The Breeze crochet cardigan is a v stitch cardigan with a v neck. It’s a simple design made using several crochet panels that are either joined together with a crochet hook, or seamed. The choice is yours!

This cardigan comes in 7 sizes, so you can make it for yourself or someone else.

The Breeze crochet cardigan 

Yarn used: Cygnet Boho Spirit in Sapphire

The Breeze cardigan earns its name for two reasons: the air between the v stitches creates subtle openwork allowing your skin to breathe, while the process of v stitch ensures easy crochet. 

Thanks to the v stitch, you can spend more time crocheting with air and less time working into the chain!

This cardigan is available in seven sizes and offers a generous, oversized fit. It is therefore perfect for lazy weekends or keeping the chill off on a spring afternoon. 

If you’d prefer the ad-free PDF with colour coded sizing, you can get that from Ravelry here.

The cardigan is constructed in 3 separate, flat pieces (back, front left, front right) with some armhole shaping and neck shaping at the front. The side waist panel is then created using double crochet. The back piece is then seamed with the front pieces, seamed at the shoulder and the sleeves are worked in the round. The edging and cuffs are created using double crochet. 

Yarn used for this V stitch cardigan.

I used Cygnet boho spirit yarn for this cardigan which is 100% premium acrylic, sleek and soft with a subtle sheen. The self striping quality of the yarn means you can have all of the colours without weaving in any ends! You can read more about the yarn here.

The cardigan is adjustable to suit your particular preferences; e.g tall or petite sizing, with some guidance under the measurement chart on the next page. 

As the waist panels can be widened or narrowed if need be, this really can be tailored to fit your individual body!

Size chart for the Breeze v stitch cardigan pattern.

Please check your own measurements before starting this pattern.

Notes on fit: 

• This cardigan is worn with 5cm/2in positive ease, so choose your body measurement from the Chest Size column above. 
• As this is worked flat, there is a single dc stitch at the end of every row. This adds to the width of the garment, as does the side panel. If you have made your size but think the back or front panels are too narrow, add more rows to your side waist panel.
• If you are petite or tall, make your size according to measurements, but add 2 rows/subtract 2 rows at the waist (before armhole) and at the sleeve. Try on the cardigan to decide when is a good place to stop and work the cuff.
• You will notice that the hem to armhole for XL-3XL have shorter measurements. This is because they have longer, lower armholes. 

Glossary

US terms used throughout 

If you don’t know your Us crochet terms or need a refresh, you can use my handy glossary here.

In parts where size is not mentioned, this means that the instructions are the same for all sizes; e.g. cuff and edging. 

Sample shown in size L 

Gauge: 

5 v sts and 6 rows to 10cm/4in gauge square on 5mm (H) crochet hook. 

Materials needed: 

• 5mm (H) crochet hook
• 5/5/5/5/6/6/6, 2.5cm/1in buttons 
• Tapestry needle
• 4/4/4/5/5/6/6 balls of Cygnet Boho Spirit (worsted, 240m/262 yd per 100g/3.5oz ball.) Sample used was Sapphire. 
• 4 removable stitch markers. 

Back

Ch 60/66/72/78/84/90/96 (3 ch count as 1st dc) dc in 7th ch from hook, ch 1 and dc in same ch, sk 2 ch, dc in next ch, ch 1 and dc in same ch. Repeat to last 3 ch. Dc in last ch. Ch 3, turn. This will now be referred to as v st. (18/20/22/24/26/28/30) V sts. 

Row 2 and every following row: (3 ch counts as 1 dc st), make a v st into centre of every v st ch sp. Dc in last dc st. Ch 3 and turn. 

