This long cardigan crochet sweater is one of many patterns I’m revamping this year. I’ve made quite a few free crochet cardigans patterns, but there where some I only made in a paid PDF pattern or gave one free size away.
Some of those are my favorite designs, and while I decided a long time ago to just offer a free version of all my patterns, I haven’t had the time to go back and make the old classics free.
So here goes, starting with this how to crochet a cardigan project. Some of you may remember this one, some of you have probably even made one. But a lot more people asked for the free cardigan pattern in all the sizes, so I’m starting here.
It may look intimidating if you’re fairly new to crochet, but I promise you, it’s a very easy crochet cardigan, I know you can do it!
I used Lion Brand wool ease thick and quick to make this crochet long cardigan originally, and I’d still recommend it. However, use whatever yarn brand you prefer, just make sure it’s a #6 super bulky. Also, please remember to check you gauge.
It’s actually a very beginner friendly pattern to crochet a cardigan with, as it’s mostly single crochet.
It’s by FAR one of my favorite crochet cardigans, but the timing and the lack of a free pattern meant it get lost in the algorithm.
If you’re liking my cardigan style and want to see what other cardigan patterns I have in the library, just type “cardigans” into the search bar.
If you’d like to browse my other free crochet sweater patterns or related crochet tutorials, you may enjoy some of these below.
1 Crochet Cardigan With Buttons / 2 Crochet Bead Stitch Sweater / 3 Crochet Comfy Shrug
If you’re looking to get started on the pattern for crochet cardigan, let’s begin! (Just scroll down to skip to the cardigan pattern)
If you’d like to be able to download and print this or any of my patterns, the high quality PDF is available on all my sales channels below.
Lovecrafts
If you’d like a video tutorial to follow along, be sure to scroll down to the bottom
Materials
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Stripe for color A (Coney island) #6 super bulky weight yarn
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for color B (Cilantro) #6 super bulky weight yarn
- Crochet hook size 10 mm
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
*These materials contain affiliate links, for which I make a small commission. It’s no extra cost to you, makes shopping easier and helps to keep the lights on.
Stitches used & code (US Term)
- ch = chain
- st = stitch(es)
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- REP = repeat
- RS = right side
- WS = wrong side
- ” = inches
Skill: Easy
Notes:
- This pattern uses English (US) Terminology
- This pattern made as US women’s XS( S, M, L, XL, XXL )
- This cardigan is made in 5 separate pieces and then sewn together. The collar is added after.
- The chains when you start will be the length of the cardigan, if you want shorter or longer just make less or more chains at the beginning, but the back panel and the front panel have to have the same amount of chains.
Gauge blocked:
- 6.5 sc x 7 rows = 4″
- 6 dc x 3.5 rows = 4″
Yarn needed:
- Color A: 580( 630, 680, 730, 780, 830 ) Yards
- Color B: 215( 235, 255, 275, 295, 315 ) Yards
Measurements (After blocked)
- XS = 17.14″ Width across x 35.69″ Length
- S = 19.42″ Width across x 36.92″ Length
- M = 21.71″ Width across x 38.15″ Length
- L = 24″ Width across x 39.38″ Length
- XL = 26.28″ Width across x 40.61″ Length
- XXL = 28.57″ Width across x 41.84″ Length
Back panel (Make 1)
Row 1 (WS) color A : ch 59(61, 63, 65, 67, 69),1 sc into second ch from hook and each ch across. Total of 58(60, 62, 64, 66, 68) st
Row 2 (RS) color A : Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 sc into each st across. Total of 58(60, 62, 64, 66, 68) st
Row 3 – 30(34, 38, 42, 46, 50): REP row 2 (color A)
*The end of row 30(34, 38, 42, 46, 50) cut the yarn and weave the end.
