Nydia Cardigan
Nydia Cardigan
✨ Timeless elegance meets effortless customization.
The Nydia Cardigan is the kind of piece that works anywhere, anytime. Whether you’re dressing it up for a big day out or throwing it over jeans and a tee for a casual coffee run, this cardigan is designed to complement your wardrobe and your lifestyle with just the right amount of wow.
Worked seamlessly from the top down with compound raglan shaping, this knit is all about smooth sailing. Lateral braids add a polished touch, framing the ribbed edges and highlighting the all-over lace pattern that’s simple yet stunning and—let’s be honest—completely addictive to knit. The DK weight yarn means this beauty knits up fast, so you can go from casting on to wearing in no time.
And because options make everything better, you get to choose:
Cropped body + ¾ length sleeves? Sleek and sassy.
Full-length body + long sleeves? Cozy and classic.
Mix it up with any combo in between? Now you’re talking!
Fit should never be a guessing game. That’s why this pattern includes customization tips to help you get a flawless fit—whether you’re between sizes, adjusting for your curves, want extra length, or just making it exactly how you like it.
Why You’ll Love This Pattern:
🧶 Size-Inclusive Fit – Designed to celebrate every body, the Nydia Cardigan includes a wide range of sizes with built-in guidance to help you tailor the fit to suit your shape and preferences. Whether you’re petite, curvy, tall, or anywhere in between—you’re covered.
💡 Smart Shaping Meant to Fit You – Short rows shape the neckline just right, while waist and hip shaping enhance your natural curves without cling. This is not your boxy, one-shape-fits-none sweater.
✨ Polished Details, Simple Techniques – Lateral braids and professional finishing touches give this cardigan a modern, high-end feel—without adding difficulty. You’ll look like you spent ages on it (but it’s our little secret how approachable it really is).
🌿 All-Over Lace That’s Actually Relaxing – The stitch pattern looks intricate but is easy to memorize, making it perfect for peaceful evenings, Zoom knit nights, or multitasking with your latest binge-watch.
🎯 Clear, Supportive Instructions – Written with clarity and care, this pattern includes helpful tips, fit notes, and layout designed to keep things flowing and frustration-free, even for first-time garment knitters.
🎥 Video Tutorials Included – Need a hand with the details? This pattern comes with step-by-step video tutorials for techniques like working lateral braids, creating clean buttonholes, and adding polished finishing touches—including how to sew on buttons, even if you’ve never threaded a needle before. Whether it’s your first cardigan or your tenth, these videos help you knit (and finish!) with confidence.
🙌🏼 Feel-Good Finish – There’s nothing quite like that I made this moment—especially when it fits beautifully, suits your style, and becomes a core part of your handmade wardrobe.
💡 Not quite sure about jumping into an adult-sized sweater? Start small! There’s a little version of the Nydia Cardigan designed just for kids—same gorgeous details, just in a pint-sized, quicker-to-knit package. It’s a great way to practice the techniques before making one for yourself (or just an excuse to make a matching set, because how cute would that be?).
Testermonials
“I was really captivated by the stitch pattern and all of the beautiful details. I appreciated the layout of the pattern itself and thought it was easy to follow. I’m mostly a chart reader and the written portion looked overwhelming, but once I read through it and got a few rows in it was very rhythmic, so my advice to anybody considering it would be to give yourself some time for it to click, because it will!”
“There is a LOT of info in this pattern. You’ve actually designed 12 fully unique sizes (most people don’t), but you’ve done a good job of organizing all the details. So many patterns I knit today really only design the yoke for different sizes. After that, sleeves and bodies often have no shaping and are just knit even until hem or cuff. They are only differentiated by number of stitches in the circumference. So needless to say they are less complex. But also it feels like lazy designing. You didn’t take that easy out and I appreciate it.”
