Plus Size Knitting Patterns

Patterns that keep grading

A plus size cardigan knitting pattern is only useful if the shaping has been rethought for the size, not merely scaled up. The designs collected here carry stitch counts across the full size run, with armhole depth, upper arm circumference and body length adjusted along the way. You will find open-front cardigans, buttoned classics, seamless raglans, drop-shoulder jumpers, summer tees, dresses and a good showing of accessories, in weights from 4 ply through DK and aran to chunky.

Choosing your size properly

Work from the finished chest measurement, never the size name. Measure your bust over the underwear you will wear with the garment, then decide the ease you want: 5 to 8cm of positive ease for a classic comfortable fit, 15cm or more for the oversized look, and close to zero for something deliberately fitted. Then check three secondary numbers that decide whether a cardigan is actually wearable: upper arm circumference, armhole depth and total body length. If the sleeve is snug in your chosen size, knit the sleeve one size up and adjust at the armhole.

Small alterations with big effects

• Add length at the waist, between the underarm and hem, rather than lengthening the yoke.
• Deepen the armhole by two or three centimetres for more room without adding width everywhere.
• Add short rows across the bust or the back neck to raise the front hem so it hangs level.
• Move the buttonholes so one sits at the fullest part of the bust and prevents gaping.
• Widen the sleeve independently of the body; most patterns allow this with a simple increase count change.

Yarn weight, drape and quantity

Chunky yarn finishes fastest but adds visual bulk and real weight across a larger garment. DK is the most versatile: enough structure for a cardigan, light enough to wear indoors. 4 ply gives the most flattering drape and the longest knit. Wool and wool blends hold ribbing and recover after wear, which matters over a full day. Cotton is cool but has no memory, so choose a shorter body if you knit a summer tee in it. On quantity, larger sizes can need considerably more yarn than the smallest in the same pattern, so buy to the metreage printed for your size, in a single dye lot, plus a spare ball for extra length.

Tension, and why the swatch pays for itself

Half a stitch out over 10cm becomes several centimetres across a large garment. Knit a swatch at least 15cm square in the pattern stitch, wash and dry it as you will treat the garment, and measure the centre. Adjust needle size, not your knitting style, until you match. This one step is the difference between a cardigan that fits and 1,500 metres of disappointment.

Finishing and care

Block the pieces before seaming so the edges lie flat and the lengths match. Use mattress stitch for side and sleeve seams, and reinforce shoulder seams with a length of matching tape or a firm backstitch so they do not stretch under the weight of a large knit. Wash by hand unless the yarn is superwash, roll in a towel and dry flat. Store folded; hanging a heavy cardigan pulls the shoulders out permanently.

Plus size knitting questions

Are there free plus size knitting patterns here? Yes, free PDF designs sit alongside the paid ones and are marked as free.

How much ease should a plus size cardigan have? Around 5 to 10cm of positive ease for a comfortable everyday fit; more if you want it to layer over a jumper.

Which yarn weight is most flattering? DK and 4 ply generally drape better across a larger garment than chunky, which adds bulk.

Can I adapt a pattern that stops at my size? Sometimes, by knitting the largest size at a slightly larger tension, but only if the stitch pattern allows it. Choosing a properly graded design is easier.

How do I stop a cardigan gaping? Place a buttonhole level with the fullest point of the bust and pick up the buttonband firmly.