Work row 2 until piece measures approx 38/40/40/42/42/42/42cm (15/15.5/15.5/16.5/16.5/16.5/16.5in) or

19/20/20/21/21/21/21 rows **

Armholes: 

Fasten off. Cut yarn. Place removable stitch marker into 1st v st of the row.  Sk 1/1/2/2/2/3/4 v sts and reattach yarn by making a ch 4 and working a dc into next v st (counts as 1 v st). V st into every v ch sp along until last 1/1/2/2/2/3/4 v sts. Make 1 dc st and turn, leaving 1/1/2/2/2/3/4 v sts unworked. 16/18/18/20/22/22/22 v sts. 

Work a further 8/8/8/9/9/10/10 rows of v st without shaping until armhole measures 18/18/18/20/20/22/22cm 7/7/7/8/8/8.5/8.5in.

Continue without shaping until back measures 56/58

58/62/62/64/64cm  22.5/23/23in/24/24/25/25 in.  Fasten off. Cut yarn. 

Front (work 2) 

Ch 36/36/39/42/45/48/51 (3 ch count as 1st dc). 

Work same as back until ** 10/10/11/12/13/14/15 v sts. 

Armhole

Fasten off and cut yarn. Place a removable stitch marker into 1st v st of row. Sk 1/1/2/2/2/3/4 v sts and reattach yarn. Ch 3 and v st into every v ch sp along. Work a dc into last st. Ch 3 and turn. 9/9/9/10/11/11/11 v sts.

 Decrease for v neck shaping 

1. Sk 1 v st. Make a v st into next v ch sp. V st to end, make 1 dc in last dc, ch 3 and turn. 8/8/8/9/10/10/10 v sts. 
2. Work pattern to last v st, turn, leaving last v st unworked. 

Repeat last 2 rows until there are 3/3/5/5/7/7/7 v sts.

Continue without shaping until back measures 56/58

58/62/62/64/64cm 22.5/23/23in/24/24/25/25 in Fasten off. Cut yarn. 

Flip one of the front pieces over so that you have a left side and a right side of neck. 

Side panels: 

Dc in every dc and ch space along the side of the front left panel, from hem to underarm stitch marker. Ch 3, turn.

Work 0/0/0/1/1/2/2 more rows of dc. 

Repeat for right front panel and both sides of back panel. You should have a total of 2/2/2/4/4/6/6 dc side rows on either side of the body. 

Side panels of size L are 4 rows of dc either side. 

Seam sides of body and shoulders

With RS facing, join left front to back with sl st join or a tapestry needle.

Using either sl st join with your crochet hook or with a tapestry needle, join shoulder seams. 

Sleeves: 

Reattach yarn and work armhole as follows: 

At this point you will be working into the side of the dc sts or the ch sp created by a v st on its side. 

Ch 4, dc in same ch (counts as 1st v st). V st another 24/24/25/25/25/26/26 v sts evenly across armhole. Sl to join round. 

Next round and every following round: 

Ch 4, dc in same ch. V st in every v ch sp around. Sl to join. 

Continue until sleeve measures 48/48/50/50/50/52/52cm 19/19/20/20/20/21/21in 24/24/25/25/25/26/26 v sts 

Cuff 

4 rows of dc in total. Try the sleeve on to see if you would prefer a longer or shorter cuff. 

1. Sl st and ch 2, dc into top of every dc. Sl st to join round. 
2. Sizes XS: Decrease 4 sts evenly across cuff.

 S-L: Ch 2 and dc in every other dc around.

 XL-3XL: Ch 2, *2 dc in next 2 sts, sk 1* repeat * to end. 

3. Dc in every dc.
4. Repeat row 3 once more. 

Fasten off. Cut yarn. 

Edging and button bands: 

Starting at bottom left front, reattach yarn, ch 2 and dc in the top of every ch around (including side dcs and v sts), bottom edge, front right, collar and front left, Sl st to join with 1st dc of round. Ch 2 and dc every st around. Fasten off. 

Place buttons at an equal distance down the right or left front button band. Sew them on. 

Weave in ends and enjoy!

Other free crochet patterns to try:

• The Breeze V stitch crochet sweater pattern.
• The Jewel Hat Crochet Beanie Pattern.
• The Starburst Crochet Cardigan Pattern.