Weekend V-Neck Cardigan

A beginner-friendly women’s V-neck cardigan in DK yarn. Worked flat in pieces from the bottom up in stockinette stitch with 1×1 rib hems. Seven-stitch button bands are knit along with each front (not picked up later). Set-in sleeves; all increases are kfb.

Skill level: Beginner

Materials

Yarn: DK weight (category 3), approximately 1400 (1525, 1650, 1775, 1900) yd / 1280 (1395, 1510, 1625, 1740) m. A smooth wool or wool-blend that holds a clear stitch is ideal.

Needles: US 6 (4 mm) knitting needles — straight or a 24" (60 cm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions:

• 6 buttons, ¾" (19 mm) diameter
• 2 stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Measuring tape

Gauge

22 stitches and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 6 (4 mm) needles, after blocking.

Take time to check gauge. Change needle size if needed so that 22 sts = 4" (10 cm).

Sizes

Instructions are written for XS (S, M, L, XL). Medium is the third number. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. Circle your size throughout before you begin.

To fit bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)" / 81 (91, 102, 112, 122) cm
Finished bust (closed, bands overlapping): 35½ (40, 44½, 48¾, 53)" / 90 (102, 113, 124, 135) cm
Finished length: 21 (22, 23, 24, 25)" / 53.5 (56, 58.5, 61, 63.5) cm
Length to underarm: 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm
Armhole depth: 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm
Back width: 17¾ (20, 22¼, 24¼, 26½)" / 45 (51, 56.5, 61.5, 67.5) cm
Upper sleeve width: 12 (13, 14¼, 15¼, 16)" / 30.5 (33, 36, 38.5, 40.5) cm
Sleeve length to underarm: 17½ (17½, 18, 18, 18½)" / 44.5 (44.5, 45.5, 45.5, 47) cm

Intended ease: about 3½–5" (9–13 cm) of positive ease at the bust.

Abbreviations

BO — bind off
CO — cast on
dec — decrease
inc — increase
k — knit
k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (1 st decreased, right-leaning)
kfb — knit into the front and then the back of the same stitch (1 st increased)
p — purl
pm — place marker
rem — remain(ing)
rep — repeat
RS — right side
sm — slip marker
ssk — slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise, insert left needle into the fronts of both slipped stitches and knit them together (1 st decreased, left-leaning)
st(s) — stitch(es)
WS — wrong side
yo — yarn over

Notes

• The cardigan is worked in five pieces: Back, Right Front, Left Front, and two Sleeves. Pieces are seamed during finishing.
• Button bands are incorporated. The 7 stitches at each center-front edge are worked in 1×1 rib on every row of the Fronts. Do not pick up a separate band.
• Place a marker between the 7 band stitches and the body stitches and keep it in place. This makes the rib easy to see.
• Band pattern (7 sts):
  RS: k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1.
  WS: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1.
• All increases in this pattern are kfb.
• Women’s buttonholes are worked on the Right Front (as worn). Buttons are sewn to the Left Front.
• Stockinette stitch (flat): knit RS rows, purl WS rows.
• Stitch counts appear in parentheses after shaping steps. A check mark means the arithmetic has been verified.
• Lengths are measured from the cast-on edge, including ribbing. Measure hanging from the needle, not stretched.
• Read each section through before you start that piece.

Back

With US 6 (4 mm) needles, CO 98 (110, 122, 134, 146) sts.

Ribbing
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Body
Change to stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows).
Work even 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 armholes
BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows — 90 (102, 112, 124, 134) sts rem (98 − 8 = 90; 110 − 8 = 102; 122 − 10 = 112; 134 − 10 = 124; 146 − 12 = 134 ✓).

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

Rep the last 2 rows 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) more times — 3 (4, 5, 5, 6) decrease rows total — 84 (94, 102, 114, 122) sts rem (90 − 6 = 84; 102 − 8 = 94; 112 − 10 = 102; 124 − 10 = 114; 134 − 12 = 122 ✓).

Work even in stockinette until armhole measures 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, ending with a WS row.

Shoulders and back neck
Next row (RS): BO 26 (29, 32, 36, 39) sts, knit until you have BO the first shoulder and 32 (36, 38, 42, 44) sts rem on the left needle after that bind-off, then BO those remaining sts.
Next row (WS): BO rem 26 (29, 32, 36, 39) sts.

