The Rose crochet cardigan is a relaxed, open front cardigan in soft cotton, with wide sleeves. It is made from one simple piece worked sideways in double crochet, with two short sleeves added on, so it is a lovely first garment. It comes in 6 sizes, to fit a chest of 80 to 140 cm (32 to 54 in).
This free easy cardigan pattern has every step for every size written out below, with a diagram of how it is made. Prefer paper? Download the free printable PDF at the end.
Materials
- Aran weight 100% Pima cotton yarn, 100 g with 142 m (155 yd) per ball: 8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11) balls
- A 6.5 mm crochet hook
- A yarn needle for sewing the seams and hiding the ends
Skill level and sizes
This is an easy pattern, worked almost entirely in double crochet. There is no shaping: the body is one piece with an opening for the neck, the sleeves are short rectangles, and two side seams finish it.
| Size | To fit chest | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size 1 | 80 to 86 cm (32 to 34 in) | 2 to 4 | 6 to 8 | 34 to 36 |
| Size 2 | 88 to 96 cm (36 to 38 in) | 6 to 8 | 10 to 12 | 38 to 40 |
| Size 3 | 100 to 108 cm (40 to 42 in) | 10 to 12 | 14 to 16 | 42 to 44 |
| Size 4 | 112 to 118 cm (44 to 46 in) | 14 to 16 | 18 to 20 | 46 to 48 |
| Size 5 | 122 to 128 cm (48 to 50 in) | 18 to 20 | 22 to 24 | 50 to 52 |
| Size 6 | 132 to 140 cm (52 to 54 in) | 22 to 24 | 26 to 28 | 54 to 56 |
| Size | Width | Length | Armhole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size 1 | 55 cm (21.5 in) | 66.5 cm (26 in) | 24 cm (9.5 in) |
| Size 2 | 60 cm (23.5 in) | 67 cm (26.5 in) | 25 cm (10 in) |
| Size 3 | 65 cm (25.5 in) | 67.5 cm (26.5 in) | 26 cm (10.25 in) |
| Size 4 | 70 cm (27.5 in) | 68 cm (26.8 in) | 26.5 cm (10.5 in) |
| Size 5 | 75 cm (29.5 in) | 69 cm (27 in) | 28.5 cm (11.2 in) |
| Size 6 | 80 cm (31.5 in) | 70 cm (27.5 in) | 30 cm (12 in) |
Width is across the back, length is from the shoulder to the hem, and armhole is the depth of the sleeve opening. The sleeves are 15 cm (6 in) long in every size, and the front opening is 6 cm (2.5 in) wide, or 8.5 cm (3.3 in) for sizes 5 and 6.
Gauge: 12 dc and 8 rows make 10 cm (4 in). If you get more stitches, your crochet is tighter than the pattern: try a bigger hook. If you get fewer, try a smaller hook.
Abbreviations (US terms)
| ch | chain |
|---|---|
| dc | double crochet |
| sc | single crochet |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| RS | right side |
Each dc row starts with a turning chain of 3. New to double crochet? Our free crochet stitch guide explains it step by step.
How the cardigan is made
The body is one piece, worked sideways from one side edge to the other: the foundation chain runs from the front hem, over the shoulder, to the back hem. You make the first front, leave an opening for the neck, then make the second front. The sleeves are crocheted onto the edges afterwards, and the sides are sewn up.
Pattern
Numbers are given for size 1, then sizes 2 to 6 in brackets: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Where there is only one number, it is for all sizes.
Body
- Step 1Make a foundation chain of 158 (160, 162, 164, 166, 168) ch. Turn your work, ready to work back along the chain.
- Step 2First front: work in dc until the piece measures 22.5 (26.25, 28, 31.25, 32.5, 35) cm, 8.8 (10.3, 11, 12.3, 12.8, 13.8) in, from the foundation edge, about 18 (21, 23, 25, 26, 28) rows.
