Crochet Jean Jacket Cardigan

Ever find yourself needing the perfect sweater for fall crocheting, that’s easy and quick during this busy time of year? The Jean Jacket Cardigan is everything you’ve been wishing for!

It’s got unisex options, a super flattering fit, a bulky weight yarn that works up quickly, and SO many size options (XS-3XL).

For this pattern I used Lion Brand’s fairly new Fast Track yarn. It’s a cotton blend yarn that has such a unique tape style to it – it’s so fun to make something totally different with this yarn!

I loved this Dune Buggy Denim color and had been considering crocheting a sweater that was inspired by a classic jean jacket for a while. I never found quite the right yarn to give me the structure I wanted to look more like a jacket and less like a traditional sweater… but it still needed to be soft. What a conundrum!

When I found that Fast Track would give me structure, with softness and durability, and Lion Brand makes it in the perfect heathered denim color! These skeins were screaming “make me into that jacket!” and I had to oblige.

Make sure you pick up your kit to make this sweater from the Lion Brand website HERE – it includes all the yarn you need, with a printed copy of the pattern for you to keep! I’m not sure that this particular yarn is available widely in stores, so make sure you grab the kit online to make your Jean Jacket exactly like mine. Yay!

PATTERN

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Materials:

-Lion Brand Fast Track in dune buggy denim (XS 4 balls, Small/Medium 5 balls, Large/XL 6 balls, 2X/3X 7 balls)

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

-Size L 8 mm crochet hook

-Large eye tapestry needle

-4 stitch markers

(Click HERE to shop all my favorite tools!)

Abbreviations (US terms):

ch – chain

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

rep – repeat

sk – skip

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 Jean Jacket Cardigan size Medium.

-This cardigan is a unisex pattern, and can be made for men easily as there is no shaping to the style. Simply size up 1 size for menswear. I.e. if he generally wears size L, crochet this cardigan in size XL. See additional modifications for men throughout the pattern.

-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 all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

-Pattern is worked top down by making a yolk (neckline) first, working the torso, then adding sleeves with no seams.

-For a step by step video tutorial, be sure to visit https://www.sewrella.com/jean-jacket-cardigan

Gauge:

8 Sc = 4”

10 Rows = 4”

Yolk:

Ch 36 (41, 46, 51, 56, 61, 66), Sc in 2^nd from hook and in each st, Ch 1, t (35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65)

Place a stitch marker in each of the following stitch from your hook per your size

X-Small: 5^th, 12^th, 24^th, 31^st

Small: 6^th, 14^th, 27^th, 35^th

Medium: 7^th, 16^th, 30^th, 39^th

Large: 8^th, 18^th, 33^rd, 43^rd

XL: 9^th, 20^th, 36^th, 47^th

2X: 10^th, 22^nd, 39^th, 51^st

3X: 11^th, 24^th, 42^nd, 55^th

Row 2: Sc in each st, work 3 Sc in each st with a stitch marker, Ch 1, t (43, 48, 53, 58, 63, 68, 73)

From now on move stitch markers to the center stitch of your clusters of 3 Sc with each Row

Rows 3-11: Repeat Row 2 to continue increasing

For X-Small size stop increasing and proceed to Torso (below) (115)

Rows 12-13: Repeat Row 2 to continue increasing

For Small size stop increasing and proceed to Torso (below) (136)

Rows 14-15: Repeat Row 2 to continue increasing

For Medium size stop increasing and proceed to Torso (below) (157)

Rows 16-17: Repeat Row 2 to continue increasing

For Large size stop increasing and proceed to Torso (below) (178)

Rows 18-19: Repeat Row 2 to continue increasing

For XL size stop increasing and proceed to Torso (below) (199)

Rows 20-21: Repeat Row 2 to continue increasing

For 2X size stop increasing and proceed to Torso (below) (220)

Rows 22-23: Repeat Row 2 to continue increasing

For 3X size stop increasing and proceed to Torso (below) (241)

*For men: add an additional 6 Rounds of increases beyond your size’s requirements

Torso:

To make the armholes –

Row 1: Sc in each st to the first stitch marker (increase from Row below), *Sc in marked st, Ch 3, sk all sts to the next stitch marker, Sc in marked st * and in each st to next stitch marker, repeat from *, Sc in remaining sts, Ch 1, t

You’ve now created armholes and will work in one smooth Row back and forth to make the torso of the cardigan. We will come back to add sleeves later.

Row 2: Sc in each st, work 1 Sc into each Ch st at armholes, Ch 1, t

Rows 3-30: Sc in each st, Ch 1, t

For X-Small size stop lengthening and proceed to Edging (below)

For each additional size larger, add 1 Row of Sc to the length (Small +1 Row, Medium +2 Rows, and so on).

*For men: add an additional 2 Rounds of length beyond your size’s requirements

Finish off, weave ends

Edging:

To make the collar –

Join yarn to the first foundation chain st from the yolk, Ch 1, Sc into the other side of each foundation Ch st only, Ch 1, t

Rows 2-9: Sc in each st, Ch 1, t

*For men: add an additional 2 Rows of length to the collar

Row 10: *Sc in each st, work 3 Sc in last st, turn to work down rough edge of torso along cardigan front opening, Sc in each st to bottom hemline of the cardigan, 3 Sc in corner, Sc in each st around the hemline, 3 Sc in corner, turn to work up other rough edge of torso along cardigan front opening, Sc 3 in corner,* Sc in each st around collar, repeat from * around once more to finish off edging, sl st to join, finish off and weave ends

Sleeves:

*Work sleeves over both armholes – be aware of your tension so that sleeves come out the same size!

Join yarn to the Ch 3 at the bottom of the armhole, Ch 1, Sc in each st around including each Ch st, do not join

Round 2: *Sc decrease, Sc in next 3 sts, repeat from * around, Sc in any remaining sts of the Round

Rounds 3-30: Sc in each st

*For men: Sc in each st around for the remainder of the Rounds, do not decrease again

Round 31: *Sc decrease, Sc in next 2 sts, repeat from * around, Sc in any remaining sts of the Round

Rounds 32-46: Sc in each st

For X-Small size stop lengthening and proceed to last Round (below)

For each additional size larger, add 1 Row of Sc to the length (Small +1 Row, Medium +2 Rows, and so on).

Last Round: Sl st in each st, sl st to join, finish off, weave ends