- Buy supplies for knitting a scarf at a local yarn store or craft supply shop. Choose a medium or worsted weight yarn to create a sweater for moderately cold weather wear. Look at the yarn ball band or tag for information about the yarn. Find the recommended needle size to be used with the yarn and get a 24-inch circular needle in that size. Get a tape measure for checking the size of your knit and a crochet hook in the same millimeter size as the needles for weaving in the ends of the yarn into your knit. You will also need scissors for cutting the yarn at the end. Make note of the color and dye lot printed on the yarn information and try to buy multiple balls of yarn from the same dye lot or the color may be noticeably different when you change balls.
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Knit a swatch of your selected yarn to determine your number of stitches per inch. Cast on the number of stitches from the yarn label on to the needles you bought in the recommended size. Knit until your work measures 4 inches long. Place your measuring tape along the center of the swatch and count the number of stitches that fit in 1 inch, without stretching the knit. Multiply the number of stitches per inch by the desired neck measurement plus 2 inches for overlap in the front. Cast on this number of stitches and alternate knit one stitch and purl one stitch until work measures 1 inch.
Divide your stitches into 5 sections with 4 stitch markers as you knit the next row to designate the fronts of the cardigan, the shoulders, and the back. Devote 17 percent of the stitches for each shoulder, and divide the remainder between the front and the back taking into account an extra inch of stitches on either side of the front opening. Purl the next row. Knit to one stitch before the first marker, increase one stitch. Knit two, slipping the marker. Increase one stitch. Repeat this process, increasing before and after the other 3 markers. Repeat the purl row and the increase row, alternating until the work is 9 1/2 inches long or desired length. Slip the shoulder stitches to scrap yarn to try it on for size, you are done when the increase lines meet under your arm. Knit to first marker, bind off stitches between next two markers, remove markers, cast on one inch's worth of stitches, knit to next marker, bind off stitches between next two markers, remove markers, cast on one inch's worth of stitches, K to end of row. Work back and forth alternating solid knit and purl rows. Work until the body is two inches short of total desired length. Alternate knit one stitch and purl one stitch until work measures 2 inches. Bind off all stitches and weave in the ends.
