Free Crochet Cardigan Pattern

How Much Yarn is Needed to Crochet a Cardigan?

For this Free Crochet Cardigan Pattern you will need about 1400 to 2500 yards of worsted weight yarn that meets gauge. The specific amounts of yardage, gauge and type of yarn is listed below.

This Crocheted Cardigan is made using a simple row repeat that includes chain stitch, double crochet and puff stitch. The simple ribbing on the waist trim, cuffs and neck collar is made with Front and Back Post Double Crochet Stitches.

How to Crochet an Easy Cardigan

This Easy Crochet Cardigan is worked from the bottom-up in one panel then split into front and back panels to work up to the shoulder.  The shoulders are seamed and then sleeves are worked flat from wrist to shoulder and then seamed to the body to make this crocheted cardigan.

This type of construction is simple and perfect for a beginner crocheter to make their first crochet garment! Using most double crochet stitches makes this a quick crochet project.

Materials

• 5.50 mm Crochet Hook
• 6 (7, 8, 10) Color Theory [#619-173AE]
• #4 Worsted Weight Yarn
  1476 (1722, 1968, 2460) Yards

Gauge

• 13 sts x 8 rows is 4”x4” in dc.

Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations

• Chain Stitch – ch
• Slip Stitch – sl st
• Double Crochet – dc
• dc2tog – Work two dc stitches together into one stitch for a decrease.
• sk – skip
• Foundation Double Crochet – Fdc – Chain 4, yarn over, insert hook into 4^th chain from the hook, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook) yarn over and pull through 1 loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through all loops (1 foundation double crochet with chain at bottom created). *Yarn over, insert hook to bottom of the stitch you just made, it will look like the top or “V” of a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 1 loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over pull though all loops, repeat from * to desired st count. 
• Front Post Double Crochet – FPdc – work a dc as you normally would but insert your hook from front to back to front around post of indicated st.
• Back Post Double Crochet – BPdc – work a dc as you normally would but insert your hook from back to front to back around post of indicated st.
• Puff Stitch – PS – (Yarn over, insert hook into stitch or space and pull up a loop) 4 times in same stitch or space, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook.

Pattern Notes

• XS/S (M/L, XL/2X, 3X/4X) – Use corresponding number for your size. 
• Skill Level: Intermediate
• * Designates a repeat.
• Garment is designed to fit with a 8 to 12″ of positive ease.  Find your personal bust size in chart below and make the size that suits your personal preference on fit.. 
• “sc 1” means to single crochet in the next stitch.
• Ch 2 and Ch 3 do not count as stitches.
• “sc 2” means to single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches.
• “2 sc” means to single crochet twice in the next stitch to create an increase.
• Construction: Cardigan is worked from bottom-up in one panel then split into front and back panels to work up to shoulder.  Shoulders are seamed and then sleeves are worked flat from wrist to shoulder and then seamed to body.

Ease

Garment is designed to fit with a 8 to 12″ of positive ease.  Find your personal bust size in chart below and make the size that suits your personal preference on fit. Remember to account for extra yardage when adding length to sleeves or body panels.

Size Chart

Crochet a Cardigan

Body Panel

Row 1 – Fdc 141 (163, 201, 227)
Row 2 – Turn, ch 2, *FPdc, BPdc, repeat from * until 1 st remains, FPdc in last st.
Row 3– Turn, ch 2, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat until 1 st remains, BPdc in last st.
Row 4 – Repeat Row 2.
Rows 5 and 6 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 7 – Turn, ch 3, dc 9 (10, 9, 2), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 11 (13, 17, 21) more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 9 (10, 9, 2). [141 (163, 201, 227) sts]
Row 8 to 10 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 11 – Turn, ch 3, dc 4 (5, 4, 7), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 12 (14, 18, 20) more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 4 (5, 4, 7). [141 (163, 201, 227) sts]
Rows 12 to 14 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Rows 15 to 35 – Repeat Rows 7 to 14 ending on a Row 11 repeat.