Front panels (Make 2)
Row 1 (WS) color A : ch 59(61, 63, 65, 67, 69), 1 sc into second ch from hook and each ch across. Total of 58(60, 62, 64, 66, 68) st
Row 2 (RS) color A : Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 sc into each st across. Total of 58(60, 62, 64, 66, 68) st
Row 3 – 12(14, 16, 18, 20, 22): REP row 2 (color A)
*The end of row 12(14, 16, 18, 20, 22) cut the yarn and leave about 13″(15″, 17″, 19″, 21″, 23″) tail
Sleeves (Make 2)
Row 1 (WS) color B : ch 15(17, 19, 21, 23, 25), 1 sc into second ch from hook and each ch across. Total of 14(16, 18, 20, 22, 24) st
Row 2 (RS) color B: Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 sc into each st across. Total of 14(16, 18, 20, 22, 24) st
Row 3 – 8: REP row 2 (color B)
*The end of row 8 cut the yarn and leave 10″ tail for sewing the cuff (color B section)
Row 9 (WS) color A : Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 2 sc into first st, 1 sc into each st till you have 1 st left, 2 sc into last st. Total of 16(18,20, 22, 24, 26) st
Row 10 (RS) color A : Turn, ch 1 (do not count as a st), 1 sc into each st across. Total of 16(18,20, 22, 24, 26) st
Row 11 -12: REP row 10 (color A). Total of 16(18,20, 22, 24, 26) st
Row 13: REP row 9 (color A). Total of 18(20, 22, 24, 26, 28) st
Row 14 – 16: REP row 10 (color A). Total of 18(20, 22, 24, 26, 28) st
Row 17: REP row 9 (color A). Total of 20(22, 24, 26, 28, 30) st
Row 18 – 20: REP row 10 (color A). Total of 20(22, 24, 26, 28, 30) st
Row 21: REP row 9 (color A). Total 22(24, 26, 28, 30, 32) st
Row 22 – 24: REP row 10 (color A). Total of 22(24, 26, 28, 30, 32) st
Row 25: REP row 9 (color A). Total of 24(26, 28, 30, 32, 34) st
Row 26 – 28: REP row 10 (color A). Total of 24(26, 28, 30, 32, 34) st
Row 29: REP row 9 (color A). Total of 26(28, 30, 32, 34, 36) st
Row 30 – 38: REP row 10 (color A). Total of 26(28, 30, 32, 34, 36) st
*The end of row 38 cut the yarn and leave about 30(32, 34, 36, 38, 40)” tail
*All the sizes are the same length. If you want a shorter sleeve, just rep row 10 less times. If you want a longer sleeve, just keep repeating row 10 more to the desired length.
Joining the crochet cardigans 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.
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
Sew the cardigan together
Fold your cardigan in half at the shoulder seam with the correct sides facing each other, we’ll sew on the wrong side. Cut a new strand of yarn 60 – 70 inches long, enough to sew the side and 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 cuff of the color B section and use the color B tail that we left earlier. Continue sewing until you reach the end of the sleeve. Cut the yarn and weave the ends. (Both sides sewn the same)
Collar
Turn your crochet cardigan right side out. Start the collar working from the right bottom corner. Work all the way up and around the neck, back down to the left bottom corner. We will turn back the other direction and keep repeating
Row 1 color B : Add new yarn into the right bottom corner, ch 3 (count as 1 dc), 1 dc into each st across to the left corner.
Total of 122(126,130,134,138,142) st *if you have a few more or less st it’s ok.
Row 2 color B : Turn, ch 3 (count as 1 dc), 1 dc into each st across. Total of 122(126,130,134,138,142) st
Row 3 – 8: REP row 2 (color B)
*The end of row 8 cut the yarn and weave the end
Here’s the video tutorial for this cardigan
PART 1
PART 2
Boom! If you made it this far down the page, you’re probably basking at your beautiful, hand crafted cardigan.
Congratulations! You learned how to crochet a cardigan, but most importantly, you learned YOU can crochet a cardigan where maybe you weren’t so sure before.
Either way, you deserve the credit for a job well done. Thanks for tuning in for this oldie but goodie tutorial. There are more on the horizon.
If there are any older tutorials that aren’t free but you’d love to have in the free library, drop me a comment below.