The Arlo Cardi-Free Knitting Pattern
Get lost in the repetitive lace stitches of the Arlo Cardi. The surprisingly simple stitches work up quickly and create the most eye catching pattern. Find the free pattern below or grab a digital PDF in my shop!
The Arlo Cardi is now available as a complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn! The kit comes with all the Date Nights yarn you’ll need (in the color of your choice) as well as a free digital copy of the pattern. Head to the link below to grab yours today!
It’s official…I’m in love with knitting. After dipping my toes into knit designs, I’m hooked. I’m thrilled to be bringing you my second knit garment design, The Arlo Cardi.
This chevron lace cardigan is perfect for those cool Summer nights ahead. It’s made with beautiful Date Nights yarn from Lion Brand. This yarn has a metallic thread that runs through it, creating a little shimmer to your piece. It’s chainette construction keeps this yarn light weight which is perfect for garments.
Don’t let the lace design fool you, it’s actually really simple once you memorized the pattern repeats. I’ve even created a video tutorial to show you exactly how it is done. I definitely recommend watching it while you make your gauge swatch.
I’m head over heels for this pattern and I hope you will love it just as much as I do.
The Arlo Cardi Knitting Pattern
Materials:
858-1772 yards of Lion Brand Date Night in Dolomite
32” circular size 5.5mm knitting needles
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Stitch Marker
Abbreviations:
CO- cast on
st(s)- stitch(es)
yo- yarn over
RS- right side
sl- slip
WS- wrong side
K- knit
P-purl
K2tog- knit 2 together
BO- bind off
SSK- slip 2 sts knitwise, then k those 2 sts together
SK2P-slip st knitwise, k2tog, then pass slipped st over
Gauge:
17.75 sts and 26.5 rows in pattern repeat = 4” square
(use rows 13-22 of the back panel for gauge)
Notes:
1.Pattern is worked bottom-up for all panels. The back and front panels are seamed at the shoulders. Then the sleeves are seamed in place and the sides and underarms are seamed together.
2.Pattern is made with 2-4” of positive ease. Size down for a tighter fit.
Size:
XS: fits bust 28-30” (approx. 858 yards)
S: fits bust 32-34” (approx. 947 yards)
M: fits bust 36-38” (approx. 1057 yards)
L: fits bust 40-42” (approx. 1177 yards)
XL: fits bust 44-46” (approx. 1347 yards)
2X: fits bust 48-50” (approx. 1420 yards)
3X: fits bust 52-54” (approx. 1536 yards)
4X: fits bust 56-58” (approx. 1656 yards)
5X: fits bust 60-62” (approx. 1772 yards)
Chevron Lace Stitch Tutorial
Pattern:
Back:
CO 71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 1(WS): * P1, K1, repeat from * across. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 2(RS): * K1, P1, repeat from * across. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 3-12: repeat Rows 1 & 2.
Row 13 and all WS rows: P across. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 14(RS): * K5, yo, ssk, K3, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 16: * K3, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, K2, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 18: * K2, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 20: * K1, k2tog, yo, K5, yo, ssk, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Row 22: k2tog, yo, K7, * yo, SK2P, yo, K7, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, yo, ssk. (71(81, 91, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141, 151)
Repeat Rows 13-22 15(15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16) more times for a total of 172(172, 172, 172, 182, 182, 182, 182, 182) rows.
XS/S/M/L
Row 173: P all sts.
Row 174: K all sts.
Row 175: P all sts.
XL/2X/3X/4X/5X
Row 183: P all sts.
Row 184: K all sts.
Row 185: P all sts.
BO leaving a long tail for seaming.
Front Panels: (make two)
XS/M/XL/4X
CO 31(41, 51, 61)
Row 1(WS): * P1, K1, repeat from * across. (31(41, 51, 61)
Row 2(RS): * K1, P1, repeat from * across. (31(41, 51, 61)
Row 3-12: repeat Rows 1 & 2.
Row 13 and all WS rows: P across. (31(41, 51, 61)
Row 14(RS): * K5, yo, ssk, K3, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (31(41, 51, 61)
Row 16: * K3, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, K2, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (31(41, 51, 61)
Row 18: * K2, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (31(41, 51, 61)
Row 20: * K1, k2tog, yo, K5, yo, ssk, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (31(41, 51, 61)
Row 22: k2tog, yo, K7, * yo, SK2P, yo, K7, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, yo, ssk. (31(41, 51, 61)
Repeat Rows 13-22 15(15, 16, 16) more times for a total of 172(172,182, 182) rows.
XS/M
Row 173: P all sts.
Row 174: K all sts.
Row 175: P all sts.
XL/4X
Row 183: P all sts.
Row 184: K all sts.
Row 185: P all sts.
BO leaving a long tail for seaming.
Front Panels: (make two)
S/L/2X
CO 35(45, 55)
Row 1(WS): * P1, K1, repeat from * across. (35(45, 55)
Row 2(RS): * K1, P1, repeat from * across. (35(45, 55)
Row 3-12: repeat Rows 1 & 2.
Row 13 and all WS rows: P across. (35(45, 55)
Row 14(RS): K7, yo, ssk, * K8, yo, ssk, repeat from * until 6 sts remain, K6. (35(45, 55)
Row 16: K5, * k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, K5 repeat from * across. (35(45, 55)
Row 18: K4, * k2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K3, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (35(45, 55)
Row 20: K3, * k2tog, yo, K5, yo, ssk, K1, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, K2. (35(45, 55)
Row 22: K2, k2tog, yo, K7, * yo, SK2P, yo, K7, repeat from * until 4 sts remain, yo, ssk, K2. (35(45, 55)
Repeat Rows 13-22 15(15, 16) more times for a total of 172(172,182) rows.
