Free Patterns

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Free American Girl Cardigan Pattern

I wrote this pattern for someone who already knows how to knit, but needs extra help reading the pattern.

Let me know what you think and enjoy!

Click on the link below to get the free PDF pattern.

ag-cardi-pattern

Correction in pattern: On page 4 of pattern, row 6 instructions, the K2tog should say to knit front and back in the stitch before and after the markers.  So sorry about this.  I hope this didn’t mix anyone up.  Thanks, Lisa, for letting me know.

97 thoughts on “Free Patterns”

      1. pat cakebread

        I am 82 and have not knitted for 50 years and I am happy to say that I finished the sweater…..It took a few rips and I finally came up using graph paper rather than counter and marking each row…..It came out perfect….Thank you so much……Pat

      2. Cindy Rice Post author

        Hi Pat. It’s so kind of you to let me know that my pattern worked out for you. Thanks for sticking it out even though you hit a few snags.

      4. Sonja McAllister

        Hi Cindy! I love this pattern! I have made quite a few of these and will continue to make more! I bumped the needle sizes up to 3 & 4 instead of 2 & 3 to make a sweater that is a bit longer in length and sleeve length. I have a hybrid doll, Gotz head and Battat body and she needed it to be a bit bigger! I am trying it with smaller needles for the cast on and 1×1 ribbing at the neck, like a size 2.
        I like it because it is 1. Simple and 2. Fun to embellish. It’s a great pattern for adding some embroidery or other other add ons.
        Thanks! Im a great fan!
        Sonja L.

      5. Cindy Rice Post author

        Hi Sonja,
        Wow! Sounds like you’ve become a cardigan sweater whiz! They are addicting, aren’t they? I appreciate (so much) letting me know how much you enjoy this pattern. Here’s to many more sweaters coming off of your magic needles!!!

      6. marykb2014

        Hi, this is a cute pattern and I’m just getting started on it. I’m curious about something though. You said that Row 1 is a wrong side (purl) row, and that you prefer to keep your right side (knit) on the even rows. So you said you do the buttonholes on even rows 4, 14, 24, etc because they are right side rows. Yet Row 1 of your pattern is a knit row. Its not a big deal, I can just do the buttonholes on rows 3, 13, 23, etc. if I want to do them on a knit side, but I was just wondering if I misunderstood something.

      7. Cindy Rice Post author

        Hi Mary, It’s a garter stitch edge (knit on wrong side) to prevent curling of the fabric. Please make sure and note the errata which is located by the download link.

      8. Cath Morgan

        On your knitting for 18″doll the pink cardigan you have written k2tog is used for increasing! Beginners would find this a hard pattern to follow.
        It’s a great pattern nevertheless and my granddaughter Joanie will be thrilled by it for her new doll Jessica.

      9. Cindy Rice Post author

        Cath, I have written the pattern errata right by the download link. I am sorry you didn’t see it. It’s years later, and I’ve written quite a few patterns since, and I still catch my brain wanting to mix up those two words. I know that now about myself and work at keeping them straight. I’m glad you liked knitting the pattern. ❤

      10. Anna

        I enjoy your pattern, but because I been knitting for years I understood your mistakes, thanks my granddaughter will love this for her doll and the matching one for her I made. !

      11. Patricia Peterson

        I’m a novice knitter, and this pattern worked like a dream. “The knit 2 together” bamboozled me for a second, but I quickly recognized that it is a decreasing stitch, and I needed an increasing stitch. I looked the stitch up online and they call the increasing stitch a bar increase. It makes a pretty pattern. Looking at your photos I was a bit intimidated, but once I started knitting everything became clear, and the photos really help. The pattern fits my American girl doll perfectly.

    2. Bev

      Hi Cindy. Thank you for so generously sharing your pattern. Absolutely love love love it. Knitted up very quickly. Our grand daughters are getting OG 18″ dolls for Christmas so your pattern was an awesome find.

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      1. Cindy Rice Post author

        You are welcome, Bev. I’m glad you found it easy to follow. The quick part is your doing, you must be a fast knitter. 🙂 What a special Christmas it will be for you with your granddaughters getting new dolls. That is always magical. Enjoy the holiday!

    3. Shirley Hi

      Thank you so much for your pattern. Your designs are beautiful and stylish. It will be enjoyable to make them.

      Regards
      Shirley

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  4. Tomi Jane

    Cindy – what a generous thing to do, to offer your pattern – it is so beautifully photographed, and your instructions are superb. It must have taken a tremendous amount of effort to make such a professional presentation. This will be a tremendous help to me, and many other novice knitters who so want to knit for dolls. Bless you,

    Tomi Jane

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  5. Lisa

    I am working on this adorable sweater for my granddaughter and I have a question…you say beginning on row 5 “knit 2 together” for an increase – that is a decrease, so don’t you mean, “knit into the front and back of the stitch, for an increase”?

