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From classic to cozy, these knitted lapel cardigan patterns offer stylish designs for layering, cool-weather outfits, and everyday wear.
A lapel can give a cardigan a more structured look while keeping it comfortable enough for everyday wear. Depending on the pattern, you can work with simple stitches, textured details, fitted shapes, or relaxed silhouettes to create a cardigan that suits your usual style. Some designs work well over dresses and tops, while others pair easily with jeans or trousers when you need something warmer. These knitted lapel cardigan patterns cover different styles, construction details, and knitting levels, so you can choose a project that fits both your wardrobe and your skills.
Knitting Lapel Cardigan
1. Top-Down Shawl Collar Cardigan
A relaxed fit and wide shawl collar make this Top-Down Shawl Collar Cardigan by Purl Soho a useful option for everyday outfits. The cardigan is worked from the top down, with Fisherman’s Rib creating texture through the main fabric and stockinette stitch used in other sections. It comes in multiple sizes and uses US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles, with lengths from 12 to 40 inches depending on the sweater size. The gauge is 18 stitches and 36 rows per 4 inches in Fisherman’s Rib and 16 stitches and 22 rows in stockinette stitch.
2. Cardigan with collar
This Cardigan with Collar by Pat Menchini has a clean, classic shape that makes it easy to wear with different outfits. The simple stocking stitch keeps the fabric neat and lets the collar and overall cardigan shape stand out without adding complicated stitchwork. It is knitted with DK-weight yarn and has a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows per 10 cm in stocking stitch. The pattern uses US 3 (3.25 mm) and US 6 (4.0 mm) needles, making it a practical project for knitters who enjoy straightforward construction and a polished finished look. Layer it over a top or shirt for an extra layer during cooler days.
3. Lapel Knit Cardigan
Warm wool yarn is one of the main features of this Lapel Knit Cardigan by yarninspirations. The pattern uses Patons Classic Wool Roving, a 100% wool yarn that gives the finished cardigan a thicker feel for cooler days. You can choose the color you like and make a piece that works for both casual weekends and evenings out. The lapel adds structure around the neckline, while the overall design keeps the cardigan practical enough for regular wear.
4. Shawl Collar Knit Cardigan
The Shawl Collar Knit Cardigan by Yarnspirations Design Studio is a warm, easy-to-style layer made with bulky-weight yarn. Its shawl collar gives the cardigan a structured neckline, while the stocking stitch keeps the main fabric clean and simple. The pattern has a gauge of 15 stitches and 20 rows per 10 cm in stocking stitch and uses US 10½ (6.5 mm) needles. The bulky yarn and larger needles also make this a practical project when you want to knit a substantial cardigan without working with very fine yarn.
5. Cardigan with Collar
Bulky-weight yarn gives Susan Mills Knits’ Cardigan with Collar a thicker fabric that works well for cooler weather. The stocking stitch keeps the surface neat without adding complicated stitch patterns, while the collar gives the cardigan a defined neckline. The pattern has a gauge of 17 stitches and 22 rows per 10 cm in stocking stitch and uses US 9 (5.5 mm) needles. It’s a straightforward choice for knitters who want a practical cardigan with a simple stitch structure.
6. Braden
Braden by Lisa Richardson Design is a textured cardigan that combines two strands of fingering-weight yarn to create a DK-weight fabric. The cardigan is worked in moss stitch, giving the surface a subtle texture while keeping the overall design easy to style. The pattern has a gauge of 18 stitches and 34 rows per 10 cm in moss stitch with the yarn doubled. It uses US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, making it a good project for knitters who want to work with finer yarn while creating a thicker finished fabric.
7. Codona
The collar is one of the main details that defines Codona by Berroco Yarn. Its clean cardigan shape makes it suitable for wearing with simple tops, shirts, or other everyday pieces, while the collar gives the neckline a more structured finish. The pattern is rated Intermediate, so it suits knitters who are comfortable taking on a cardigan project with more involved construction. The overall design can work as a regular wardrobe layer without looking overly complicated.
8. Crafted Cardigan
Garter stitch forms the main fabric of the Crafted Cardigan by Purl Soho, giving the piece a simple texture without relying on complicated stitchwork. The pattern calls for US 7 (4.5 mm), 32-inch circular knitting needles. Its gauge is 18½ stitches and 37 rows, or 18½ ridges, per 4 inches in garter stitch. If you enjoy projects where the stitch pattern is easy to follow but the finished garment still has visible texture, this cardigan is worth considering.
9. Finnley Cardigan
The Finnley Cardigan by DROPS is a classic knitted layer with a clean shape and a simple stocking stitch fabric. The pattern uses 4 mm and 3.5 mm, 80 cm circular needles, along with a cable needle for the required construction details. The knitting tension is 21 stitches and 28 rows per 10 × 10 cm in stocking stitch on 4 mm needles. Its straightforward stitch pattern makes it a practical choice for knitters who want to work on a wearable cardigan with a neat, even finish.
10. Chantal Collar Cardigan
The Chantal Collar Cardigan by Moreca Knit combines several stitch patterns to give the cardigan a detailed, textured finish. The design uses fingering and lace-weight yarns held together to create a sport-weight fabric, with a slip stitch pattern forming the main textured section. The pattern also uses stockinette stitch and 1×1 rib for different parts of the cardigan. For the slip stitch pattern, the gauge is 26 stitches and 40 rows per 10 cm on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles. It also uses US 2½ (3 mm) needles for the stockinette and rib sections, making this a good project for knitters comfortable working with different needle sizes and stitch patterns.
11. Clara Collar Cardigan
The Clara Collar Cardigan by Famke | Mipi the Label combines Aran and DK yarns held together to create an Aran-weight fabric with a warm, substantial feel. The cardigan is worked in stockinette stitch, giving the main fabric a smooth and even finish while keeping the collar as a key feature of the design. The pattern has a gauge of 16 stitches and 22 rows per 10 cm in stockinette stitch. It uses US 8 (5 mm), US 7 (4.5 mm), and US 6 (4 mm) needles, making it a useful project for knitters who are comfortable switching between needle sizes.
12. Cable Collar Cardigan
The Cable Collar Cardigan by KnitwiseDesign brings cable detailing into a classic cardigan shape, giving the collar and overall design more texture and definition. The cable pattern adds visual interest without taking away from its practical, easy-to-layer style. It is a good choice for knitters who enjoy working with textured stitches and want to make a cardigan that feels a little more detailed than a basic stockinette design. Follow the pattern to create a warm layer with the cable collar as its main feature.
13. Shawl-Collar Cardigan
A Pyramid pattern stitch sets this Shawl-Collar Cardigan by Mari Lynn Patrick apart from simpler cardigan designs. It is worked with bulky-weight yarn, giving the finished fabric a thicker feel, while the shawl collar adds extra structure around the neckline. The gauge is 15 stitches and 24 rows per 10 cm in the Pyramid pattern stitch using the larger needles. The pattern calls for US 8 (5 mm) and US 10 (6 mm) needles, making it suitable for knitters who like heavier yarn and textured stitch patterns.
