Patchwork Blocks Mid-Length DK Cardigan

A beginner-friendly, mid-length cardigan worked flat on straight needles from the bottom up in stockinette stitch. Large color blocks create an easy patchwork look using multiple DK colors (perfect for stash yarn). Set-in sleeves, crew neck, and picked-up button bands. Pieces are seamed after knitting.

MATERIALS

Yarn: DK weight yarn in 4–5 colors (A, B, C, D, and optional E), approx. 1400 (1500, 1650, 1800, 1900) yd / 1280 (1370, 1510, 1650, 1740) m total.
Suggested split for patchwork: Color A (hem/lower body) 350–450 yd; B, C, D each 250–400 yd; E (sleeves or accents) 200–350 yd. Adjust by size and how many colors you use.

Needles:

• US 6 / 4.0 mm straight needles (main fabric)
• US 4 / 3.5 mm straight needles (ribbing)
  Or sizes needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) buttons approx. ⅝–¾" / 16–19 mm, scissors.

GAUGE

22 sts and 28 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on US 6 / 4.0 mm needles, after blocking.
Please swatch. Row gauge affects length and armhole depth.

SIZES

XS (S, M, L, XL)
To fit bust approx. 30–32 (34–36, 38–40, 42–44, 46–48)" / 76–81 (86–91, 97–102, 107–112, 117–122) cm

Finished measurements

• Bust (buttoned): 35 (39, 42, 46.5, 51)" / 89 (99, 107, 118, 130) cm
• Back width: 17.5 (19.5, 21, 23.25, 25.5)" / 44.5 (49.5, 53.5, 59, 65) cm
• Length (hem to shoulder): 22 (22.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25.5)" / 56 (57, 60, 62, 65) cm
• Hem to underarm: 15" / 38 cm (all sizes; adjustable)
• Armhole depth: 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm
• Sleeve length to underarm: 17.5 (18, 18, 18.5, 18.5)" / 44.5 (45.5, 45.5, 47, 47) cm
• Upper arm: 12.5 (13.5, 14.5, 15.75, 17)" / 32 (34, 37, 40, 43) cm

Shown with approx. 3–4" / 7.5–10 cm positive ease. Instructions are written for XS; changes for larger sizes are in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

ABBREVIATIONS

• BO: bind off
• CO: cast on
• dec: decrease
• inc: increase
• k: knit
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning dec)
• M1L: make 1 left (lift bar between sts from front to back, k through back loop)
• M1R: make 1 right (lift bar between sts from back to front, k through front loop)
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• rem: remain(ing)
• rep: repeat
• RS: right side
• ssk: slip slip knit (left-leaning dec)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• St st: stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows)
• WS: wrong side
• wyib / wyif: with yarn in back / with yarn in front

NOTES

• Cardigan is worked flat on straight needles, bottom up, in separate pieces: Back, Left Front, Right Front, and two Sleeves. Seams join pieces; button bands are picked up last.
• Patchwork (beginner method): Work large color blocks by changing colors at the start of a RS row only. Cut yarn and weave ends as you go (or leave 6" tails and weave at finishing). Suggested block plan (customize freely):
  – Lower body (first 6" / 15 cm after rib): Color A
  – Next 5" / 12.5 cm: Color B
  – Yoke/armhole area: Color C
  – Sleeves: Color D (or stripe D/E every 3–4")
  – Optional vertical “patch” on fronts: switch one front to Color E for the upper half only.
  Keep blocks at least 3–4" tall so the look stays bold and easy. No intarsia bobbins required if you change across full rows.
• Ribbing: 1x1 rib (k1, p1) on smaller needles.
• Selvedge: Work the first and last stitch of every row in St st (k on RS, p on WS) for clean seaming—these sts are included in the counts.
• Shaping: Decrease at edges as k1, ssk … k2tog, k1 on RS rows unless noted. Sleeve increases: k1, M1R, k to last st, M1L, k1.
• Mid-length: Hem-to-underarm is written at 15". For longer/shorter, add/subtract rows in the lower body before armhole shaping (maintain your color-block plan).
• Buttons: Place markers for 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) evenly spaced buttonholes on the Left Front band during band instructions.
• Math checkpoints appear as ✓ in the pattern so you can confirm stitch counts while knitting.
• Block pieces gently before seaming for best patchwork alignment and drape.