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  8. Lynne Armstrong

    Thank you for the pattern Cindy. I’ve just found your blog and love your work! Those tiny dresses are awesomely adorable 🙂

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  10. Nancy Forster

    I made that sweater for granddaughter`s American girl doll. She loved it. I would like to know where a person can purchase the Amelia Thimble doll

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    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Hi Nancy,
      Oh, I am so glad the pattern worked for you and your granddaughter loved her doll’s new sweater! That is so nice of you to let me know. Amelia Thimble is from wildeimagination.com. They are due to release a new basic doll this fall, but have Amelia as Tinkerbell in stock.

      Reply ↓
  12. Evelyn Rossin

    Thanks so much for the free pattern. It is just what I was looking for. Your work is so amazing and I really enjoyed looking at the outfits you have sold.

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  13. Chrissie ford

    Working on your free pattern row 6, can’t figure how I would get 4 extra stitches with increases of two stitches on each side of each sleeve

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    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Hi Chrissie,
      Each increase row should give you 8 extra stitches total, my counts in the pattern say you go from 65 stitches on r.5 to 73 stitches after completing r. 6.

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  15. jan herwerden

    Thanks for the pattern, I am up to the blocking, I had difficulty increasing with your method so I yo instead, it turned out real cute.

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  21. Ephémère13

    Thank you for this beautiful sweet shirt…..Love…love….pink, this is my favorite colour! Bye..bye…have nice week-end!

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  22. Louise

    My knitting skill is limited to scarves, but your pattern is so easy to follow and knits up so perfectly that I have made 4 cardigans in different colors. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful pattern!

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    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Cheryl,
      Click on ag-cardi-pattern link. This link is in grey and underlined. It is underneath the ******PLEASE note the correction… line of copy. I tried clicking on this and got my pattern in pdf form to appear. You can then print it out.

      Reply ↓
  24. Melodie

    I love the top-down sweaters, especially yours. I started putting each row on file cards so I don’t need to count rows. I type them on labels, number each label, and thumb through them as I work each row. Much easier to pick up work after a lull, too.

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Great tip, Melodie! I do this for lace patterns, it’s the only thing that works for me. I’ll remember your tip for other knitting too. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. Carla Scheidecker

    I haven’t knitted in years and when I did I was a novice, I hope I can do this!! I just got a doll that I think is very similar to an American girl doll. Wish me luck!

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Hi Carla,
      Of course you can, but here’s a “Good Luck” wish just in case. In case you didn’t see it there’s an errata noted by the download link. You are increasing when beginning (to make room for the shoulders) the pattern with a Kf&b not decreasing (K2tog). I still need to think about those two terms; my brain wants to mix them up. If you have any questions, I’d be happy to help.

      Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Ah, I think I visited Galena once… many, many years ago. It seemed very far away. I often go north and south in IL, but not west! Go figure! Hope the knitting is coming along nicely.

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  28. Jill Farrell

    I absolutely love this pattern, it took me a little while to work out but I did it ( I actually suprised myself !!).. The cardi turned out well and is on my K*n*C doll Alyssa.. This is the best pattern that I have found for making 18inch doll cardis, Thank you for sharing Cindy Love from the UK x

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Wonderful, Jill!!! I am glad I could explain the process in an understandable format. Now you can whip out a dozen or more. lol! Aren’t little sweaters charming? I’ve always been attracted to miniature knitwear.

      Thank you for letting me know the pattern worked for you.

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  29. marykb2014

    Hi Cindy, I figured out the other question I asked you – I just didn’t read far enough! I will mention, though, that when I made this sweater, the sleeves were too wide and baggy for me. So I ripped them back, put them on DPNs, and then decreased 2 sts every 4th row for 20 rows. (10 decs total). The sleeve was more tapered and looked nicer, plus then I didn’t have to seam up the sleeve, just the underarm seam. There is a picture of the sweater on my blog, and I linked to your pattern to give you attribution. Thanks, Mary http://runningstitches-mkb.blogspot.com/2016/11/bonding-with-my-singer-404-making.html

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  30. Cindy Rice Post author

    Hi Mary,
    Thanks for sharing your sweater. Wow, you are a MUCH looser knitter than I am! My sleeves naturally stretched to fit the arm as they were quite fitted. I can see where shaping is needed for a looser sleeve. I’ve started knitting the sleeves on DPNs too. I hate seaming.
    You will be a hero when your granddaughters get their doll clothes! They are adorable! My favorite is the red Christmas dress with faux fur.

