Classic V-Neck Cardigan

A straight-fit, set-in-sleeve V-neck cardigan worked flat in pieces from the bottom up in stockinette stitch. 1x1 rib hems, cuffs, and picked-up button bands. Designed for beginners; five sizes, with US women’s size 16 sitting in M or L depending on ease.

MATERIALS

Yarn: Worsted weight (CYCA 4), approximately 1200 (1350, 1550, 1750, 1950) yd / 1100 (1235, 1420, 1600, 1785) m. A typical 100 g skein of worsted is about 200–220 yd; buy 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) skeins and check yardage.

Needles:

• US 5 (3.75 mm) straight or circular needles for ribbing
• US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles for stockinette
• Spare needle or circular in US 5 for picking up bands (a 32–40" / 80–100 cm circular is easiest)

Notions:

• Tapestry needle
• Stitch holders or spare yarn
• 4 stitch markers
• 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) buttons, ¾" (19 mm)
• Sewing needle and thread to match buttons

GAUGE

20 sts and 26 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 7 (4.5 mm needles), after blocking.

Take time to check gauge. If you have too many stitches in 4", go up a needle size; if too few, go down.

SIZES

XS (S, M, L, XL)

To fit bust: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46)" / 76 (86.5, 96.5, 106.5, 117) cm
Finished bust (buttoned): 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)" / 86.5 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127) cm
Finished length: 21½ (22½, 23½, 24½, 25½)" / 54.5 (57, 59.5, 62, 65) cm
Length to underarm: 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm
Armhole depth: 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm
Sleeve length to underarm: 17 (17½, 18, 18, 18½)" / 43 (44.5, 45.5, 45.5, 47) cm
Upper arm: 12 (13¼, 14, 15½, 17¼)" / 30.5 (33.5, 35.5, 39.5, 44) cm

Ease is about 2–4" (5–10 cm). A US women’s size 16 (about 40" / 101.5 cm bust) typically wears M (42" finished, 2" ease) or L (46" finished, 6" ease). Circle your size throughout.

ABBREVIATIONS

BO — bind off
CO — cast on
dec — decrease
inc — increase
k — knit
k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning dec)
kfb — knit into front and back of the same stitch (1 st increased)
p — purl
pm — place marker
rem — remain(ing)
RS — right side
ssk — slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit the 2 slipped sts together through the back loop (left-leaning dec)
st(s) — stitch(es)
St st — stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows)
WS — wrong side
yo — yarn over

NOTES

• Worked flat, in pieces, then seamed. Sleeves are set-in.
• Stockinette: knit every RS row, purl every WS row.
• 1x1 rib: *k1, p1; repeat from * to end. On even stitch counts this starts with k1 and ends with p1.
• Selvage stitches are included in the counts; seam with mattress stitch using the edge stitch.
• When two shapings happen at the same time (front armhole + V-neck), work both on the same RS rows until one is finished, then continue the other.
• Neck decreases are worked 1 st in from the edge: k1, ssk at the beginning of a RS row, or k2tog, k1 at the end of a RS row. This keeps a clean chain for picking up the band.
• Women’s buttoning: buttonholes sit on the right front as worn.
• Instructions are for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
• Block pieces before seaming.

BACK

With smaller needles, CO 80 (90, 100, 110, 120) sts.

Ribbing: Work in 1x1 rib until piece measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work in St st until piece measures 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm from CO, ending with a WS row.

Armhole shaping

BO 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 74 (82, 92, 100, 110) sts.
(80 − 6 = 74 ✓; 90 − 8 = 82 ✓; 100 − 8 = 92 ✓; 110 − 10 = 100 ✓; 120 − 10 = 110 ✓)

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Next row (WS): Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) more times. 68 (76, 84, 92, 100) sts.
(74 − 6 = 68 ✓; 82 − 6 = 76 ✓; 92 − 8 = 84 ✓; 100 − 8 = 92 ✓; 110 − 10 = 100 ✓)

Work even in St st until armholes measure 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, ending with a WS row. (The remaining ½" / 1.5 cm is used in neck and shoulder shaping.)

Neck and shoulders

Next row (RS): Knit 23 (25, 27, 30, 32) sts and place these sts on a holder for the right shoulder, BO the center 22 (26, 30, 32, 36) sts, knit to end. 23 (25, 27, 30, 32) sts remain for the left shoulder.
(23 + 22 + 23 = 68 ✓; 25 + 26 + 25 = 76 ✓; 27 + 30 + 27 = 84 ✓; 30 + 32 + 30 = 92 ✓; 32 + 36 + 32 = 100 ✓)

Work each side separately, beginning with the left shoulder (sts just worked).

