Spring Cardi FREE Crochet Pattern

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The Spring Cardi is a free crochet pattern that is easy enough for a beginner. This simple cardigan is perfect for layering over you favorite tank as it starts to warm up.

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Spring Cardi
by Katy Petersen

This pattern is copyrighted by KT and the Squid. You may NOT copy, share, change or sell the pattern itself.
If you’d like to sell finished items from this pattern please do! Finished items belong to you and you may do what you wish with them.

This pattern was written for size small and has been graded for all other sizes. The pattern has NOT been tested.

Materials

Sock/fingering weight yarn: approx. 550 (660, 800, 880, 1000, 1200, 1500) yards

Shop fingering weight yarn from We Crochet here

G/4mm hook

Spring Cardi FREE Crochet Pattern

Abbreviations

Ch = chain
St = stitch
Ss = slip stitch
Hdc = half double crochet
Hdc2tog

Gauge

13 hdc by 11 rows = 3” square

Sizes

XS(S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X)
Bust: 28”(32”, 36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”)
Finished back width: 14” (16”, 18”, 20”, 22”, 24”, 26”)
Finished length: 20.5″ (21”, 21.5”, 22”, 22.5”, 23”, 23.5”)

Notes

  • Please read all instructions before beginning.
  • This top is flat worked in one piece.
  • Instructions for this top are written for all sizes as XS(S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X)
  • This pattern is based off standard sizes. If you can, I recommend trying the top on the recipient as you go so you can make adjustments as needed.
  • This cardigan was designed to be worn open with 0 ease on the back panel.
    *if you’d like more coverage in the front you can continue with the trim. Just keep in mind you will need more yarn and it will make it longer as well.

Spring Cardi FREE Crochet Pattern Instructions

Back Panel
Ch 61(71, 79, 87, 97, 105, 113)
Row 1 – Hdc in 2nd ch from hook (skipped st does not count as a st) and every ch across. 60(70, 78, 86, 96, 104, 112)
Row 2 – Ch 1 (does not count as a st from here on), turn, hdc in every hdc across. 60(70, 78, 86, 96, 104, 112)
Repeat row 2 until you have 24(26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) total rows, fasten off.

First Front Panel
Return to the beginning ch of the back and join to the first ch. You will now work on the opposite side of the ch (this will become the shoulders)
Row 1 – Ch 1, hdc in the 1st 18(20, 23, 26, 28, 31, 34). 18(20, 23, 26, 28, 31, 34)
Row 2 – Ch 1 (does not count as a st from here on), turn, hdc in every hdc across. 18(20, 23, 26, 28, 31, 34)
Repeat row 2 until you have 24(26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) total rows, fasten off.

Second Front Panel
Return back to the beginning ch, skip 24(30, 32, 34, 40, 42, 44) ch from the first front panel, join in the next ch.
Row 1 – Ch 1, hdc in the last 18(20, 23, 26, 28, 31, 34). 18(20, 23, 26, 28, 31, 34)
Row 2 – Ch 1 (does not count as a st from here on), turn, hdc in every hdc across. 18(20, 23, 26, 28, 31, 34)
Repeat row 2 until you have 24(26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) total rows, do NOT fasten off.

Bottom
You will now join the front panels with the back.
Row 1 – Ch 1, turn, hdc in every hdc across, hdc in every hdc across the back, hdc in every hdc across the first front panel. 96(110, 124, 138, 152, 166, 180)
Row 2 – Ch 1, turn, hdc in every hdc across. 96(110, 124, 138, 152, 166, 180)
Rows 3-36 – Repeat row 2.
Rows 37-44 – Ch 1, turn, hdc2tog, hdc in every hdc until 2 sts remain, hdc2tog.
Do NOT fasten off.

