Looking for a timeless knit project? The free easy child cardigan pattern for the Youth Damask Cardigan is ready on my blog! Be sure to check out all of our free sweater patterns here.
A Classic Design for Every Occasion
When I first started designing the Youth Damask Cardigan, I wanted something that was not only stylish but also practical and enjoyable to knit. This pattern ticks all the boxes: it’s classic, comfortable, and versatile enough to suit any wardrobe. Using Cascade 220 Superwash yarn (affiliate link) ensures this sweater is not only soft and cozy but also durable and machine washable—because kids’ clothes need to stand up to everyday life!
The textured stitch pattern, which is the same one featured in my Damask Socks and Damask Hat, has become a personal favorite. Its simple knit and purl combination mimics the look of cables without the fuss, making it approachable for advanced beginners.
The Perfect Fit for Growing Kids
One of the standout features of the Youth Damask Cardigan is its size range. This pattern includes instructions for children aged 3 to 14, so it’s great for knitting matching sibling sets or even making a new sweater every year as they grow. The drop-sleeve, crew-neck design is both classic and practical, making it a wardrobe staple.
I love how the cardigan’s 3/8-inch buttons add a charming, polished finish. They’re small enough to complement the design without overpowering the texture. Plus, this pattern is worked flat and then sewn together, which simplifies the process for knitters new to garment construction.
Why You’ll Love the Damask Stitch
The star of the Youth Damask Cardigan is the textured damask stitch pattern. It gives thi free easy child cardigan pattern a sophisticated, cable-like appearance without requiring cable needles or complex techniques. If you’ve tried my Damask Socks or Damask Hat before, you’ll recognize this stitch and appreciate how beautifully it translates to a larger garment.
The stitch is rhythmic and easy to memorize, making it perfect for those moments when you want to relax with your knitting. Despite its simplicity, the texture is visually striking and will make your cardigan look like it took far more effort than it actually did.
Materials You’ll Need
To knit this free easy child cardigan pattern, you’ll need the following supplies:
- Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash (affiliate link)
- Needles: US size 6 (4mm) for the ribbing and US size 7 (4.5mm) for the body
- Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers, 3/8-inch buttons, and a sewing needle and thread for attaching the buttons
The Cascade 220 Superwash (affiliate link) is one of my go-to yarns for kids’ garments. It’s soft and squishy, perfect for cozying up in, and the superwash feature means it’s easy to care for. The size 6 needles create a neat, stretchy ribbing, while the size 7 needles ensure the damask stitch pattern has the perfect amount of texture.
Making It Advanced-Beginner Friendly
When I designed this cardigan, I wanted it to be approachable for knitters ready to move beyond basic projects. The drop-sleeve construction means you won’t have to worry about shaping shoulders or setting in sleeves. Instead, the sleeves are worked flat, just like the body, and sewn into place during finishing.
If you’re new to seaming, this is an excellent project to practice on because the textured pattern naturally hides any minor imperfections in your stitching. I also included straightforward instructions for sewing on the buttons and finishing the edges, so even if this is your first cardigan, you’ll feel confident completing it.
Styling the Youth Damask Cardigan
One of the things I love most about the Youth Damask Cardigan is how versatile it is. This free easy child cardigan pattern can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Pair it with jeans and sneakers for a casual look, or layer it over a dress shirt or dress for something a bit more formal.
The range of sizes also makes it a wonderful choice for matching outfits. Whether you’re knitting for siblings, cousins, or a special child in your life, this pattern is sure to please.
Tips for Success
- Swatch the Pattern
The damask stitch pattern looks its best when knit at the correct gauge, so don’t skip the swatch! Make sure to block your swatch to see how the texture will behave after washing. - Choose the Right Buttons
The buttons are a focal point of the cardigan, so take your time selecting ones that match the overall aesthetic. Wooden or pearl buttons would complement the design beautifully. - Take Your Time with Seaming
Sewing the pieces together might feel intimidating if you’re new to it, but remember that practice makes perfect. Use a mattress stitch for invisible seams, and work slowly to ensure a polished finish. - Block Your Finished Cardigan
Blocking is essential to ensure the textured damask stitch lies flat and looks its best. It also helps the seams and edges look neat and professional.
