Get ready to fall in love with the Cascade Crochet Cardigan! This pattern is perfect for adults who want to create a stylish and cozy cardigan. The design has a beautiful mix of textured stitches that form a flattering, drapey shape. It has long sleeves, a comfortable open front, and falls gracefully around the hips. The Adorable Crochet Cardigan is the perfect project for both beginner and experienced crocheters, combining simple techniques with sophisticated style for a stunning look you’ll adore.
Crochet Cardigan Pattern
Materials Needed:
- Brava Tweed yarn: Worsted weight (218 yards per 100 grams)
- Colorways: Ren for crop version, Stratus for longer version
- Crochet hooks:
- Size I (5.5 mm) hook
- Size H (5 mm) hook
- Possibly Size G (4.5 mm) hook for tighter cuffs
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Size: Small (with instructions on customization for other sizes)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Starting the Cardigan:
- Make a slip knot and put it onto your I hook (5.5 mm).
- Chain 68 for a size small. For different sizes, you will need a different number of chains.
2. Row 1:
- Work into the back humps of the chains for a cleaner edge.
- First Stitch: In the first chain from the hook, do a stacked single crochet (ssc):
- Insert hook into the first back hump, yarn over (yo), pull up a loop, yo, pull through both loops.
- Insert hook into the left bar of the stitch just made, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through both loops.
- Mark this stitch.
3. Herringbone Double Crochet (hbdc) Stitches:
- Next 8 stitches: Make 8 hbdc stitches.
- Yarn over, insert hook into the next back loop, yo, pull through the chain and the first loop on the hook, yo, pull through 1 loop, yo, pull through 2 loops.
4. Increases:
- Next 2 stitches: Work 2 hbdcs into each of the next 2 stitches.
- Place a stitch marker between these sets of increases.
- Next 12 stitches: Work hbdc stitches.
- Repeat increases, work 12 hbdc stitches after the increases.
- Next 18 stitches: Work hbdc stitches.
- Repeat increases, mark between the stitches.
- Next 8 stitches: Work hbdc stitches, leaving one stitch leftover.
- Last Stitch: Work a double crochet (dc) into the last stitch.
5. Continue Increasing Rows:
- Turn your work for the next row.
- First Stitch: ssc, mark it.
- Work hbdc stitches until the stitch right before the marker, then do increases as described before.
- Repeat this for a total of 5 rows.
6. Alternating Rows:
- Alternate between non-increasing rows and increasing rows for 12 rows, ending with one final increasing row, giving you 18 rows in total.
Splitting for Sleeves:
7. Row for Splitting:
- Turn your work and start with an ssc in the first stitch.
- Work 21 hbdc stitches.
- Chain 2, skip 38 stitches, and work hbdc in the next stitch.
- Work 44 hbdc stitches across the back.
- Chain 2, skip 38 stitches, work 21 hbdc stitches across the front panel, plus 1 dc in the last stitch.
- Remove stitch markers; you don’t need them for the body portion anymore.
Working the Body:
8. Body Rows:
- Work across all stitches and chain spaces for a total of 92 stitches per row.
- Length customization: Work rows without shaping until you reach the desired length, trying on the cardigan as you go to ensure the fit and length you want. Remember to account for ribbing at the bottom.
Ribbing:
9. Bottom Ribbing:
- Switch to H hook (5 mm) for ribbing.
- Attach yarn and chain 10.
- Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and across. At the end, you will have 9 single crochet stitches.
- Join to cardigan:
- Slip stitch into the next 2 stitches along the bottom of the cardigan, turn.
- Skip the 2 slip stitches and work single crochet in the back loops only (BLO) of the ribbing.
- Work the last stitch through both loops.
- Continue this pattern until all 92 stitches along the bottom are ribbed.
10. Front and Neckline Ribbing:
For a non-hooded cardigan:
- Switch to the H hook (5 mm) again for a tighter edge.
- Attach yarn to one corner of the neckline, chain 8, single crochet in the second chain from the hook, and continue across.
- Slip stitch down the front opening, working 3 stitches for every 2 rows.
Sleeves:
11. Starting the Sleeves:
- Join yarn at the center stitch under the arm, using the I hook (5.5 mm).
- Stacked Single Crochet (ssc) in the first stitch.
- Work 40 hbdc stitches around the armhole, joining and turning at the end of each round.
- To avoid holes at the join, consider using a double crochet decrease (dcd) or dc3tog where necessary.
12. Sleeve Decreases:
- For each round, work an ssc, hbdc across, and a dc2tog at the end.
- Decrease every 4th round, for a total of 6 decrease rounds.
- Then, work 6 more rounds without decreasing.
- Change to the H hook and work ribbing around the edge.
13. Cuffs:
- Chain 10, work across similarly to the bottom ribbing.
- Slip stitch rows, BLO, and single crochet for a tighter fit.
Hood (Optional):
14. Adding the Hood:
- Join yarn at the neckline, work rows of hbdc until desired height (e.g., 27 rows).
- Fold and join the hood with slip stitches through both layers, front loop and back loop respectively.
15. Ribbing Around Hood (if included):
- Join yarn at the bottom front corner, slip stitch up one side, around the hood, and down the other side.
- Work herringbone single crochet (hsc) rows back and forth as desired.
Pockets (Optional):
16. Making the Pockets:
- Magic ring, ssc, chain 1, 3 hbdcs.
- Continue increasing as per the rows explained in the video until you have 8 or 10 rows.
- Work an edge around the pocket with slip stitches.
Finishing:
- Weave in all ends, block your cardigan, and enjoy your new creation!
