Women's Cardigan in Novita Natura - Downloadable PDF

Women's Cardigan in Novita Natura by Lea Petäjä – Free Knitting Pattern

This Women's Cardigan in Novita Natura is a beautifully structured, medium-weight knitted cardigan designed by Lea Petäjä for Novita. Available as a free downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a classic, wearable cardigan with textured detailing, set-in sleeves, a knitted collar, and practical pockets — all finished with six buttons. The pattern is sized to fit a wide range of bodies, making it a versatile addition to any knitter's wardrobe.

Garment Overview

The finished cardigan features a body circumference ranging from 96 cm to 136 cm (37¾ to 53½ inches) and a length of 74 cm to 86 cm (29¼ to 33¾ inches), depending on size. The inner sleeve length measures 46 cm to 50 cm (18 to 19¾ inches). These generous measurements make this cardigan a relaxed, comfortable layering piece suitable for everyday wear across multiple seasons.

Sizes

• XS, S, M/L, XL, XXL, 3XL — six sizes are included in the single pattern PDF, with all stitch counts and shaping instructions clearly differentiated for each size throughout the pattern.

Techniques Used

This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, reading charts, and working multiple pattern elements simultaneously. Key techniques include:

• Working from a stitch chart — the textured pattern is presented both as a written instruction and a chart, requiring knitters to follow row-by-row chart repeats accurately.
• Armhole and sleeve cap shaping — involves binding off stitches at both ends on every other row in a precise sequence of decrements, producing a neatly shaped set-in sleeve.
• Picking up stitches — stitches held from the front pieces are picked up and additional stitches cast on to construct the collar.
• Working mirror-image pieces — the right sleeve is worked as the mirror image of the left sleeve, requiring careful attention to shaping direction.
• Seaming and finishing — side seams, sleeve seams, and a back collar seam are sewn together; sleeves are attached using markers placed on the pattern pieces for alignment.
• Pocket construction — pockets are worked using 5 mm needles in garter stitch and integrated into the garment during finishing.
• Button band and collar — the collar is worked in sections from held stitches, stretched lightly to check fit, then seamed at the back.

Stitches Used

• Textured stitch pattern — the main fabric stitch, worked following a chart with a 3-stitch repeat. Rows 2 and 3 of the chart are continuously repeated after the initial setup row, creating a tactile, visually interesting surface texture across the body, sleeves, and collar.
• Garter stitch — all rows knitted; used for the pockets and likely for border or pocket edging sections, providing a flat, non-curling fabric.
• Standard cast-on and bind-off — used throughout for starting pieces and for the stepped armhole and sleeve cap shaping sequences.

Materials Required

Yarn

The pattern calls for Novita Natura in shade (065) Bear, an aran weight yarn. The quantity required ranges from 600 g to 850 g depending on size, in increments of 50 g per size step. Novita Natura is a natural-fibre yarn from the Novita brand, well regarded for its warmth and stitch definition — qualities that make it particularly well-suited to a textured stitch pattern like the one featured in this cardigan.

Needles

• Novita 6 mm needles (UK 4