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Warmer days are here and my wardrobe is not ready. 

After having two babies, my body is a different shape than it used to be, and I still haven’t figured out what clothes make me feel confident in my own body, so cardigans are a key essential for me currently as they provide a little extra coverage around my more vulnerable areas. A big plus is that they also help carry an outfit through all the weather changes a single spring day brings. 

Being a knitter means I get to make myself the exact clothes I need/want. 

I wanted this cardigan to be breezy and made from cotton so it could be worn even on the warmest days and even double up as a beach cover up. 

Construction: The Breezeway Cardigan is worked flat from the bottom up in three separate pieces: one back panel and two front panels. Once complete, the pieces are seamed together at the shoulders and under the arms to create a lightweight, drapey cardigan that layers beautifully over any outfit.

Skill level: Beginner

Materials:

Needles

5.0 mm (US size 8) straight or 24″ circular knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

• Ring stitch markers (2)
• Row counter (optional)
• Scissors
• Darning needle
• Locking stitch markers or sewing clips (to hold pieces in place while seaming)

Yarn

I used Lion Brand Yarns Coboo, which is a level 3, lightweight cotton and rayon (from bamboo) blend yarn. 

Pictures in this pattern show this yarn in colour Taupe. 

You will need the following quantity depending on the size you decide to make:

• Size A: 5 skeins or 1,094 yds (999 m / 471 g). 
• Size B: 6 skeins or 1,334 yds (1,219 m / 575 g).
• Size C: 7 skeins or 1,627 yds (1,487 m / 701 g).
• Size D: 8 skeins or 1,875 yds (1,714 m / 808 g).
• Size E: 9 skeins or 2,192 yds (2,003 m / 945 g).

Size: This cardigan is meant to be very oversized with 10-16″ (25-41 cm) of positive ease. To give you an idea: model is 5′-7″, normally wears size medium and is in size B.

Not ready to knit just yet? Pin it so you can come back to it later!

Gauge: In pattern (ridged eyelet) stitch: 4”x4” (10cm x 10cm) = 20 stitches across x 30 rows high, unblocked, laid flat.

Notes:

• Coboo yarn tends to split especially on the first row after casting on as the long tail cast on tends to un-twist the yarn making it easier to split than it normally would. The first few rows will be slower as you get the hang of working with this yarn, but I promise it gets easier as you go. 
• It’s important to lay your panels flat when measuring as they will stretch under their own weight. 
• To change the width of your cardigan, add or remove stitches, make sure cast on number is an even number for the back panel and an uneven number for the front panels. Ensure you add the same amount of stitched to all panels. 
• To change the height of your cardigan, add or remove rows 1-8 repeats. Make sure you add or remove the same number of repeats on all panels. 
• When changing skeins, I recommend using the magic knot method. The knot will be small enough to not be noticeable and best of all, you will have no ends to weave in. 

TIP: Instead of counting rows, you can count how many “holes” or “eyelet” rows you’ve made— for every two eyelets, you’ve repeated the sequence of rows once. No matter which size you’re making, you’ll finish with an even number of eyelets.

Abbreviations and special stitches:

• CO – Cast on
• St(s) – Stitch(es)
• K – knit
• PM – Place Marker
• P – Purl
• YO – Yarn over (increases stitch count by one)
• P2TOG – Purl two stitches together (decreases stitch count by one)
• KFB – Knit front and back (increases stitch count by one)

Pattern:

BACK PANEL

Using the long tail cast on method and 5.0mm (US size 8) needles, CO accordingly size A (B, C) [D, E]: 100 (120, 140) [160, 180] sts

TIP: You can leave an extra-long tail when casting on and use it later, during assembly, to seam the side of the cardigan and save yourself some ends to weave. Aim to have roughly 48″ (122 cm) leftover after casting on. 

Row 1: K until end of row, turn.

Repeat row 1 an additional eight more times (total of 9 rows). 

Row 10/setup row: K5, PM, knit until 5 sts remain, PM, k remaining 5 sts.

We will now be establishing the pattern that will be repeated until the desired length is reached. Slip markers as you come to them. You should have 100 (120, 140) [160, 180] sts at the end of each row. 

Row 11 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 12 (WS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 13 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 14 (WS): K5, P1, *yo, p2tog; repeat from * to last st before marker, K5.

Row 15 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 16 (WS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 17 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 18 (WS): K5, P1, *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to last st before marker, K5.

Repeat rows 11 to 18 an additional 27 (27, 28) [28, 29] more times for a total of 28 (28, 29) [29, 30] times. Your panel should now measure roughly 31.5″ (31.5″, 32.5″) [32.5″, 33.5″) or 80 (80, 83) [83, 85] cm in length. 

On your next row, remove the markers as you come to them. 

Rows 235 (235, 243) [243, 251] to 240 (240, 248) [248, 256]: K until end of row, turn.

Cast off your stitches leaving a long tail (approximately 24″ (61 cm)) which you will use for seaming later. 

FRONT LEFT PANEL (when wearing)

Using the long tail cast on method and 5.0mm (US size 8) needles, CO accordingly size A (B, C) [D, E]: 41 (51, 61) [71, 81] sts.

TIP: You can leave an extra-long tail when casting on and use it later, during assembly, to seam the side of the cardigan and save yourself some ends to weave. Aim to have roughly 48″ (122 cm) leftover after casting on. 

Row 1: K until end of row, turn.

Repeat row 1 an additional eight more times (total of 9 rows). 