Spring Cardi FREE Crochet Pattern

Finishing
Round 1 – Ch 1, turn, hdc in every st across, hdc in the end of every row up the first side, hdc in every ch, hdc in the end of every row down the second side, join with a ss to the first hdc. 232(258, 276, 294, 320, 338, 356)
Rounds 2-7 – Ch 1, hdc in every hdc around, join with a ss to the first hdc.
Fasten off. 232(258, 276, 294, 320, 338, 356)

Sleeves
Join in the end of a row close to the underarm.
Round 1 – Ch 1, hdc in the end of every row around the arm opening, join with a ss to the first hdc. 48(52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72)
Rounds 2-7 – Ch 1, hdc in every hdc around, join with a ss to the first hdc. 48(52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72)
Fasten off, weave in ends, block.

Edit:
Some people said they were having a hard time visualizing how this design is constructed so I made a little image to hopefully help.

Spring Cardi FREE Crochet Pattern

The red line is where you’ll start with the foundation ch. The back is then worked. You’ll fasten off and join back at the foundation chain and work the first panel. Then fasten off, go back to the foundation chain, skip the number of indicated stitches for the neck, join and work the 2nd panel. Last, (do NOT fasten off) you’ll work the first row of the bottom (indicated by the blue line in the image) which will go across the 2nd panel (where the 1 is), then across the back (where the 2 is) and across the first front panel (where the 3 is).

Spring Cardi FREE Crochet Pattern

39 Comments

  • Michelle Temme

    Hi greetings from Australia and thankyou for an awesome pattern. Just wanting to ask as i don’t use fingering weight yarn how many yards would i need using DK or worsted yarn please is there a way to work it out?

    Thankyou xx

    • ktandthesquid

      Hi Michelle,
      You can try to meet gauge with DK and a smaller hook but I wouldn’t suggest using a worsted weight yarn. If you meet gauge the yardage requirements will be the same.-Katy

  • kris

    I saw this when you posted and started it right away. I have the back, the first front and the second front completed and am at a major brain block for how to proceed for the next step of the bottom. I just can’t visualize which direction to go and how it progresses from the front panels. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

    • ktandthesquid

      Hi Kris,
      The bottom will join the back to the front 2 panels leaving two arm holes. When you get to the end of the second front panel, fold the top in half (at the foundation chain) and place the next stitch on the back panel. Then when you get to the end of the back panel pick up the next stitch on the first front panel.
      Hope that helps!

      • Heather C

        Hi KT,
        I’m having the same brain block! When I finish the second front panel and fold the piece in half, am I crocheting across the panel, then across the full beginning edge/foundation chain, then across the other front panel? That seems to be the only way to get the stitch number correct, but it also makes the armholes twist oddly. Any advice?

        • ktandthesquid

          Hi Heather,
          I added an image to the bottom of the post. The blue line is showing where the first row of the bottom is worked.
          If it’s twisting just like crochet stitches do (they don’t lay flat) you can easily fix that with blocking.
          Thanks,
          Katy

  • Jackie

    Hello, Many thanks for sharing your lovely pattern x. Over here in UK we call fingering yarn 4ply, I bought some 4ply but it is coming up too big even with a smaller hook. When I zoomed in on your pic your yarn looks quite fine. Can you tell me what it is? Do you think sock yarn would work? Kind regards Jackie

  • Jackie

    Hi, Many thanks for sharing your lovely pattern. Here in the UK we class fingering as 4 ply but I cannot seem to get the tension needed. Do you think sock yarn would work?

  • Katie

    This looks like an awesome pattern!
    How could I go about making the sleeves longer? Adding more rounds in the sleeves section? Thanks!

  • Marcia Gault

    Normally, I knit and crochet on gauge but with this, I can’t even begin to get there. I have tried going up 2 sizes in hooks, I have doubled the yarn and even tried to go up 2 sizes, but still can’t get gauge. What would you suggest?

    • ktandthesquid

      It could be a number of things. Yarn fiber content, the type of hook (not just the size)… Have you tried blocking your swatch?