    Reply ↓
    1. marykb2014

      I think since yours was knitted in wool and mine in acrylic, the gauge was different. Wool seems to knit up closer to gauge and of course it takes blocking much better. But I was just using up scrap yarn and that’s what I had on hand. I also hate seaming, so I adapt patterns to DPNs whenever possible. Thanks again for the pattern, I think my doll looks very warm in her oversized sweater! 🙂

      Reply ↓
      1. Cindy Rice Post author

        It’s always so fulfilling using up what’s on hand, and acrylic is much more practical for play. Your granddaughters are so lucky to have you for their grandma! Yes, I think your girl looks warm and cozy too, and there’s room for something underneath if it’s extra chilly. I read a couple of your posts; my first, second, and third cars were all sticks. Loved them! And, I inherited my grandmother’s Singer Merritt 4019. Don’t know much about it, but it sews beautifully. ❤

  31. Marilyn Hansen

    I have made two cardigans and working on the third. I love this pattern! Thank you so much for sharing. Sure wishing I had an Effner doll. Your designs are awesome!

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  32. beatriz morrell

    Thank you very much for this beautiful pattern. I made it in 4 different colors for my granddaughter AG. She love them.

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  33. Sharon Mahaffey

    Thank you for the pattern, I’am so anxious to start it. Do you do patterns for the Willie Wishers dolls? I will let you know how I come out. You are so Blessed. Love to sew, knit, quilt and do Machine Embroidery also.

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Hi, Sharon. You’re welcome. I hope you like the pattern, and enjoy knitting the cardigan. Right now I don’t have a Wellie Wishers doll, but if I get one I will make patterns for them. (In case you missed the errata; it’s listed right by the download button.)

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  34. Bev

    Hi Cindy
    Thank you so much for the free cardigan pattern with the absolutely awesome instructions. Best pattern ever!! Love that it has very little sewing up. You have beautiful models and their outfits are exquisite.

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      I’m happy you enjoyed knitting from my pattern. Thank you for the compliment on my work and dolls. I have a lot of fun! Hope you’re having a great day, Bev.

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  35. Heika

    Hi, love the pattern my niece just got an American girl doll that looks like her and wants matching clothes. do you know of any matching patterns?
    Thanks
    Heika

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  36. Deb

    What a fantastic pattern! Thank you so much for sharing. I love the way it’s all in one piece and involves very little sewing up. The instructions are so clear and detailed. I’ve just finished making a blue cardigan to match my granddaughter’s school uniform. Now, before I see up the sleeves, I’m going to have a go at the boxing technique which I’ve never heard of before. Thank you very much.

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  37. Jenni marwick

    Cindy I am not able to download your free pattern without giving pinterest access to my personal information which I dont want to do. Could you email the pattern to me directly?

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  38. Maria Victoria de Serrano

    Cindy …muchas gracias por esos patrones gratis , mis nietas tienen las muñecas american girl, tengo un pequeño inconveniente, no se mucho ingles y me cuesta trabajo traducir tu no tienes la opcion de Español? excusa la molestia

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  40. Kay Pendlebury

    Hi Cindy, I would like the green set that just came thru on my mail. But it doesnt come up in free patterns. Only the red cardi comes up, I have already saved that to begin knitting, but wanted to look at the pattern for the green set. Could you help please.
    Kay

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Kay, I’m not sure which green set you are looking at. Could you send a screenshot through using the contact form? FYI, I only have one pattern for the American Girl dolls.

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  41. Patty Emert

    I wanted to make a cardigan for my granddaughter’s Well Wishers doll, but when I was looking for this pattern I couldn’t figure out if it was for the 141/2 inches doll or for a 18” doll. It did not advise what size, this is so frustrating 😩

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      Sorry, Patty. I don’t think there were Wellie Wishers when I made this pattern. It is for the original 18″ dolls. I think Pixie Faire might have some patterns.

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  42. Margaret D

    Cindy,
    I made this sweater for my 9 year granddaughter. It was for her American Girl Kit doll. It took me a while to master the pattern, but it was worth it in the end! My granddaughter was thrilled and she wrote me the sweetest thank you note. Thank you for this wonderful pattern.

    Reply ↓
    1. Cindy Rice Post author

      You’re welcome, Margaret. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed the pattern and that it worked for you. The AG Kit girl is a cutie! And, your granddaughter is very fortunate to have a grandma knitting for her doll. Have a great week! ❤️

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