If you haven't noticed by now, I LOVE cardigans! Maybe because I always run cold, or I like the idea of dressing up my usual basic wardrobe of t-shirts and jeans, or maybe it's because I'm always trying to achieve "THE ONE". The one perfect cardigan you can wear all-of-the-time, looked sporty, not too "homemade" looking (not that there's anything wrong with that), and would look good with my ever-growing t-shirt collection.
I am SO proud of this cardigan, I think to date it is the closest thing to THE ONE. I set myself a challenge to work out the V-stitch mesh pattern into a top-down raglan (no seams, yay), and to be able to work in some flattering shaping around the neck and sleeves. After about 3 tries, I perfected this fun pattern (even after 3 tries, it's still fun). The double crochet stitches combined with a larger hook enables you to work up this pattern in no time. You'll want to make several of these in different colors!
Full video tutorial is linked below.
Level:
Advanced Intermediate (takes a little brain-power, but worth it!)
Sizing:
Design suggests 3 - 5 inches of positive ease around fullest part of bust.
Easy to customize pattern to fit your size.
Materials:
Approx. 650 yards of size 4 weight yarn for size small.
I used Loops and Threads Creme Cotton in Blue Violet
Size K/6.5 mm crochet hook
Size J/6 mm crochet hook
Size I/5.5 mm crochet hook
Stitch markers
Guage:
Not necessary for this project.
Stitches used:
Sc - Single crochet
Dc - Double crochet
Hdc - Half double crochet
Chainless dc - Used as first dc in row indicated. Turn without a turning chain, sc in first stitch, turn your sc to the side and sc again in the 2 side loops.
Dc2tog - Yo, insert hook into stitch indicated, yo and pull through a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook, yo and insert hook into next st, yo and pull through a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook, yo and pull through all 3 loops on hook.
V Stitch - Dc, chain 1, dc, in stitch indicated.
Corner Increase - 2 dc, chain 1, 2 dc, in stitch indicated.
Row A increase - Dc in first stitch of next corner inc. Corner increase in chain 1 space, dc in last stitch of corner inc.
Row B increase - V stitch in the next dc that's just before the next corner increase. Corner increase in chain 1 space, V stitch in the next dc that's just beyond the corner increase.
Cardigan is worked from the top down, and sleeves are constructed in joined rounds.
Yoke:
Using size K/6.5 mm hook:
R1- Chain 50, turn chain over to back, sc in "back bump" of second chain from hook, and in each chain across. (49 sc)
R2- Turn without a turning chain, chainless dc in first stitch, dc, chain 1, 2 dc in same stitch (counts as first corner increase). (Skip 2 stitches, V stitch in next stitch) 4 times, skip 2 stitches, corner increase in next stitch. (Skip 2 stitches, V stitch in next stitch) 5 times, skip 2 stitches, corner increase in next stitch. (Skip 2 stitches, V stitch in next stitch) 4 times, skip 2 stitches, corner increase in last stitch.
R3- Turn, chainless dc, dc in first stitch, skip next stitch, corner increase in chain 1 space of corner increase from previous row. Skip 1 stitch, dc in next stitch. *V stitch in the chain 1 space of next v stitch and in each v stitch across. Dc in first st of next corner inc. Corner increase in chain 1 space, dc in last st of corner inc. Repeat from *. V stitch in the chain 1 space of next v stitch and in each v stitch across, ending with dc in first st of next corner inc., corner increase in chain 1 space, 2 dc in last stitch.
R4- Turn, chainless dc, dc in first stitch, dc in next stitch. Corner inc. in ch 1 sp of next corner inc., *V stitch in the next dc that's just beyond the corner increase. V stitch in each V stitch, V stitch in the next dc that's just before the next corner increase. Corner inc. in ch 1 sp. Repeat from * 2 times. End with a dc in second to last stitch, and 2 dc in last stitch.
R5- Turn, chainless dc, dc in first stitch, dc in next stitch. V stitch in next stitch. Complete a Row A increase (see description above), V stitch in each v stitch. Repeat from * 3 more times, ending with a V stitch in the dc just beyond corner increase, dc in second to last stitch, and 2 dc in last stitch.
R6- Turn, chainless dc, dc in first stitch, dc in next stitch. V stitch in next stitch. V stitch in next V stitch. Complete a Row B increase (see description above), V stitch in each V stitch. Repeat from * 3 more times, ending with a V stitch in the dc just past the last V stitch, dc in next stitch, 2 dc in last stitch.
R7- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, skip next stitch, V stitch in next stitch. *V stitch in each V stitch. Row A increase. Repeat from * 3 more times, ending with a V stitch in each V stitch, V stitch in next stitch, skip 1 stitch, dc in last stitch.