Split for Arm Opening – First Front Panel

Row 36 to 38 – Turn, ch 3, dc 35 (40, 50, 56).
Row 39 – Turn, ch 3, dc 3 (7, 8, 1) (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 1 (1, 2, 4) more time, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 9 (10, 9, 2). [35 (40, 50, 56) sts]
Row 40 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [34 (39, 49, 55) sts]
Row 41 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog. [33 (38, 48, 54) sts]
Row 42 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [32 (37, 47, 53) sts]
Row 43 – Turn, ch 3, dc 8 (2, 3, 6), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 1 (2, 3, 3) more time(s), dc 1 (2, 1, 4), dc2tog. [31 (36, 46, 52) sts]
Row 44 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [30 (35, 45, 51) sts]
Row 45 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog. [29 (34, 44, 50) sts]
Row 46 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [28 (33, 43, 49) sts]
Row 47 – Turn, ch 3, dc 2 (6, 7, 7), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 1 (1, 2, 2) more time(s), PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 1 (2, 1, 7), dc2tog. [27 (32, 42, 48) sts]
Row 48 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [26 (31, 41, 47) sts]
Row 49 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog. [25 (30, 40, 46) sts] Finish off for XS/S.
Row 50 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [X (29, 39, 45) sts] Finish off for M/L.
Row 51 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog. [X (X, 38, 44) sts] Finish off for XL/2XL.
Row 52 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [X (X, X, 43) sts] Finish off for 3XL/4XL.

Back Panel

Reattach your yarn in the next stitch [stitch (36 (41, 51, 57)] of previous row (Row 35).
Row 36 – Ch 3, dc 71 (83, 101, 115).
Row 37 and 38 – Turn, ch 3, dc 71 (83, 101, 115).
Row 39 – Turn, ch 3, dc 4 (10, 9, 6), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 5 (5, 7, 9) more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 4 (10, 9, 6). [71 (83, 101, 115) sts]
Rows 40 to 42 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 43 – Turn, ch 3, dc 9 (5, 4, 1), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 4 (6, 8, 10) more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 9 (5, 4, 1). [71 (83, 101, 115) sts]
Rows 44 to 46 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 47 – Turn, ch 3, dc 4 (10, 9, 6), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 5 (5, 7, 9) more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 4 (10, 9, 6). [71 (83, 101, 115) sts]
Row 48 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 49 – Turn, ch 3, dc across. Finish off for XS/S.
Row 50 – Turn, ch 3, dc across. Finish off for M/L.
Row 51 – Turn, ch 3, dc across. Finish off for XL/2XL.
Row 52 – Turn, ch 3, dc across. Finish off for 3XL/4XL.

Split for Arm Opening – Second Front Panel

Reattach your yarn in the next stitch [stitch (107 (124, 152, 172)] of previous row (Row 35).
Row 36 to 38 – Turn, ch 3, dc 35 (40, 50, 56). 
Row 39 – Turn, ch 3, dc 9 (10, 9, 2), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 1 (1, 2, 4) more time, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 3 (7, 8, 1). [35 (40, 50, 56) sts]
Row 40 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog.[34 (39, 49, 55) sts]
Row 41 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [33 (38, 48, 54) sts]
Row 42 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog.[32 (37, 47, 53) sts]
Row 43 – Turn, ch 3, dc 1 (2, 1, 4), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 1 (2, 3, 3) more time(s), dc 8 (2, 3, 6), dc2tog. [31 (36, 46, 52) sts]
Row 44 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [30 (35, 45, 51) sts]
Row 45 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog. [29 (34, 44, 50) sts]
Row 46 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [28 (33, 43, 49) sts]
Row 47 – Turn, ch 3, dc 1 (2, 1, 7), (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 1 (1, 2, 3) more time(s), PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 2 (6, 7, 7), dc2tog. [27 (32, 42, 48) sts]
Row 48 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [26 (31, 41, 47) sts]
Row 49 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog. [25 (30, 40, 46) sts] Finish off for XS/S.
Row 50 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [X (29, 39, 45) sts] Finish off for M/L.
Row 51 – Turn, ch 3, dc until 2 sts remain, dc2tog. [X (X, 38, 44) sts] Finish off for XL/2XL.
Row 52 – Turn, ch 3, dc2tog, dc across. [X (X, X, 43) sts] Finish off for 3XL/4XL. 

