Knit a simple cardigan with an easy lace pattern with the Lace Back Cardigan!

Design Story and Inspiration for the Lace Back Cardigan

I love cardigans. I wear them all the time, and when I was a teacher they were my “uniform” because I never knew what the temperature was going to be in my classroom. Plus I just love the way they look!

When I realized there weren’t many cardigan patterns here on my site I decided to change that, starting with this one!

I wanted an easy pattern with just a touch of a challenge in a simple lace pattern. I think it turned out well for an oversized cardi!

Yarn Options for Our Cardigan Pattern

I chose Lion Brand Jeans yarn for this pattern because it’s easy to care for, is super comfy next to the skin and is an affordable choice.

I usually will wear a sleeveless shirt under my cardigans, so something that felt good next to the skin was a must. This turned out soft and comfy and will definitely be in my closet from now on.

I also love that I can easily wash this when I need to. I have some store bought cardigans that I have to take to the dry cleaners, and not only is that way more expensive, it’s also a hassle. This yarn doesn’t need babying like that, nor does it break the bank!

Jeans yarn is a worsted weight yarn (category #4) in the CYC Standard Yarn Weight System, and you can feel free to substitute any yarn that gets the same gauge.

Pattern Details for the Lace Back Cardi

This sweater is meant to be oversized, worn open in the front and is a casual sweater, even though the lace on the back takes it up a notch.

It’s a drop shoulder design, which means you won’t have to worry about shaping the lace panel in the back, which was a goal of mine when designing it. Not only is it harder to shape a knitted lace, but it’s also harder for the everyday knitter to work the pattern, and I wanted something that would be a bit of a challenge but not confusing at all.

The body of the cardi is worked in one piece to the armholes, then split for the fronts and back, meaning less seaming.

The sleeves are picked up and worked in the round from the top down, so the only seaming you have to do is at the collar and neck area…. a HUGE time saver!

Buy the ad-free PDF of the Lace Back Cardigan here

Lace Back Cardigan

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Lion Brand Jeans, 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9) skeins Faded (Worsted weight #4)

Needles: US Size 6 (4.00mm) and 7 (4.5mm) circular needles and dpns

Notions: Yarn needle, stitch holders, stitch markers, scissors

Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4” (10cm) in St st with larger needles

Finished Size: written as XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL), 35.25 (38.5, 41.5, 45, 48, 51,25, 54.5)” chest, 24 (24, 24, 26, 26, 26, 26)” length for an oversized fit (designed with 4-5″ of positive ease)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
Knit (k)
Purl (p)
Slip Slip Knit (ssk) – slip one stitch knitwise, slip one stitch purlwise, insert LH needle into stitches as if to knit, knit together (1 st dec)
Knit 2 together (k2tog) – insert RH needle into next 2 sts as if to knit, knit together as one (1 st dec)
Yarn Over (yo)

Lace Pattern (multiple of 8+1): 
Row 1 (RS): K1, *ssk, (k1, yo) twice, k1, k2tog, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, *ssk, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K1, *yo, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, yo, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K1, *k1, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk, yo, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 8: Purl.

Notes
Cardigan is worked in one piece to armholes, then divided for fronts and back.

Grab the ad-free PDF of this pattern in my shop!

Lace Back Cardigan Pattern

Body

With smaller needles, cast on 177 (193, 209, 225, 241, 257, 273) sts.

Work in k2p2 rib for 2.5”.  Change to larger needles.

Set Up Row (RS): (K2p2) 3x, k32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56) front sts, pm for side seam, begin lace pattern for 89 (97, 105, 113, 121, 129, 137) sts, pm for side seam, k32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56), (k2p2) to end for second front.

Continue working fronts in K2P2 rib and St st as established and back in lace pattern until piece measures 14 (15, 14.5, 15.5, 12.5, 14, 13)” from beg, ending with a WS row.

Divide for front and back

Place front stitches on holder.

Work in lace pattern for back until piece measures 24 (24, 24, 26, 26, 26, 26)” from beg. 

Bind off all sts.

Front (Work both sides at same time with separate balls of yarn)

Place stitches from holders onto larger needles with RS facing.

Dec 1 st at neck edge right beside the k2p2 rib every 2nd row 4 (7, 5, 6, 5, 4, 2) times, then every 4th row 11 (9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18) times – 17 (20, 24, 26, 29, 32, 36) sts per side.

Continue in St st and k2p2 rib as established until piece measures 24 (24, 24, 26, 26, 26, 26)”. 

Bind off Stockinette sts and continue working on k2p2 rib until 3.5 (4, 4.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6, 7)” from bound off edge. 

Stitch shoulder seams.  Stitch collar portion (k2p2 rib worked after shoulder bind off) to back neck and stitch bound off k2p2 edges together. 

Sleeve (Make 2)

Beginning at bottom of armhole opening and with larger needles, pick up and knit 90 (90, 96, 106, 110, 120, 130) sts evenly around armhole opening (half of the sts to shoulder seam for front, second half of sts to bottom of armhole opening for back).  Pm to note beg of round at bottom of armhole.

Working in St st (k every round), dec 1 st each side of marker every 4th rnd 18 (20, 21, 19, 20, 20, 20) times, then every 2nd rnd 7 (4, 4, 10, 9, 11, 14) times – 40 (42, 46, 48, 52, 58, 62) sts.

Work even in St st until sleeve measures 14 (15, 15, 15.5, 16, 17, 17)” from armhole.

Next Rnd: Dec 0 (2, 2, 0, 0, 2, 2) sts evenly on next rnd for k2p2 rib.

Change to smaller dpn’s and work in k2p2 rib for 2 (2, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2, 2)”.

Bind off in rib.

Finishing 

Weave in ends. 

Block lightly. 

You Might Like These Other Free Sweater Knitting Patterns

Final Thoughts on Our Lace Back Cardigan Pattern

I hope you’ve enjoyed this free pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it! It’s designed for advanced beginners who are ready to branch out to a bit more challenging projects without being overwhelmed, so hopefully we will be seeing some lace back cardis soon!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda