Fern Cardigan - Knitting Pattern For Women in Willow & Lark Heath Solids by Willow & Lark

Fern Cardigan Knitting Pattern – Willow & Lark Heath Solids Collection

The Fern Cardigan is a classic women's cardigan knitting pattern from Willow & Lark, part of their Heath Solids Collection (2021). Designed at an intermediate difficulty level, this pattern produces a beautifully structured, seamed cardigan with a clean, timeless silhouette. It is worked flat in pieces and joined with traditional seaming, making it an excellent project for knitters who enjoy a more classic construction approach.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The pattern is available in seven sizes, designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 76–81 cm (30–32 in) up to 137–142 cm (54–56 in), offering excellent size inclusivity. Finished measurements include:

• Width across back: 43 cm (17 in) to 74 cm (29¼ in) depending on size
• Length to back neck: 57 cm (22½ in) to 69 cm (27¼ in)
• Sleeve length: 45 cm (17¾ in) to 48 cm (19 in)

What Is Being Made

The Fern Cardigan is a women's long-sleeved button-front cardigan. It features a neat, structured finish with a button band and six buttons as closures. The design is part of the Heath Solids Collection, suggesting a refined, understated aesthetic that suits a wide range of styling preferences. The garment is worked in DK weight yarn, giving it a lightweight yet substantial drape ideal for layering across seasons.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques that make it a rewarding intermediate-level project:

• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, following a traditional garment construction method.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces — typically the back, fronts, and sleeves — are knitted separately and then sewn together, producing a structured, tailored fit with clean seam lines.
• Buttonholes: The pattern includes worked buttonholes, a fundamental skill for any knitter looking to advance their garment-making repertoire. Neat, well-placed buttonholes are essential to the finished look of the cardigan.
• Buttons: Six buttons are incorporated as functional closures, adding a polished, finished detail to the front band.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout the body of the Fern Cardigan is stocking stitch (known as stockinette stitch in US terminology), which creates the smooth, classic fabric surface of the cardigan. The tension specification is set over stocking stitch, confirming it as the dominant stitch pattern. Ribbing or a similar textured stitch is typically used for the button bands and edgings, as is standard for seamed flat-knit cardigans of this style.

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The pattern is designed specifically for Willow & Lark Heath Solids yarn, which is exclusively available at lovecrafts.com. The sample shown uses the colourway Sand 03. The yarn comes in 50g / 1¾oz balls, and the quantity required ranges from 9 balls to 16 balls depending on size, making it a manageable yarn investment for a full garment.

• Yarn weight: DK (double knitting)
• Yarn brand and name: Willow & Lark Heath Solids, colourway Sand 03
• Needles: A pair of 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles for ribbing and edging, a pair of 4mm (US 6) knitting needles for the main fabric, and a 3.25mm (US 3) circular knitting needle for picking up and working the button bands
• Notions: 6 buttons