Free Tie Front Cardigan Knitting Pattern – The Dance Cardi

My free and easy tie front cardigan knitting pattern will show you how to knit a tie up top for women with DK weight yarn in sizes XS to 5XL.

The Tie Front Knit Dance Cardigan

The Dance Cardi is more than just a free knitting pattern; it is a celebration of joyful movement and effortless style.

This tie front cardigan knitting pattern features a charming, loose, and flowy silhouette that makes it the ultimate seasonal cardi for women of all shapes, with instructions provided for sizes XS–5XL.

Whether you are looking for a wrap up layer for a yoga class, a ballet warm-up, or just an easy knit to tie up and throw in your bag for chilly grocery stores, this cardigan delivers a soft, handmade touch.

Designed with a classic top-down, raglan-sleeve construction, the knit cardigan is elevated by delicate seed stitch detailing using a lightweight DK yarn.

The signature tie front closure at the bottom of the cardigan offers a flattering, customizable fit that looks just as beautiful over a favorite dress as it does with a pair of casual jeans.

If you have been looking for a guide on how to knit a versatile cardigan, this tie front garment brings both comfort and elegance to your wardrobe.

How To Knit A Tie Front Cardigan

If you are wondering how to knit a versatile garment that feels as good as it looks, the Dance Cardi is the perfect project to cast on.

This free pattern is written for adult sizes XS–5XL, ensuring an inclusive fit for women. The tie front cardigan has 4-6” of built-in positive ease for a cozy, flattering fit. Plus, because it is worked from the top down, you can try it on as you go.

To achieve that signature drape, you will need a DK yarn. While the design works beautifully with a silky wool blend, this tie front cardigan knitting pattern is highly adaptable and can be created using lighter yarns held together (see pattern information).

With straightforward construction using raglan shaping, this easy and relaxing cardigan project is the perfect way to create a functional, stylish tie front piece that you will reach for again and again.

Whether you choose a classic tie front or want to add some buttons, my free knitting pattern includes instructions for both options.

Free Knitting Pattern: Dance Cardi

Pattern Information:

Sizes + Bust Measurements:

*4-6” (10 -15 cm) built-in positive ease

XS/34.5”/86cm, S/38.75”/97cm, M/42.5”/106cm, L/46.75”/117cm, XL/51”/128cm, 2XL/54.75”/137cm, 3XL/59”/148cm, 4XL/63”/158cm, 5XL/67”/168cm

Yarn:

Silky Wool, light dk wt yarn, 45% Wool, 35% Silk, + 20% Nylon (50 g/1.76 oz/192 yds/175 m).
5 (6, 6, 7, 7) [8, 9, 9, 10] skeins

You can also use:

840 (960, 1060, 1175, 1290) [1430, 1560, 1690, 1830] yds / 766 (875, 967, 1071, 1176) [1304, 1422, 1541, 1668] m) of ANY light dk wt yarn, or 1050 (1250, 1350, 1475)[1625, 1800, 1975, 2175, 2350] yds of any fingering wt yarn held double with any mohair-silk or suri alpaca-silk yarn.

Sample Yarn Amounts:

*For my green sample, I used 5.5 skeins (1,056 yds/966 m) of Silky Wool, dk wt yarn in color, “Peridot.”

For my cream sample, I used 3 skeins (1,320 yds/1,210 m) of Hedgehog Fibers, fingering wt sock yarn, in color, “Teacup” held double with undyed suri-alpaca silk yarn. Gauge was 20 sts + 26 rows = 4” (10 cm) on US 7 (4.50 mm) needles in stock st (unblocked). Note that this will produce a slightly smaller cardigan with a 2-4” pos ease.

Needles:

US 5 (3.75 mm) circular
US 7 (4.50 mm) circular

Notions:

4 stitch markers
5 slip-on stitch markers
Darning needle
Scissors
Scrap yarn or an extra cable for holding sleeves

Gauge:

19 sts + 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) on size US 7 (4.50 mm) needles OR size needed to obtain gauge in stock st (blocked).

