Granny Square Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern

Sometimes I feel like granny squares are synonymous with crochet. The truth is, this is my VERY FIRST granny square project I’ve designed as a pattern. And boy, I’m not turning back. I had so much fun making this granny square cardigan free crochet pattern for you and I hope you love it.

I named this cardigan the Airie Cropped Cardigan. Airie means “a gentle breath of wind.” Made with 100% delicious merino wool in a variety of blues and grays, and designed with an “airy” granny square, this cardi stands up to it’s name. It’s warm but light; fresh and welcoming – just like a gentle breath of wind.

Dive into the cardigan pattern now or PIN it for later here!

This granny square cardigan free crochet pattern is supported by ads on my blog. You can find the 12-page PDF printable, ad-free pattern on my Etsy shop here or on Ravelry here.

This crochet pattern is written in US terms. If needed, you can find a handy term conversion chart right here in my Resource Library.

This pattern is accompanied by a video tutorial as well! In the tutorial I cover the making of the granny square, seaming the squares together using a flat slip stitch technique, constructing the sweater based on your size, adding the sleeves and adding the trim to the cuffs, hem and neckline. So, if you’re more of a visual learner, you can check out the video on YouTube here, or find it further down in this post!

If you opt for the written version, I recommend giving the pattern a read-through before you begin so you can visualize the big picture and consider any specific notes for help along the way! The ad-free printable copy of this pattern (from Etsy or Ravelry) includes lots of in-the-making photos for each step of the way as well.

What makes this pattern eco -friendly and sustainable?

THE YARN: I use only sustainable and eco-friendly yarn. This primarily means that the yarn I use is made of fiber that has been ethically grown/raised and processed. I also place an emphasis on sourcing yarn from transparent companies that implement environmentally sustainable practices and who put the people, animals and planet first. That’s why I chose Malabrigo yarn for this granny square cardigan free crochet pattern. They encompass everything I love about a yarn company.

THE SLOW YARN MOVEMENT: I’m participating in the Slow Yarn Movement. Slow yarn is the fiber-arts version of other similar important movements today – like slow food, slow fashion, slow life. It’s all about being INTENTIONAL, PURPOSEFUL and MINDFUL about the entire process of making – from yarn sourcing to making.

There’s far too much to talk about here, but please take a few minutes to learn about what this means by reading the article I wrote about the Slow Yarn Movement as part of my 6-part Sustainable Crochet Series.

The Yarn:

I used Malabrigo Worsted yarn for this sweater. Right now this is my all-time favorite yarn. It’s fiber is 100% Merino Wool given lovingly from the backs of Merino sheep herded around the hills of Uruguay by old-school style shepherds. It just doesn’t get more sweet than that. This was the perfect yarn for this sweater because:

it is a sustainable yarn made with animal fiber – 100% wool from non-mulesed merino sheep
the vibrant and natural color pallet of this yarn makes it perfect for matching several colors into a granny square
it is deliciously squishy and soft. So although this is a cardigan, it is next-to-skin soft. (let’s admit it – not all 100% wool is like that!)

You will need 4 different colors. I chose:

Color A: 083 Water Green
Color B: 135 Emerald
Color C: 606 Frost Gray
Color D: 036 Pearl

Here’s how much you’ll need:

Other Tools You’ll Need for this Granny Square Cardigan Crochet Pattern:

Sizing:

This cardigan is written in size XS-4XL and is designed with a sizing style of XS/S, M/L, XL/2XL, 3XL/4XL so you can decide how you want it to fit. The pattern is written in size XS/S with sizes (M/L, XL/2XL, 3XL/4XL) following in parenthesis. I am pictured wearing size XS/S. I am 5’4″ with a bust of 32″.

The pattern is super versatile. Here is the size chart. The written pattern also includes an entire page, including images, with directions for modifying the cardigan. Want it more cropped? You got it. Longer? No problem. Want the sleeves longer or shorter? The instructions are ALL there.

The gauge for this pattern for a 4″ x 4″ granny square is: 14 stitches 8 rows using the 6.50mm hook.

Policies and Disclaimers:

This pattern is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. This pattern or parts of it may not be reproduced, resold, distributed, published, altered, translated, posted or shared without authorization. You can sell your finished items provided that you credit Off the Beaten Hook as the designer using this verbiage, “This pattern was designed by Lindsey Roe and Off the Beaten Hook.” Thank you for your respectfulness!

This post contains affiliate links for materials I use and love. If you purchase something using one of these links I may earn a small commission which in no way affects the cost to you. These partnerships help me support my small business which allows me to provide you with free patterns and other crochet goodness. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support!

Abbreviations used in this granny square cardigan free crochet pattern:

ch – chain

st – stitch

hk – hook

sk – skip

mc – magic circle

sl st – slip stitch

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

DcBo – double crochet bobble stitch

BLO – back loop only

inc – increase

(…) x – repeat indicated number of times

[…] – number of stitches in row/round

The Pattern:

THE GRANNY SQUARE:

NOTES:

The cardigan is made using the 6.50mm hook
The square is worked with the right side facing at all times.
Fasten off each color and add new color using a slip stitch
The ch-1 after joining the new color does NOT count as a stitch
BLOCKING: Your squares need to be blocked. Whether you do this prior to joining, or after, it is up to you. Be sure each square is blocked to 4″.