S/L
Row 173: P all sts.
Row 174: K all sts.
Row 175: P all sts.
2X
Row 183: P all sts.
Row 184: K all sts.
Row 185: P all sts.
BO leaving a long tail for seaming.
Front Panels: (make two)
3X/5X
CO 57(67)
Row 1(WS): * P1, K1, repeat from * across. (57(67)
Row 2(RS): * K1, P1, repeat from * across. (57(67)
Row 3-12: repeat Rows 1 & 2.
Row 13 and all WS rows: P across. (57(67)
Row 14(RS): * K8, yo, ssk, repeat from * until 7 sts remain, K7. (57(67)
Row 16: K6, * k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, K5 repeat from * across until 6 sts remain, K6. (57(67)
Row 18: K5, * k2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K3, repeat from * until 2 sts remains, K2. (57(67)
Row 20: K4, * k2tog, yo, K5, yo, ssk, K1, repeat from * until 3 sts remain, K3. (57(67)
Row 22: K3, k2tog, yo, K7, * yo, SK2P, yo, K7, repeat from * until 5 sts remain, yo, ssk, K3. (57(67)
Repeat Rows 13-22 16(16) more times for a total of 182(182) rows.
Row 183: P all sts.
Row 184: K all sts.
Row 185: P all sts.
BO leaving a long tail for seaming.
Sleeves: (make two)
For a tighter fitting sleeve, size down. See size chart for sleeve circumference.
XS/S/M/L/XL
CO 63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 1(WS): * P1, K1, repeat from * across. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 2(RS): * K1, P1, repeat from * across. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 3-12: repeat Rows 1 & 2.
Row 13 and all WS rows: P across. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 14(RS): K6, yo, ssk, * K8, yo, ssk, repeat from * until 5 sts remain, K5. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 16: K4, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, * K5, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, repeat from * until 4 sts remain, K4. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 18: K3, * k2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K3, repeat from * across. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 20: K2, * k2tog, yo, K5, yo, ssk, K1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Row 22: K1, k2tog, yo, K7, * yo, SK2P, yo, K7, repeat from * until 3 sts remain, yo, ssk, K1. (63(63, 63, 73, 73)
Repeat Rows 13-22 3(3, 3, 3, 3) more times for a total of 52(52, 52, 52, 52) rows.
Row 53: P all sts.
Row 54: K all sts.
Row 55: P all sts.
BO leaving a long tail for seaming.
2X/3X/4X/5X
CO 81(81, 91, 91)
Row 1(WS): * P, K, repeat from * across. (81(81, 91, 91)
Row 2(RS): * K, P, repeat from * across. (81(81, 91, 91)
Row 3-12: repeat Rows 1 & 2.
Row 13 and all WS rows: P across. (81(81, 91, 91)
Row 14(RS): * K5, yo, ssk, K3, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (81(81, 91, 91)
Row 16: * K3, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, K2, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (81(81, 91, 91)
Row 18: * K2, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K1, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (81(81, 91, 91)
Row 20: * K1, k2tog, yo, K5, yo, ssk, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (81(81, 91, 91)
Row 22: k2tog, yo, K7, * yo, SK2P, yo, K7, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, yo, ssk. (81(81, 91, 91)
Repeat Rows 13-22 2(2, 2, 2) more times for a total of 42(42, 42, 42) rows.
Row 43: P all sts.
Row 44: K all sts.
Row 45: P all sts.
BO leaving a long tail for seaming.
Seaming:
Lay Back Panel and two Front Panels together at the shoulders with RS facing up. Using the invisible seaming method attach front panels to back panels, leaving 9(11, 9, 11, 9, 11, 17, 19, 17) sts unworked in the center.
Attach the sleeves to the sides of the cardigan making sure to align the center of the sleeve with the shoulder seam. You may need to skip a row on the cardigan sides every couple of stitches to fit the sleeves in without bunching. It is helpful to use stitch markers to line up the sleeve exactly where you need it. Make sure the sleeves are attached evenly from the center shoulder seam, down the sides.
Fold cardigan so that the back and front panels are on top of each other. Then seam the underarms and sides using your preferred method of seaming.
Collar:
The collar is made in two parts by picking up stitches along the edge of the front panels and unworked stitches along the back panel.
With RS facing and leaving a long tail of yarn, pick up stitches starting at the bottom right front panel. Pick up stitches evenly along the right front panel and the unworked stitches along the back panel stopping in the center. You should have a multiple of 2 +1. A good rule of thumb is to pick up 5 sts for every 7 rows.
Then work 5 rows of 1X1 rib knit before casting off.
For the second section, with RS facing start picking up stitches in the center of the back panel and then along the left front panel to the bottom of the cardigan.
Then work 5 rows of 1X1 rib knit before casting off.
Seam the two sections together at the back of the collar.
Weave in all ends and block if needed.
Now you’re ready to rock your brand new Arlo Cardi!
I couldn’t have made this pattern without the help of my amazing testers. Check out their gorgeous work below.
Top Row: @agentshellfish, @carochristi, @flamingo_knits
Middle Row: @knitgems, @littlewaycrochet, @lochnesstrekkie
Bottom Row: @snuggly_snuggles, @thecrochetstak, @thethreeemom
As always you can find the PDF version of this pattern in my shop, Etsy or Ravelry.
Or grab the complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn!
If you make an Arlo, I’d love to see it. Make sure to tag me @meghanmakesdo on social media and use the hashtags #thearlocardi and #meghanmakesdo.
Happy Knitting,
Meghan
