Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Garments 6 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Suzette stitch cardigan pattern for any size
One-piece Suzette stitch cardigan, worked flat from a 72-chain foundation with a 5mm hook.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 5 mm
- Rounds
- 6
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
6
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
This cardigan starts as a single flat panel, built from one long foundation chain divided into front, side, back, side, and front sections, with corners marked as you go. Suzette stitch carries the body until a designated row splits the fabric for the armholes, after which the piece continues flat to the hem and the sleeves are picked up around each opening. Before the first stitch, have weight 3 yarn, a 5mm hook, stitch markers, a measuring tape, a darning needle, snippers, and pen and paper on hand, since the chain count and panel widths are calculated to your own neck and body measurements. The pattern is customizable, so feel free to experiment with different yarns and colors to make it your own.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Losing track of corner markers
- Move each marker up into the new corner stitch every row instead of leaving it behind, so the armhole row still lines up with the original panel divisions.
- Chaining the wrong armhole width
- Decide the armhole chain count before starting that row and write it down, since it needs to match on both sides for the sleeves to sit evenly.
- Uneven stitch count after turning
- Remember to skip the first single crochet in the chain section on subsequent rows, or the row will gain a stitch and the panel widths will drift.
The materials list
- Weight 3 yarn, 5mm hook, stitch markers, measuring tape, darning needle, yarn snippers, pen and paper
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 5 short forms
Calculations for Panels
Foundation Chain Chain an even number long enough to wrap comfortably around the base of your neck (e.g., 72 chains).
Front Panels: 14 stitches each Back Panel: 28 stitches Sides: 8 stitches each
Row 1
(Single Crochet Row): Chain 1, single crochet into the second loop from the hook.Single crochet for Front Panel (14 stitches), Corner 1: Chain 1, single crochet into the next chain, mark the chain-1 space.Single crochet for the Side (8 stitches), Corner 2: Chain 1, single crochet into the next chain, mark the chain-1 space.Single crochet for the Back Panel (28 stitches), Corner 3: Chain 1, single crochet into the next chain, mark the chain-1 space.Single crochet for the Side (8 stitches), Corner 4: Chain 1, single crochet into the next chain, mark the chain-1 space.Single crochet for the last Front Panel (14 stitches).
Yoke Construction (Suzette Stitch)
Suzette Stitch: (Single Crochet + Double Crochet) in the same stitch, skip the next stitch.
Rows 2–21
Or until ready to split Chain 1, turn, start the row with (Single Crochet + Double Crochet) combo in the first stitch.Continue Suzette Stitch until you reach the chain-1 space marked by a stitch marker.Corner Increase: Work (Single Crochet, Chain 1, Double Crochet) into the chain-1 space.Continue Suzette Stitch until the next corner, repeating the Corner Increase process at all four corners.End the row with a Single Crochet in the last stitch.Repeat until the yoke fits comfortably from the base of your neck to just under your armpits.
Carving Out the Sleeves (Armholes)
Row to Carve Sleeves
Continue Suzette Stitch until you reach the first corner stitch marker.
Work one single crochet into the first corner's chain-1 space.
Chain the number of stitches for the armhole width (e.g., 14 chains), then work into the next stitch marker to connect the armhole.
Continue Suzette Stitch across the Back Panel and repeat for the second armhole.
Finish the row with Suzette Stitch across the Front Panel.
Body Construction
Row 1
of Body: Chain 1, turn, work Suzette Stitch until the stitch right before the chain section.Single crochet into the chain-1 space, then continue Suzette Stitch across the Back Panel and Front Panel.Finish the row with a single crochet in the last stitch.
Subsequent Rows
Subsequent Rows
Chain 1, turn, continue Suzette Stitch across the row, skipping the first single crochet in the chain section.Repeat until the body reaches your desired length.
Sleeves
Round 1
Join yarn at the bottom of the armhole, chain 1, and work (Single Crochet + Double Crochet) combo in the same stitch.Step by step: Continue Suzette Stitch around the armhole, placing combos in the tops of the chains. End the round by joining with a slip stitch and chain 1.
Subsequent Sleeve Rounds
Repeat Round 1
, joining and turning after each round.Continue until the sleeve reaches the desired length.
Ribbing (Sleeve/Bottom)
Chain the height of the ribbing (e.g., 10 chains), and single crochet into each chain.
Slip stitch into the next stitch of the base, turn, and single crochet back up the row in the back loop only.
Repeat until the ribbing is complete, then seam the sides together.
Front Panel Ribbing (Button/Zipper): Work ribbing along the front edges and collar.
For buttonholes, chain the number of stitches you want to skip when reaching the desired button placement.
Check these before you start
- Mark all four corner chain-1 spaces the moment they are worked; these markers are what tell you where to place the armhole chains later.
- The stitch counts given (14, 28, 8, 8) are calculation guides, not fixed rules, since the chain length adjusts to whatever neck measurement was recorded.
- Keep tension even across the panel changes, since front, side, and back sections sit side by side in the same row and any looseness at a corner will show as a visible seam line.
- This pattern is fully customizable — experiment with different yarns and colors to make the cardigan your own.
On one line
| Rounds | 6 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 4 |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 4-6 hours |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Yarn | Worsted |
Set-up
- Measure around the base of the neck and calculate an even foundation chain long enough to wrap comfortably, then note the number on paper before starting.
- Divide that chain into front (14 stitches), side (8 stitches), back (28 stitches), side (8 stitches), and front sections, and write down where each corner falls.
- Have stitch markers ready for all four corners before Row 1 begins, since each corner chain-1 space is marked as soon as it is worked.
- Check yarn yardage against the total chain length and row count for the body plus both sleeve setups before winding into a working ball.
Finishing
- Weave in all ends along the panel edges and around both sleeve joins with the darning needle.
- Work the ribbing at the sleeve cuffs and body bottom once the main pieces are complete.
- Block the finished cardigan flat to even out the Suzette stitch texture before wearing.
Construction
The four corner markers placed in Row 1 correspond exactly to the seams between front, side, back, and side panels, so the marker positions carry through every row until the armhole row is reached.
The armhole row replaces a marked corner stitch with a chain of armhole width, which is why the body is worked flat rather than in the round up to that point, then the sleeves are added afterward by joining yarn at the base of the new opening.
Time per section
| Calculations for Panels | about 45 minutes because the foundation chain and four corner markers must be measured, chained, and placed accurately before any shaping starts |
|---|---|
| Body rows through the armhole row | about 2 to 3 hours because Suzette stitch is worked flat across many rows before the armhole chains are added |
| Sleeve setup and ribbing | about 1 to 2 hours because each armhole is joined separately and the combo stitch pattern is worked around before ribbing finishes the edges |
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.