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Selene Crochet Cardigan Pattern

The Selene crochet cardigan pattern is an easy project that uses a combination of stitches to create a unique and eye-catching open front design that you’ll wear again and again.

Pair it with a dress for a polished look, or with jeans and a tee for a more relaxed vibe.

two photos 1) close up of crochet stitches used in an open front cardigan 2) a woman wearing the same cardigan

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Crocheting a cardigan can be a fulfilling project that helps you improve your crocheting skills. My free pattern involves practicing different stitches (crossed stitch, Iris stitch), shaping techniques (increases for the sleeves), and garment construction (seaming).

If you feel you’re not ready to use these skills yet, my Alice cardigan might be more suitable. Worked in one piece in granny stitch, it’s a beginner-friendly garment. Go take a look!

a woman is wearing an orange dress and a oat coloured cardigan

I’ve written instructions for sizes XS to 5X in both UK crochet terms and US crochet terms.

This sample is size medium and for reference model is 5’ 1”

Design Inspiration

I was browsing online and couldn’t find a design of cardigan I liked (happens to you too?).  Nothing inspired me! so I decided to take a look through my stitch dictionary.

I wanted my design to have texture and more than one stitch but didn’t want it too complicated.  I knew I wanted to use a shell stitch and to break it up with treble (US double) crochet.  I enjoy working with crossed stitches and wanted to work this into the pattern.

The shell I chose is the Iris stitch.  It’s pretty and easy to work and blends really well with the crossed stitches.  It also works great as a cuff on the sleeves!

Fortunately, I had the perfect yarn in my stash both in fiber (50/50 cotton and acrylic) and color 🙂  A neutral-colored cardigan is more versatile but don’t be limited by color!  A bright-colored cardigan will add a pop of personality to an outfit.

The design is an open cardigan which works great for spring, summer and early autumn.

a side view of a woman in a white tee and oat coloured crochet cardigan

How the cardigan pattern is worked

This easy crochet cardigan is worked in a total of 7 pieces:

  • Back
  • Front (make 2)
  • Sleeves (make 2)
  • Ribbed edging (make 2)

Each piece is worked flat from the bottom up and seamed to join. 

The stitch pattern for the front and back is a 7-row repeat; 2 rows Iris stitch (shell), 2 rows treble crochet (UK) / double crochet (US), 1 row crossed stitches, 2 rows treble crochet (UK) / double crochet (US).

The back of a crochet cardigan laid flat
back of cardigan
The back of a crochet cardigan overlaid with the left and right front laid flat
Left and right front panels laid over the back of the cardigan

The sleeves are crocheted in treble crochet (UK) / double crochet (US) with a cuff of Iris stitch (shell).

Increases are used for shaping the sleeves to ensure a comfortable fit.

crochet cardigan sleeve laid flat
sleeve with shell cuff

The ribbed edging is worked separately and sewn on.  This solves the problem of either working too many stitches (where the ribbing ruffles) or not enough (the ribbing stretches the cardigan out of shape). 

This gives a structured finish to the front of the cardigan.

Front panel of a crochet cardigan laid flat next to the ribbed edging
Front panel and separate ribbed edging

Assembly

Once all pieces are crocheted, seams are sewn in this order:

  1. ribbed edging onto the left and right front panels
  2. shoulder seams
Front panel and back of a cardigan showing where to sew the shoulder seam
shoulder seam
  1. sleeves (sewn along the shoulder seam of both front and back then extending down to the wrist)
Front, back and sleeve of a cardigan set out to show where to sew the sleeve
how to lay out to set the sleeve
  1. side seams

To finish off you will work 1 round of double crochet (UK) / single crochet (US) around left front ribbing, back of neck and right front ribbing.

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Related Crochet Cardigan Patterns

Yarn

Sirdar Hayfield Sundance DK is an acrylic cotton blend (50/50) that is lightweight and easy to care for being machine washable at 40 degrees.

The 100g ball has 320 meters / 350 yds making this great value for the cost.  If you substitute the yarn, make sure you buy enough meters/yards. You don’t have to worry about gauge because you can easily adjust it using the stitch gauge converter tool.

This pattern uses the color 503 Very Vanilla.

Ball Weight100g
Yarn Blend50% Acrylic 50% Cotton
Yarn Length320m/350y
Yarn WashingMachine Wash 40
Yarn WeightDouble Knitting

Cardigan Pattern Notes

  • chain 1 does not count as a stitch
  • chain 2 (ribbed edging) does count as a stitch
  • chain 3 counts as a stitch
  • I work my turning chain at the end of a row to keep edges neat but if you’re used to chaining at the beginning of a row and want to continue, you can with no effect on the pattern
  • Row 4 is worked into the chain spaces from the previous row
  • Row 5 chain spaces are skipped
  • Back, front and ribbed edging = 4mm hook
  • Sleeves =  4.5mm hook
  • sleeves increase by 2 stitches on a row where indicated by working into the base of ch3 (the turning chain) and 2 stitches in the last stitch of row
  • the length instructions for front and back are to work to a measurement (in cm’s).  Count the rows for the back to make sure you work the same rows for right front, left front and ribbed edging
  • when sewing on the ribbed edging, make sure the ribbing is placed on the right edge – check to make sure it is not on the side seam
  • sew in ends as you go