Left shoulder (as worn):

• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 22 (24, 26, 29, 31) sts.
• Next row (WS): BO 2 sts (neck edge), purl to end. 20 (22, 24, 27, 29) sts. (22 − 2 = 20 ✓; 24 − 2 = 22 ✓; 26 − 2 = 24 ✓; 29 − 2 = 27 ✓; 31 − 2 = 29 ✓)
• Next row (RS): BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts, knit to end. 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.
• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): BO remaining 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.
  (10 + 10 = 20 ✓; 11 + 11 = 22 ✓; 12 + 12 = 24 ✓; 13 + 14 = 27 ✓; 14 + 15 = 29 ✓)

Right shoulder: With WS facing, rejoin yarn at neck edge of held sts.

• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. 22 (24, 26, 29, 31) sts.
• Next row (WS): Purl.
• Next row (RS): BO 2 sts (neck edge), knit to end. 20 (22, 24, 27, 29) sts.
• Next row (WS): BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts, purl to end. 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.
• Next row (RS): Knit.
• Next row (WS): BO remaining 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.

FRONTS

Fronts are worked as mirror images. The left front is the wearer’s left (buttons). The right front is the wearer’s right (buttonholes on the band). V-neck shaping begins at the same time as the armhole.

Left Front (as worn)

With smaller needles, CO 42 (48, 52, 58, 62) sts.

Ribbing: Work in 1x1 rib until piece measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work in St st until piece measures 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm from CO, ending with a WS row.

Shape armhole and V-neck (left)

On the left front, the armhole is at the beginning of RS rows and the neck is at the end of RS rows.

Next row (RS): BO 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 38 (43, 47, 52, 56) sts.
(42 − 3 − 1 = 38 ✓; 48 − 4 − 1 = 43 ✓; 52 − 4 − 1 = 47 ✓; 58 − 5 − 1 = 52 ✓; 62 − 5 − 1 = 56 ✓)
Next row (WS): Purl.

Now decrease at both edges at the same time as follows:

• Armhole edge (beg of RS rows): K1, ssk, work to end. Do this every RS row 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) times.
• Neck edge (end of RS rows): Work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Do this every RS row 7 (11, 12, 14, 14) more times, then every 4th row 8 (7, 7, 7, 8) times.

(Neck total = 1 already worked + 7 + 8 = 16 XS ✓; 1 + 11 + 7 = 19 S ✓; 1 + 12 + 7 = 20 M ✓; 1 + 14 + 7 = 22 L ✓; 1 + 14 + 8 = 23 XL ✓)

Every 4th row means: work 1 RS decrease row, then 1 WS row, 1 RS even row, 1 WS row; repeat. After the armhole decreases are finished, work even at the armhole edge and continue neck decreases only.

When all armhole and neck decreases are complete, 20 (22, 24, 27, 29) sts remain.
(42 − 6 armhole − 16 neck = 20 ✓; 48 − 7 − 19 = 22 ✓; 52 − 8 − 20 = 24 ✓; 58 − 9 − 22 = 27 ✓; 62 − 10 − 23 = 29 ✓)

Work even in St st (if needed) until armhole measures 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm, ending with a WS row.

Left shoulder

Next row (RS): BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts, knit to end. 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.
Next row (WS): Purl.
Next row (RS): BO remaining 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.

Right Front (as worn)

With smaller needles, CO 42 (48, 52, 58, 62) sts.

Ribbing: Work in 1x1 rib until piece measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work in St st until piece measures 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm from CO, ending with a WS row.

Shape armhole and V-neck (right)

On the right front, the neck is at the beginning of RS rows and the armhole is at the beginning of WS rows.

Next row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end. 41 (47, 51, 57, 61) sts.
Next row (WS): BO 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts, purl to end. 38 (43, 47, 52, 56) sts.
(42 − 1 − 3 = 38 ✓; same structure as left front ✓)

Now decrease at both edges at the same time as follows:

• Neck edge (beg of RS rows): K1, ssk, work to end. Do this every RS row 7 (11, 12, 14, 14) more times, then every 4th row 8 (7, 7, 7, 8) times.
• Armhole edge (beg of WS rows, or end of RS rows): On RS, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Do this every RS row 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) times.

When all armhole and neck decreases are complete, 20 (22, 24, 27, 29) sts remain. (Same arithmetic as left front ✓)

Work even in St st (if needed) until armhole measures 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½)" / 19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm, ending with a RS row.

Right shoulder

Next row (WS): BO 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts, purl to end. 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.
Next row (RS): Knit.
Next row (WS): BO remaining 10 (11, 12, 14, 15) sts.