HOW TO MAKE A DOUBLE CROCHET BOBBLE STITCH (DcBo):

Yarn over, insert hook into st
Yarn over and pull up a loop
Repeat steps #1 & #2, 3 more times (4 times total). You’ll have 9 loops on the hook
Yarn over and pull through all loops on the hook

Make 60(82, 97, 124) squares. Reference photo diagram below for step-by-step instructions.

Rnd 1: With Color A, make a mc, ch 1, into mc (DcBo, ch 1) x6, join with a sl st to first st and fasten off [6 st + 6 ch] PHOTOS 01-02

Rnd 2: Join Color B to any ch-1 sp, ch 1, (DcBo, ch 1, DcBo, ch 1) in each ch-1 sp around, join with a sl st to first st and fasten off [12 st + 12 ch] PHOTOS 03-05

Rnd 3: Join Color C to any ch-1 sp, ch 1, (dc 2, ch 1) in each ch-1 sp around, join with a sl st to first st and fasten off [24 dc + 12 ch] PHOTOS 06-07

Rnd 4: Join Color D in any ch-1 sp, ch 1, make 3 dc + ch 2 + 3 dc in same ch sp as join {corner made}, 3 dc in next 2 ch-1 sp, (make 3 dc + ch 2 + 3 dc in next ch sp {corner made}, 3 dc in next 2 ch-1 sp) x3 [48 dc + 8 ch] PHOTOS 08-12 Fasten off and weave in ends.

ASSEMBLY & PREP:

Optionally, block your squares prior to assembling. Unless you have exquisite tension on your flat slip stitch seam while joining squares, you’ll probably need to block your sweater after joining as well so blocking the squares individually isn’t 100% necessary, but recommended to ensure they’re all 4″ square. I did both – I blocked the squares before joining and blocked the sweater afterwards!

PREPARE TO SEAM THE SQUARES TOGETHER BY LAYING THEM OUT PER YOUR SIZE USING THE DIAGRAM BELOW:

JOINING THE SQUARES:

HOW TO MAKE A FLAT SLIP STITCH:

Slip knot onto your hook
Insert your hook into the BLO of the corner stitch of the right square PHOTO 14
Making sure your working yarn remains to the back, insert your hook into the BLO of the same st on the left square PHOTO 15
Yarn over and pull through all loops on your hook (PHOTO 16 yarn over, PHOTO 17 pull through)
Repeat for the remaining stitches

Important notes as you make your flat slip stitch join for THIS pattern:

After you lay out your squares, you will first join them vertically (up) and then horizontally (side to side) DIAGRAM BELOW
Our granny squares have a 2-ch corner. When you’re joining vertically, the first chain you’ll use is the 1st ch you made when making the corner of the square. The 1st ch will be the one directly preceding the first dc st of the side you are joining. You will use the 2nd chain when you come back and make your horizontal joins. Refer to PHOTO 13 ABOVE
You will use color D to join the squares.

CONSTRUCTING THE CARDIGAN:

Finish the sleeves: With right side facing, fold the sleeves in half lengthwise, joining the edges. Make a final row of flat slip stitches to join into a tube. Weave in all ends. Set aside for now.
Mark your arm opening: With the right side facing, fold your cardigan in half, across the shoulders, lining up the sides of the body. Starting at the shoulder, measure for your arm opening 6″(8″, 8″, 10″) inches and place a stitch marker. Since the squares are 4″ each, your arm opening measurement will either end at the very corner of a granny square, or right in the middle. Mark the measurement with a stitch marker.
Seam up the sides of the cardigan: Starting with the bottom edge, make a row of flat slip stitches up to the stitch marker of your arm opening. Fasten off. Weave in all ends up to this point.
Add the sleeves: Align the tube sleeves with the arm opening and make a row of flat slip stitches all the way around the opening to join the sleeves to the cardigan. Fasten off and weave in ends on the inside.

ADDING THE TRIM – CUFFS, HEM & NECKLINE:

NOTES:

The trim is made using the size 5.50mm crochet hook
The trim is made using Color D

Add the sleeve trim:

Rejoin yarn anywhere along the opening of the sleeve with a slip stitch, and ch 1.

Rnd 1: sc around. When you arrive at a junction where two granny squares were joined with a flat sl st seam, place a sc into the end of the flat sl st seam. Sl st to first st of rnd, ch 1 (do not turn).

Rnd 2: BLO sc around, sl st to first st of round, ch 1 (do not turn)

Rnd 3: BLO sc around, sl st to first st of round. Fasten off and weave in end.

Add the hem & neckline border:

Rejoin yarn at the front bottom corner of the cardigan with a slip stitch, and ch 1. If you’re right handed, you’ll rejoin in the right corner, if you’re left handed you’ll rejoin in the left corner (PHOTO 21 BELOW).

Rnd 1: sc inc in the st you just rejoined yarn, sc along the bottom hem of the cardigan, sc inc in both chs at the front corner of the opposite side (PHOTO 22 BELOW), sc up along the front opening, around the back of the neckline, down the other side of the front opening, inc in front corner ch (PHOTO 22 BELOW), sl st to first st of rnd, ch 1 (do not turn).

Rnd 2: BLO sc around, sl st to first st of round, ch 1 (do not turn)

Rnd 3: BLO sc around, sl st to first st of round. Fasten off and weave in end.