"Lily Cardigan" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern For Women in Willow & Lark Woodland

Lily Cardigan Knitting Pattern – Lace & Cable Cardigan for Women in Willow & Lark Woodland

The Lily Cardigan is a beautifully detailed women's knitting pattern from Willow & Lark, part of their Wilderness Collection. Designed to be worked in Willow & Lark Woodland yarn, this feminine, period-inspired lace cardigan combines intricate stitch patterning with classic construction to create a garment that is as elegant as it is wearable. It is rated as an intermediate difficulty pattern, making it an ideal next step for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to explore more decorative techniques.

What Is Being Made

The Lily Cardigan is a seamed, set-in-sleeve women's cardigan featuring a shawl collar, a plain stocking stitch body, and lace and cable patterned sleeves. The contrast between the clean, smooth body and the ornate sleeve panels gives the garment a sophisticated, structured look. The shawl collar adds a dramatic, wrap-like finishing touch that reinforces the pattern's period-drama aesthetic. The cardigan is available in six sizes, fitting bust measurements from 81 cm (32 in) to 107 cm (42 in), with actual garment measurements ranging from 89 cm to 117 cm, providing a comfortable, relaxed fit across all sizes.

Construction and Techniques

The Lily Cardigan is constructed using a seamed, worked-flat method, meaning each piece — the back, fronts, and sleeves — is knitted separately and then joined together. This traditional approach gives the finished garment excellent structure and shape retention. The key techniques required to complete this pattern include:

• Cables: The sleeve panels feature cable twists worked using a cable needle. The pattern specifically uses a C6B cable, which involves slipping three stitches onto a cable needle and holding them at the back of the work, knitting the next three stitches, and then knitting the held stitches. This creates the classic twisted rope effect that is a hallmark of traditional knitting.
• Lace: Lace knitting is worked alongside the cables in the sleeve pattern panel, introducing decorative yarn-overs and decreases that create an open, delicate texture. Lace knitting requires careful attention to stitch counts across rows.
• Seamed construction: Pieces are sewn together after knitting, which is a classic garment-making technique that produces clean, durable seams and allows each section to be blocked individually before assembly.
• Stocking stitch: The body of the cardigan is worked in straightforward stocking stitch, providing a smooth, plain backdrop that allows the decorative sleeve panels to stand out.
• Shawl collar: The collar is worked using a 3.25mm circular knitting needle, which accommodates the large number of stitches required for the sweeping shawl collar without the constraints of straight needles.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch – used throughout the body for a smooth, classic fabric
• Cable stitch (C6B) – a six-stitch back cable forming the rope detail on the sleeves
• Lace stitches – yarn-overs and paired decreases worked within the sleeve pattern panel
• Ribbing – typically used for welts, cuffs, and button bands in garments of this type

The sleeve pattern panel spans 32 stitches and measures approximately 13 cm (5 in) wide, forming a defined decorative column down the length of each sleeve.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is specifically designed for Willow & Lark Woodland, a DK weight yarn with a luxurious fibre blend of 50% Wool, 25% Alpaca, and 25% Viscose, sold in 50g (1.7oz) balls. This blend gives the yarn a soft, slightly lustrous quality — the wool provides structure and elasticity, the alp