How to Knit the Ladies Waterfall Cardigan
Knit a draped waterfall-style cardigan with contrasting colourwork panels and long cascading fronts. The garment is worked in separate Back, Left Front, Right Front and Sleeve pieces before being seamed together.
The pattern includes sizes S, M, L and XL and uses Lincraft Cotton 8ply in two colours.
Project: Ladies Waterfall Cardigan
Pattern: A403
Craft type: Knitting
Difficulty: Intermediate
Measurements
| Size | S 8-10 |
M 12-14 |
L 16-18 |
XL 20-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fits bust | 80 cm | 90 cm | 100 cm | 110 cm |
| Length of Back (approx) | 52 cm | 53 cm | 54 cm | 55 cm |
| Sleeve length (approx) | 43 cm | 43 cm | 43 cm | 43 cm |
Yarn Required
| Lincraft Cotton 8ply 50g balls | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Colour (C1) | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 2nd Colour (C2) | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
Needles
- A pair of 4.00mm knitting needles.
- A pair of 4.50mm knitting needles.
- A 4.00mm circular knitting needle.
- Wool needle for sewing up.
Tension
22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using 4.00mm needles.
BACK
Using a pair of 4.00mm needles and C1, cast on 95 (107- 117-129) sts.
Knit 9 rows garter st, first row is wrong side, and inc 6 sts evenly across last row … 101 (113-123-135) sts.
Work in stocking st until work measures 20cm from beg, ending with a purl row and inc 1 (0-0-0) st/s at each end of last row … 103 (113-123-135) sts.
Change to 4.50mm needles.
Beg Patt Panel 1:
1st row: K3C1, * K1C2, K3C1, rep from * to end.
2nd row: P1C2, * P3C1, P1C2, rep from * to last 2 sts, P2C1.
3rd row: K1C1, * K1C2, K3C1, rep from * to last 2 sts, K1C2, K1C1.
4th row: P2C1, * P1C2, P3C1, rep from * to last st, P1C2.
Rep last 4 rows 3 times.
Beg Patt Panel 2:
Work a further 16 rows patt but working C2 in place of C1, and C1 in place of C2.
Change to 4.00mm needles.
Using C2 and stocking st for rem, work 2 rows and dec 1 (1-0-0) st/s at each end of first row … 101 (113-123- 135) sts.
Shape Armholes:
Cast off 6 (8-9-11) sts at beg of next 2 rows … 89 (97- 105-113) sts.
Dec one st at each end of next row, then every alt row until 77 (81-87-93) sts rem.
Cont without shaping until armhole measures 21 (22-23- 24) cm, ending with a purl row.
Shape Shoulders:
Cast off 7 (8-8-9) sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 8 (7-9- 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Cast off rem 33 (35-37-39) sts.
LEFT FRONT
Using 4.00mm circular needle and C1, cast on 169 (191- 211-233) sts.
Note: A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of sts. Work backwards and forwards in rows, not rounds.
Knit 8 rows garter st, first row is wrong side.
9th row: K17 (23-21-23), * inc in next st, K18 (20-18- 20), rep from * to end … 177 (199-221-243) sts. **
Beg Patt:
1st row: K130 (150-170-190) C1, K47 (49-51-53) C2.
2nd row: P47 (49-51-53) C2, P130 (150-170-190) C1.
Last 2 rows form patt for Left Front.
Cont in patt until work measures 20cm from beg, ending with a purl row.
Work 32 rows patt.
Using C2 only for rem, work 2 rows stocking st.
Shape Armhole:
Cast off 6 (8-9-11) sts at beg of next row … 171 (191- 212-232) sts.
Dec one st at armhole edge in every alt row until 165 (183-203-222) sts rem.
Cont without shaping until armhole measures same as Back, ending with a purl row.
Shape Shoulder:
Cast off 7 (8-8-9) sts at beg of next and alt row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off 8 (7-9-9) sts at beg of next row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 143 (160-178-195) sts.
