The Cordelia Cardigan is a beautiful long-sleeve knit design featuring delicate heart motifs added with duplicate stitch for a charming, handcrafted touch. Created with Lion Brand Feels Like Butta yarn, this cardigan boasts an irresistibly soft texture and cozy warmth. Perfect for knitters who love blending classic style with playful details, the Cordelia Cardigan is sure to become a favorite in your wardrobe. Scroll down for the free version, grab the digital PDF in my shop, or treat yourself to the complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn.

Usher in the season of love with The Cordelia Cardigan! Isn’t she just the cutest?

I’ve been wanting to design a set of sister designs for Valentine’s day for a while now, but usually I just don’t have my act together in time to release holiday designs. I was determined that this would be the year I could actually get it done.

Way back in August I started hunting for the perfect yarn. I knew I wanted the perfect pink and red combo for at least one of the cardigans. When I came across Lion Brand’s Feels Like Butta I knew I had found the one. It’s a super soft yarn with a unique construction and it comes in so many beautiful colors.

I loved the look of the dusty pink paired with cranberry and knew when looking up names I wanted one that was a bit more feminine but still meant something in the theme of love. Cordelia literally means “heart”, what could be more perfect? Her name just suits her so well.

I designed her crochet sister, Esme first using a combination of color work techniques. I figured I could apply those same techniques to Cordelia, but when I sat down to swatch, it didn’t work out as well as I had thought. I don’t have a lot of experience with knit color work and didn’t want my lack of skills to get in the way of the overall design. After thinking it over and looking at several color work videos I decided the best thing to do for Cordelia would be duplicate stitch. I’d used this technique before for my Pine Forest Pillow and it worked out so well. While duplicate stitch is a bit more time consuming (at least for me), I knew it would give me the exact look I wanted.

The main panels of the Cordelia are made first using Color A (dusty pink). Then we will add the hearts using Color B (cranberry) and the duplicate stitch method. I’ve included helpful charts/graphs so you can see exactly where each heart should go. I’ve also made a video tutorial so you can see exactly how the Cordelia is made. I recommend cueing up one of your favorite binge worthy shows to watch while you stitch cause it will take a while.

I was lucky enough to be visiting my family while working on the Cordelia and enlisted the help of my mom and little sister to help me sew on all the hearts. I literally don’t know if I would have finished on time without them!

Once all panels are stitched we will seam the panels together at the shoulders. Then attach the sleeves evenly to the sides. Next we will fold the cardigan in half and seam up the underarms and sides. Lastly we will add a ribbed collar by picking up stitches evenly all the way around the front. Once finished I recommend giving it a good blocking either with steam or a soak in water, especially since the duplicate stitches add a bit of thickness.

Notice any white specks in my photos? It’s SNOW! A few flurries started falling as soon as I started getting photos of The Cordelia. I hadn’t seen snow in years so it was a sweet little surprise.

The Cordelia Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Materials:

1149-1900 yards (6-9 skeins) of Lion Brand Feels Like Butta in Color A (Dusty Pink)

203-387 yards (1-2 skeins) of Lion Brand Feels Like Butta in Color B (Cranberry)

US size 7(4.5mm) circular knitting needles (24” and 60”)

Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure

Notes:

1.Pattern is made of 5 panels (back, front right, front left and sleeves). All panels are worked from the bottom up. The collar is worked directly onto the front edge of the cardigan.

2.Pattern is written in sizes XS(S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X). It is recommended to go through and highlight your size in all sections.

3.The hearts are made using duplicate stitch and are added after each panel is made.

Abbreviations:

CO- cast on

st(s)- stitch(es)

K- knit

P- purl

M1R- make one right

M1L- make one left

BO- bind off

RS- right side

WS- wrong side

Gauge:

20 sts X 25 rows = 4” X 4” in stockinette stitch

Size:

XS: fits bust 28-30” (approx. 1149 yards/6 skeins Color A; 203 yards/1 skein Color B)

S: fits bust 32-34” (approx. 1231 yards/6 skeins Color A; 203 yards/1 skein Color B)

M: fits bust 36-38” (approx. 1330 yards/7 skeins Color A; 229 yards/2 skeins Color B)

