This basic easy cardigan is hand knit with common worsted weight yarn. Fronts and back are knit in one piece up to the armholes. The front edges are not faced, but rather have an optional i-cord edging. I say optional since front edges will roll under without any edging, effectively hiding raw edges. I still apply the i-cord myself, because it does give more structure to the edges. Cuff edges have i-cord edging as well.

Fronts meet at center front. While there are no buttons, I have added a button and a buttonhole loop at mid-chest on one of my older versions of this basic simple sweater. There is back neck shaping so that shoulder seams do not slide to the upper back and hike up the front bottom edge. Seed stitch keeps the bottom edge flat. Swing jacket styling includes sloping increases from the bust down to the bottom edge for a little shaping.

Any worsted weight yarn which produces gauge will work for this knitted sweater, including any combination of finer yarns which together constitute the worsted weight gauge below. Knit gauge in Stockinette Stitch is 5 stitches x 7 rows = 1 inches on Size 7 US needles.

Required Yardage: 1010 1050, 1225, 1370, 1530, 1705, 1890, 2050 yds.

Lavendar Basic Worsted Cardigan Variation with fur or fleece fabric lining:

Basic Worsted Cardigan pattern used as the outer shell of a fur or fleece lined jacket. I knit the outer shell one size larger than my preferred size/ease (as listed on this pattern). I altered the larger size to maintain my preferred shoulder width and preferred sleeve length, though. I cut the lining (I used “Sew Lush” here.) to fit the outer shell and tacked it into place at center back neck, shoulder at neckline, top and bottom armhole, cuffs, and along entire front edge. I added a 30 mm (1 1/8”) snap closure.