The Easy Vel-Lux Cardigan free knitting pattern is here!! I have wanted to knit this cardigan for SO long! Once upon a time (last year) I picked up this lush velvet cardigan from a big box store, and I absolutely loved it. But then it disappeared from the store and website, so I vowed to make myself my own version so that I could enjoy multiple colours! Fast forward to now, and I finally get to enjoy the cardigan in a beautiful dark grey velvet – I am in love!!!
There are a few ways to enjoy this pattern!
- BEST DEAL – Get is as a Lion Brand Yarn Kit!! – The Kit includes the pattern + the exact yarn I used (in 3 shades to choose from!) sent directly to your door.
- Get the Ad-Free PDF on Ravelry!! – Download the pdf and save it for later.
- Get it free on the blog – continue reading for the full pattern!
I can’t wait to see all of your beautiful cardigans appearing on my instagram feed, be sure to tag me @coco.crochet.lee and use hashtag #cococrochetlee!
Difficulty
Experienced Beginner.
Yarn
Lion Brand Yarn Vel-Lux (246 yds/150g): 5 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10) balls #150 Charcoal
Materials
US Size 10/6mm knitting needles, 24” circular cord, yarn needle, scissors.
Abbreviations
K = knit
P = purl
Yo = yarn over
K2tog = knit two together.
SSK = slip, slip, knit – slip next two stitches knit wise to right needle, knit these two sts together.
Sl = slip
M1L = make 1 left – pick up the bar between the stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back. Then knit into the back of the stitch.
M1R = make 1 right – pick up the bar between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from the back to the front. Then knit into the front of this stitch.
Size/Measurements
XS (Small, Med, Lg, 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x)
30-34 (34-38, 38-40, 40-44, 44-48, 48-52, 52-56, 56-60, 60-64)”
Gauge
13sts x 21 rows = 4”
Notes
- Sizes are listed starting with XS with the rest in parentheses. Use a highlighter to mark your size to keep track of your rows.
Instructions
Back
CO 74 (78, 82, 86, 90, 98, 102, 106, 110).
Row 1: K2, P2 until piece measures 2¼”
Row 2 (RS): K across, turn.
Row 3: P across, turn.
Repeat Rows 2-3 until piece measures 15¼ (15¼, 15½, 15½, 16, 16, 16, 16¼, 16½)” from the beginning, ending with a WS row.
Shape Armholes
Row 1: BO 6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7) sts, k across, turn–68 (72, 76, 80, 84, 92, 96, 100, 104) sts.
Row 2: BO 6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7) sts, p across, turn–62 (66, 70, 74, 78, 86, 90, 94, 98) sts.
Row 3: K1, ssk, k across to last 3, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 4: P across, turn.
Repeat Rows 3-4, 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 9, 8, 8, 8) times.
Row 5: K across, turn.
Row 6: P across, turn.
Row 7: K1, ssk, k across to last 3, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 8: P across, turn.
Repeat Rows 5-8, 7 (7, 7, 7, 8, 6, 7, 8, 8) times.
Rows 9-10: Repeat Rows 3-4, 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 8) times–32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 40, 44, 46, 48) sts.
Work 1 RS Row even, BO all sts.
Left Front
CO 35 (39, 39, 43, 43, 47, 51, 51, 55) sts.
Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3, turn.
Row 2: P3, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end, turn.
Work even until piece measures 2¼” ending with a WS row.
Row 3: K1, ssk, ssk, k across to last 3, k2tog, k1, turn–34 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 50, 52) sts.
Row 4: P across, turn.
Row 5: K across, turn.
Repeat Rows 4-5 until piece measures 14¼ (14¼, 14½, 14½, 15, 15, 15, 15¼, 14¾)” from beginning.
Shape Neck
Row 1: K across, turn.
Row 2: P across, turn.
Row 3: K across to last 3, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0 ,1, 0, 1) time, k to end, turn.
Row 4: BO 6 sts, p1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p across, turn.
Row 5: K across to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 6: P across, turn.
Row 7: K1, ssk, k across, turn.
Row 8: P across, turn.
Row 9: K1, ssk, k across to last 3, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 10: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 11: K1, ssk, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 12: P across, turn.
Row 13: K1, ssk, k across, turn.
Row 14: P across, turn.
Row 15: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k across to last 3, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end.
Row 16: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 17: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0), k to end, turn.
Row 18: P to end, turn.
Row 19: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 20: P across, turn.
Row 21: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 22: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 23: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 24: P across, turn.
Row 25: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 26: P across, turn.
Row 27: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 28: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 29: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k across to last 3, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 30: P across, turn.
Row 31: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 32: P across, turn.
Row 33: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 34: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 35: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end.
Row 36: P across, turn.
Row 37: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 38: P to end, turn.
Row 39: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 40: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 41: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 42: P across, turn.
Row 43: K1, ssk 1 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 44: P across, turn.
Row 45: K1, ssk 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 46: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 47: K1, ssk 1 (1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 48: P across, turn.
Row 49: K1, ssk, k to end, turn.
Row 50: P across, turn.
Row 51: K1, ssk 0 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 52: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 53: K1, ssk 0 (0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 54: P across, turn.
Row 55: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 56: P across, turn.
Row 57: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end.
Row 58: P1, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 59: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 60: P across, turn.
Size XS only BO all sts.
Sizes reflect S-5x with sizes med-5x in parenthesis.
Row 61: K1 ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 62: P across, turn.
Row 63: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 64: P1, p2tog 1 (1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 65: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 66: P across, turn.
