Designed to be worked in one seamless piece, my latest crochet cardigan pattern is as easy to crochet as it is to wear.
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With a one-row repeat, stitching up this cozy cardigan is easy. Not only is the pattern easy to follow, but it also offers you the freedom to tailor the length of your cardigan to suit your personal style. Whether you prefer a long, flowing silhouette, a cropped style for a trendy and modern twist, or the classic appeal of a standard length, my crochet cardigan pattern gives you the choice to effortlessly adjust and create a cardigan that is perfect for you.
I’ve written instructions for sizes S to 3X in UK crochet terms and US crochet terms.
With its flattering fit, this cardigan is as stylish as it is practical. Layer it over your favourite sweater for extra warmth during chilly months or throw it on over a light blouse or t-shirt for a chic Springtime look.
How this Relaxed Crochet Cardigan Pattern is Worked
The body and sleeves of the long cardigan are crocheted in Mini Bean Stitch (also known as the Elizabeth Stitch). This stitch gives a lovely texture and is visually appealing too. If you’re fed up of using the same stitches in your projects, you’ll love working on this pattern.
The cuffs, hem and edging are crocheted in single/double crochet back loop only. This is my favourite of the ribbing techniques and looks great widthways and lengthways.
The numbers below correspond to the numbered images above giving more detail:
- From the bottom to underarm, the cardi is crocheted in one piece, worked flat and turned to work in rows.
- The piece is then split to work the left front, back and right front of the cardigan separately. The pattern continues to work flat and is turned to work in rows.
- Next, the shoulders are seamed. The left front and right front are sewn to the back piece to create the shoulder seams.
- The sleeves are worked directly into the armhole, worked in rounds but turned after each round.
- Finally, the cuffs, hem and edging of the cardigan are worked.
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Yarn
I used Himalaya Mona for the body and sleeves of this crochet cardigan. I bought mine from The Knitting Network but you can also buy on Amazon.
This is a DK weight self-striping wool blend yarn (15% wool, 85% acrylic) and is incredibly durable and easy to care for. I really like how it worked up and it gave my cardigan a fab drape. It was easy to match the stripes (although it took more yarn to get it to match).
If you can’t get hold of Himalya Mona, you can find a list of yarn substitutions on Yarn Sub. This easy cardi would look just as good crocheted in one colour.
I started off using the same yarn for the ribbed hem, cuffs and edging but didn’t like how mis-matched it felt with the stripes of the cardi. After trial and error, the third yarn I tried I loved, Drops Soft Tweed in Strawberry Cream. A little different in fibre mix (25% Viscose, 50% Wool, 25% Alpaca) I think the colour gives the cardigan a lift and really compliments all the colours. More importantly, it matches the feel and drape of the Himalaya Mona. The only difference is the care instructions (handwash). I’ve been putting my cardigan in the washing machine on a wool wash at 30 degrees and it has been fine.
Important Note: If you substitute the yarn, look for a similar blend of fibres or yarn that matches the gauge. When you crochet your swatch, check the drape and gauge to make sure you’re happy before starting to crochet.
Cardigan Pattern Notes
- If you substitute the yarn, look for a similar blend of fibres or yarn that matches the gauge. When you crochet your swatch, check the drape and gauge to make sure you’re happy before starting to crochet.
- Instructions for sizes are written as thus; S, (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X).
- Repetitions are shown with an asterisk (*).
- Chain one turning chain does not count as a stitch.
- Chain one and Mini Bean Stitch of the pattern = 2 stitches.
- Body is worked flat in rows.
- Sleeves are worked in the round but turning at the end of each round.
- Pattern is reversible. Before sewing shoulder seam choose your right side and wrong side.
Level
Easy
Supplies and Materials
- 4.5mm / 7 Crochet Hook (body)
- 3.5mm / E4 Crochet Hook (ribbed cuffs, hem and edging)
- DK Yarn (15% wool / 85% acrylic – or substitute yarn that meets gauge); 1801, (1988, 2238, 2422, 2708, 2960) yds
- Stitch Markers
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
Stitches and Abbreviations
| UK Crochet Terms | US Crochet Terms |
| Double Crochet (dc) | Single Crochet (sc) |
| Mini Bean stitch (mb): insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and insert hook into same stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook | |
- Back Loop Only (blo)
- Slip Stitch (sl st)
- Chain (ch)
- Skip (sk)
- Repeat (rep)
- Space (sp)
- Stitch/es (st/s)
- Beginning (beg)
- Wrong Side (WS)
- Right Side (RS)
- Each (ea)
Cardigan Gauge
18 stitches and 16 rows = 10cm X 10cm
Garment Measurements
Sizes follow The Craft Yarn Council guidelines.
