Easy, flowy cardigan to wear in many ways

Simple pattern can create your unique style

If you want to knit a unique piece with a super simple pattern, this could be your option. Waterfall cardigan pattern is very tempting because it’s super simple (rectangular with two armholes + sleeves) and versatile. Following a few unsuccessful attempts, I decided to give it a final try with a subtle lace pattern to inject some airiness which was lacking in previous patterns.

Easy lace repeats

After creating a few swatches using various lace stitches I picked up from very helpful Purl Soho and DROPS Design (they have fabulous stitch libraries including one for lace patterns), decided on a simple lace repeats that also gives the yarn to show off its natural beauty and softness with knit/purl repeats. The pattern (below) is multiples of 12 stitches and 32 or 16 rows.

Having fun with stripes

I also wanted to use up several skeins each of three different colors of the same worsted yarn, so decided to work in a slightly random stripe pattern. Single color, color block, bold or fine stripe, full lace, solid knit/purl – this pattern can work in any combinations. This example has 3/4 length sleeves only because that was what I could eek out after creating a tie/belt. You can keep going and stop at any sleeve length you’d like.

A simple tie can add a unique element

Here’s the fun part – after trying it out when the body was done (with armholes), I saw the cardigan looked a bit too drab and lazy, so decided to attach a tie like you see in bow blouses. Because I wanted the tie to be reversible and soft, I used a size larger needle in garter. And then, I realized that if I flip it upside down, it can be worn as a cropped/belted top with a robust collar. You can play with the tie/belt and create multiple looks as you wish.

I also added two tiny blue buttons (it pays to save those buttons that come with your clothes) and added them on both ends/inside & outside to hook front ends to wear closed.

NOTE: I knit this piece in Small, and I did my best to extrapolate stitch/row counts for M/X/XL.

Diagrams and Instructions

 

Body until Armholes

• CO 174/186/198/214 loosely with #11 or larger needle.
• Switch to #7 and knit garter for 6 rows (3 ridges).
• RS: Switch to #8, knit 3 sts (for garter border) and start Pattern sts according to Diagram below – repeat 14 times for S, 15 for M, 16 for L, 17 for XL
• End every row with 3 sts garter
• Repeat Pattern sts until it measures 18/18/19/20″ in length
  • Small and Medium: 3 x 32-row Pattern+ 8 rows = 104 rows
  • Large: 3 x 32-row Pattern+ 14 rows = 110 rows
  • Extra Large: 3 x 32-row Pattern+ 1 x half 16-row pattern + 4 rows = 116 rows

Separate Body along Armholes

• Separate body – 56/60/64/70 sts for Right Rront + 62/66/70/74 sts for Back + 56/60/64/70 sts for Left Front. Transfer sts for Back and Left Front in separate needles or stitch holders.
• Right Front:
  • 1st RS – Continue in Pattern sts. Add M1 at the end to use for picking up sts later on for Sleeve:
    • Small: 57 sts, i.e., 3 (garter) + 53 in Pattern (x4 + 5) + M1.
    • Medium: 61 sts, i.e., 3 (garter) + 57 in Pattern (x4 + 9) + M1.
    • Large: 65 sts, i.e., 3 (garter) + 60 in Pattern (x5) + M1.
    • Extra Large: 71 sts, i.e., 3 (garter) + 66 in Pattern (x5 + 6) + M1.
  • All WS – purl all sts until garter border (last 3 sts).
  • Continue until it measures 8.5/9/9.5/10″ in length, i.e., 46/48/52/56 rows, ending with a WS row.
  • Transfer all sts to another needle for a stitch holder.
• Back:
  • 1st RS – Continue in Pattern sts. Add M1 at the beginning and the end for picking up sts later on for Seeve:
    • Small: 64 sts, i.e., M1 + 62 in Pattern (7 sts to continue pattern from right front + 12 x 4 + 7) + M1.
    • Medium: 68 sts, i.e., M1 + 66 in Pattern (3 sts to continue pattern from right front + 12 x 5 + 3) + M1.
    • Large: 72 sts, i.e., M1 + 72 in Pattern (12 x 6) + M1.
    • Extra Large: 76 sts, i.e., 74 in Pattern (6 sts to continue pattern from right front + 12 x 5 + 10) + M1.
  • All WS – purl all sts.
  • Continue until it measures 8.5/9/9.5/10″ in length, i.e., 46/48/52/56 rows, ending with a WS row.
  • Transfer all sts to another needle or a stitch holder.
• Left front:
  • 1st RS – Continue in pattern sts. Add M1 at the beginning to use for picking up sts later on for a sleeve:
    • Small: 57 sts, i.e., M1 + 53 in Pattern (5 sts to continue pattern from the back + 12 x 4) + 3 (garter)
    • Medium: 61 sts, i.e., M1 + 57 in Pattern (9 sts to continue pattern from the back + 12 x 4) + 3 (garter).
    • Large: 65 sts, i.e., M1 + 60 in Pattern (x5) + 3 (garter).
    • Extra Large: 71 sts, i.e., M1 + 66 in Pattern (6 to continue pattern from the back + 12 x 5) + 3 (garter).
  • All WS – knit 3 (garter border) and purl all sts until end.
  • Continue until it measures 8.5/9/9.5/10″ in length, i.e., 46/48/52/56 rows, ending with a WS row.

Combine and complete Body

• Pick up all sts in one needle – including 4 M1’s for each row, should be 178/190/202/218 in total.
• 1st RS: Continue in Pattern stitch while combining M1 sts by s2kpo at the top of right and left Armholes (2 st decrease x 2) – you should end up with original st count, i.e., 174/186/198/214.
• WS: knit 3 for garter border, purl all sts until last 3 sts to knit garter border.
• Continue until it measures 5.5/6/6.5/7 in length, i.e., 32/34/36/38 rows, ending Pattern sts with a WS row. Complete body with 6-row garter sts border.
• BO loosely.