This easy puffed sleeve crochet cardigan pattern is a fun beginner-friendly way to create a women’s sweater you’ll love for a lifetime. The oversized puffed sleeves and elegantly fitted waistline make this cardigan a great addition to any wardrobe.
Mathilda’s Cardigan is a new free puffed sleeve crochet cardigan pattern here on the blog. Read about my inspiration and the simple construction, or scroll down for the free pattern.
No time right now? Pin this easy puffed sleeve crochet cardigan pattern for later!
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Mathilda’s Easy Cardigan Crochet Pattern is now available in my Etsy shop and on Ravelry. Grab your copy before you forget!
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A Beginner-Friendly Puffed Sleeve Crochet Cardigan Pattern
Made out of two simple hexagons, my easy step-by-step instructions will walk you through every step, even if you’ve never made a garment before.
Great with a skirt or pair of jeans, you can crochet Mathilda’s Cardigan with fun bright colors to liven up your closet, or stick with classic neutral tones to match any outfit. It’s a great way to dress up a T-shirt and jeans, and it’s so comfortable, you’ll soon be throwing it over everything you own!
Before you Start
Materials
- 5 mm/ US H – 8 crochet hook.
- Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Aran (50% wool, 50% acrylic, 197yds/ 180m) in:
- Slate green – 9 (8, 10, 12, 13) skeins
- Neon Pink – 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) skein(s)
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I love this set as it has different eye sizes for different yarn thicknesses and it comes in a small tube which is very convenient so I don’t lose them.
Size
The cardigan is available in 5 sizes: S, M and L, XL and 2XL size. Sizes are written as M (S, L, XL, 2XL) throughout the pattern. Pictures illustrate the Medium size.
Below are the cardigan bust dimensions for the different sizes.
- S: bust circumference 78 cm / 30.75”
- M: bust circumference 90 cm / 35.5”
- L: bust circumference 102 cm / 40”
- XL: bust circumference 114 cm / 44.75”
- 2XL: bust circumference 126 cm / 49.5”
Because of the hexagon construction, the cardigan is naturally wider at the hips. The dimensions given above are at the breast level. The graph below graph shows the dimensions for the size Medium.
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern, in rows of dc is 15 st by 10 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).
Confused on how to make or measure gauge? Check out my detailed post all about crochet gauge.
Abbreviations & Instructions
This pattern follows US notations
- st = stitch
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- inc = increase = make 2 st in the same stitch
- sc2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together
- dc2tog = double crochet 2 stitches together
- skip = miss stitch
- sl st = slip stitch
Notes
Work instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round.
Instruction between ( ) are worked in the same space.
The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round between < >.
The turning ch 1, ch 2 count as stitches throughout the pattern except if mentioned otherwise.
Stitches above a ch-1 or ch-2 space are worked in the ch-1/ch-2 space.
The Actual Easy Crochet Cardigan Pattern
Mathilda’s Cardigan is constructed of 2 big hexagons which are then sewed together. The sleeves and bottom are then extended to achieve the desired length and width.
Make 2 hexagons.
With a 5 mm / US H – 8 crochet hook, ch 4, join with a sl st.
R1: ch 2 (counts as 1 dc here and throughout), in the circle dc 2, ch 1, [dc 3, ch 1] 5 times, join with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <24 st>
R2: ch 2, dc 2, [work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the ch-1 space, dc 3] repeat around, work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the ch-1 space, join with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <54 st>
R3 = Increasing hex row: ch 2, [dc until the ch-2 space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the ch-2 space] repeat around, join with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <78 st>
R4 – R17 (14, 20, 23, 26): Repeat the Increasing hex row. < 414 (342, 486, 558, 630) st>
Switch to pink color yarn.
R1: ch 2,
Side repeat: skip 1, [(dc, ch 1, dc) in the next st, skip 2] repeat until 2 st before the ch-2 space,
Corner repeat: (dc, ch 1, dc) in the next st, skip 1, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the ch-2 space,
Alternate side repeats and corner repeats around until last 2 st, dc, ch 1, skip 1 and finish with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <438 (366, 510, 582, 654) st >R2: ch 2,
Side repeat: skip 1, [(dc, ch 1, dc) in the ch-1 space, skip 2] repeat until 2 st before the ch-2 space,Corner repeat: 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the ch-2 space, 2 dc,
Alternate side repeats and corner repeats around until last 2 st, dc, ch 1 and finish with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <462 (390, 534, 606, 678) st>
Switch back to green color yarn.
R1: ch 2,
Side repeat: [dc between the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the ch-1 space] repeat until 2 st before the ch-2 space
Corner repeat: dc 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the ch-2 space, dc 3
Alternate side repeats and corner repeats around finish with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <486 (414, 558, 630, 702) st>R2 – R3: go back to repeating the increasing hex row twice. <534 (462, 606, 678, 750) st>
Fold the hexagons to form the cardigan. With the wrong side out, sew the back and sleeves. Leave 10 cm of the sleeves unsewed for the front flaps.
We are now going to add some length at the bottom of the cardigan to make it longer.
Join in the yarn in the corner.
R1: ch2, make 1 dc in each st across, 2dc in each of the hexagon corner ch-2 spaces, turn. <180 (156, 204, 228, 252) st>R2 – R13: ch2, dc across, turn
R14: Switch to pink yarn. Ch1, sc across, turn
R15: Switch back to green. Ch2, dc across, turn.
Bind off and weave in the ends.
We are now going to work on the sleeves.
R1: Join in the yarn at the seam and ch 2, [6 dc, dc2tog] repeat around, 0 (4, 4, 0, 4) dc, finish with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <78 (68, 89, 99, 110) st>R2: ch2, dc around, join with a sl st in the 2nd ch.
R3: ch2, [5 dc, dc2tog] repeat around, 0 (4, 4, 0, 4) dc, finish with a sl st in the 2nd ch. <67 (59, 77, 85, 95) st>
R4 – R13: ch2, dc around, join with a sl st in the 2nd ch.
R14: ch1, sc2tog around, sl st in the ch1. <34 (30, 39, 43, 48) st >
R15: ch1, [4 sc, sc2tog] repeat around, 3 (5, 2, 0, 5) sc, sl st in the ch-1. <29 (26, 33, 36, 42) st>
R16 – R17: ch1, sc around, sl st in the ch-1.
Switch to pink
R18: ch1, sc around, sl st in the ch-1.Switch back to green
R19 – R21: ch1, sc around, sl st in the ch-1.Bind off and weave in the ends.
Now we’ll make 2 pockets.
With green color yarn ch 20 + 2R1: dc in the 3rd ch from the hook, dc across, turn. <21 st>
R2 – R8: ch2, dc across, turn.
Switch to pink yarn.
R9: ch1, sc across, turn.Switch back to green.
R10: ch2, dc across, turn.Bind off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew the pockets on each side of the cardigan. The bottom of the pocket should be 2 rows above the pink bottom line and the side should be 13 st from the edge of the cardigan.
Block your Project
Weave in all the ends and carefully block your cardigan.
Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.
If you’ve enjoyed this pattern share it with your yarn loving friends. Share a picture of your project and tag me @knittingwithchopsticks or use #knittingwithchopsticks. I love seeing what you make!
