22¼) (22, 22¼, 22½, 22½) inches
- Finished Length from Underarm to Bottom Edge: 11¼ (11, 11½, 11¼) (12, 12, 12½, 12½) (12, 12, 11½, 11¼) inches
- Finished Length from Underarm to Cuff: 17 (17, 17¼, 17¼) (17½, 17½, 17½, 17¾) (17¾, 18, 18, 18) inches
Sample: The sweaters shown here are size 38, worn with 6 inches of ease.
PATTERN
The Classic Crewneck Cardigan Pattern is available for purchase as a PDF download.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Learn About Good Wool, Season Alpaca, Cotton Pure + All Our Beautiful Yarns
Pick from three of our favorite sport-weight yarns for your Classic Crewneck Cardigan: Good Wool, our durable, sproingy, and warm 100% Andean highland wool yarn; Season Alpaca, our 100% super baby alpaca yarn, incredibly soft with beautiful drape; or Cotton Pure, 100% organically-grown cotton yarn with a supple feel and a lovely unmercerized matte finish. Each one comes in tons of beautiful colors, so you can make your perfect cardigan!
More Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collections of (mostly free!) Good Wool knitting patterns, Season Alpaca knitting patterns, and Cotton Pure knitting patterns!
More Sport-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of sport-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial and our Yarn Substitution article for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop wool yarn
- Shop alpaca yarn
- Shop cotton yarn
- Shop machine-washable yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Has the fit been ‘refreshed’ in any way other than the length? I own an earlier version. Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks for asking! This pattern refresh includes subtle grading and fit changes to make it more modern (including one button shorter) and includes an option for rolled edges.
Since you already have the older version, you can download the new version from your Purl Soho pattern library! If you have any trouble finding it, please reach out to [email protected] and we’re happy to send you a complimentary copy!
Happy Knitting!
Andrea
Thanks! I love my Cotton Pure version and wear it often.
What cast on would you recommend?
Hi Sarah,
Great question! You can use a basic long tail cast on for this pattern! Please let us know if there is anything else we can answer for you!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I just finished the first sleeve and by the time I finished all the increases the sleeve is longer than it is supposed to be. Not sure if I should frog it or make the second sleeve and see if it turns out longer as well.
Hi Sarah,
It sounds like your row gauge might be a bit larger than that of the pattern. Could you let me know if you were able to achieve gauge on your gauge swatch? This could help me better visualize the issue you are having. If you are happy with the current fit of your sleeves though, I’d recommend just knitting the sleeves to your preferred length. I hope this helps and I will keep an eye out for your reply!
All the best,
Gavriella
I finished the other sleeve and it was the same length and it’s going to be fine. It is weird because I am generally a very tight knitter. I really am loving this pattern. It is so fun to watch the cardigan take shape!
Aww! Thank you so much for the update. I am so happy it all worked out just fine. Happy knitting and we hope you enjoy your new cardigan!
I’ve just started knitting this cardigan. I need some advice/help with the pattern instructions. I’ve obviously done something wrong at the beginning of the body. The buttonhole edge doesn’t match up with the buttonhole at the ribbed edge.
Thanks for any help .
Norma
Hi Norma,
Thanks so much for reaching out! We’d love to take a closer look. If you could send a photo to [email protected], we’ll be able to see exactly what’s happening and give you the best guidance. We’re happy to help you get it sorted!
Warmly,
Megan
Hi Norma,
Thanks so much for reaching out via email with a photo! We’ve responded to you over email, but wanted to go ahead and answer here as well!
You’re right that the button placket shouldn’t line up with the top ribbing because the placket will be folded under and sewn down at the end. After you sew down your placket, your buttonholes will all be in a straight line beneath the buttonhole you made in the rib section.
We hope this helps! Let us know if you have any questions.
Kindly,
Allison
Hello! Can I ask what is the difficulty of this pattern? I knitted a baby cardigan last year and have done a few other simple projects, but just want to double check this one will be doable as it looks great!
Thanks
Hi Maya!
Thank you for your question! Since you’ve already knitted a baby cardigan (which truly uses many of the same skills as an adult cardigan) plus a few other projects, you should be in great shape for this one. It’s a comfortable step up, but absolutely doable if you take it one section at a time.
And of course, if anything feels unclear along the way, you’re always welcome to reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re happy to help!
Happy Knitting,
Megan
Hi! I am on the “shape yoke” section of this pattern and my stitch count for the right and left fronts are very off, while the back and sleeves are correct. My right front has 54 (should be 46) and my left has 38 (should be 40). I have no idea what happened or how to fix it. Any help is appreciated!
Hi Leslie!
Thank you for writing in! I can understand how this can be frustrating. It sounds like a few decreases may have been missed or worked in the wrong spots. If you can send us a photo of your work at [email protected], we’ll be happy to take a look and help you get everything back on track!
Warmly,
Megan