Stay stylish with a Free crochet cardigan Pattern featuring lightweight, comfortable stitches perfect for layering on cool days or casual outings.
Casual Piece That Boost Every Outfit
A crochet cardigan adds a touch of effortless style to any wardrobe. Its soft texture, gentle drape, and open stitchwork create a lightweight layer that pairs beautifully with jeans, dresses, or simple tees. The finished piece offers warmth without bulk, making it ideal for breezy evenings or transitional seasons. The cardigan’s elegance lies in its simplicity, combining comfort, functionality, and aesthetic appeal in one wearable accessory.
Chic Crochet Cardigan Pattern For Any Wardrobe
Perfect for Makers and Wearers Alike
This pattern is beginner-friendly yet engaging, allowing crafters to practice basic stitches while creating a stylish garment. It’s highly customizable — adjusting yarn weight, stitch type, and length can result in a piece that perfectly fits personal style.
Materials
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Yarn: Daiso "Soft Mix" (SM2 Gray).
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Composition: 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool.
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Weight/Length: 50g / 90m per ball.
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Quantity Used: Approximately 4 balls for the panels shown (tutor mentions starting the 4th ball near the end of the back panel).
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Crochet Hook:
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Recommended on Label: 10/0 (6.0mm).
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Used in Video: 8/0 (5.0mm) to get the desired gauge and texture.
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Buttons: 6 large wood buttons (approx. 20mm or larger) from Seria (or similar).
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Tools: Stitch markers, tapestry needle (darning needle), scissors, and pins (knit-specific recommended).
The finished cardigan is versatile, layering well over casual or semi-formal outfits, and its soft, breathable fabric ensures all-day comfort.
Uses
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Poncho: A loose outer layer for warmth.
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Vest-style Top: The open sides and button closures allow it to drape comfortably over shirts or dresses.
Special Features
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Reversible/Texture: The main body uses a pattern of "Single Crochet, Chain, Double Crochet" to create a bumpy, woven-like texture.
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Ribbed Hem: Starts with a sturdy single crochet back-loop-only ribbing.
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Buttoned Sides: Instead of sewing the sides shut, buttons are added to create armholes and vent openings.
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Wool Blend: The yarn choice adds warmth suitable for cooler weather.
Level of Difficulty
Intermediate.
While the basic stitches (Single Crochet, Double Crochet) are simple, the project involves shaping a neckline (decreases) and seaming shoulders.
Tutor's Suggestions
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Hook Size: Claire used a smaller hook (5.0mm) than recommended (6.0mm) because she felt the 10/0 was too thick for the fabric she wanted.
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Gauge Variation: She notes that personal tension affects the final size significantly. A looser hand might make the piece longer (up to 60cm), while a tighter hand keeps it around 57cm.
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Button Size: Use buttons larger than 2cm so they don't slip through the gaps in the crochet fabric easily.
How to Begin Crocheting
To start, create a foundation chain to match the desired width of the back panel and work rows using double or half-double crochet stitches until reaching the preferred length.
Then crochet the two front panels similarly and join them to the back at the shoulders and sides.
Sleeves can be worked separately and attached afterward or crocheted directly onto the body. Finally, finish the edges with a clean border to give the cardigan a polished, professional look.
Conclusion
In this part of the tutorial, the main structure of the poncho is completed. You have created a textured back panel, a front panel with a shaped neckline, and joined them at the shoulders. The next steps (presumably in Part 2) would involve adding the collar and the side buttons.
Tip
Mind the Chain Space! When working the main pattern (SC, Ch1, DC), always ensure you are inserting your hook into the Chain-1 space from the previous row, not into the Single Crochet or Double Crochet stitches. This alignment creates the correct texture and keeps the edges straight.