Why You’ll Love This Free Easy Child Cardigan Pattern
Knitting for kids is always a joy, and the Youth Damask Cardigan makes the process even more rewarding. It’s a thoughtful, handmade gift that shows your love and care. Plus, the timeless design and practical features make it a piece that will be cherished for years to come.
This free easy child cardigan pattern is a fantastic addition to your knitting repertoire. Whether you’re looking for a project to challenge your skills or simply want to create a cozy, stylish garment for a loved one, the Youth Damask Cardigan is a wonderful choice.
Ready to Start Your Free Easy Child Cardigan Pattern?
I hope you’re as excited about the Youth Damask Cardigan as I am! The combination of the textured damask stitch, classic silhouette, and practical construction makes it a pattern I know you’ll enjoy knitting. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to download your copy and start creating something truly special. If you love this sweater be sure to check out all of our other free sweater patterns here.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve made this free easy child cardigan pattern or have any questions. I love hearing about your knitting adventures and seeing your finished projects!
Happy knitting!
Materials and Info
Size: 3, 4 (5, 6) 7, 8 (9, 10) 11, 12 (13, 14)
Materials: Approximately 2, 3 (3, 3) 3, 4 (4, 4) 4, 5 (5, 5) skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash (220y/100g), 5, 6 (6, 6) 7, 7 (7, 8) 8, 8 (9, 9) 1/2in buttons, yarn needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 6(US) 4mm & 7(US) 4.5mm straight
Gauge (tension): 20sts & 24 rows to make 10cm square, using size 2(US) 3mm needles
Chest Measurement: 55, 57, (59, 61) 63, 66 (69, 72) 75, 78 (81, 84) cm
21.5, 22.5, 23.25, 24, 24.75, 26, 27, 28.25, 29.5, 30.75, 32, 33 ins
METHOD
This pattern is for a drop sleeve style that is worked flat from the bottom up with 10cm of ease. If you are a left-handed knitter there are notations to help you throughout.
DAMASK STITCH PATTERN
Row 1 – [k3, p1, k1, p1] across
Row 2 – [k3, p3] around
Row 3 – repeat round 1
Row 4 – repeat round 2
Row 5 – repeat round 1
Row 6 – [p3, k1, p1, k1] around
Row 7 – [p3, k3] around
Row 8 – repeat round 6
Row 9 – repeat round 7
Row 10 – repeat round 6
ABBREVIATIONS
K – knit
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
K2tog -knit 2 stitches together
YO – yarn over
SSK – slip, slip, knit the slipped sts together
M1R – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from back to front, then knit this strand
M1L – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from front to back, then knit this strand through the back loop
Youth Damask Cardigan
BACK
Cast on 68, 68 (74, 74) 74, 80 (80, 86) 86, 92 (92, 96) sts using the smaller needles.
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms or 1, 1 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) ins of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size needles.
Work as follows: k1 (salvage stitch) work in damask stitch pattern across to last stitch, k1 (salvage stitch) until your work measures 24, 24 (25.5, 27) 28.5, 30 (31, 32) 33.5, 35 (36, 37.5) cm or 9.5, 9.5 (10, 10.5) 11, 11.75 (12.25, 12.5) 13, 13.75 (14, 14.75) ins measured from the cast-on edge. Place markers on each end of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 36, 37 (39, 41) 43, 45 (47, 49) 51, 53, (55, 57) cms or 14, 14.5 (15.25, 16) 17, 17.75 (18.5, 19.25) 20, 20.75 (21.5, 22.5) ins from cast on edge ending after completing a wrong side row.
SHOULDERS
Bind off 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 8 (8, 9) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Bind off 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 8 (8, 9) sts at the beginning of the next row, work until 9, 10 (10, 10) 10, 10 (10, 12) 11, 12 (11, 12) sts are on the right needle (if you knit left-handed this is your left needle) put remaining sts on a stitch holder or spare yarn.
Turn and bind off 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off remaining 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 7 (7, 9) 8, 9 (8, 9) sts
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to the sts on the stitch holder/spare yarn, bind off 30, 28 (30, 30) 30, 32 (32, 34) 36, 36 (38, 38) sts, work remaining 14, 15 (16, 16) 16, 17 (17, 19) 18, 20 (19, 21) sts.
