Scalloped Edge Cardigan Knitting Pattern
The Scalloped Edge Cardigan, originally published in Knit and Crochet Style Parade by Coats and Clark’s (1954), is a vintage masterpiece that combines feminine charm with timeless functionality. The standout feature of this cardigan is its scalloped edges, which lend a graceful, decorative touch to the design. Perfect for layering, this cardigan adds a unique vintage flair to both casual and formal outfits.
This pattern offers an engaging challenge for intermediate knitters. The scalloped edging requires careful attention to stitch counts and pattern repeats, making it a great opportunity to hone your knitting precision. Despite the slightly intricate details, the pattern is straightforward enough for a confident beginner willing to take their skills to the next level. The result is a beautifully textured cardigan that rewards the effort put into its creation.
Ideal for year-round wear, this cardigan can be knit in a variety of fibers and colors to suit any season or occasion. Whether you choose a soft pastel for spring, a neutral shade for versatility, or a bold jewel tone for a statement piece, this design’s adaptability ensures it will be a cherished addition to your wardrobe. The Scalloped Edge Cardigan is more than just a garment—it’s a wearable work of art that embodies the elegance of vintage craftsmanship.
This pattern is transformed, adapted, and expanded from a public domain design originally published in Knit and Crochet Style Parade by Coats and Clark’s in 1954. While the original design is in the public domain, the rewritten instructions and supplementary content on this site are ©Tiffany Bliss Mullins, 2024. All rights reserved. Have questions about this pattern, public domain, or copyright? Visit the FAQ page for answers and resources.
This is a vintage crochet pattern originally published in Knit and Crochet Style Parade by Coats and Clark’s in 1954. The pattern has entered the public domain as the original copyright was not renewed. I’ve modernized it using today’s crafting terms and made it more reader-friendly for modern crafters. You can read more about copyright essentials here.
To explore all the FREE patterns from this book, click here.
Materials
- Yarn: Chadwick’s Red Heart Sock & Sweater Yarn, 3 Ply
- Skeins Required:
- Size 30: 7 skeins
- Size 34: 8 skeins
- Size 36: 9 skeins
- Sizes 38, 40: 10 skeins
- Sizes 42, 44: 11 skeins
- Needles:
- 1 pair of Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, No. 1 (2.25 mm)
- 1 pair of Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, No. 2 (2.75 mm)
- Notions:
- Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Crochet Hook No. 2
- 8 button molds
- Small pearl buttons and rhinestones for trimming
Gauge
- 8 stitches = 1 inch
- 10 rows = 1 inch
Sizing Information
- Bust sizes: 30–44 inches
- Blocking measurements: Refer to page 31 for detailed blocking guidelines.
Pattern Instructions
Back
- Cast On:
- With No. 1 needles, cast on the following number of stitches:
- Size 30: 120 sts
- Size 34: 128 sts
- Size 36: 136 sts
- Size 38: 144 sts
- Size 40: 152 sts
- Size 42: 160 sts
- Size 44: 168 sts
- Ribbing:
- Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 2½ (2¾, 2¾, 3, 3, 3¼, 3¼, 3½) inches.
- Body:
- Switch to No. 2 needles and continue in stockinette stitch (k 1 row, p 1 row) until the piece measures 10½ (11, 11¼, 11½, 12, 13, 13¼, 14) inches, or desired length.
- Armholes:
- Bind off at the beginning of the next 2 rows: 8 (9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts.
- Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 2 (2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4) rows.
- Decrease 1 stitch at both ends of every other row until 96 (100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124) sts remain.
- Work without decreasing until the piece measures 6 (6¼, 6½, 7, 7½, 7¾, 8, 8¼) inches from the first armhole shaping row.
- Shoulders:
- Bind off at the beginning of the next 4 (4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6) rows: 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14) sts.
- Bind off at the beginning of the following 2 rows: 10 (11, 12, 12, 13, 13, 15, 15) sts.
- Place the remaining 40 (42, 42, 44, 44, 48, 48, 52) sts on a stitch holder for the neckband.
Left Front
- Cast On:
- With No. 1 needles, cast on the following number of stitches:
- Size 30: 64 sts
- Size 34: 68 sts
- Size 36: 72 sts
- Size 38: 76 sts
- Size 40: 80 sts
- Size 42: 84 sts
- Size 44: 88 sts
- Ribbing:
- Work in p2, k2 ribbing for 2½ (2¾, 2¾, 3, 3, 3¼, 3¼, 3½) inches.
- Body:
- Switch to No. 2 needles and continue in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 10½ (11, 11¼, 11½, 12, 13, 13¼, 14) inches, or desired length, ending at the side edge.
- Armhole Shaping:
- Bind off at the beginning of the next row: 8 (9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts.
- Bind off 2 sts at the same edge every other row: once (once, twice, twice, twice, twice, twice, twice).
- Decrease 1 stitch at the same edge every other row until 52 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66) sts remain.
- Work without decreasing until the piece measures 4¼ (4½, 4½, 4¾, 4¾, 5, 5, 5) inches from the first armhole shaping row, ending at the front edge.
- Neck Shaping:
- Bind off 16 sts at the beginning of the next row.
- Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge every other row until 28 (29, 31, 32, 34, 34, 36, 36) sts remain.
- Work without decreasing until the piece measures 6 (6¼, 6½, 7, 7½, 7¾, 8, 8¼) inches from the first armhole shaping row.
- Shoulders:
- Bind off at the beginning of the next row and every other row: 8 (8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11) sts, for 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) times.
- On sizes 10, 12, 14, 18, and 20 only: Work one more row.
- Bind off remaining stitches.
Button Placement:
Mark the position of 7 buttons along the Left Front, starting 1¼ inches up from the lower edge and evenly spacing the remaining buttons, with the last button positioned on the neckband.
Scalloped Edge Cardigan Pattern (Part 2)
Right Front
- Cast On:
- With No. 1 knitting pins, cast on:
- Size 30: 64 sts
- Size 34: 68 sts
- Size 36: 72 sts
- Size 38: 76 sts
- Size 40: 80 sts
- Size 42: 84 sts
- Size 44: 88 sts
- Ribbing:
- Work in k2, p2 ribbing, reversing the ribbing to align with the buttonband.
- Body:
- Work as for the Left Front, reversing shapings and creating a buttonhole opposite each pinmark.
- Buttonhole Instructions: Bind off 2 sts on one row, and cast on 2 sts on the next row to replace those bound off.
Sleeves (Long)
- Cast On:
- With No. 1 knitting pins, cast on:
- Size 30: 56 sts
- Size 34: 56 sts
- Size 36: 60 sts
- Size 38: 60 sts
- Size 40: 64 sts
- Size 42: 68 sts
- Size 44: 72 sts
- Ribbing:
- Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 3 inches.
- Body:
- Switch to No. 2 knitting pins and continue in stockinette stitch, increasing 1 st at both ends of every 6th row until there are:
- Size 30: 92 sts
- Size 34: 96 sts
- Size 36: 100 sts
- Size 38: 104 sts
- Size 40: 108 sts
- Size 42: 112 sts
- Size 44: 116 sts
- Work without increasing until the sleeve measures 15 (17, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18) inches in total.
- Shaping the Top:
- Bind off at the beginning of the next 2 rows: 8 (9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts.
- Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
- Decrease 1 st at both ends of every 4th row until 66 (66, 62, 64, 68, 64, 64, 72) sts remain.
- Decrease 1 st at both ends of every other row until 56 (56, 60, 60, 60, 64, 64, 64) sts remain.
- Bind off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 10 rows.
- Bind off 5 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows.
- Bind off remaining stitches.
Sleeves (¾ Length)
- Cast On:
- With No. 1 knitting pins, cast on:
- Size 30: 56 sts
- Size 34: 56 sts
- Size 36: 60 sts
- Size 38: 60 sts
- Size 40: 64 sts
- Size 42: 68 sts
- Size 44: 72 sts
- Ribbing:
- Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 2½ inches.
- Body:
- Switch to No. 2 knitting pins and continue in stockinette stitch, increasing 1 st at both ends of every 8th row until there are:
- Size 30: 92 sts
- Size 34: 96 sts
- Size 36: 100 sts
- Size 38: 104 sts
- Size 40: 108 sts
- Size 42: 112 sts
- Size 44: 116 sts
- Work without increasing until the sleeve measures 12 (13, 13½, 14, 14½, 14½, 14½) inches in total.
- Shaping the Top: Follow instructions for Long Sleeves.
Neckband
- Pick Up Stitches:
- With No. 1 knitting pins and the right side facing, pick up and knit around the entire neck edge:
- Size 30: 110 sts
- Size 34: 114 sts
- Size 36: 118 sts
- Size 38: 126 sts
- Size 40: 134 sts
- Size 42: 142 sts
- Size 44: 146 sts
- Ribbing:
- Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 1 inch, making a buttonhole in line with the previous buttonholes when the piece measures ½ inch.
- Bind Off:
- Bind off loosely in ribbing.
Scalloped Edging
- First Row (Setup):
- Starting at the lower edge of the Left Front with the wrong side facing and a crochet hook, make a row of single crochet (sc) along the edge, working 5 sc per inch.
- Second Row (Scallop):
- Chain 1, turn. Sc in the first sc, *ch 1, skip the next sc, in the next sc make (dc, ch 1) twice, and dc; ch 1, skip the next sc, sc in the next sc. Repeat from * across.
- Finish:
- Work over the Right Front edge to correspond with the Left Front edge. Break off.
Crocheted Buttons
- Base:
- With the crochet hook, ch 2.
- Rounds:
- Round 1: Work 7 sc into the 2nd chain from the hook.
- Rounds 2–4: Work 1 sc in each sc around.
- Finishing:
- Insert a button mold into the crocheted piece and sew up the opening.
Finishing
- Block: Block all pieces to measurements.
- Sewing:
- Sew side and sleeve seams.
- Sew in sleeves.
- Sew the neckband in place.
- Details:
- Work buttonhole stitch around buttonholes.
- Sew on crocheted buttons to correspond with the buttonholes.
- Embroider cardigan with pearl buttons and rhinestones as illustrated.
