Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Garments 8 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Lightweight cotton crochet cardigan pattern for women
Lacy cotton cardigan: 3-round mesh panel, 3mm hook, panels worked flat, sleeves joined in the round.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- DK
- Hook
- 3 mm
- Rounds
- 8
DK
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
8
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This cardigan takes shape from two front panels, a back panel, and a pair of sleeves, all worked with cotton yarn and a 3mm hook. The panels build on a repeating double crochet and chain-space mesh called the squares pattern, while the sleeves are picked up under the armpit and worked in the round. Before picking up the hook, set aside cotton yarn in one color (or more, for variation), a 3mm hook, stitch markers for the tie placement, a measuring tape, and scissors.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Skipping the turning chains as a stitch
- In the Panels section, the first row works into the 4th chain from the hook, which means the first 3 chains stand in for a stitch. Count them every row or the panel width will creep.
- Overtightening the dc3tog in Row 1
- Pulling the double crochet 3 together too tight in the Main Pattern closes down the chain-5 space meant to sit above it. Keep the loops relaxed before finishing the stitch.
- Uneven tie lengths at the markers
- Each tie uses 100 chains plus 1 turning chain, so count chains aloud or use a stitch marker every 20 chains to keep both ties matching.
The materials list
- Cotton yarn (Drops)
- 3mm crochet hook
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 2 short forms
Main Pattern
Row 1
Chain 3, skip first stitch, double crochet in the next, chain 5, skip stitch, double crochet 3 together, repeat until last 3 stitches, double crochet 2 together.
Row 2
Chain 5, single crochet in the chain 5 space, repeat, chain 2, double crochet in the last stitch.
Row 3
Chain 3, double crochet in first stitch, chain 1, double crochet 3 in chain 5 space, repeat, double crochet 2 in chain 5 space.
Panels
Front Panels: Start with a slip knot and chain 24, plus 3 turning chains.
Squares Pattern: Start a new row with a chain of 4, skip the next stitch, and double crochet in the next. Chain 1, skip a stitch, double crochet in the next. Repeat across.
Row 1
Double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook, continue across for 24 dc.Rows 2-4: Work the squares pattern.
Row 5
Work another row of 24 dc.Row 6: Work a row of squares.
Row 7
Work another row of dc.
Row 8
Work single crochets, adding one extra stitch for 25 sc.Rows 9-11: Work the main pattern.Row 12: Work single crochets, making 2 increases at the beginning.
Row 13
Work dc, skipping the first stitch, and making 2 increases at the end for 36 dc.The pattern repeats in cycles: dc, squares, dc, single crochets, main pattern (3 rows), single crochets.
Total 43 rows.
Back Panel: Start with a slip knot and chain 95 (92 base + 3 turning chains).
Work the same 43 rows as front panels without increases.
Assembly, in order
Step 1Join front panels to back panel at shoulders with slip stitches.
Step 2Join front and back panels at sides using single crochets up to the armpit.
Step 3Add ties: Make 100 chains plus 1 turning chain at the stitch markers.
Step 4Sleeves : Join yarn under the armpit and crochet in the round.
Step 5First row: 72 dc. Continue pattern until desired sleeve length.
Check these before you start
- The 3mm hook keeps the cotton mesh firm rather than floppy; swap hook size only if your tension swatch runs loose or tight against the chain-5 spaces.
- Stitch markers matter most at the tie points along the front panels — mark them as you work the panel rows, not after assembly, so both sides land evenly.
- Cotton has little stretch, so keep your double crochet 3 together at row 1 of the Main Pattern snug but not pulled tight, or the chain-5 spaces above it will gape unevenly.
On one line
| Rounds | 8 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 2 |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 4-6 hours |
| Hook | 3 mm |
| Yarn | DK |
Set-up
- Confirm you have enough cotton yarn on hand for three panels and two sleeves before starting the first chain.
- Work a small swatch of the Main Pattern's 3 rounds to check that your double crochet and chain-5 spaces sit at an even tension.
- Read through the Main Pattern's 3 rounds once in full, since rows 2-4 and row 6 of the Panels section repeat it as the squares pattern.
- Place stitch markers at the point where ties will attach before you reach the assembly stage, so you are not searching for the spot later.
Finishing
- Weave in all ends from the front panels, back panel, and sleeves before joining anything, since cotton ends are easier to hide flat than once seams are closed.
- Join the front panels to the back panel at the shoulders with slip stitches, then join the sides with single crochet up to the armpit.
- Attach the sleeves by joining yarn under the armpit and working the first round of 72 dc, then add the ties at the marked points with the 100-chain plus turning chain.
Construction
The panels are worked flat, back and forth with a 3-chain turn, because the squares pattern needs straight vertical edges to seam cleanly at the shoulders and sides.
The Main Pattern balances its own increases and decreases: chain-5 spaces open the mesh while the double crochet 3 together and double crochet 2 together at the end of row 1 keep the stitch count even across the row.
Time per section
| Main Pattern mesh (3 rounds) | about 20-30 minutes, because the chain-5 spaces and dc3tog placement need attention on the first pass through the repeat |
|---|---|
| Panels (5 base rounds plus 9 more rows) | about 2-3 hours per panel, because three panels of this length are worked flat with repeated squares-pattern rows |
| Sleeves and assembly | about 1-2 hours, because joining 72 dc in the round under each armpit and seaming the shoulders and sides takes longer than a single flat row |
Photographs of this one
Every one was taken by whoever published the pattern, in the order the source listed them.
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.