Bind off 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 8 (8, 9) sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3)sts, work to the end of the row.
Turn and bind off remaining 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 7 (7, 9) 8, 9 (8, 9) sts
LEFT FRONT (if you knit left-handed this is your right front)
Cast on 32, 32, (35, 35) 35, 38 (38, 41) 41, 44 (44, 47) sts using smaller needle
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms or 1, 1 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) ins of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Work as follows: k1 (salvage stitch) work in damask stitch pattern across to last stitch (some sizes will require an extra first 3 sts of damask stitch pattern), k1 (salvage stitch) until your work measures 24, 24 (25.5, 27) 28.5, 30 (31, 32) 33.5, 35 (36, 37.5) cm or 9.5, 9.5 (10, 10.5) 11, 11.75 (12.25, 12.5) 13, 13.75 (14, 14.75) ins measured from the cast-on edge. Place markers on the left end (if you knit left-handed place this on the right end) of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 31, 31.5 (33.5, 35) 37, 39 (41, 42.5) 44.5, 46 (48, 50) cms or 12,12.25 (13, 13.75) 14.5, 15.25 (16, 16.75) 17.5, 18 (19, 19.5) ins from cast on edge ending after completing a right-side row.
NECK
Next row – Bind off 11, 10 (11, 11) 11, 9 (9, 10) 11, 11 (11, 11) sts, work to end of row [21, 22 (24, 24) 24, 29 (29, 31) 30, 33 (33, 36) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at the neck edge of the next 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 5) 5, 5 (5, 4) rows. [18, 19 (21, 21) 21, 26 (26, 26) 25, 28 (29, 32) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at neck edge every right-side row 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 5 (5, 3) 3, 3 (4, 5) times [16, 17 (19, 19) 19, 21 (21, 23) 22, 25 (24, 27) sts]
Continue in pattern until work measures 36, 37 (39, 41) 43, 45 (47, 49) 51, 53 (55, 57) cms or 14, 14.5 (15.25, 16) 17, 17.75 (18.5, 19.25) 20, 20.75 (21.5, 22.5) ins from cast on edge, ending after completing a wrong side row
SHOULDERS
Bind off 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 8 (8, 9) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 8 (8, 0) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off remaining 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 7 (7, 9) 8, 9 (8, 9) sts
LEFT FRONT (if you knit left-handed this is your right front)
Cast on 32, 32, (35, 35) 35, 38 (38, 41) 41, 44 (44, 47) sts using smaller needle
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms or 1, 1 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) ins of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles.
Work as follows: k1 (salvage stitch) work in damask stitch pattern across to last stitch (some sizes will require an extra first 3 sts of damask stitch pattern), k1 (salvage stitch) until your work measures 24, 24 (25.5, 27) 28.5, 30 (31, 32) 33.5, 35 (36, 37.5) cm or 9.5, 9.5 (10, 10.5) 11, 11.75 (12.25, 12.5) 13, 13.75 (14, 14.75) ins measured from the cast-on edge. Place markers on the left end (if you knit left-handed place this on the right end) of the row to mark armhole.
Continue working in pattern until work measures 31, 31.5 (33.5, 35) 37, 39 (41, 42.5) 44.5, 46 (48, 50) cms or 12,12.25 (13, 13.75) 14.5, 15.25 (16, 16.75) 17.5, 18 (19, 19.5) ins from cast on edge ending after completing a wrong side row.
NECK
Next row – Bind off 11, 10 (11, 11) 11, 9 (9, 10) 11, 11 (11, 11) sts, work to end of row [21, 22 (24, 24) 24, 29 (29, 31) 30, 33 (33, 36) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at the neck edge of the next 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 5) 5, 5 (5, 4) rows. [18, 19 (21, 21) 21, 26 (26, 26) 25, 28 (29, 32) sts]
Decrease 1 sts at neck edge every right-side row 2, 2 (2, 2) 2, 5 (5, 3) 3, 3 (4, 5) times [16, 17 (19, 19) 19, 21 (21, 23) 22, 25 (24, 27) sts]
Continue in pattern until work measures 36, 37 (39, 41) 43, 45 (47, 49) 51, 53 (55, 57) cms or 14, 14.5 (15.25, 16) 17, 17.75 (18.5, 19.25) 20, 20.75 (21.5, 22.5) ins from cast on edge, ending after completing a right-side row.