Skill Level

Easy /  Advanced Beginner

Materials

  • Sirdar Hayfield Sundance DK ;  4, (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7 ,7 ,8) balls
  • 4mm crochet hook (front and back)
  • 4.5mm crochet hook (sleeves)
  • Tape measure
  • Stitch markers
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle

Stitches and Abbreviations

You will need to know how to work these stitches:

UK Crochet TermsUS Crochet Terms
Double Crochet (dc)Single Crochet (sc)
Treble Crochet (tr)Double Crochet (dc)
Crossed Treble (Xtr)Crossed Double (Xdc)
Front Loop Only (flo): work in the front loop of the stitch only
Back Loop Only (blo):  work in the back loop of the stitch only
  • Ch = chain
  • Ea = each
  • St/s = stitch/es
  • Sk = skip
  • Rep = repeat
  • Sp = space
  • Incr = increase
  • Rs = right side

Gauge

16 stitches and 9 rows on a 4mm hook = 10cm X 10cm

If you’re finding it hard to match your personal gauge with the pattern guage, use the stitch gauge converter to easily adjust your stitches.

Measurements

Measurements follow guidance from the Craft Yarn Council.

This sample is size medium.

SizeChest (cm)Length (cm)
XS9963
S10964
M11965
L12965
XL13966
2X14966
3X15966
4X16968
5X17968

Testimonial

Engagement on Pinterest for the Selene cardigan.  Testimonial reads: The pattern is so well written it's simple to follow. This was my first sweater and I am in love with it!

Pinterest feedback “The pattern is so well written it’s simple to follow. This was my first sweater and I am in love with it!”

two photos, one showing a woman wearing a crochet cardigan with a dress and one wearing a white tee

Selene Crochet Cardigan Instructions UK Crochet Terminology

Back

With a 4mm hook

Ch 77, (85, 93, 101, 109, 117, 125, 133, 141)

Row 1 (RS): dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, ch3, turn (76, 84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132, 140 dc)

Row 2: tr in ea st across, ch3, turn

Row 3: tr in next st, sk1, [2tr, ch1, 2tr] in next st, *sk3, [2tr, ch1, 2tr] in next st, * rep to last 4 sts, sk2, tr in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 4: tr in next st, [2tr, ch1, 2tr] in ea ch1-sp across to last 4 sts, sk2, tr in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 5: tr in ea st, sk ch1-sps across, ch3, turn

Row 6: rep row 2

Row 7: Xtr to last st, tr in last st, ch3, turn

Row 8: rep row 2

Row 9: rep row 2

Rows 3 – 9 complete stitch pattern

Keeping continuity of pattern, work until back measures 63, (64, 65, 66, 66, 66, 68, 68) cm

Fasten off

Front (make 2)

With a 4mm hook

Ch 25, (29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57)

Row 1: dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, ch3, turn (24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56 dc)

Rep instructions for back

Fasten off

Sleeves (make 2)

With a 4.5mm hook

Ch 30, (32, 36, 40, 48, 58, 64, 72, 76)

Row 1: dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, ch3, turn (29, 31, 35, 40, 47, 57, 63, 71, 75 dc)

Row 2: tr in ea st across, ch3, turn

Row 3: tr in next st, sk1, [2tr, ch1, 2tr] in next st, *sk3, [2tr, ch1, 2tr] in next st, * rep to last 2 sts, tr in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 4: tr in next st, [2tr, ch1, 2tr] in ea ch1-sp across to last 2 sts, tr in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 5 (incr): tr in base of ch3, tr in ea st, sk ch-sps across to last st, 2tr in last st, ch3 turn (31, 33, 37, 42, 49, 59, 65, 73, 77 tr)

Row 6: tr in ea st across, ch3, turn

Row 7 (incr): tr in base of ch3, tr in ea st across to last st, 2tr in last st, ch3, turn (33, 35, 39, 44, 51, 61, 67, 75, 79 tr)

Row 8: rep row 6

Row 9 (incr): rep row 7

Row 10: rep row 6

Row 11 (incr): rep row 7

Row 12: rep row 6

Row 13 (incr): rep row 6

Row 14 – 18: rep row 6

Row 19 (incr): rep row 7

Row 20 – 22: rep row 6

Row 23 (incr): rep row 7

Row 24: rep row 6

Row 25: (incr): rep row 7

Row 26: rep row 6

Row 27 (incr): rep row 7

Row 28: rep row 6

Row 29 (incr): rep row 7

Row 30: rep row 6

Row 31 (incr): rep row 7

Row 32: rep row 6

Row 33 (incr): rep row 7

Row 34 – 37, (38, 38, 39, 39, 40, 40, 42, 42): rep row 6

To change sleeve length, measure from underarm to wrist.  Check sleeve length from row 34 and amend number of rows to preference.