  • Cyndi Ficker

    I would love to make this, I brought this pattern into a yarn store to get yarn, the ladies there said the yardage seemed really short. How many skeins did you use? I found the yarn you used. Also what size did you make it in?

    • ktandthesquid

      I made size small. It’s not a super long cardigan and it doesn’t close all the way in the front so that may be why it seems short? I used less than 2 hanks.

  • Erin

    Thanks for the pattern! It was perfect for some hand-dyed yarn I found at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. See my Ravelry project page for pictures of how it turned out. I modified it a bit to increase front bust width and decrease lower back length, but otherwise no changes.

  • Tammie H

    I love the sweater, but I think your yardage is a little off. I made this sweater following your pattern in the 3 xl it took almost 3 times the 570 yards your said it would take to make this garment. I used a total of 1434 yards to complete it. But it is beautiful and I love it so good job on making the pattern. the instructions were super easy to follow.

    • ktandthesquid

      Thanks Tammie! It was just a calculation and this pattern was not tested so that is entirely possible!
      When I get a chance I’ll go back through my numbers 🙂

    • ktandthesquid

      I know exactly what I did! I calculated it based off only needing 1 hank for the size small. I used 2!!
      Fixing now 🙂

  • Gloria

    Good evening,
    I like this pattern but I do not find it easy at all and I have crocheting for many years. I am lost at the first front panel. I am using the large directions. You have the first row instructions twice so that threw me off. What am I supposed to do? I am always looking for easy patterns but this has me completely lost. My back panel doesn’t seem long enough. It measures approx. 9 3/4 inches. I am using Caron simply soft acrylic yarn. I really want to finish this a make several of them, I just don’t understand the directions. Please help.
    Thank you

    • ktandthesquid

      Hi Goria,
      First, I’d suggest picking an appropriate yarn and checking your gauge. Caron Simply Soft is a worsted weight and I used fingering.
      The back panel only goes from your shoulders to the bottom of your arm (if you keep reading you’ll see more length is added for the bottom).
      I only have each instruction once so I’m not sure where you see anything twice. Maybe a hiccup in your computer?
      The front panels are worked into the opposite side of the beginning ch of the back (the begging ch will be at your shoulders when done). You could Google how to work on the opposite side of the ch if that’s whats got you lost.
      Thanks,
      Katy

  • seema binu

    Hi I am from India.Its awesome… I like this design very much gonna make one for my kid.Thank you very very much for publishing this.

  • JEAN bRUNER

    Can u let me know which end is the foundation, from the beginning of the back or the end of the back, I’m confused on that one.

  • Trish Funderburg Walls

    I made this with Caron, Woodland Camo (variegated browns and tans) with a size F hook. Made the medium size. I wish I could post a picture because it came out so adorable. I could not be more pleased with this pattern. I am ready to make a second one, already have bought the yarn so I can do one in the small size. If I were to want to sell the finished product, what kind of price should I ask for it?

    • ktandthesquid

      Hi Trish!
      I’m so glad you like it. Pricing is hard…When I was selling items I usually calculated about how much I wanted to make per hour (if you kept track) plus supplies. Hope that helps a little!

    • Trish Walls

      Again, I am so glad you shared this pattern. I love it :)I have made more than one and have gotten compliments that “it looks professional”.

  • Joanie

    Could you please share what type of fiber content was in the fingering weight yarn you used. Thank You!

    • ktandthesquid

      Hey Joanie,
      I’m 98% sure it was a superwash merino/silk. I KNOW there was silk in it but the percentage…I’m not sure. Hope that helps. Sorry, I made this over a year ago and don’t have the label anymore.

  • Joanie

    Thanks so much. It gives me a place to start. It is just so pretty! Thanks for sharing the pattern!

  • Gail S.

    Love this pattern! I had Simply Soft light on hand and used it and it came out great. I made one change and started with a hdc foundation row and liked that start much better then the chain.

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