RIGHT FRONT
Work as for Left Front to **.
Beg Patt:
1st row: K47 (49-51-53) C2, K130 (150-170-190) C1.
2nd row: P130 (150-170-190) C1, P47 (49-51-53) C2.
Last 2 rows form patt for Right Front.
Cont in patt until work measures 20cm from beg, ending with a purl row.
Work 32 rows patt.
Using C2 only for rem, work 3 rows stocking st.
Shape Armhole:
Cast off 6 (8-9-11) sts at beg of next row … 171 (191- 212-232) sts.
Dec one st at armhole edge in next row, then every alt row until 165 (183-203-222) sts rem.
Cont without shaping until armhole measures same as Back, ending with a purl row.
Work 1 row.
Shape Shoulder:
Cast off 7 (8-8-9) sts at beg of next and alt row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off 8 (7-9-9) sts at beg of next row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 143 (160-178-195) sts.
SLEEVES
Using a pair of 4.00mm needles and C1, cast on 49 (51- 53-55) sts.
Knit 9 rows garter st, first row is wrong side, and inc 2 sts evenly across last row … 51 (53-55-57) sts.
Work 4 rows stocking st.
Cont in stocking st and inc one st at each end of next row, then every 8th (6th-4th-4th) row until there are 63 (67-67-85) sts, then every 10th (8th-6th-6th) row until there are 71 (79-87-95) sts.
Work 5 (1-3-3) row/s.
Change to 4.50mm needles.
Beg Patt Panel 1:
Work 16 rows patt panel 1 as for Back, AT SAME TIME, working extra sts into patt, inc one st at each end of 5th (7th-3rd-3rd) row and every 10th (8th-6th-6th) row 1 (1-2-2) time/s … 75 (83-93-101) sts.
Beg Patt Panel 2:
Work a further 16 rows patt but working C2 in place of C1, and C1 in place of C2.
Change to 4.00mm needles.
Using C2 and stocking st for rem, work 2 rows.
Shape Top:
Cast off 3 (4-5-6) sts at beg of next 2 rows … 69 (75-83-89) sts.
Dec one st at each end of next row, then every alt row until 29 (27-47-55) sts rem, then every row until 15 (15- 17-17) sts rem.
Cast off.
FINISHING
Join shoulder, side and Sleeve seams. Sew in Sleeves. Sew in all ends.
Alternative Yarns
The original pattern uses Lincraft Cotton 8ply in two colours. When choosing an alternative yarn, select an 8ply or equivalent yarn that can achieve the original tension of 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch using 4.00mm needles.
Suitable Yarn Types
- 8ply cotton yarn – the closest fibre substitute for the original, providing structure and stitch definition.
- Cotton-bamboo blend – may create a softer fabric with additional drape.
- Cotton-acrylic blend – combines structure with easier care and a lighter feel.
- 8ply wool-cotton blend – can add warmth while retaining some of the crispness of cotton.
- 8ply acrylic yarn – an easy-care option, although the finished drape may differ from the original cotton.
Customisation Ideas
- Use high-contrast colours to emphasise the patterned panels across the garment.
- Choose two tonal shades for a more subtle colour transition.
- Use neutral colours for a versatile layering piece.
- Reverse the two colours to change which shade dominates the patterned sections.
- Use a single fibre blend in both colours to ensure the two sections have matching drape and washing characteristics.
To retain the original garment proportions, keep all stitch counts, size brackets, panel repeats, shaping instructions and measurements unchanged when making colour customisations.
Care Instructions
Follow the washing and care instructions provided on the ball band of the yarn used.
- Sew in all ends securely before washing.
- Wash using the method and temperature recommended for both yarn colours.
- Avoid excessive heat that may shrink or distort cotton fibres.
- Gently reshape the cardigan and waterfall fronts while damp.
- Lay flat to dry where appropriate to help maintain the finished measurements.
- Store folded rather than hanging to help prevent the long fronts and shoulders from stretching.