Row 67: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 68: P across, turn.
Row 69: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 70: P1, p2tog 1 (1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 71: P across, turn.
Row 72: K across, turn.
Size Medium only, BO all sts.
Size Small, repeat Rows 1-6.
Sizes lg-5x, repeat Rows 1-6 3 (2, 2, 6, 5, 8) times. BO all sts.
Right Front
CO 35 (39, 39, 43, 43, 47, 51, 51, 55) sts.
Row 1 (RS): K3, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end turn.
Row 2: *K2, p2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, p3, turn.
Work even until piece measures 2¼” ending with a WS row.
Row 3: K1, ssk, ssk, k across to last 3, k2tog, k1, turn–34 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 50, 52) sts.
Row 4: P across, turn.
Row 5: K across, turn.
Repeat Rows 4-5 until piece measures 14¼ (14¼, 14½, 14½, 15, 15, 15, 15¼, 14¾)” from beginning.
Shape Neck
Row 1: K across, turn.
Row 2: P across, turn.
Row 3: K1, ssk (0, 0, 1, 0, 0 ,1, 0, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 4: P across to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 5: BO 6 sts, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 6: P across, turn.
Row 7: K across to last 3 sts, k2tog, k to end, turn.
Row 8: P across, turn.
Row 9: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k across to last 3, k2tog, k to end, turn.
Row 10: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 11: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog, k to end, turn.
Row 12: P across, turn.
Row 13: K across to last 3 sts, k2tog, k to end, turn.
Row 14: P across, turn.
Row 15: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k across to last 3, k2tog, 0 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times k to end.
Row 16: P across to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 17: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 18: P to end, turn.
Row 19: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 20: P across, turn.
Row 21: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 22: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 23: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 24: P across, turn.
Row 25: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 26: P across, turn.
Row 27: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 28: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 29: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k across to last 3, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 30: P across, turn.
Row 31: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 32: P across, turn.
Row 33: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 34: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 35: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0)times, k to end.
Row 36: P across, turn.
Row 37: K to last 3 sts, k2tog (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 38: P to end, turn.
Row 39: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 40: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 41: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 42: P across, turn.
Row 43: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 44: P across, turn.
Row 45: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 46: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 47: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 1 (1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 48: P across, turn.
Row 49: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k to end, turn.
Row 50: P across, turn.
Row 51: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0) times, k to end, turn.
Row 52: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 53: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 54: P across, turn.
Row 55: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 56: P across, turn.
Row 57: K1, ssk 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end.
Row 58: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 59: K1, ssk 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 60: P across, turn.
Size XS only BO all sts.
Sizes reflect S-5x with sizes med-5x in parenthesis.
Row 61: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 62: P across, turn.
Row 63: K1, ssk 0 (0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 64: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 1 (1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 65: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 66: P across, turn.
Row 67: K to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1) times, k to end, turn.
Row 68: P across, turn.
Row 69: K1, ssk 0 (0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1) times, k to last 3 sts, k2tog 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1)times, k to end, turn.
Row 70: P to last 3 sts, p2tog 1 (1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0) times, p to end, turn.
Row 71: P across, turn.
Row 72: K across, turn.
Size Medium only, BO all sts.
Size Small, repeat Rows 1-6.
Sizes lg-5x, repeat Rows 1-6 3 (2, 2, 6, 5, 8) times. BO all sts.
Sleeve
Make 2.
CO 38 (42, 42, 46, 46, 46, 46, 50, 50) sts.
Row 1: *K2, p2; repeat from * across, turn.
Work 2 x 2 rib for 3”.
Row 2: K across, turn.
Row 3: P across, turn.
Row 4: K1, m1l, k across to last st, m1r, k to end, turn.
Row 5: P across, turn.
Row 6: K across, turn.
Row 7: P across, turn.
Rows 8-17: Repeat Rows 6-7.
Repeat Rows 4-17 5 (5, 8, 8, 10, 12, 15, 15, 17) times–50 (54, 60, 64, 68, 72, 78, 82, 86) sts.
Work Rows 2-3 until piece measures 17 (17, 17, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18)” ending with a WS row.
Shape Sleeves
Row 1: BO 6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7) sts, k across, turn.
Row 2: BO 6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7) sts, p across, turn.
Row 3: K1 ssk, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog, k to end, turn.
Row 4: P across, turn.
Rows 5-6 (12, 12, 14, 14, 20, 18, 18, 18): Repeat Rows 3-4.
Row 7 (13, 13, 15, 15, 21, 19, 19, 19): K1 ssk, k across to last 3 sts, k2tog, k to end, turn.
Row 8 (14, 14, 16, 16, 22, 20, 20, 20): P across, turn.
Row 9 (15, 15, 17, 17, 23, 21, 21, 21): K across, turn.
Row 10 (16, 16, 18, 18, 24, 22, 22, 22): P across, turn.
Repeat Rows 7-10 0 (0, 5, 7, 7, 6, 12, 14, 16) times–14 (14, 14, 14, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16) sts.
BO all sts.
Finishing
Block all pieces as desired. Sew raglan seams. Sew side and Sleeve seams.
Collar
With RS facing beginning at lower Right Front edge, and ending at lower Left Front edge, pick up and knit approximately 1 st in each BO st, 2 sts for every 3 rows along vertical edges, and 3 sts for every 4 rows along diagonal edges, ensuring that you end with a multiple of 4 sts + 2 for ribbing.
Work 2×2 rib for 3”. BO all sts, weave in ends.