| Size | To fit (cm) | Width (cm) | Length (cm) | Armhole Depth (cm) | Sleeve Length (cm) | Total Amount of DK Yarn |
| S | 81 – 86 | 93 | 69.5 | 22.5 | 43 | 1801 |
| M | 91.5 – 96.5 | 104 | 71 | 24 | 43 | 1988 |
| L | 101.5 – 106.5 | 114 | 74.5 | 25.5 | 44.5 | 2238 |
| XL | 111.5 – 117 | 124 | 75.5 | 26.5 | 44.5 | 2422 |
| 2X | 122 – 127 | 134 | 79 | 28 | 45.5 | 2708 |
| 3X | 132 – 137 | 144 | 80 | 29 | 45.5 | 2960 |
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Included in the crochet cardigan pattern is:
- how the pattern is worked
- pattern notes
- clear written instructions
Easy Crochet Cardigan Instructions UK Crochet Terms
Ch162, (182, 196, 218, 234, 254)
Row 1: mb in 2nd ch from hook, * ch1, sk next ch, mb in next ch; * rep across to last st, dc in last st, ch2, turn
Row 2: mb in the 1st mb st * ch1, sk next ch-1 sp, mb in next mb; * rep across to last st, dc in last st, ch2, turn
Rep Row 2 for a total of 65, (65, 68, 68, 71, 71) rows
Adjusting Length: This is a long cardigan, however, if you prefer a shorter or cropped cardigan, the amount of row 2 repeats is where you’ll need to adjust. The number of rows above is the cardigan’s length from the armhole to the bottom before adding the ribbed hem. Measure underarm and work row 2 to the length you want. This will not affect the front of the cardigan.
Do not fasten off.
Left Front
Rep row 2 of pattern for 29, (34, 37, 43, 47, 52) sts, sk 10 sts from your last worked st and place a st marker in the next st to mark the beg of the back panel
Rep row 2 for a total of 16, (28, 31, 32, 35, 36) rows
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing shoulder seam
Back
Rejoin yarn at st marker
Rep row 2 of pattern for a total of 81, (91, 99, 109, 117, 127) sts, sk 10 sts and place a st marker in the next st to mark the beg of front left panel
Rep row 2 for a total of 16, (28, 31, 32, 35, 36) rows
Fasten off
Right Front
Rejoin yarn at st marker
Rep instructions for front right panel
Working on the WS, sew shoulder seams for both left and right
Sleeves
Working on the RS, identify the middle st underarm and rejoin yarn in this st. Ch1, work dc evenly around armhole, join with a sl st, ch2
Rep row 2 for a total of 50, (52, 52, 55, 55, 56) rounds, remembering to turn at the end of ea round
Round 51, (53, 53, 56, 56, 57): *dc2tog, *rep around, join with sl st
If using a different colour for ribbed cuff, fasten off. If continuing with the same yarn, do not fasten off. Continue to Ribbed Cuff
Ribbed Cuff
Change to 3.5mm hook
Ch11
Row 1: dc 2nd ch from hook, dc to end of ch, sl st in next 2 sts on cuff edge, turn
Row 2: dc in 1st st, dc blo to last st, dc in last st, ch1, turn
Row 3: dc in 1st st, dc blo to last st, dc in last st, sl st in next 2 sts on cuff edge, turn
Rep rows 2 and 3 to last st on cuff edge
Sl st through beg and last row to close seam
Rep on other sleeve
Fasten off
Ribbed Hem
With 3.5mm hook and working on RS, rejoin yarn at edge of bottom right hem
Ch11
Row 1: dc 2nd ch from hook, dc to end of ch, sl st in next 2 sts on hem edge, turn
Row 2: dc in 1st st, dc blo to last st, dc in last st, ch1, turn
Row 3: dc in 1st st, dc blo to last st, dc in last st, sl st in next 2 sts on hem edge, turn
Rep rows 2 and 3 to end
Fasten off
Ribbed Edging
With 3.5mm hook and working on RS, rejoin yarn on right front hem
Ch11
Row 1: dc 2nd ch from hook, dc to end of ch, sl st in next 2 sts on edge, turn
Row 2: dc in 1st st, dc blo to last st, dc in last st, ch1, turn
Row 3: dc in 1st st, dc blo to last st, dc in last st, sl st in next 2 sts on edge, turn
Rep rows 2 and 3 up right front, along back of neck, down left front
Fasten off
Easy Crochet Cardigan Instructions US Crochet Terms
Ch162, (182, 196, 218, 234, 254)
Row 1: mb in 2nd ch from hook, * ch1, sk next ch, mb in next ch; * rep across to last st, sc in last st, ch2, turn
Row 2: mb in the 1st mb st * ch1, sk next ch-1 sp, mb in next mb; * rep across to last st, sc in last st, ch2, turn
Rep Row 2 for a total of 65, (65, 68, 68, 71, 71) rows
Adjusting Length: This is a long cardigan, however, if you prefer a shorter or cropped cardigan, the amount of row 2 repeats is where you’ll need to adjust. The number of rows above is the cardigan’s length from the armhole to the bottom before adding the ribbed hem. Measure underarm and work row 2 to the length you want. This will not affect the front of the cardigan.
