I’m back on my cardigan sweater BS, again! I know, you’ve seen more than your share of cardigans on this blog, but I can’t help myself. I’m free crochet cardigan pattern dependent!
The thing is, as long as you all keep enjoying them, I’ll keep designing cardigan sweaters easy enough for beginners to make. They’ll look cute. We all benefit.
In this particular free crochet cardigan pattern, I’ve included the option to add buttons (or not). The buttons are super casual and don’t require a ton of extra work, so why not add them?
I used a fairly light yarn with a #3 DK weight yarn, so it’s not a dead of winter kind of sweater. I used Yarn Bee Cotton DK. You can use any brand yarn you like, as long as it’s the same weight (check your gauge!), although I do recommend a good natural fiber.
The free crochet cardigan pattern is, as usual, available in US women’s sizes XS-XXL. There’s also a follow along video tutorial, so even if you’re not a written pattern type, you shouldn’t have a problem.
If you’d like to support these free projects, or you’d just like to own these patterns in an ad free format on your own device to print or download, check out all my digital pattern sales channels below.
If you’re looking for more FREE crochet patterns, be sure to check these out below.
1 Crochet Side Slit Summer Top/Dress / 2 Crochet Wide Leg Shorts / 3 Crochet Shorts
If you’d like a video tutorial to follow along, be sure to scroll down to the bottom
Materials
- #3 Light/DK weight yarn
- I used Yarn Bee Cotton DK in color Blush #3 Light/DK weight yarn
- 4mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers
- 5 of 1 inch buttons (This is optional)
Stitches Used & Code (US Term)
- ch = chain
- st = stitch(es)
- hdc = half double crochet
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- sk = skip
- sp = space
- bl = back loop
- REP = repeat
- RS = right side
- WS = wrong side
- ” = inches
Skill: Easy
Notes:
- This pattern uses English (US) Terminology
- This pattern made as women’s sizes XS( S, M, L, XL, XXL )
- This cardigan is worked flat in 5 separate pieces from the bottom up and then sewn together
- In this picture I have demonstrated with size small
Yarn needed: 1110( 1180, 1260, 1330, 1410, 1480 ) Yards
Gauge blocked: 15 hdc X 10.5 rows = 4″
Measurements (After blocked)
- XS = 21.86″ Body width across X 23.23″ Length
- S = 24″ Body width across X 23.23″ Length
- M = 26.13″ Body width across X 24″ Length
- L = 28.26″ Body width across X 24″ Length
- XL = 30.40″ Body width across X 24.76″ Length
- XXL = 32.53″ Body width across X 24.76″ Length
Onto the free crochet cardigan pattern…..
Back Panel (Make 1)
Row 1 (RS): ch 83( 91, 99, 107, 115, 123 ), 1 hdc into the second ch from hook and each ch across. Total of 82( 90, 98, 106, 114, 122 ) hdc
Row 2 (WS): Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 hdc into each st across. Total of 82( 90, 98, 106, 114, 122 ) hdc
Row 3 – Row 61( 61, 63, 63, 65, 65 ): REP Row 2
The end of of row 61( 61, 63, 63, 65, 65 ) cut the yarn.
Front Panel (Make 2)
Row 1 (RS): ch 34( 38, 42, 45, 49, 53 ), 1 hdc into second ch from hook and each ch across. Total of 33( 37, 41, 44, 48, 52 ) hdc
Row 2 (WS): Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 hdc into each st across. Total of 33( 37, 41, 44, 48, 52 ) hdc
Row 3 – Row 61( 61, 63, 63, 65, 65 ): REP Row 2
The end of row 61( 61, 63, 63, 65, 65 ) cut the yarn and leave about 16-20″ long tail
Sleeve Panel (Make 2)
Ribbing
Row 1: ch 9( 9, 9, 9, 9, 9 ), 1 sc into second ch from hook and each ch across. Total of 8( 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 ) sc
Row 2: Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 sc into the bl of each st across but for the last st I insert the hook into both loops. Total of 8( 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 ) sc
Row 3 – Row 28( 30, 34, 36, 40, 42 ): REP row 2
*The end of row 28( 30, 34, 36, 40, 42 ) do not cut the yarn, we’ll continue using the same yarn to crochet the sleeve
Sleeve
Note: After the ribbing is finished, we’ll be using the same yarn to crochet the sleeve. Turn the ribbing sideways and crochet into the end of each row of the ribbing (sp for reference)
Row 1 (RS): ch 1 (do not count as a st), 2 hdc into each sp across. Total of 56( 60, 68, 72, 80, 84 ) hdc
Row 2 (WS): Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 hdc into each st across. Total of 56( 60, 68, 72, 80, 84 ) hdc
Row 3 – Row 39( 39, 39, 39, 39, 39 ): REP Row 2
The end of row 39( 39, 39, 39, 39, 39 ) cut the yarn and leave about a 30-40″ long tail
*All the sizes are the same length. If you want a shorter sleeve, just rep row 2 less times. If you want a longer sleeve, just keep repeating row 2 more to the desired length.
JOINING THE PIECES TOGETHER
SEW THE BACK AND 2 FRONT PANELS
Take the back and 2 front panels, place them with the correct side facing down, we’ll sew on the wrong side. Using the tail that we left earlier, sew along the top of the shoulder area together using method of choice. (Check picture A below)
SEW THE SLEEVES TO THE MAIN PANEL
With your main panel correct side facing down. Place your sleeves correct side facing down and start sewing on the wrong side with your tail again. The shoulder seam of the main panel should be in the middle of the sleeves panel and even on both sides. (Check picture B below)
SEW THE CARDIGAN TOGETHER
Fold your cardigan in half at the shoulder seam with the correct sides facing each other. Cut a new strand of yarn 70-80″ long, enough to sew the side and the sleeve. Start sewing from the bottom up to the side seam until you reach the armpit and continue sewing the sleeve side seam until you reach the end of the sleeve and then weave all the ends. (Check picture C below)
Crochet around the collar edge
Notes:
- We’re going to crochet into the end of each row of the front panels (sp for reference)
- With your cardigan right side out. Start the collar edge working from the bottom right corner. Work all the way up and around the neck line, back down to the bottom left corner
Add new yarn into the right bottom front corner, ch 4 (count as 1 dc and 1 ch sp), 1 dc into next sp, *ch 1, 1 dc into next sp* REP from *TO* until you reach the shoulder corner, 1 dc into the corner, 1 dc into each st across the neck line, 1 dc into the other shoulder corner, 1 dc into next sp on the left front panel, *ch 1, 1 dc into next sp* REP from *TO* across to the left bottom front corner, cut the yarn and weave all the end. (Check picture below)
Adding the button (Optional)
I added five buttons, but it’s totally optional. You can use 2-3 or none, it’s up to your preference. You can also place them however you like, left side or right. I placed them 3″ apart, but again, you can place them how you like. There’s no need for button holes since we’re just using the spaces that we made on the collar edge. It makes it easier to place the buttons. (Check picture below)
HERE’S THE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR THIS CARDIGAN
Hope you enjoyed this cardigan sweater tutorial, let me know what you think! Till next time.
✌️❤️🧶
Wan