“This was my first cardigan and first test knit. I really enjoyed the process. Your pattern was well thought out and written. I loved all the details and helpful hints you included. The level of detail isn’t something I’ve come across in other patterns. It was nice not to have to run to google every time I needed to brush up on a technique. ”
“At the end of the day I have a beautiful garment which has detailed finishing and will be treasured and worn constantly and I am very grateful you let me knit it. I think your attention to detail is above and beyond and I will take some of those details on with me into all future knitting.”
What You Get:
✔ Instant PDF download (because patience is overrated)
✔ A fully customizable pattern with fit hacks
✔ Step-by-step video tutorials to banish confusion (preview the playlist on YouTube!)
✔ A cardigan that looks like a million bucks (but you made it yourself!)
👇🏼 A list of materials that you’ll need is in the Pattern Details section below!
Why settle when you can knit something this fabulous?
Click Add to Cart and let’s make some knitting magic. 💖
Test Knitter Photo Gallery
THANK YOU to the OVER 100 test knitters who helped make this pattern possible. Below is a gallery of their beautiful cardigans, shown in the order of the size made. ❤️ Click or tap the photos to enlarge them and scroll through. Tester usernames are for Ravelry unless otherwise noted.
Pattern Details
Description
Just like the pullover with the same namesake, the Nydia Cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down with compound raglan shaping. Lateral braids separate the ribbed edgings from the focal stitch pattern, a simple yet luxurious all-over lace texture that knits up quickly in a DK weight yarn. Short rows are used to gently curve and lower the front neckline, and waist and hip shaping allows the cardigan to gracefully contour your form.
Choose your own adventure between a cropped body with 3/4 length sleeves or a full-length body with long sleeves—or mix it up with any combination of the body and sleeve lengths! In between two sizes? Follow the fit customization guidelines to achieve bust circumferences ranging 31.25–64.75" (78–162 cm) instead. Tips are provided for adjusting the sweater to your liking!
Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9] {10, 11, 12}
Finished Bust Circumferences
In Inches: 29.75 (32.75, 36, 39, 42) [45, 48, 51.25, 54.25] {57.25, 60.25, 63.25}”
In Centimeters: 74.5 (82, 90, 97.5, 105) [112.5, 120.5, 128, 135.5] {143, 150.5, 158.5} cm
Circumferences are for the finished cardigan worn closed. Cardigan is intended to fit with approximately 0–2" (0–5 cm) of negative ease at the full bust. Fit customization guidelines are also provided to help you achieve bust circumferences ranging 31.25–64.75" (78–162 cm) instead.
Yarn
Plied, DK weight yarn in the following amounts:
Yards: 770–1246 (854–1364, 920–1464, 1007–1587, 1097–1712) [1166–1815, 1237–1919, 1350–2079, 1484–2279] {1623–2467, 1700–2579, 1812–2739} yards
Meters: 705–1139 (781–1247, 841–1339, 921–1451, 1003–1565) [1067–1661, 1131–1755, 1235–1901, 1358–2084] {1485–2256, 1555–2358, 1658–2505} meters
Pattern includes a table with specific yarn requirements. Samples shown in Julie Asselin Leizu DK [DK weight, 90% superwash merino wool, 10% silk] in colorways 'Safran' and 'Bisous'
Needles
US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 32" (80 cm) or longer, or needle size necessary to obtain correct gauge
US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, 32” (80 cm) or longer, or needle size .5 mm smaller than gauge needle
Appropriate needle(s) in both sizes for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round
Gauge
21 sts and 28 rows/rounds = 4” (10 cm) in textured lace pattern using larger needles, blocked
Notions
(8) Stitch markers, for raglan lines
(2) Removable markers, to mark short row turns (optional) and centers of underarms
Crochet hook, size D (3.25 mm) or slightly smaller
Tapestry needle
Waste yarn or two spare circular needles/cords, for placing sleeve stitches on hold
Sewing needle and thread (ball point needle and 100% polyester thread recommended)
(8) or (13) 5/8" (1.5 cm) buttons, depending on body length
💖 Make it, wear it, love it.
Your dream cardigan is just a few clicks away—let’s get knitting!