- Step 3Front opening: work 79 (80, 81, 82, 83, 84) dc, across the stitches for the back only. Turn.
- Step 4Work 5 (5, 5, 5, 7, 7) rows in dc on these stitches. The neck opening is done.
- Step 5Second front: work 79 (80, 81, 82, 83, 84) dc, then ch 79 (80, 81, 82, 83, 84). The new chains are the foundation edge of the second front. From now on, work across all 158 (160, 162, 164, 166, 168) sts.
- Step 6Work in dc until the second front measures 22.5 (26.25, 28, 31.25, 32.5, 35) cm, 8.8 (10.3, 11, 12.3, 12.8, 13.8) in, from its foundation edge, about 18 (21, 23, 25, 26, 28) rows. Cut the yarn 15 cm (6 in) from the last stitch and pull it through the loop to secure it.
Sleeves
- Step 7Starting at the side edge, count along your last row to the 51st (51st, 51st, 51st, 50th, 49th) stitch. Insert the hook in this stitch and pull the yarn through. Ch 3, then work 58 (60, 62, 64, 68, 72) dc along the edge. Turn.
- Step 8Work 10 rows in dc on these 58 (60, 62, 64, 68, 72) sts. Cut the yarn and secure the last stitch.
- Step 9Repeat steps 7 and 8 on the foundation edge for the second sleeve.
The sleeve sits in the middle of the edge, with the same number of stitches on each side of it, so the front and back side seams match.
Assembly and finishing
- Fold the cardigan in half along the shoulders and sleeves, with the right side facing out.
- Starting at the bottom hem, sew the side edges together with whip stitch up to the underarm. Then start again at the sleeve edge and sew the sleeve edges together. Repeat on the other side.
- With the right side facing, insert the hook in the first stitch of the bottom edge, pull up a loop and work sc all the way around the bottom edge. Cut the yarn and secure the last stitch.
- Hide all the yarn ends.
Place the two edges together with the right sides facing you. Secure the yarn on the wrong side, then sew through one stitch of the first piece from the inside out, and through the next stitch of the second piece from the outside in. Keep going like this to the end of the seam.
Turn the work to the wrong side, thread the yarn end on a needle and sew sideways under the back strands of a few stitches. Move down a row and sew back the other way, then cut the yarn close to the fabric.
Tips for a perfect cardigan
- Make a gauge swatch first: with a garment, the fit depends on it.
- Chain loosely for the foundation, so the hem edge is not tighter than the rows.
- Measure your fronts by length as well as by row count: stop when they reach the measurement for your size.
- Join a new ball at the end of a row when you can, and leave a long tail to hide later.
Questions
Is a crochet cardigan hard for beginners?
Not this one. It is all double crochet, with no shaping: one piece for the body, two short sleeves and two side seams. If you can chain and double crochet, you can make it.
Can you crochet with cotton yarn?
Yes. Cotton is smooth, shows the stitches clearly and is lovely to wear in warm weather. This cardigan uses aran weight 100% Pima cotton.
Which size should I make?
Choose the size that fits your chest measurement in the first chart. The finished cardigan is roomy, so check the finished width, length and armhole in the second chart too.
How much yarn do I need?
8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 11) balls of aran weight cotton with 142 m (155 yd) in 100 g, for sizes 1 to 6.
Can I sell the cardigans I make?
Yes. You are welcome to sell the finished cardigans you make from this pattern, and a credit to Crochet Simplified with a link to crochetsimplified.com is appreciated. Please do not share, copy or sell the pattern itself.
Is there a printable version?
Yes. The free PDF has the whole pattern for all 6 sizes, the measurement diagrams and an illustrated guide to the stitches and seams. Download it, open it on your phone or print the pages you need.
Using this pattern
This pattern is for your personal use. You may not copy, share, translate, resell or publish this pattern or its photos, in print or online, in whole or in part, free or paid.