Fasten off

Ribbed Edging (make 2)

With a 4mm hook

Ch 7

Row 1: dc in 2nd ch from hook, ch2, turn

Row 2: tr in ea st across, ch2, turn

Row 3: flo tr across to last st, tr in last st, ch2, turn

Row 4: blo tr across to last st, tr in last st, ch2, turn

Rep rows 3 and 4 until ribbed edging measures 63, (64, 65, 66, 66, 66, 68, 68) cm

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing to right and left front.

Assembly

With RS facing inwards:

  1. sew ribbed edging to front panels for right and left (see pattern notes for placement)
  2. sew shoulder seams
  3. line up sleeve – centre of sleeve to shoulder seam and pin in place, sew seam, fold sleeve in half and continue to sew seam closed to wrist
  4. sew side seams

Final round

With a 4mm hook

With RS facing outwards, rejoin yarn to front right, ch1, dc evenly up the front, along the back of the neck and down the left front

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Selene Crochet Cardigan Instructions US Crochet Terminology

Back

With a 4mm hook

Ch 77, (85, 93, 101, 109, 117, 125, 133, 141)

Row 1 (RS): sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, ch3, turn (76, 84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 124, 132, 140 sc)

Row 2: dc in ea st across, ch3, turn

Row 3: dc in next st, sk1, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in next st, *sk3, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in next st, * rep to last 4 sts, sk2, dc in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 4: dc in next st, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in ea ch1-sp across to last 4 sts, sk2, dc in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 5: dc in ea st, sk ch1-sps across, ch3, turn

Row 6: rep row 2

Row 7: Xdc to last st, dc in last st, ch3, turn

Row 8: rep row 2

Row 9: rep row 2

Rows 3 – 9 complete pattern

Keeping continuity of pattern, work until back measures 63, (64, 65, 66, 66, 66, 68, 68) cm

Fasten off

Front (make 2)

With a 4mm hook

Ch 25, (29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57)

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, ch3, turn (24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56 sc)

Rep instructions for back

Fasten off

Sleeves (make 2)

With a 4.5mm hook

Ch 30, (32, 36, 40, 48, 58, 64, 72, 76)

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, ch3, turn (29, 31, 35, 40, 47, 57, 63, 71, 75 sc)

Row 2: dc in ea st across, ch3, turn

Row 3: dc in next st, sk1, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in next st, *sk3, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in next st, * rep to last 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 4: dc in next st, [2dc, ch1, 2dc] in ea ch1-sp across to last 2 sts, dc in last 2 sts, ch3, turn

Row 5 (incr): dc in base of ch3, dc in ea st, sk ch-sps across to last st, 2dc in last st, ch3 turn (31, 33, 37, 42, 49, 59, 65, 73, 77 dc)

Row 6: dc in ea st across, ch3, turn

Row 7 (incr): dc in base of ch3, dc in ea st across to last st, 2dc in last st, ch3, turn (33, 35, 39, 44, 51, 61, 67, 75, 79 dc)

Row 8: rep row 6

Row 9 (incr): rep row 7

Row 10: rep row 6

Row 11 (incr): rep row 7

Row 12: rep row 6

Row 13 (incr): rep row 6

Row 14 – 18: rep row 6

Row 19 (incr): rep row 7

Row 20 – 22: rep row 6

Row 23 (incr): rep row 7

Row 24: rep row 6

Row 25: (incr): rep row 7

Row 26: rep row 6

Row 27 (incr): rep row 7

Row 28: rep row 6

Row 29 (incr): rep row 7

Row 30: rep row 6

Row 31 (incr): rep row 7

Row 32: rep row 6

Row 33 (incr): rep row 7

Row 34 – 37, (38, 38, 39, 39, 40, 40, 42, 42): rep row 6

To change sleeve length, measure from underarm to wrist.  Check sleeve length from row 34 and amend number of rows to preference.

Fasten off

Ribbed Edging (make 2)

With a 4mm hook

Ch 7

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc across, ch2, turn

Row 2: dc in ea st across, ch2, turn

Row 3: flo dc across to last st, dc in last st, ch2, turn

Row 4: blo dc across to last st, dc in last st, ch2, turn

Rep rows 3 and 4 until ribbed edging measures 63, (64, 65, 66, 66, 66, 68, 68) cm

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing to right and left front.

Assembly

With RS facing inwards:

  1. sew ribbed edging to front panels for right and left (see pattern notes for placement)
  2. sew shoulder seams
  3. line up sleeve – centre of sleeve to shoulder seam and pin in place, sew seam, fold sleeve in half and continue to sew seam closed to wrist
  4. sew side seams

Final round

With a 4mm hook

With RS facing outwards, rejoin yarn to front right front, ch1, sc evenly up front, along the back of the neck and down the left front

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Copyright Notice

The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Goodwin at Jera’s Jamboree.  This pattern and design are subject to copyright and are for personal, non-commercial use only.  You may not share, resell, alter or redistribute this pattern in part or in whole. You may, however, sell any finished items you make.  If you would like to include this pattern in a roundup, you may take one photo and link back to this pattern.

Happy crocheting!

Have you made this pattern? I would love to know how you get on. Leave a comment here, in the Facebook community, or if you found the pin on Pinterest, leave a comment on the pin.

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