Free crochet cardigan pattern: Beyond

Free crochet pattern: The Beyond Cardigan is available to make in several sizes.

I designed this cardigan to be the first garment for a crocheter looking to expand their skills. The name “Beyond” signifies the journey beyond the swatch, the blanket, or the baby item. This garment is for you to expand your skills in crochet and achieve a sophisticated look without stressing over unfamiliar charts. 

This cardigan is made up of 5 pieces that are seamed together at the end. The neckband and button bands are then worked.

The cardigan has 6cm/2.25-13cm/5.25in positive ease, a gentle set-in sleeve, and a relaxed v-neck collar. You can either make it as an open front cardigan, or allocate buttons for a more fitted look. There are instructions for both options!

Only two stitches are used throughout to create different textures. With nothing but half double crochet to worry about for most of this cardigan, you can focus on stitch counts and measurements. 

I wanted this cardigan to be an all-year-round style. Whether you use wool, acrylic, linen, or cotton, this cardigan is sure to be a wardrobe staple. 

I used a merino/linen blend as I wanted the cardigan to be wearable for cooler spring and summer days right through to autumn. It’s an essential layering piece and should be a feature in every slow fashion wardrobe. 

if you would prefer an ad-free PDF of this pattern, you can get one from my Ko-Fi shop here.

Gauge 

14 hdc sts and 10 rows = 10cm/4in using 5mm (US H) hook 

Please take time to swatch for gauge. If there are fewer stitches in your swatch than suggested, go up by 0.5mm increments until you achieve gauge. If there are more stitches than shown above, increase your hook size by 0.5mm increments until you achieve gauge.. 

Glossary 

Pattern uses US terms throughout. 

Ch: Chain. This either means yarn over and pull through a loop or it refers to the chain at the top of the previous stitch. 

Hdc: Half double crochet (UK half treble). Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook. 

Sc: Single crochet (UK double). Insert hook, yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook. 

Sk: Skip stitches

St(s): Stitch(es)

Materials 

• Keld Aran by Eden Cottage Yarns (90% superwash merino/10% linen). 180m/196yd per 100g/3.5oz. Sample shows yarn in Steel colourway. Meterage/yardage on page 3 chart gives estimates based on recommended yarn. Depending on your chosen yarn, you may need more or less than this. 
• 5mm (US H) crochet hook or sizes needed to meet gauge.
• 5 removable stitch markers for buttonholes (optional)
• Darning needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• 5  2.5cm/1in buttons (optional)

Notes

Ribbing: 

The bottom waistband and the button bands are made with single crochet rib. This is a technique that involves making a single crochet stitch only in the back loop of every previous stitch. Normally, the hook goes under both loops but for creating texture, but you need to only insert into the back loop. 

Turning Chains: 

Ch1 does not count as a stitch. Ch2 does count as a stitch. 

Size chart 

This cardigan is designed to have 6cm/2.25-13cm/5.25in positive ease at the bust. 

The Pattern

Back 

Ch 10. Insert into 2nd ch from hook. 9 scs. Ch1, turn. 

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end. 9 sts. 

Work 47 (55/59/63/67/71/75/79/83/87/91) more rows. 48 (56/60/64/68/72/76/80/84/88/92) rows total. 

1. Without binding off,  ch2 and make 68 (70/72/74/76/78/80/82/84/86/88) hdc evenly along top of waistband. Ch2, turn.
2. Hdc in every st. Ch2, turn.

Repeat Row 2 until back measures 

33 (34/35/36/37/37/39/40/41/42/43)cm/

13 (13.5/13.75/14/14.25/14.5/15/15.25/15.5/15.75/16)in total. Fasten off. 

Shape armholes 

Sk 4 (4/4/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6) sts and rejoin yarn. Ch2 and hdc to 4 (4/4/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6) sts before end. Turn. 60 (62/64/62/64/66/68/70/72/74/76) sts total. 

Work 20 (20/21/21/22/22/23/23/24/25/25) more rows or work until piece measures 57 (58/59/60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67)cm/ 22(23/23/23.5/24/24.5/25/25/25.5/26/26)in, ending on a wrong side.