Abbreviations:

APPROX: approximately
BEG: beginning
BO: bind off
BOR: beginning of round
CC: contrasting color
CM: centimeter
CO: cast on
CONT: continue
DEC: decrease
DPNS: double pointed needles
G: grams
INC: increase
K: knit
K2TBL: knit 2 stitches through the back loop
K2TOG: knit 2 sts together as one
KFB: knit in front and back of stitch (increase by one)
M: marker
MC: main color
M1L: make one left
MM: millimeters
OZ: ounces
P: purl
PM: place marker
PSSO: pass the slipped stitch over
P-WISE: purl-wise or as if to purl
REM: remain
REP: repeat
RND(S): round(s)
RS: right side
SL: slip
SM: slip marker
SSK: slip a stitch k-wise, slip a stitch k-wise, k the 2 slipped stitches together.
STOCK ST: stockinette stitch
ST(S): stitch(es)
TOG: together
WS: wrong side
WT: weight
WYIB: with yarn held in back
WYIF: with yarn held in front
YD(S): yard(s)
YO: yarn over front to back

Copyright Notice:

Feel free to sell your finished items made from this pattern, however, please do not copy, alter, or sell the pattern itself. For each of your listings, you must include the following: “Pattern provided by Judy Jewell of The Autumn Acorn at http://www.theautumnacorn.etsy.com“.

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You can also purchase this pattern from The Autumn Acorn, Etsy or Ravelry stores.

Let’s Begin The Free Knitting Pattern

Cardigan:

Set-Up Row: Using US 7 (4.50 mm) needles, CO 3 (3, 3, 8, 10) [11, 16, 18, 19] sts, pm, CO 9 (5, 5, 9, 11) [11, 19, 21, 25] sts, pm, CO 30 (32, 36, 46, 52) [56, 66, 72, 76] sts, pm, CO 9 (5, 5, 9, 11) [11, 19, 21, 25] sts, pm, CO 3 (3, 3, 8, 10) [11, 16, 18, 19] sts. (54 (48, 52, 80, 94) [100, 136, 150, 164] sts)

Row 1: K1, yo, *(k to 1 st before m, yo, k1, sm, k1, yo); rep from * to last m, k to last st, yo, k1. (64 (58, 62, 90, 104) [110, 146, 160, 174] sts) (inc’d +10)

Row 2: P across row, slipping markers as you come to them.

Row 3: K to 1 st before m, *(yo, k1, sm, k1, yo, k to 1 st before m); rep from * to last m, yo, k1, sm, k1, yo, k to end. (72 (66, 70, 98, 112) [118, 154, 168, 182] sts) (inc’d +8).

Row 4: P across row, slipping markers as you come to them.

Repeat last 4 rows until you have 78 (88, 96, 106, 116) [124, 134, 144, 152] back sts. (48 (56, 60, 60, 64) [68, 68, 72, 76] total rows).

Rt Front: 39 (45, 48, 53, 58) [62, 67, 72, 76] sts.
Sleeves: 57 (61, 65, 69, 75) [79, 87, 93, 101] sts.
Back: 78 (88, 96, 106, 116) [124, 134, 144, 152] sts.
Lt Front: 39 (45, 48, 53, 58) [62, 67, 72, 76] sts
Total: 270 (298, 322, 350, 382) [406, 442, 474, 506] sts

Divide for Sleeves:

K1, yo, k to first m, remove m, place sleeve sts onto waste yarn, remove second m, CO 4 (4, 5, 5, 5) [6, 6, 6, 6] sts using backward loop CO method, K across back sts, remove m, place sleeve sts onto waste yarn, remove last m, CO 4 (4, 5, 5, 5) [6, 6, 6, 6] sts using backward loop CO method, k to last st, yo, k1. (164 (184, 202, 224, 242) [260, 280, 300, 316] sts).
P 1 row.

Body:

(RS) Row 1: K1, yo, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, yo, k1.

(WS) Row 2: P across row.

Row 3: K across row.

Row 4: P across row.

Repeat last 4 rows until you have worked 8.5”/21.25 cm from underarm.

*On last p row, set up for your short rows by placing a stitch marker on either side of the cardigan dividing the front and back.

Count 40 (46, 49, 54, 59) [63, 68, 73, 77] sts from the rt edge of row (when wearing) and place m. Repeat from lt edge.

Short Rows:

(worked at bottom back of cardigan)

(RS) Row 1: K1, yo, k2tog, k across to 2nd st marker, sm, k 10 sts past the 2nd st marker, wrap + turn (or any short row method you like).

(WS) Row 2: P across to the 2nd st marker, sm, p10 sts past the 2nd st marker, wrap + turn.

(RS) Row 3: K across to the 2nd st marker, sm, k 5 sts past the 2nd st marker, wrap + turn.

(WS) Row 4: P across to the 2nd st marker, p 5 sts past the 2nd st marker, wrap + turn.

