Wrap yourself in the warmth and comfort of a handmade crochet cardigan featuring a charming zig-zag pattern. Its cozy stitches form a playful and rhythmic design that adds a touch of personality to any outfit. Whether you're curling up with a book or heading out with friends, this cardigan is the perfect companion for a chilly day. With a variety of colors that dance across the fabric, it's a lovely piece that's both practical and stylish — a true labor of love that you can wear.
Crochet Zig-zag Cardigan Pattern
Materials Needed:
- Yarn (Lion Brand Pound of Love, Caron One Pound, in your chosen colors)
- Crochet hooks (5.5 mm for the pattern, 6 mm for the starting chain)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers or scrap yarn
Pattern:
The cardigan uses a zigzag stitch adapted from an afghan pattern. The construction is relatively simple and made size adjustable by chaining more or fewer stitches.
Starting the Zigzag Stitch:
Begin the Base Chain:
- Using a 6 mm hook, chain an even number of stitches. For a swatch, chain 16, then add 4 more chains (20 total chains).
Row 1 (Setup Row):
- Double crochet into the sixth chain from the hook (counting back), chain one, skip a chain, and double crochet into the next chain.
- Continue this pattern until the end of the row. You should end with a double crochet.
Transition to Row 2:
- Turn your work, chain three (counts as the first double crochet).
- Proceed with what is referred to as an extended treble crochet in the video:
- Yarn over, insert hook into the first chain-one space, pull up a loop, go into the skipped chain from the setup row, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through two loops on hook twice.
- Place two double crochets into the chain-one space, then repeat the extended treble crochet in the next chain-one space.
Repeat Row 1:
- This is essentially a repeat of the setup row but worked into the stitches of the previous row.
Constructing the Cardigan:
Initial Body Piece:
- Start by making a chain long enough to wrap comfortably around the body. This forms the width of the cardigan.
- Work in zigzag stitch pattern until you've reached the desired length vertical to the body. This typically measures from the bottom of the cardigan to the underarms.
Forming the Sleeves and Body:
- Fold the crocheted piece over your shoulders to mark where the armholes should be.
- Use stitch markers to indicate the start and end of each armhole.
- The armholes are made by skipping stitches in the body piece and continuing with the zigzag stitch.
Sleeves:
- For each sleeve, chain a number equal to the circumference of the armhole plus additional chains for ease.
- Work in the zigzag stitch pattern for each sleeve until the desired length is achieved.
- Decrease stitches as needed for tapered sleeves.
Finishing Touches:
- Sew the side seams together.
- Optional: Add buttons and create buttonholes.
- Add borders or edgings if desired.
Additional Tips:
- The cardigan is highly customizable. Adjust the width and length by varying the number of chains and rows.
- Always count your stitches periodically to ensure consistency, especially if making adjustments for size.