Left front 

Ch 10. Insert into 2nd ch from hook. 9 scs. Ch1, turn. 

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end. 9 sts. 

Work 23 (25/27/29/31/33/35/37/39/41/43) more rows. 

24 (26/28/30/32/34/36/38/40/42/44) rows total. 

1. Without fastening off,  ch2 and make 30 (32/34/36/38/40/42/44/46/48/50) hdc sts across top of waistband. Ch2, turn.
2. Hdc in every st. Ch2, turn.

Repeat Row 2 until left front measures 

33 (34/35/36/37/37/39/40/41/42/43)cm/

13 (13.5/13.75/14/14.25/14.5/15/15.25/15.5/15.75/16)in total. Fasten off.**

Sk 4 (4/4/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6) sts and rejoin yarn

1. Hdc to 1 st before last st, Ch2, turn. 1 st decreased.
2. Hdc to end. Ch2, turn.

Repeat these 2 rows until there are 14 (14/15/15/16/16/16/18/18/20/20) sts remaining. 

Hdc until piece measures 57 (58/59/60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67)cm/ 22 (23/23/23.5/24/24.5/25/25/25.5/26/26)in. Fasten off. 

Right front. 

Work as for left front until **

1. Rejoin yarn and hdc to last 4 (4/4/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6) sts. Ch2, turn, leaving remaining sts unworked.
2. Hdc to 1 st before last st, ch2, turn. 1 st decreased.
3. Hdc to end. Ch2, turn.

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until there are 14 (14/15/15/16/16/16/18/18/20/20) sts remaining. 

Hdc until piece measures 57 (58/59/60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67)cm/ 22(23/23/23.5/24/24.5/25/25/25.5/26/26)in. Fasten off. 

Sleeves (make 2) 

Ch 10. Insert into 2nd ch from hook. 9 scs. Ch1, turn. 

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end. 9 sts. 

Work 23 (25/27/29/31/33/35/37/39/41/43) more rows. 24 (26/28/30/32/34/36/38/40/42/44) rows total. 

1. Without fastening off, Ch2 and make 34 (34/36/36/38/38/38/40/40/40/40) hdc sts across top of cuff. Ch2, turn.
2. Hdc in every st. Ch2, turn.
3. Hdc in base of ch2. Hdc to last st. 2 hdc in last st. Ch2, turn. 2 sts increased.
4. Increase every 4th row until there are 58 (58/60/60/62/62/64/66/66/66/68) sts.
5.  Hdc every row until sleeve measures 57 (58/59/60/61/62/63/64/65/66/67)cm/22 (23/23/23.5/24/24.5/25/25/25.5/26/26)in total. Fasten off.

Making up: 

Join shoulder seams and side seams first. 

Seam sleeves and then attach to armholes. 

Edging and neckband. 

1. Starting from bottom right corner, join yarn and sc into every sc in side of waistband, sc into side of every st to shoulder seam, sc in every st around back neck and down from shoulder seam to left waistband. Sc in last 9 sc sts of left waistband. Ch1, turn,
2. Starting with 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end. Ch1, turn.
3. Repeat Row 2 once more.

If making buttonholes, see buttonhole instructions below. If not, repeat Row 2 twice. 

Buttonholes: 

1. Using 5 removable stitch markers, mark 5 evenly spaced button holes up left button band. Work sc rib as normal to end.
2. Ch1, turn, sc in 2nd ch from hook and sc in back loop of every st to first buttonhole marker. *Ch2, sk 2 sc to make buttonhole. Sc to next buttonhole marker; repeat from * to last marker, then work sc rib to end.
3. Ch1, turn, sc rib in back loop of every sc and into ch2 of every buttonhole. Work sc rib to end.
4. Starting with 2nd ch from hook, sc in back loop of every st to end.
5. Repeat Row 2 once more.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Block to measurements. 

Need support with this crochet pattern?

Email info@germandercottagecrafts.co.uk for pattern support. 

Other free crochet patterns to make:

The Jewel Hat.

The Jewel Hat (Knit and crochet combo)

The Starburst Cardigan