(RS) Row 5: K across to 1 st after the 2nd marker, remove marker, k1, wrap + turn.

(WS) Row 6: P across to 1 st after the rem st marker, remove marker, p1, wrap + turn.

(RS) Row 7: K across to last 3 sts (resolving the 3 double sts as you come to them), k2tog, yo, k1.

(WS) Row 8: P across, resolving the rem 3 double sts as you come to them. Do not cut yarn.

Hem:

CO Waist Ties:

(RS) Row 1: Continuing w/US 7 (4.50 mm) needles, CO 40 (40, 40, 40, 40) [50, 50, 50, 50] sts. for lt side of tie.

*K1, p1; rep from * across, CO 40 (40, 40, 40, 40) [50, 50, 50, 50] more sts. for rt side of tie.

(WS) Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * across. (be sure to p all the k sts and k all the p sts)

(RS) Row 3: Now, using US 5 (3.75 mm) needles, *K1, p1: rep from * across.

Rep Rows 2 + 3 a total of 7 times ea/14 rows total.
244 (266, 282, 302) [322, 360, 380, 400, 416] body (plus waist ties) sts.

On a RS row, using US 7 (4.50 mm) needles, BO loosely in pattern. Cut yarn.

Sleeves:

Using US 7 (4.50 mm) needles, beginning at underarm, attach yarn and pick up and knit 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) [3, 3, 3, 3] underarm sts, knit the 57 (61, 65, 69, 75) [79, 87, 93, 101] sleeve sts, pick up and k the remaining 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [3, 3, 3, 3] underarm sts. Place a st marker to mark BOR. (61 [65, 70, 74, 80) [85, 93, 99, 107] sts).

K every rnd in stockinette st until sleeve measures15.5 (16, 16, 16.5, 16.5) [17, 17, 17.5, 17.5]”/ 39 (40, 40, 41.5, 41.5) [42.5, 42.5, 44, 44] cm from underarm or your desired length before the cuff.

Cuffs:

Dec Rnd 1:

Sizes XS (S, x, x, x) [2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
Using US 5 (3.75 mm) needles, K1, *k2tog; rep from * around. (31 (33, x, x, x) [43, 47, 50, 54] sts)

Sizes x (x, M, L, XL) [x, x, x, x)
Using US 5 (3.75 mm) needles, *k2tog; rep from * around. (x (x, 35, 37, 40) [x, x, x, x] sts)

Dec Rnd 2:

Sizes XS (S, M, L, x) [2XL, 3XL, x, x] only: K2tog, k around. (30 (32, 34, 36, x) [42, 46, x, x] sts)

Rnd 1: *K1, p1; rep from * around.

Rnd 2: *P1, k1; rep from * around.

Work last 2 rnds 8 times ea. (16 rnds) *For my cream sample, I worked the last 2 rnds16 times ea (32 rnds) for a more dramatic cuff.

P 2 rnds.

BO loosely in p st w/ a YO before every other st.

Rep for second sleeve.

Button Band:

Using US 5 (3.75 mm) needles and a long cable, starting from the rt front hem, with RS facing, pick up and knit 215 (215, 229, 257, 275) [289, 325, 343, 361) sts all around the rt front, back neck and lt front.

*When picking up sts, pick up 3 sts, skip 1 st and rep. The total number of sts you pick up is only a suggestion. Just be sure to pick up an odd # of sts.

(WS) Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

(RS) Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * to end.

Work last 2 rows 2 times ea, then work row 1 once more (5 rows).

Buttonholes: (optional)

Using 5 clip-on st markers, mark on the rt side (when wearing) where you would like your buttonholes to be positioned.

(RS): *P1, k1; rep from * to first buttonhole space, BO 4 sts, *k to next buttonhole space, BO 4 sts; rep from * until last buttonhole space is worked, then cont in established pattern to end.

(WS): *K1, p1: rep from * to first buttonhole, cable CO 4 sts. Cont in this manner until all buttonholes have been worked, cont in established pattern to end.

(RS): *P1, k1; rep from * to end.

(WS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

(RS): *P1, k1; rep from * to end.

(WS): K to end.

(RS): BO all sts loosely in purl, adding a YO before every 3rd st. Do not cut yarn. Use darning needle to sew lt side of button band securely to waist tie. Rep for rt side of button band.

Finishing + Blocking:

If you would like your cardigan to look stunning, simply soak it in warm water + mild soap for at least one hour, then wrap in a towel to remove excess water. Reshape and lay flat until dry. Weave in all loose ends and enjoy!