BACK

With smaller needles and Color A, CO 96 (108, 116, 128, 140) sts.

Ribbing: Work in 1x1 rib (k1, p1 across) until piece measures 2" / 5 cm from CO edge, ending after a WS row.

Switch to larger needles and St st (and begin patchwork color blocks as desired).
Work even in St st until piece measures 15" / 38 cm from CO edge (including rib), ending after a WS row.
(St count still 96 (108, 116, 128, 140) ✓)

Armhole shaping

BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
88 (100, 106, 118, 128) sts ✓

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep last 2 rows 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) more times.
80 (90, 96, 106, 116) sts ✓
(4 (5, 5, 6, 6) decs each side total after BO ✓)

Work even in St st until armhole measures 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, ending after a WS row.

Shoulders and neck

Next row (RS): BO 22 (25, 27, 30, 33) sts for right shoulder, k next 36 (40, 42, 46, 50) sts and place these center sts on holder for back neck, BO rem 22 (25, 27, 30, 33) sts for left shoulder.
(22 + 36 + 22 = 80; 25 + 40 + 25 = 90; 27 + 42 + 27 = 96; 30 + 46 + 30 = 106; 33 + 50 + 33 = 116 ✓)

Fasten off. Place neck sts on holder or spare yarn.

FRONTS

Left Front

With smaller needles and Color A, CO 50 (56, 60, 66, 72) sts.

Ribbing: Work 1x1 rib for 2" / 5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Switch to larger needles and St st (continue patchwork plan; optional Color E on upper left front).
Work even until piece measures 15" / 38 cm from CO, ending after a WS row.
(50 (56, 60, 66, 72) sts ✓)

Armhole shaping (Left Front)

Next row (RS): BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts, k to end.
46 (52, 55, 61, 66) sts ✓
Work 1 WS row even.

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, k to end.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep last 2 rows 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) more times.
42 (47, 50, 55, 60) sts ✓

Work even until armhole measures 4.5 (5, 5.25, 5.75, 6)" / 11.5 (12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 15) cm from first armhole BO, ending after a RS row
(neck shaping begins on a WS row so bind-offs sit at neck edge).

Neck shaping (Left Front)

Next row (WS): BO 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts (neck edge), p to end.
30 (34, 36, 40, 44) sts ✓

Dec row (RS): K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep last 2 rows 7 (8, 8, 9, 10) more times.
22 (25, 27, 30, 33) sts ✓
(8 (9, 9, 10, 11) neck decs total ✓)

Work even if needed until armhole matches Back armhole depth, ending after a WS row.
BO rem 22 (25, 27, 30, 33) shoulder sts on RS.
(Shoulder matches Back shoulder ✓)

Right Front

With smaller needles and Color A, CO 50 (56, 60, 66, 72) sts.

Ribbing: Work 1x1 rib for 2" / 5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Switch to larger needles and St st (patchwork as for Left Front / Back).
Work even until piece measures 15" / 38 cm from CO, ending after a RS row
(so armhole BO is worked on WS at the armhole edge).

Armhole shaping (Right Front)

Next row (WS): BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts, p to end.
46 (52, 55, 61, 66) sts ✓
Dec row (RS): K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep last 2 rows 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) more times.
42 (47, 50, 55, 60) sts ✓

Work even until armhole measures 4.5 (5, 5.25, 5.75, 6)" / 11.5 (12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 15) cm from first armhole BO, ending after a WS row.

Neck shaping (Right Front)

Next row (RS): BO 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts (neck edge), k to end.
30 (34, 36, 40, 44) sts ✓
Work 1 WS row even.