[Check: 26 + 32 + 26 = 84; 29 + 36 + 29 = 94; 32 + 38 + 32 = 102; 36 + 42 + 36 = 114; 39 + 44 + 39 = 122 ✓]

Fasten off. The center bind-off is the back neck; the two side bind-offs are the shoulders.

Fronts

The 7 center-front stitches are the button band and stay in rib for the entire Front. The rest of the stitches are stockinette after the hem ribbing.

Work a Right Front and a Left Front.

Right Front (as worn — buttonholes)

This is the wearer’s right side. On RS rows you begin at the side seam and end at the button band.

CO 56 (62, 68, 74, 80) sts.

Ribbing
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1–2 until ribbing measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Set band marker
Next row (RS): Knit to last 7 sts, pm, work Band pattern (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1).
Next row (WS): Work Band pattern (p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1), sm, purl to end.

Continue in stockinette with 7 band sts in rib as set, slipping the marker every row, until piece measures 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm from CO, ending with a WS row.

Buttonholes (work these on RS rows while the lower body is in progress)
Work 6 buttonholes when the piece measures approximately:

• 1" (2.5 cm)
• 3½ (3¾, 3¾, 4, 4)" / 9 (9.5, 9.5, 10, 10) cm
• 6 (6½, 6½, 7, 7)" / 15 (16.5, 16.5, 18, 18) cm
• 8½ (9¼, 9¼, 10, 10)" / 21.5 (23.5, 23.5, 25.5, 25.5) cm
• 11 (12, 12, 13, 13)" / 28 (30.5, 30.5, 33, 33) cm
• 13½ (14¼, 14½, 15, 15½)" / 34.5 (36, 37, 38, 39.5) cm

from the cast-on edge. The last buttonhole sits about ½" (1.5 cm) below the start of V-neck shaping.

Buttonhole row (RS): Work in pattern to the marker, sm, k1, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, p1, k1.
On the following WS row, work the yo as a purl stitch so the band rib continues (p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1).

Shape armhole and V-neck
Both shapings begin on the same RS row.

Row 1 (RS): BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts, knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm, work Band pattern — 51 (57, 62, 68, 73) sts rem (56 − 4 − 1 = 51; 62 − 4 − 1 = 57; 68 − 5 − 1 = 62; 74 − 5 − 1 = 68; 80 − 6 − 1 = 73 ✓).
Row 2 (WS): Work Band pattern, sm, purl to end.

Armhole decrease row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm, work Band pattern (2 sts decreased: 1 armhole + 1 neck).
WS: Work Band pattern, sm, purl to end.

Rep the last 2 rows 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) more times — 3 (4, 5, 5, 6) armhole decrease rows total.

Stitches after armhole shaping is complete: 45 (49, 52, 58, 61)
(51 − 6 = 45; 57 − 8 = 49; 62 − 10 = 52; 68 − 10 = 58; 73 − 12 = 61 ✓).
Neck decreases so far: 4 (5, 6, 6, 7).

Neck only
Continue working even at the armhole edge.

Neck decrease row (RS): Knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm, work Band pattern (1 st decreased).
WS: Work Band pattern, sm, purl to end.

Work 12 (13, 13, 15, 15) more neck decrease rows as set — 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) neck decreases total from the start of shaping — 33 (36, 39, 43, 46) sts rem
(45 − 12 = 33; 49 − 13 = 36; 52 − 13 = 39; 58 − 15 = 43; 61 − 15 = 46 ✓).

Work even in pattern (band still in rib) until armhole measures 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, matching the Back, ending with a WS row.

BO rem 33 (36, 39, 43, 46) sts in pattern.
[Check: 26 (29, 32, 36, 39) shoulder sts + 7 band sts = 33 (36, 39, 43, 46) ✓]

Left Front (as worn — buttons)

This is the wearer’s left side. On RS rows you begin at the button band and end at the side seam. No buttonholes.

CO 56 (62, 68, 74, 80) sts.

Ribbing
Work 1×1 rib as for Right Front until ribbing measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Set band marker
Next row (RS): Work Band pattern (k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1), pm, knit to end.
Next row (WS): Purl to marker, sm, work Band pattern (p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1).

Continue in stockinette with 7 band sts in rib as set until piece measures 14 (14½, 15, 15½, 16)" / 35.5 (37, 38, 39.5, 40.5) cm from CO, ending with a RS row (so the armhole bind-off can start on WS).

