How to Knit a Cardigan Step-by-Step for Beginners

_* to The Blue Mouse Knits! Today I'm excited to share my free tutorial and knitting pattern for a beginner cardigan. This is a full step-by-step walkthrough for the process of knitting a drop shoulder cardigan with long sleeves. If you know how to cast on, work a knit stitch and a purl stitch then you can knit this cardigan. It's a perfect project for new beginner knitters looking to level up their knitting skills and become an advanced beginner.

This tutorial covers everything from working your panels, shaping the armhole, binding off, seaming your shoulders, picking up stitches for sleeves, work basic decreases, seaming, blocking and weaving in your ends. Its a complete and extensive tutorial to help you along the entire process.

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Use the PDF as a companion for this video tutorial. All the specific information for your size is written in the pattern and the general instruction is displayed in the video.

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Introduction
1:23 LF Hem
4:09 - LF Body
5:44 - LF Armhole
7:21 - LF Bind Off
8:40 - RF Hem
10:09 - RF Body
11:14 - RF Armhole
13:02 - Back Hem
14:33 - Back Body
15:08 - Back Armhole
18:39 - Shoulder Seam
27:06 - Pick Up Step 1
34:38 - PU Step 2
37:54 - PU Step 2 Crochet
43:30 - PU Step 4
44:31 - Fix PU mistakes
45:46 - PU Step 5
46:14 - Sleeve Setup Row
46:59 - Sleeve Dec. Row
48:48 - Sleeve Sections A-B
49:39 - Sleeve Cuff
54:14 - Blocking
1:02:00 - Seaming
1:11:00 - Weaving in Ends
1:13:00 - Outro


PATTERN INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
This cardigan is knit flat in separate panels. Start by knitting the individual front and back panels, then join them at the shoulder with an invisible seam. Next, along the armhole edge pick up stitches for the sleeves and knit them each down to the cuff. Finally, bring it all together with a mattress seam to close each half of the cardigan.

SIZING
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4)[5, 6]

YARN
Worsted weight:
Short Length: 685 (726, 777, 845)[903, 974] yards, {626 (664, 710, 773)[826, 891] meters}
Long Length: 813 (856, 911, 971)[1015, 1072] yards, {743 (783, 833, 888)[928, 980] meters}
Note: Worsted is also called Medium #4 or Aran.

_Sample uses: Yarn Bee Yarn ID (80% Acrylic, 20% Polyamide - 252 yards {230 m}/ 142g) in the colorway Oat.

SIMILAR YARNS TO TRY:
A good yardage range to look for is around 175-185 yds in a 100g ball of worsted/aran yarn. That will most likely give you a yarn similar to yarn ID.
MillaMia: Naturall Soft Aran
Yarn Bee: Easygoing
Lion Brand: Heartland
Premier Yarns: Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted
Universal Yarns: Uptown Worsted
Big Twist: Living
Bernat: Premium
West Yorkshire Spinners: ColourLab Aran
Lion Brand: Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Worsted
Lion Brand: Basic Stitch Anti Pill Skein Tones
Stylecraft: Softie Chunky

NEEDLES
Gauge: US 10 {6.00 mm} 32″ (80 cm) circulars.
Or size needed to match gauge.
Rib: 1-2 sizes {0.5-1mm} smaller than your gauge needles
Sample uses US 8 {5.00 mm}

Note: You can knit these with long straight needles, but I recommend circulars because you will have a lot of stitches to manage.

OTHER MATERIALS
Yarn Needle
Stitch Marker (optional)
Crochet Hook (optional)

GAUGE
Stockinette - Worked Flat
13.5 sts / 21 rows = 4″ {10 cm}.

ABBREVIATIONS
BO = Bind Off
CO = Cast On
K = Knit (K7 = Knit 7 stitches)
K2TOG = Knit 2 stitches together (single decrease)
P = Purl (P2 = Purl 2 stitches)
RS/WS = Right side/Wrong side (of your work)
SSK = Slip, Slip, Knit (single decrease)
st(s) = stitch(es)


SIZING
Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4)[5, 6]

1.) Bust Circumference: 38.5 (42, 45.5, 50.5)[54, 58.5] inches, {98 (107, 116, 128)[137, 149] cm}
This cardigan is worn open in the front. The bust measurements include the 2.25 (2.5, 2.25, 2.25)[2.5, 2.75] inches, {5.5 (6.5, 5.5, 5.5)[6.5, 7] cm} front opening.
2.) Upper Arm Circumference: 13.75 (15.5, 16.5, 17.25)[18.25, 19] inches, {35 (39.5, 42, 44)[46.5, 48.5] cm}
3.) Wrist Circumference: 9 (9, 9, 9)[9.5, 9.5] inches, {23 (23, 23, 23)[24, 24] cm}
Lengths
4A.) Short Version - Total Length: 21.5 (22, 22.25, 23)[23.75, 24.5] inches, {54.5 (56, 56.5, 58.5)[60.5, 62] cm}.
4B.) Long Version - Total Length: 27.75 inches, {70.5 cm} for all sizes.
5.) Armhole Depth: 6.75 (8, 8.5, 8.5)[9.25, 9.25] inches, {17 (20.5, 21.5, 21.5)[23.5, 23.5] cm}
6.) Mid back to Sleeve Hem: 28 (28, 28, 28)[28, 28.25] inches, {71 (71, 71, 71)[71, 72] cm}