Do not fasten off.
Left Front
Rep row 2 of pattern for 29, (34, 37, 43, 47, 52) sts, sk 10 sts from your last worked st and place a st marker in the next st to mark the beg of the back panel
Rep row 2 for a total of 16, (28, 31, 32, 35, 36) rows
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing shoulder seam
Back
Rejoin yarn at st marker
Rep row 2 of pattern for a total of 81, (91, 99, 109, 117, 127) sts, sk 10 sts and place a st marker in the next st to mark the beg of front left panel
Rep row 2 for a total of 16, (28, 31, 32, 35, 36) rows
Fasten off
Right Front
Rejoin yarn at st marker
Rep instructions for front right panel
Working on the WS, sew shoulder seams for both left and right
Sleeves
Working on the RS, identify the middle st underarm and rejoin yarn in this st. Ch1, work sc evenly around armhole, join with a sl st, ch2
Rep row 2 for a total of 50, (52, 52, 55, 55, 56) rounds, remembering to turn at the end of ea round
Round 51, (53, 53, 56, 56, 57): *dc2tog, *rep around, join with sl st
If using a different color for ribbed cuff, fasten off. If continuing with the same yarn, do not fasten off. Continue to Ribbed Cuff
Ribbed Cuff
Change to 3.5mm hook
Ch11
Row 1: sc 2nd ch from hook, sc to end of ch, sl st in next 2 sts on cuff edge, turn
Row 2: sc in 1st st, sc blo to last st, sc in last st, ch1, turn
Row 3: sc in 1st st, sc blo to last st, sc in last st, sl st in next 2 sts on cuff edge, turn
Rep rows 2 and 3 to last st on cuff edge
Sl st through beg and last row to close seam
Rep on other sleeve
Fasten off
Ribbed Hem
With 3.5mm hook and working on RS, rejoin yarn at edge of bottom right hem
Ch11
Row 1: sc 2nd ch from hook, sc to end of ch, sl st in next 2 sts on hem edge, turn
Row 2: sc in 1st st, sc blo to last st, sc in last st, ch1, turn
Row 3: sc in 1st st, sc blo to last st, sc in last st, sl st in next 2 sts on hem edge, turn
Rep rows 2 and 3 to end
Fasten off
Ribbed Edging
With 3.5mm hook and working on RS, rejoin yarn on right front hem
Ch11
Row 1: sc 2nd ch from hook, sc to end of ch, sl st in next 2 sts on edge, turn
Row 2: sc in 1st st, sc blo to last st, sc in last st, ch1, turn
Row 3: sc in 1st st, sc blo to last st, sc in last st, sl st in next 2 sts on edge, turn
Rep rows 2 and 3 up right front, along back of neck, down left front
Fasten off
Happy crocheting!
Copyright Notice
The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Goodwin at Jera’s Jamboree. This pattern and design are subject to copyright and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not share, resell, alter or redistribute this pattern in part or in whole. You may, however, sell any finished items you make. If you would like to include this pattern in a roundup, you may take one photo and link back to this pattern.
