Ever since I got my knitting machine, I have wanted to knit a button down cardigan. But how do you do the button band, and how do you make the button holes? I had seen people make separate bands that they added on, or hand knit the bands on afterwards. I wanted to do it in a way that was simple and straightforward and 100% on the machine for those who don’t hand knit. As for making the button holes, every way I saw looked overly complicated.
After MUCH experimentation, I came up with a way to do a button band that you knit alongside the garment, and a way to create buttonholes using short rows, that in my opinion, is much easier than binding off and casting on again. I also came up with a way to make seaming the button band a breeze, by creating a latched up column that guides you for where to seam the band.
In my new YouTube tutorial, I show you exactly how to do this, so you can try it out for yourself! You can use this technique on any flat bed machine. I also have a new pattern, the “Girlfriend Cardigan” that uses this method. For the samples pictured above and in the demo, I feature Hobbii “Portobello” in Antique Rose and Teal. This is a fabulous DK weight yarn with a unique variegated look that was a pleasure to knit with on my machine.
This LK150 cardigan pattern comes in 9 sizes that range to fit a 28-54″ Bust, with 4 different length options. You can make it Cropped (3 buttons), Regular (4 buttons), Long (6 buttons), or as a Dress (8 buttons). You can also customize the width of the sleeves, making them as fitted or loose as you like.
I designed this pattern with the beginner in mind, and have included tons of detailed photos of all techniques used within the pattern. I also demonstrate all of the important steps needed to construct this cardigan in my YouTube tutorial. If you want to add pockets on to your finished cardigan, I have another video tutorial which explains how to do that here.
After publishing this tutorial and pattern, I got some requests to offer it in a fingering weight yarn so that it could be made on a standard gauge machine. I then published my “Girls Best Friend” Cardigan, that is just that! This cardigan is the same design as the “Girlfriend Cardigan”, just adapted to be knit with a lighter weight yarn. You can still use the video tutorial, as the construction and techniques are mostly the same.
I hope you enjoy these new tutorials and cardigan patterns, and would love to know what you think of this technique!
💜 Lauren