Shape armhole and V-neck

Row 1 (WS): BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts, purl to marker, sm, work Band pattern — 52 (58, 63, 69, 74) sts rem (56 − 4 = 52; 62 − 4 = 58; 68 − 5 = 63; 74 − 5 = 69; 80 − 6 = 74 ✓).
Row 2 (RS): Work Band pattern, sm, ssk, knit to end (1 neck st decreased) — 51 (57, 62, 68, 73) sts rem ✓.

Armhole decrease row (RS): Work Band pattern, sm, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (2 sts decreased: 1 neck + 1 armhole).
WS: Purl to marker, sm, work Band pattern.

Rep the last 2 rows 2 (3, 4, 4, 5) more times — 3 (4, 5, 5, 6) armhole decrease rows total.

Stitches after armhole shaping is complete: 45 (49, 52, 58, 61) (same as Right Front ✓).
Neck decreases so far: 4 (5, 6, 6, 7).

Neck only
Continue working even at the armhole edge.

Neck decrease row (RS): Work Band pattern, sm, ssk, knit to end (1 st decreased).
WS: Purl to marker, sm, work Band pattern.

Work 12 (13, 13, 15, 15) more neck decrease rows as set — 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) neck decreases total — 33 (36, 39, 43, 46) sts rem ✓.

Work even in pattern until armhole measures 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9)" / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23) cm, matching the Back and Right Front, ending with a WS row.

BO remaining 33 (36, 39, 43, 46) sts in pattern.

Sleeves

Make 2 alike.

CO 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts.

Cuff
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1–2 until cuff measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.

Shape sleeve
Change to stockinette stitch.

Increase row (RS): K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (2 sts increased).
Work 7 rows even in stockinette.

Rep the last 8 rows 10 (11, 12, 13, 13) more times — 11 (12, 13, 14, 14) increase rows total — 66 (72, 78, 84, 88) sts
(44 + 22 = 66; 48 + 24 = 72; 52 + 26 = 78; 56 + 28 = 84; 60 + 28 = 88 ✓).

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

Shape cap
BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows — 58 (64, 68, 74, 76) sts rem (66 − 8 = 58; 72 − 8 = 64; 78 − 10 = 68; 84 − 10 = 74; 88 − 12 = 76 ✓).

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

Rep the last 2 rows 17 (19, 20, 22, 22) more times — 18 (20, 21, 23, 23) decrease rows total — 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts rem
(58 − 36 = 22; 64 − 40 = 24; 68 − 42 = 26; 74 − 46 = 28; 76 − 46 = 30 ✓).

BO 3 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows — 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) sts rem (22 − 12 = 10; 24 − 12 = 12; 26 − 12 = 14; 28 − 12 = 16; 30 − 12 = 18 ✓).

BO remaining 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) sts.

Work a second sleeve the same way.

Button Bands

The button bands are already complete: they were worked as the 7 edge stitches of each Front on the original rows. Do not pick up stitches along the front edges.

Band recap

• 7 stitches, 1×1 rib, every row.
• Right Front (as worn): band at the end of RS rows; 6 buttonholes as given in Fronts.
• Left Front (as worn): band at the beginning of RS rows; no buttonholes.

Buttons
Using the Right Front buttonholes as a guide, mark 6 corresponding positions on the Left Front band. Sew buttons on securely with matching yarn or thread, aligning each button with its buttonhole so the bands overlap neatly when the cardigan is closed.

If a buttonhole feels loose, tack the corners with a couple of small stitches on the WS after blocking.

Finishing

1. Block. Wet-block or steam-block all five pieces to the measurements in Sizes. Let dry fully. Blocking evens the stockinette and sets the rib bands.

2. Shoulder seams. With RS together (or use mattress stitch with RS facing you), sew each Front shoulder to the matching Back shoulder. Align the 26 (29, 32, 36, 39) body stitches of each Front shoulder with the Back shoulder bind-off; the 7 band stitches sit at the front neck edge and are not seamed to the back neck.

3. Set in sleeves. Fold each sleeve cap in half to find the center. Pin that center to the shoulder seam. Pin the sleeve bind-off corners to the underarm bind-offs of the body. Ease the cap around the armhole and sew in place.

4. Side and sleeve seams. Sew each side seam from hem to underarm, then sew the sleeve seam from cuff to underarm. Mattress stitch gives a flat, invisible join on stockinette.

5. Weave in ends. Weave all yarn tails on the WS.

6. Buttons. Sew the 6 buttons to the Left Front band opposite the buttonholes (see Button Bands).

7. Final block (optional). Lightly steam the seams so they lie flat. Do not press the ribbing flat.

Wear with the bands overlapping, buttons on the wearer’s left.