L: fits bust 40-42” (approx. 1442 yards/7 skeins Color A; 256 yards/2 skeins Color B)

XL: fits bust 44-46” (approx. 1498 yards/7 skeins Color A; 256 yards/2 skeins Color B)

2X: fits bust 48-50” (approx. 1595 yards/8 skeins Color A; 295 yards/2 skeins Color B)

3X: fits bust 52-54” (approx. 1706 yards/8 skeins Color A; 295 yards/2 skeins Color B)

4X: fits bust 56-58” (approx. 1813 yards/9 skeins Color A; 361 yards/2 skeins Color B)

5X: fits bust 60-62” (approx. 1900 yards/10 skeins Color A; 387 yards/2 skeins Color B)

Video Tutorial:

Pattern:

Back Panel

Ribbing:

With Color A and 24” needles CO 91(101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, 171) sts.

Row 1: K1, *P1, K1, repeat from * across, turn. (91(101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, 171)

Row 2: P1, *K1, P1, repeat from * across, turn. (91(101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, 171)

Rows 3-9: Repeat Rows 1 & 2, ending on a Row 1 repeat.

Main Body:

Row 1(RS): K all sts across, turn. (91(101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, 171)

Row 2(WS): P all sts across, turn. (91(101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, 171)

Rows 3-156: Repeat Rows 1 & 2.

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

Front Panels- make two

Ribbing:

With Color A and 24” needles CO 30(33, 38, 43, 46, 51, 56, 61, 66) sts.

S(L, 2X, 4X)-ONLY

Row 1: K1, *P1, K1, repeat from * across, turn. (33(43, 51, 61)

Row 2: P1, *K1, P1, repeat from * across, turn. (33(43, 51, 61)

Rows 3-9: Repeat Rows 1 & 2, ending on a Row 1 repeat.

XS(M, XL, 3X, 5X)-ONLY

Row 1: *K1, P1, repeat from * across, turn. (30(38, 46, 56, 66)

Rows 2-9: Repeat Row 1.

Main Body:

Row 1(RS): K all sts across, turn. (30(33, 38, 43, 46, 51, 56, 61, 66)

Row 2(WS): P all sts across, turn. (30(33, 38, 43, 46, 51, 56, 61, 66)

Rows 3-156: Repeat Rows 1 & 2.

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

Sleeves- make two

Ribbing:

With Color A and 24” needles CO 39(39, 41, 41, 41, 41, 45, 45, 45) sts.

Row 1: K1, *P1, K1, repeat from * across, turn. (39(39, 41, 41, 41, 41, 45, 45, 45)

Row 2: P1, *K1, P1, repeat from * across, turn. (39(39, 41, 41, 41, 41, 45, 45, 45)

Rows 3-9: Repeat Rows 1 & 2, ending on a Row 1 repeat.

Main Body:

Sizes split off here. Make sure to follow the instructions for the size you are making. You will continue in stockinette stitch while increasing on both sides at set intervals.

XS(S, M)- ONLY

XS-ONLY Row 1(RS): K all sts across, turn. (39)

S(M)-ONLY Row 1(RS): K1, M1R, K all sts across until 1 st remains, M1L, K1, turn. (41(43)

Row 2(WS) and all even rows: P all sts across, turn. (39(41, 43)

Rows 3 & 5: K all sts across, turn. (39(41, 43)

Row 7: K1, M1R, K all sts across until 1 st remains, M1L, K1, turn. (41(43, 45)

Rows 9-110: Repeat Rows 3-8, ending on a Row 4 repeat. (71(73, 75)

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

L(XL, 2X, 3X)- ONLY

L(XL, 2X)-ONLY Row 1(RS): K all sts across, turn. (41(41, 41)

3X-ONLY Row 1(RS): K1, M1R, K all sts across until 1 st remains, M1L, K1, turn. (43)

Row 2(WS) and all even rows: P all sts across, turn. (41(41, 41, 43)

Row 3: K all sts across, turn. (41(41, 41, 43)

Row 5: K1, M1R, K all sts across until 1 st remains, M1L, K1, turn. (43(43, 43, 45)

L-ONLY

Rows 9-84: Repeat Rows 3-6. (81)