Sleeves – XS/S and M/L

Row 1 – Fdc 36
Row 2 – Turn, ch 2, *FPdc, BPdc, repeat from * to end.
Row 3 – Turn, ch 2, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat from * to end.
Row 4 – Turn, ch 2, *FPdc, BPdc, repeat from * to end.
Row 5 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 6 – Turn, ch 3, *dc 3, 2 dc, repeat from * to end. [45 sts]
Row 7 – Turn, ch 3, dc 11, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 1 more time, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 11.
Rows 8 to 10 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 11 – Turn, ch 3, dc 6, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 2 more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 6.
Row 12 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 13 – Turn, ch 3, *dc 8, 2 dc, repeat from * to end. [50 sts]
Row 14 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 15 – Turn, ch 3, dc 4, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 3 more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 3.
Rows 16 to 18 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 19 – Turn, ch 3, dc 9, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 2 more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 8.
Rows 20 to 22 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Rows 23 to 30 – Repeat rows 15 to 22. Finish off for M/L
Rows 31 to 33 – Repeat Rows 15 to 17. Finish off for XS/S

Sleeves – XL/2XL and 3XL/4XL

Row 1 – Fdc 40
Row 2 – Turn, ch 2, *FPdc, BPdc, repeat from * to end.
Row 3 – Turn, ch 2, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat from * to end.
Row 4 – Turn, ch 2, *FPdc, BPdc, repeat from * to end.
Row 5 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 6 – Turn, ch 3, *dc 3, 2 dc, repeat from * to end. [50 sts]
Row 7 – Turn, ch 3, dc 8, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 2 more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 9.
Rows 8 to 10 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 11 – Turn, ch 3, dc 3, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 3 more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 4.
Row 12 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 13 – Turn, ch 3, *dc 9, 2 dc, repeat from * to end. [55 sts]
Row 14 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 15 – Turn, ch 3, dc 6, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 3 more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 6.
Rows 16 to 18 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Row 19 – Turn, ch 3, dc 6, (ch 1, sk 1), *PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 7, (ch 1, sk 1), repeat from * 3 more times, PS, (ch 1, sk 1), dc 6.
Rows 20 to 22 – Turn, ch 3, dc across.
Rows 23 to 30 – repeat rows 15 to 22. Finish off.

Assembly

1. Lay your Body Panel in front of you with Right Side facing, fold your First Front Panel and Second Front Panel over your Back Panel Section and align the final rows to create the shoulders.
2. Using a darning needle, seam in from the outer most edge in towards the neck on each side. 
3. Take your sleeves and with right sides facing align you row ends and seam from the cuff up to the arm pit.
4. Align the seam of your sleeves with Row 31 (the split for the arm opening) and seam the arms to the body panel.
5. Weave in your ends and turn your cardigan right side out.
6. Continue to the Collar Trim.

Collar Trim

Reattach your yarn in the Row End of Row 1.
Row 1 – Ch 3, dc in Row Ends evenly by placing (3 dc) per st stopping at the last st at the shoulder seam.
Row 2 – Turn, ch 2, dc2tog, *FPdc, BPdc, repeat from * to end.
Row 3 – Turn, ch 2, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, dc2tog, finish off.
Repeat on other side.
Reattach your yarn in the first unworked stitch of the back panel with right side facing.
Row 1 – Ch 3, dc2tog, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, dc2tog.
Row 2 – Turn, ch 2, dc2tog, *FPdc, BPdc, repeat from * to end until 2 sts remain, dc2tog,
Row 3 – Turn, ch 2, dc2tog, *BPdc, FPdc, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, dc2tog, finish off.

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