Row 10/setup row: K5, PM, knit until 10 sts remain, PM, k remaining 10 sts.

We will now be establishing the pattern that will be repeated until the desired length is reached. Slip markers as you come to them. You should have 41 (51, 61) [71, 81] sts at the end of each row. 

Row 11 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 12 (WS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 13 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 14 (WS): K5, P1, *yo, p2tog; repeat from * to last st before marker, K10.

Row 15 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 16 (WS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 17 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 18 (WS): K5, P1, *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to last st before marker, K10.

Repeat rows 11 to 18 an additional 27 (27, 28) [28, 29] more times for a total of 28 (28, 29) [29, 30] times. Your panel should now measure roughly 31.5″ (31.5″, 32.5″) [32.5″, 33.5″) or 80 (80, 83) [83, 85] cm in length. 

We will be doing a little bit of shaping around the neck in the next few rows, if this seems intimidating to you, feel free to skip the increases. On your next row, remove the markers as you come to them. 

Rows 235 (235, 243) [243, 251]: K until 2 sts remain, kfb, k, turn.

Rows 236 (236, 244) [244, 252]: K until end of row, turn.

Rows 237 (237, 245) [245, 253]: K until 2 sts remain, kfb, k, turn.

Rows 238 (238, 246) [246, 254]: K until end of row, turn.

Rows 239 (239, 247) [247, 255]: K until 2 sts remain, kfb, k, turn.

Rows 240 (240, 248) [248, 256]: K until end of row, turn.

Cast off your stitches (you do not need to leave a long tail on this panel). 

FRONT RIGHT PANEL (when wearing)

Using the long tail cast on method and 5.0mm (US size 8) needles, CO accordingly size A (B, C) [D, E]: 41 (51, 61) [71, 81] sts.

TIP: You do not need to leave a long tail during cast on for this panel. 

Row 1: K until end of row, turn.

Repeat row 1 an additional eight more times (total of 9 rows). 

Row 10/setup row: K10, PM, knit until 5 sts remain, PM, k remaining 5 sts.

We will now be establishing the pattern that will be repeated until the desired length is reached. Slip markers as you come to them. You should have 41 (51, 61) [71, 81] sts at the end of each row. 

Row 11 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 12 (WS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 13 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 14 (WS): K10, P1, *yo, p2tog; repeat from * to last st before marker, K5.

Row 15 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 16 (WS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 17 (RS): K until end of row, turn.

Row 18 (WS): K10, P1, *p2tog, yo; repeat from * to last st before marker, K5.

Repeat rows 11 to 18 an additional 27 (27, 28) [28, 29] more times for a total of 28 (28, 29) [29, 30] times. Your panel should now measure roughly 31.5″ (31.5″, 32.5″) [32.5″, 33.5″) or 80 (80, 83) [83, 85] cm in length. 

We will be doing a little bit of shaping around the neck in the next few rows, if this seems intimidating to you, feel free to skip the increases. On your next row, remove the markers as you come to them. 

Rows 235 (235, 243) [243, 251]: K1, kfb, k end of row, turn.

Rows 236 (236, 244) [244, 252]: K until end of row, turn.

Rows 237 (237, 245) [245, 253]: K1, kfb, k end of row, turn.

Rows 238 (238, 246) [246, 254]: K until end of row, turn.

Rows 239 (239, 247) [247, 255]: K1, kfb, k end of row, turn.

Rows 240 (240, 248) [248, 256]: K until end of row, turn.

Cast off your stitches leaving a long tail (approximately 48″ (122 cm)) which you will use for seaming later. 

Assembly: 

Lay the back panel of your cardigan down with the wrong side facing up. Lay the front panels over it on their respective sides (the wider edge band and the increases done in the last few rows of each front panels should be in the center, where the neck will go), with the right sides facing up. 

Seaming the shoulders

Using the tail left during the back panel cast off, seam the back panel to the front left (when wearing) panel using the mattress stitch, or your preferred seaming method. 

Using the tail left during the front right (when wearing panel) cast off, seam it to the back panel using the mattress stitch or your preferred seaming method. 

Seaming the sides

Using the tail left from casting on the front left (when wearing) panel, seam it to the back panel along the side stopping roughly 6-10″ or 45 to 75 rows from the shoulder seam. The space left un-seamed will be the armhole. Choose the armhole dimension based on your preference, as a reference, I stopped seaming about 8″ or 60 rows before the shoulder seam. 

Repeat the process on the other side of your cardigan using the tail left from casting on the back panel making sure that your armholes on both sides are the same dimension. 

Refer to this video for help, if needed.

Finishing

Weave in your ends securely and enjoy your new cardigan!

This pattern was created for Lion Brand Yarns’ 2026 Cotton Essentials series which features a mix of 14 beautiful and summery patterns made using cotton yarn. Click on the images below to shop the other kits from this collection:

The airiness of the stitch mixed with the cotton yarn makes this cardigan the perfect add-on to any outfit even on the hottest days. 

This cardigan came out so much better than I anticipated, I’ve already been wearing it on repeat and I’m excited to take it to pool parties and the beach as a cover up this summer. 

If you haven’t worked with Coboo before, you’re in for a treat. This cardigan has such a fun and bouncy drape on top of being soft, you’ll never want to take it off. 

If you like this pattern, please share on social media using #BreezewayCardigan and tag @KnitalieCo.

If you would like to purchase the INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern, here’s the link! Purchasing the printer friendly, stylishly formatted PDF which includes 5 sizes that fit bodies from XXS to 5XL helps me continue sharing free content.

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