SLEEVES

Make 2 alike.

With smaller needles, CO 40 (42, 44, 48, 50) sts.

Ribbing: Work in 1x1 rib until cuff measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles. Work 2 rows in St st.

Inc row (RS): K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 2 sts increased.

Work 7 (7, 7, 5, 5) rows even in St st.

Repeat the last 8 (8, 8, 6, 6) rows 9 (11, 12, 14, 17) more times — 10 (12, 13, 15, 18) increase rows total. 60 (66, 70, 78, 86) sts.
(40 + 20 = 60 ✓; 42 + 24 = 66 ✓; 44 + 26 = 70 ✓; 48 + 30 = 78 ✓; 50 + 36 = 86 ✓)

Work even in St st until sleeve measures 17 (17½, 18, 18, 18½)" / 43 (44.5, 45.5, 45.5, 47) cm from CO, ending with a WS row.

Sleeve cap

BO 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 54 (58, 62, 68, 76) sts.
(60 − 6 = 54 ✓; 66 − 8 = 58 ✓; 70 − 8 = 62 ✓; 78 − 10 = 68 ✓; 86 − 10 = 76 ✓)

Dec 1 st each end of every RS row 10 (13, 14, 15, 15) times, as: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; purl WS rows. 34 (32, 34, 38, 46) sts.
(54 − 20 = 34 ✓; 58 − 26 = 32 ✓; 62 − 28 = 34 ✓; 68 − 30 = 38 ✓; 76 − 30 = 46 ✓)

Dec 1 st each end of every row 6 (4, 5, 6, 10) times (work k1, ssk, knit to last 3, k2tog, k1 on RS; p1, p2tog, purl to last 3, p2tog tbl, p1 on WS). 22 (24, 24, 26, 26) sts.
(34 − 12 = 22 ✓; 32 − 8 = 24 ✓; 34 − 10 = 24 ✓; 38 − 12 = 26 ✓; 46 − 20 = 26 ✓)

BO 2 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows. 14 (16, 16, 18, 18) sts.
(22 − 8 = 14 ✓; 24 − 8 = 16 ✓; 24 − 8 = 16 ✓; 26 − 8 = 18 ✓; 26 − 8 = 18 ✓)

BO remaining 14 (16, 16, 18, 18) sts.

BUTTON_BANDS

Block all pieces to measurements. Sew shoulder seams first (mattress stitch or bound-off edges together), so the neckline is one continuous path for pickup.

With smaller needles (a long circular is easiest) and RS facing, beginning at the lower right-front edge (as worn):

• Pick up and knit 105 (110, 115, 120, 125) sts evenly along the right front edge to the shoulder (about 3 sts for every 4 rows).
• Pick up and knit 29 (33, 37, 39, 43) sts along the back neck.
• Pick up and knit 105 (110, 115, 120, 125) sts evenly along the left front edge down to the hem.

239 (253, 267, 279, 293) sts.
(105 + 29 + 105 = 239 ✓; 110 + 33 + 110 = 253 ✓; 115 + 37 + 115 = 267 ✓; 120 + 39 + 120 = 279 ✓; 125 + 43 + 125 = 293 ✓)

The count is odd so the rib can begin and end with k1.

Row 1 (WS): *P1, k1; repeat from * to last st, p1.
Row 2 (RS): *K1, p1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Place 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) buttonhole markers on the right-front section only: the lowest about ½" (1.5 cm) from the hem, the highest at the start of V-neck shaping (the underarm level), and the rest spaced evenly between.

Buttonhole row (RS): Work in established rib to the first marker, *yo, k2tog, work in rib to next marker; repeat from * for each remaining marker, then rib to end.

Work 3 more rows in rib (WS, RS, WS), matching Rows 1–2. Band measures about 1" (2.5 cm).

BO loosely in rib on the next RS row.

FINISHING

1. Shoulders: Already joined before picking up the band. If you delayed this, sew now.
2. Set in sleeves: Pin the sleeve cap into the armhole, matching underarm bind-offs and centering the cap at the shoulder seam. Ease the cap in; mattress-stitch in place.
3. Side and sleeve seams: Mattress-stitch each side seam from hem to underarm, then continue down the sleeve from underarm to cuff. Match rib to rib.
4. Buttons: Sew buttons to the left front band, opposite the buttonholes.
5. Weave in ends. Steam- or wet-block the finished cardigan, laying it flat to the schematic measurements. Do not stretch the ribbing.

Wear notes: Button the cardigan closed to check V depth and band sit. If the V pulls, a small tack stitch at the base of the V on the WS (joining the two band edges for ½") can stabilize it — optional.