Sweater weather is coming! Crochet your own sweater in about a weekend with this simple guide. It can easily be adapted to any size, any yarn and you can try any stitch. As long as it looks good turned 90 degrees!
This is a guide to make a flowy, crochet Cardigan. I provide a filet/mesh pattern here for free and a treble, double X-stitch pattern in the pdf located in my ravelry store Here. Please feel free to use any other stitch that makes a square. Gauges are based off of weight 6, bulky yarn; and I also include the gauge for weight 4, worsted yarn. Keep in mind that the squares are worked side to side (not in vertical direction), so ensure you enjoy the stitch pattern in the horizontal direction. The Cardigan is constructed in this manner.
You will make 3 rectangle panels, turn them horizontally, sew them together, make armholes, create arms in the round (or make squares and sew them onto the armholes, I am not a fan of this method), and then finish with a trim around the edges to clean the piece up. If using a bulky yarn, like Bernat Blanket Yarns, it will create a cozy, blanket-like Cardigan that will keep you warm and cozy.
Yarn: Super Bulky Yarn weight 6, weight 4, or any (follow measurements rather than gauge)
Hook: 9mm hook for weight 6 or 5.5mm hook (or hook recommended for yarn type)
Scissors and Yarn Needle
4 rows and 8 dc+ ch-1 in 4-inch space for weight 6, 6 rows and 8 dc+7 ch-1 in 4-inch space for weight 4.
Measure Bust, take measurement in half. For example if the bust is 40in, you will make 18-20in worth of rows for the back panel, approximations are fine since the yarn has some give. This will be the numbers of rows you will make, or just keep going until you reach the measurement. Generally, US bust size small is 32in-35in, medium is 35in-38in, and large is 38in-42in.
Panel Pattern:
(make 3 equal panels, or make 1 to bust measurement and 2 panels that have equal row counts, more rows than the 1 panel. These will have similar effects, and the latter will have a longer front.)
Fdc: Chain the length of the sweater you want in multiples of 4+1. If using bulky weight yarn, 45-65 ch will go below your bottom in the back. And 73 ch will hit at about the top of the hips for weight 4 yarn.
Row 1: Ch-4, *sk next st, dc in next st, ch-1* repeat until last 2 ch sps, sk next ch space and dc in last ch sp. (Or follow personalized st pattern, X-stitch is below)
Row 2: Ch-4, *dc in next dc st, ch-1* repeat until last 2 ch sps, sk next ch space and dc in 3rd ch of last ch-4 sp.
Repeat row 2 until bust measurement is made. Make 2 more equal panels for the front. Turn the pieces sideways and sew them together with a needle or your hook. Leaving space for armholes (measure arm diameter and cut in half to determine how much space to leave, e.g. if arm diameter is 16in, leave 8 in on each panel) the shoulders together, 6 dc+1 ch sps to make armholes. Generally, size small is ~12in, medium is ~14in and large is ~16in
Arms Pattern:
Row 1: Join at bottom of armpit in seam. Ch-4, *dc in next dc(looking) st, ch-1* repeat until last 2 ch sps, sk next ch space and dc in last dc(looking) sp, sl st in 3rd ch of ch-4 space. (Or simply replace with ch-3, dc all the way around, see picture below for example)
Repeat Row 1 until Row 7, then begin dec row
Row 7-14: Ch-4, sk next dc + ch-1, *dc in next dc st, ch-1* repeat until last 2 ch sps, sk next ch space and dc in 3rd ch of last ch-4 sp. (Or ch-3, dc2tog, dc around until last 2 sts, dc2tog, then join to 3rd ch of ch-3.)
Repeat Row 1 until wrist is met (total of 20+ rows, depending on arm length)
Trim on arms: ch-4, *tr in dc, sk ch-1 sp* sl st in 4th ch of ch-4 space. Sl st in every st in round. Finish off and weave in ends.
Repeat on other arm.
Trim around sweater: *optional: separate trim from front and back panels, or just work in the round* Join yarn at the bottom near the seam, Ch-4, tr st in every chain around. Turn work, ch-4, tr st in every chain around. Finish off and weave in ends.
Fractaltz: Creative, Holistic Wellness 