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, k to end.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep last 2 rows 7 (8, 8, 9, 10) more times.
22 (25, 27, 30, 33) sts ✓

Work even if needed until armhole matches Back. BO rem shoulder sts on RS.
(Shoulder matches Back ✓)

SLEEVES (make 2)

With smaller needles and sleeve color (D or E), CO 48 (50, 52, 54, 56) sts.

Ribbing: Work 1x1 rib for 2" / 5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Switch to larger needles and St st.
Inc row (RS): K1, M1R, k to last st, M1L, k1.
Work 5 (5, 5, 3, 3) rows even.
Rep Inc row every 6th (6th, 6th, 4th, 4th) row 9 (11, 13, 15, 17) more times.
68 (74, 80, 86, 92) sts ✓
(10 (12, 14, 16, 18) inc rows × 2 sts = 20 (24, 28, 32, 36) sts increased; 48+20=68, 50+24=74, 52+28=80, 54+32=86, 56+36=92 ✓)

Work even until sleeve measures 17.5 (18, 18, 18.5, 18.5)" / 44.5 (45.5, 45.5, 47, 47) cm from CO, ending after a WS row.

Sleeve cap

BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
60 (66, 70, 76, 80) sts ✓

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep last 2 rows 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) more times.
42 (46, 48, 52, 54) sts ✓

BO 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows.
30 (34, 36, 40, 42) sts ✓

BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
22 (26, 28, 32, 34) sts ✓

BO remaining sts.

BUTTON_BANDS

Block all pieces to measurements. Seam shoulders (Back to Left Front, Back to Right Front), matching the 22 (25, 27, 30, 33) shoulder sts each side ✓.

Button band (Right Front — buttons sit here for women’s style)

With smaller needles, Color A (or band color), and RS facing, beginning at Right Front lower hem, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows along the front edge to the neck BO, then continue at the same rate along any vertical neck edge if needed for a smooth line.
Aim for approx. 96 (100, 104, 110, 116) sts (exact count may vary by row gauge; use a multiple of 2 for 1x1 rib).

Work 1x1 rib for 1" / 2.5 cm. BO loosely in rib.

Buttonhole band (Left Front)

With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at Left Front neck edge, pick up and knit the same number of sts as for the Right Front band down to the hem.

Work 1x1 rib for ⅜" / 1 cm, ending after a WS row.

Buttonhole row (RS): Work 5 (5, 4, 5, 5) sts in rib, BO 2 sts, rib until you have worked the next interval so that 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) buttonholes are spaced evenly, ending with rib to last 5 (5, 4, 5, 5) sts after the final BO; rib to end.
(Tip: place locking markers for buttonhole positions first—lowest ~½" above hem, highest near start of neck shaping, remainder evenly between.)

Next row (WS): Work in rib, CO 2 sts over each BO gap using backward-loop CO.

Continue in 1x1 rib until band matches Right Front width (~1" / 2.5 cm total). BO loosely in rib.

Neckband

With smaller needles and RS facing, beginning at Right Front button-band edge, pick up and knit approx. 3 sts for every 4 rows up Right Front neck, k 36 (40, 42, 46, 50) Back neck sts from holder, pick up and knit down Left Front neck to Left band edge at the same rate.
Adjust to an even number of sts for 1x1 rib (typical total ~ 90 (98, 104, 112, 120) sts).

Work 1x1 rib for 1" / 2.5 cm. BO loosely in rib.

FINISHING

1. Set in sleeves: match center of sleeve cap to shoulder seam; match underarm BOs; ease cap around armhole and sew.
2. Sew side seams and sleeve seams, matching color-block breaks where possible for a neat patchwork line.
3. Weave in all ends securely (patchwork has more ends—weave along color-change rows on WS).
4. Sew buttons to Right Front band opposite buttonholes.
5. Final block: wet- or steam-block gently to finished measurements; pin side seams and blocks straight. Let dry fully.

Wear and enjoy your stash-busting patchwork cardigan.

Technical editor’s note: All size stitch counts were verified against 22 sts = 4" gauge and the listed finished widths. Shoulder sts match Back to each Front. Sleeve cap depth aligns with armhole depth for set-in fit. Adjust body length only below the armhole to preserve shaping math.