Rows 85-108: Repeat Rows 3-4. (81)

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

XL-ONLY
Rows 7-86: Repeat Rows 3-6. (83)

Rows 87-102: Repeat Rows 3-4. (83)

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

2X-ONLY
Rows 7-90: Repeat Rows 3-6. (85)

Rows 91-102: Repeat Rows 3-4. (85)

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

3X-ONLY
Rows 7-100: Repeat Rows 3-6. (91)

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

4X(5X)- ONLY

Row 1(RS): K1, M1R, K all sts across until 1 st remains, M1L, K1, turn. (47(47)

Row 2(WS) and all even rows: P all sts across, turn. (47(47)

Row 3: K1, M1R, K all sts across until 1 st remains, M1L, K1, turn. (49(49)

Row 5: K all sts across, turn. (49(49)

4X-ONLY
Rows 7-72: Repeat Rows 1-6. (93)

Rows 73-74: Repeat Rows 3-4. (95)

Rows 75-100: Repeat Rows 5-6. (95)

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

5X-ONLY
Rows 7-94: Repeat Rows 1-6. (101)

BO all sts leaving a long tail for seaming.

Duplicate stitch is a technique used for color work. You will be making knit stitches on top of the ones already worked using a tapestry needle and a long strand of yarn. Start by drawing the yarn through the bottom of the stitch you want to duplicate. Then insert your needle behind the two bars of the stitch above the one you will duplicate. This creates the right side of the “v”. Then insert your needle back into the bottom of the stitch and pull tight to create the left side of the “v” and complete the stitch. Continue using this method for all other stitches.

Adding Hearts:

Using Color B and the duplicate stitch method, follow the charts provided to add the hearts to each panel. Each heart will be added individually using a tapestry needle and a long strand of yarn. Make sure to cut pieces of yarn approx. 6.5 yards for each heart and leave small tails to weave in at the end.

Each square represents one knit stitch.

It is recommended to place a stitch marker in the center bottom stitch of each heart. Start there and work your way up each heart going back and forth in rows.

The first and last stitch of each size is shown in the color coded lines.

Only duplicate stitch complete hearts. If your size has a partial heart just ignore it.

There are 29 sts in between the bottom stitch of each heart and 16 rows between the top and and bottom of each heart.

Back Panel Graph

Front Left Graph

Front Right Graph

XS(S, M) Sleeves Graph

L(XL, 2X, 3X) Sleeves Graph

4X(5X) Sleeves Graph

Seaming:

Lay Back Panel and two Front Panels together at the shoulders with RS facing each other. Using your preferred seaming method attach front panels to back panel. There will be 31(35, 35, 35, 39, 39, 39, 39, 39) sts unseamed in the center of the back panel.

Attach the sleeves to the sides of the cardigan, using your preferred seaming method, making sure to align the center of the sleeve with the shoulder seam. Make sure the sleeves are attached evenly from the center shoulder seam, down the sides. Using stitch markers to hold the sleeve in place is recommended.

Fold cardigan so that the back and front panels are on top of each other. Then seam the sleeves from the underarm to the cuff. Seam the sides from the underarm down to the bottom.

Collar:

With 60” 4.5mm needles, pick up stitches evenly around the front of the cardigan starting at the bottom right side with RS facing you. Make sure to pick up the same amount of sts on both sides of the cardigan.

(approx. st pick ups are 291(295, 295, 295, 299, 299, 299, 299, 299. You may have more or less depending on how many are picked up.)

Odd number of sts-ONLY

Row 1: K1, *P1, K1, repeat from * across, turn.

Row 2: P1, *K1, P1, repeat from * across, turn.

Rows 3-8: Repeat Rows 1-2.

Even number of sts-ONLY

Row 1: *K1, P1, repeat from * across, turn.

Rows 2-8: Repeat Row 1.

BO using your preferred method.

Weave in all ends and block.

Enjoy this season of love with your new Cordelia Cardigan! If you make one I’d love to see it. Make sure to tag me @meghanmakesdo and use #thecordeliacardigan so I can see and share.

As always you can find a Digital PDF of of this pattern in my shop, Etsy, Ravelry or as a complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn.

Happy Crocheting,
Meghan