Beginner Crochet Cardigan – Free Pattern

This beginner crochet cardigan is one of my favorite patterns from last winter so I’m bringing it back in a new fall feature!

You might remember this pattern from when I first posted this Everyday Cardigan it here on the blog earlier this year. This post holds the same pattern, showing you a bit of a different way to style it!

LAYERING PATTERNS I LOVE (& you should too)

1. Crochet Le Nuage Wrap / 2. Crochet Rainier Sweater / 3. Crochet Ava Poncho

The Yarn

I chose to use Lion Brand’s Touch of Alpaca yarn for this pattern. It’s a really soft, fuzzy acrylic yarn with (you guessed it!) just a touch of alpaca! The color lineup in this yarn is part of why I chose it for this pattern – it’s the perfect grey for layering over every single outfit!

Lion Brand created a kit for this pattern in some stunning color options! I used the Oxford Grey colorway for this pattern, but I also love those cream and Taupe colorways too.

Grab your kit by clicking here – it comes with a printed copy of the pattern too!

PATTERN

• Get the ad-free, large print, printable PDF pattern HERE.
• Grab the Ultimate Pattern Bundle that includes 150+ patterns just like this one on sale for $20 today HERE.
• PIN this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later HERE.
• Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.

Materials:

–Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca yarn in Oxford Grey (X-Small: 5 ballsSmall & medium: 6 balls, Large and XL: 7 balls, 2X-3X: 8 balls)

Click HERE to grab the kit with everything you need from Lion Brand!

–Size K 6.5 mm hook

–Tapestry needle

–Tape measure or ruler

(Click HERE to shop all my favorite tools!)

Abbreviations (US terms):

ch – chain

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet

fpdc – front post double crochet

bpdc – back post double crochet

st(s) – stitch(es)

t – turn

Skill Level: Level 2 Easy

Notes:

-This cardigan fits true to size. For reference, model is 5’5” tall, and wearing the Everyday Cardigan size Medium.

-Sizing listed in the pattern will be in X-Small with Small, Medium, Large, Xl, 2X, 3X, and 4X listed in parenthesis such as 36 “(41, 46, 51, 56, 61, 66)” whereas Ch 36 for size XS, 41 for size S, 46 for size M, 51 for size L, 56 for size XL, 61 for size 2X and 66 for size 3X. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle/highlight all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

-Pattern is worked by first making the back panel, continuing with adding the front panels without seaming, seaming up the sides, adding hemline and neckline ribbing, and making sleeve pieces separately to seam later. Assembly instructions will be the same for all sizes.

-The video tutorial helps a lot with this, be sure to view that at https://www.sewrella.com/everyday-cardigan-video

Gauge:

13 Hdc = 4”

11 Rows = 4”

Crochet Everyday Cardigan

Back piece:

Ch 51 (54, 57, 60, 63, 65, 67) Hdc in 3rd st and in each st, Ch 2, t

Row 2: Hdc in each st, Ch 2, t

Repeat Row 2 until you reach the correct length for your size as follows:

X-Small: Work to Row 54

Small: Work to Row 56

Medium: Work to Row 58

Large: Work to Row 60

XL: Work to Row 62

2XL: Work to Row 62

3XL: Work to Row 63

Proceed to front panels without breaking yarn

Front Panels:

Row 1: Hdc in each of the next 23 (25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31) sts, Ch 2, t (you should only have worked just shy of halfway across your back piece)

Row 2: Hdc in each st, Ch 2, turn

Repeat Row 2 until you reach the correct length for your size as follows:

X-Small: Work to Row 54

Small: Work to Row 56

Medium: Work to Row 58

Large: Work to Row 60

XL: Work to Row 62

2XL: Work to Row 62

3XL: Work to Row 63

Finish off yarn.

Begin second front panel by joining yarn back to Row 1 of first front panel. Skip 2 sts after you finished Row 1 (after you Ch 2, t), join yarn, Ch 2, Hdc in each st across to the end of the row, Ch 2, t

Row 2: Hdc in each st, Ch 2, turn

Repeat Row 2 until you reach the correct length for your size as follows:

X-Small: Work to Row 54

Small: Work to Row 56

Medium: Work to Row 58

Large: Work to Row 60

XL: Work to Row 62

2XL: Work to Row 62

3XL: Work to Row 63

Finish off yarn, weave all ends from front and back panels.

Side Seams:

With a spare piece of yarn (cut to about 3x the length of the area where your side seam will be), use a mattress stitch to seam up the sides of your cardigan.

Leave armholes for your size as follows:

X-Small: 6″/15.5 cm

Small: 6.5″/16.5 cm

Medium: 7″/17.5 cm

Large: 7.5″/19 cm

XL: 8″/20.5 cm

2XL: 8.5″/21.5 cm

3XL: 9″/23 cm

Repeat side seam on the other side. Weave all ends.

Sleeves:

*make 2

*Worked from the cuff up in the round and seamed to the armhole

Ch 22 (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34), sl st to the first Ch of the round (next to the slip knot) to form a ring, Ch 2, Dc in each st around, sl st to join, Ch 2, do not t

Round 2: *Fpdc, Bpdc, rep from * around, sl st to join, Ch 2, do not t

Rounds 3-5: Repeat Round 2

Round 6: Hdc in each st, sl st to join, Ch 2, t

Rounds 7-18: Repeat Round 6

Round 19: *2 Hdc, Hdc next 5 sts, repeat from * around, Hdc in any remaining sts, sl st to join, Ch 2, t

Rounds 20-24: Repeat Round 6

Round 25: Repeat Round 19

Rounds 26-29: Repeat Round 6

Round 30: Repeat Round 19

Repeat Row 6 until you reach the correct length for your size as follows:

X-Small: Work to Round 52

Small: Work to Round 54

Medium: Work to Round 55

Large: Work to Round 56

XL: Work to Round 57

2XL: Work to Round 59

3XL: Work to Round 60

Finish off leaving a very long tail for sewing, whip stitch sleeve onto armhole and weave ends.

Make second sleeve the same way. (Beware of any tension differences, this can make your sleeves two different sizes!)

Hemline Ribbing:

Join yarn to the last row of your front panel (if you are looking at the cardigan, not wearing it, this will be the corner on the right panel [or left panel if you’re left handed]), Ch 2, Dc in each st around the entire hemline of the cardigan (working over the first front panel, over the side seam, across the back panel [you’re working into the original foundation chain here], over the second side seam, and across the other front panel), Ch 2, t

Row 2: Dc, *Bpdc, Fpdc, repeat from * in each st, Dc in last st, Ch 2, t

Row 3: Dc, *Fpdc, Bpdc, repeat from * in each st, Dc in last st, Ch 2, t

Rows 4-7: Repeat Rows 2 & 3 alternating twice more

Row 8: Sl st loosely in each st, Ch 2, turn your cardigan to work down the rough edge of your neckline, do not break yarn.

Neckline Ribbing:

Dc evenly in each st around entire neckline (working 1 Dc into each of 3 skipped sts between front panels) until you reach other side of ribbing, Ch 2, turn

Row 2: Dc, *Bpdc, Fpdc, repeat from * in each st, Dc in last st, Ch 2, t

Row 3: Dc, *Fpdc, Bpdc, repeat from * in each st, Dc in last st, Ch 2, t

Rows 4-7: Repeat Rows 2 & 3 alternating twice more

Finish off, weave all ends.

 

 

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