SHOULDERS
Bind off 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 8 (8, 9) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off 5, 5 (6, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 8 (8, 0) sts, work to end of row
Work the next row without shaping
Bind off remaining 6, 7 (7, 7) 7, 7 (7, 9) 8, 9 (8, 9) sts
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
Cast on now 38, 38 (38, 38) 38, 38 (38, 44) 44, 44 (44, 44) sts on smaller needles and join in the round and place beginning of round marker.
Work 2.5, 2.5 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) cms or 1, 1 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) ins of (k1, p1) rib.
Switch to larger size circular needles
Work as follows: k1 (salvage stitch) work in damask stitch pattern across to last stitch, k1 (salvage stitch).
Work 3 more rows in pattern.
Next row:
inc 1 sts on each side every right side row 0, 0 (0, 0) 0, 4 (4, 0) 0, 2 (5, 5) times,
Then inc 1 sts on each side every 4th row 9, 10 (11, 12) 13, 11 (12, 15) 16, 15 (14, 15) times,
[56, 58 (60, 62) 64, 68 (70, 74) 76, 78 (82, 84) sts]
Continue working in damask stitch pattern until work measures 24, 26.5 (28, 29) 29, 29.5 (31.5, 33) 34.5, 38 (39, 40.5) cms or 9.5, 10.5 (11, 11.5) 11.5, 11.75 (12.5, 13) 13.5, 15 (15.5, 16)ins from cast on edge. Bind of all stitches leaving a long enough tail to sew the sleeve on.
NECK
Join both shoulder seams, using yarn on a tapestry/yarn needle.
With right side facing and smaller needles pick up and knit 11, 11 (12, 12) 12, 10 (10, 11) 12, 12 (12, 12) sts along right from bind off edge,
11, 11 (11, 12) 12, 12 (12, 14) 14, 14 (14, 14) sts up right front of neck,
34, 34 (36, 36) 36, 38 (38, 40) 42, 42 (44, 44) sts from back neck,
11, 11 (11, 12) 12, 12 (12, 14) 14, 14 (14, 14) sts up left front and side of neck,
11, 11 (12, 12) 12, 10 (10, 11) 12, 12 (12, 12) sts along left from bind off edge.
[78, 78 (82, 84) 84, 82 (82, 90) 94, 94 (96, 96) sts]
Work 2, 2 (2.5, 2.5) 2.5, 2.5 (2.5, 2.5) 2.5, 2.5 (2.5, 2.5) cms or 1, 1 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) 1.25, 1.25 (1.25, 1.25) ins of (k1, p1) rib.
Bind off all sts in pattern.
FRONT RIB EDGES
LEFT FRONT EDGE (if you knit left-handed still do this on the left)
Pick up and knit 61, 64 (69, 74) 75, 81 (87, 86) 93, 100 (105, 113) sts along the edge with the smaller sized circular needles.
Work 6 rows of rib (k1, p1).
Bind off in established rib pattern.
RIGHT FRONT EDGE (if you knit left-handed still do this on the left)
Pick up and knit 61, 64 (69, 74) 75, 81 (87, 86) 93, 100 (105, 113) sts along the edge with the smaller sized circular needles.
Work 2 rows in k1p1 ribbing
Buttonhole row: Work 3 sts in established rib pattern, k2tog, yo (work 11, 9, (10, 11) 9, 10 (11, 9) 10, 11 (10, 11) stitches in established rib, k2tog, yo) 4, 5 (5, 5) 6, 6 (6, 7) 7, 7 (8, 8) times, work in ribbed pattern to end.
5, 6 (6, 6) 7, 7 (7, 8) 8, 8 (9, 9) buttonholes made.
Work 3 rows in k1p1 ribbing
Bind off in established rib pattern.
FINISHING
Sew the sleeves on, side seams and sleeve seams. I prefer to use the mattress stitch because it almost appears seamless. Weave in all ends. Sew the buttons on along the left front edge across from the buttonholes
Youth Damask Cardigan PDF
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