R8- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, *V stitch in each V stitch. Row B increase. Repeat from * 3 more times, ending with a V stitch in each V stitch, dc in last stitch.
R9- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, *V stitch in each V stitch. Row A increase. Repeat from * 3 more times, ending with a V stitch in each V stitch, dc in last stitch.
Repeat rows 8 and 9 until back measurement reaches half of your desired bust circumference. For example, I kept going until my back measurement was about 18" across from corner to corner. End with a row 8 (B increase).
*Note: If you would like your sleeve sections to stop increasing before you reach your final body width, just discontinue the A & B increases inside the sleeve sections. After the first corner increase, you would just then V stitch in each V stitch until you reach the next corner increase. It is best to end your sleeve increase with a row B increase. I ended my sleeve increases at row 10.
Next row- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, V stitch in each V stitch, dc in ch 1 space of next corner increase. Skip entire sleeve section, ch 1, dc in ch 1 space of next corner increase. V stitch in each V stitch across back. dc in ch 1 space of next corner increase. Skip entire sleeve section, ch 1, dc in ch 1 space of next corner increase. V stitch in each V stitch. Dc in last stitch.
Next row- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, V stitch in each V stitch, ending with a dc in last stitch.
Repeat last row until desired length. Allow 2" more length for bottom ribbing. Do not finish off.
Bottom Ribbing:
With a size J/6 mm hook, chain 8, turn, sc in side loop of second chain from hook, and in each chain across (7 sc).
*Slip stitch into next 2 unworked stitches along lower edge of fabric (the chain 1 spaces count as a stitch). Turn your work to the left without a turning chain, skip the 2 slip stitches, sc into the back loops of the previous row of sc.
Turn your work to the right without a turning chain, sc into the back loops of each sc. Repeat from * across. You may then finish off your yarn.
Sleeves:
R1- Place a stitch marker (4) at each corner increase (in the ch 1 space) under the arms. Join yarn at a marker on the wrong side, ch 1, sc in same space, turn sc to the side, sc in the 2 side loops (counts as a dc). Skip next stitch, dc in next stitch. V stitch in each V stitch, ending with a dc in next stitch, dc in ch 1 space at other stitch marker. Join to first stitch.
*Note: you will have a gap at the underarm which you can stitch up with the tail later.
R2- Chain 2, turn, skip first st, dc in next stitch, V stitch in each V stitch, ending with a dc in next stitch, join to first stitch.
R3- Chain 2, turn, V stitch in each V stitch, join to first stitch.
Repeat row 3 for desired length. Please note the final 8 rows of sleeve will involve decrease rows, so allow for that, and also allow for 2" for cuff ribbing.
First sleeve decrease row- Chain 2, turn, dc in next st, skip ch 1 sp, dc in next st. V stitch in each V stitch, ending with a dc, sk ch 1 sp, dc in last stitch of last V stitch, join to first stitch.
Second decrease row- Chain 2, turn, dc2tog over first 2 stitches, V stitch in each V stitch. End with dc2tog over last 2 stitches, join to first stitch.
Third decrease row- Chain 2, turn, dc at top of dc2tog, V stitch in each V stitch. End with dc in top of dc2tog, join to first stitch.
Fourth decrease row- Chain 2, turn, skip first stitch, V stitch in each V stitch, skip last stitch, join to first stitch.
Repeat last 4 rows one more time. Do not finish off.
Cuffs:
With size J hook
Repeat instructions as for bottom ribbing. When you have completed around bottom edge of sleeve, you may slip stitch the edges of cuff together in the front loops, or stitch together with a needle.
Front Edge and Collar:
Continue with size J hook
Place stitch markers at the fullest parts of neck section (at the bottom points of the "V").
Join yarn at lower left corner of cardigan, at bottom edge of ribbing. Chain 1, sc evenly along first front edge of cardigan, stopping at first stitch marker. Ch 1, turn, sc in each stitch across row. Leave a very long tail of a few yards to finish the final row of sc later.
Join fresh yarn at other stitch marker, chain 1, sc evenly along second front edge of cardigan, stopping at lower edge of ribbing on right side. Chain 1 turn, sc in each stitch across this row.
Turn to work along neck edge, hdc evenly around neck edge, and stop at first front edge.
Ch 1 turn, hdc in each stitch around neck edge, 2 more times (3 rows total for collar).
*Note - if you'd like your collar to fit a little more snug around your neck, you may use a size I/5.5 mm hook for the 3rd row of collar.
Finish off yarn. With reserved yarn at bottom of first edge, sc in each stitch around front edges and around collar. (No need to chain 1 at the corners if you want a rounded collar look)
**Pro Tip: I wanted to further create a "rounded" bomber-style collar, so for the last row of hdc's around collar, I did a hdc2tog at the beginning and end of the row.
Finish off yarn, weave in ends.
Full video tutorial here:
