Sleeveless Crochet Cardigan – Free Pattern

This sleeveless crochet cardigan is the perfect layering piece for spring and summer. The pattern is written for 9 sizes from XS – 5X, and is designed for a relaxed, oversized fit.

The lace panel on the back adds a feminine, elegant touch, while the camel stitch trim finishes the cardigan off beautifully. 

The construction is so simple too, making this a perfect first garment pattern! The entire cardigan is created from 3 rectangles, so there is no shaping and just a little bit of seaming 🙂

How to crochet this sleeveless cardigan

Three simple rectangles form the basis of this garment, which means no shaping and minimal stitch counting! Once you have gotten the hang of the first few rows, this makes an absolutely perfect couch project.

First you will work the lace panel for the back – this is a simple rectangle using basic crochet stitches – chains, single crochet and double crochet.

Next, you will crochet two identical rectangles for the front and shoulder panels, followed by some clever seaming to bring the cardigan together. Finish with a camel stitch trim and you have a stylish, sleeveless cardi ready to go!

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What you’ll need for this crochet vest cardigan

Yarn

For my cardigan vest, I used WeCrochet CotLin DK, which is a lightweight combo of 70% cotton and 30% linen, perfect for spring and summer!

Some great alternatives include:

• BC Garn Allino (50% cotton, 50% linen)
• Katia Lino (100% linen)
• Rico Creative Cotton DK (100% cotton)

Hook

For my cardigan, I used a 4mm (G-6) crochet hook. 

Please know that you absolutely do not have to use the same hook size as I did! You can choose whichever hook enables you to meet the gauge with your chosen yarn.

If you have more stitches than stated for the gauge swatch, you can try a smaller hook size. And if you have less stitches than the gauge in the pattern, you can try a larger hook size.

Other supplies

You will also need a yarn needle to weave in those ends, and 4 stitch markers to mark the seaming start and end points.

Crochet Cardigan Sizing

The sleeveless cardigan is designed to be quite loose-fitting, with approx. 6-8″ of positive ease on the bust. If you would like your cardigan to have more of a “classic” fit, feel free to size down when choosing your the size you will make.

This concept of “ease” refers to the difference between the actual bust measurement and the finished garment measurement. In this pattern, the cardigan is designed to be larger than the actual bust measurement, hence the term “positive ease.”

The sizes in this pattern are based on the body measurements as laid out by the Craft Yarn Council. Before you start, it is a good idea to go through the pattern and highlight/mark the stitch and row counts that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).

Sizes & bust measurements used in the pattern

• XS: 28 – 30″ / 71 – 76cm
• S: 32 – 34″ / 81 – 86cm
• M: 36 – 38″ / 91.5 – 96.5cm
• L: 40 – 42″ / 101.5 – 106.5cm
• XL: 44 – 46″ / 111.5 – 117cm
• 2X: 48 – 50″ / 122 – 127cm
• 3X: 52 – 54″ / 132 – 137cm
• 4X: 56 – 58″ / 142 – 147cm
• 5X: 60 – 62″ / 152 – 158cm

Finished Measurements

Garment Measurements

Panel Measurements

Notes

Please read through the entire pattern before beginning.

Skill Level

Sizing

• This sleeveless cardigan is designed with 6”-8” / 15-20cm of positive ease at the bust.
• The sizes in this pattern are based on the body measurements as laid out by the Craft Yarn Council.
• Before you start, go through the pattern and highlight/mark the stitch and row counts that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).

Construction

• This cardigan is created from three rectangular panels as follows:
  • Back – lace panel
  • Left shoulder and left front – solid panel
  • Right shoulder and right front – solid panel
• The panels are seamed as follows :
  • The solid panels are seamed together at the top edges, and then the long edge of this new panel is joined to the top edge of the lace panel.
  • Finally, each solid panel is folded downwards, and seamed to the sides of the cardigan to create the armholes.
• A simple hdc trim is added to each armhole and around the edge of the body.
• Please see Appendix: Assembly for more details.

General Pattern Notes

• Ch 6 at the start of a dc row (lace pattern) counts as 1 dc, ch 3.
• Ch 4 at the start of a dc row (lace pattern) counts as 1 dc, ch 1.
• Ch 3 at the start of a dc row counts as 1 dc.
• Ch 1 at the start of a sc row does not count as a stitch.
• Instructions are written for multiple sizes as follows: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X).
• If an instruction does not apply for a particular size, then an “x” is used as a placeholder for that size: e.g. “Sizes x (x, x, x, x) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) only” indicates that the next instruction is not worked for sizes XS, S, M, L, XL.
• The stitch count for each row is given in [ ] at the end of the row. 
  • For the lace panel, it is easier to count pattern repeats (patt reps) rather than individual stitches. Please see the stitch diagram in Appendix B for more detail.
  • If no stitch count is given then the count is the same as the previous row.

Print friendly PDF

The print-friendly PDF also contains a schematic with detailed garment measurements, as well as a stitch diagram for the lace panel.

Gauge

Front Panel Gauge: 16 sts x 10 rows = 4″ x 4″ / 10 cm x 10 cm measured over alternating rows of dc/sc BLO.

Back Panel Gauge (Lace Pattern): 2 patt reps x 10 rows = 3.5″ x 4″ / 9 cm x 10 cm measured over lace pattern. One patt rep = 3 dc, (ch 3, sc, ch 3)

Materials

Yarn

Any #3/DK/Light weight yarn. The amounts given here are for WeCrochet Cotlin DK (123yds/110m per 50g skein; Weight: #3/Light; 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen).

• XS: 600 yds / 547m
• S: 700 yds / 630m
• M: 750 yds / 709m
• L: 850 yds / 783m
• XL: 950 yds / 866m
• 2X: 1050 yds / 954m
• 3X: 1150 yds / 1073m
• 4X: 1250 yds / 1152m
• 5X: 1350 yds / 1235m

Hook

4mm (US G-6) crochet hook (or hook required to meet gauge).

Other Items

• Yarn needle
• Stitch markers

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• st = stitch
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• fdc = foundation double crochet (see Special Stitches)
• BLO = back loop only
• tch = turning chain
• beg = beginning
• rem = remaining
• pm = place marker
• patt = pattern
• rep = repeat

Special Stitches

Foundation Double Crochet (fdc)

Please see the Foundation Double Crochet Tutorial for step-by-step instructions on how to work this stitch.

Half Double Crochet / hdc (third loop)

This stitch is a regular half double crochet (hdc), but worked into the extra or “third” loop at the back of your work.

Written Pattern

LACE PANEL

All Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Ch 82 (90, 98, 106, 114) (122, 138, 146, 154).

Row 1: Dc in 6th ch from hook and each of next 2 ch, *ch 3, sk 2 ch, sc in next ch, ch 3,  sk 2 ch, dc in each of next 3 ch; repeat from * until 2 ch rem, ch 1, sk next ch, dc in last ch, turn. 

[32 (35, 38, 41, 44) (47, 53, 56, 59) dc, 9 (10, 11, 12, 13) (14, 16, 17, 18) sc]

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st, here and throughout), sc in first st, sc in first ch-1 sp, *ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * until 3 dc rem, ch 3, sc in beg ch sp, sc in 4th ch of tch, turn. [22 (24, 26, 28, 30) (32, 36, 38, 40) sc]

Row 3: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc, ch 3, here and throughout), sc in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, *3 dc in next ch-3 sp, (ch 3, sc, ch 3) in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * across, dc in last sc, turn. 

[29 (32, 35, 38, 41) (44, 50, 53, 56) dc, 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) (15, 17, 18, 19) sc]

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in first ch-1 sp, *ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * across, sc in top of tch-3, turn.

[22 (24, 26, 28, 30) (32, 36, 38, 40) sc]

Row 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1, here and throughout), sk first 2 sc, *3 dc in next ch-3 sp, (ch 3, sc, ch 3) in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * to last ch-3 sp, 3 dc in ch-3 sp, ch 1, sk next sc, dc in last sc, turn.

[32 (35, 38, 41, 44) (47, 53, 56, 59) dc, 9 (10, 11, 12, 13) (14, 16, 17, 18) sc]

Row 6: Repeat Row 4. [22 (24, 26, 28, 30) (32, 36, 38, 40) sc]

Rows 7 – 42 (46, 46, 46, 46) (46, 46, 46, 46): Repeat Rows 3 – 6.

Sizes XS (x, x, x, x) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) only

Row 43 (x, x, x, x) (47, 47, 47, 47): Repeat Row 3. Row 44 (x, x, x, x) (48, 48, 48, 48): Repeat Row 4.

FRONT PANEL (MAKE 2)

All Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Row 1: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54) (58, 62, 66, 70) fdc, turn.

OR

Row 1: Ch 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) (60, 64, 68, 72), dc in 4th ch from hook and each ch across, turn.

[38 (42, 46, 50, 54) (58, 62, 66, 70) dc]

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st, here and throughout), sc BLO in first st and each st across, ending with last sc in top of beg ch-3, turn. [38 (42, 46, 50, 54) (58, 62, 66, 70) sc]

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc, here and throughout), dc in each st across, turn. [38 (42, 46, 50, 54) (58, 62, 66, 70) dc]

Row 4: Ch 1, sc BLO in first st and each st across, ending with last sc in top of tch-3, turn.

Rows 5 – 66 (70, 74, 76, 80) (82, 86, 88, 90): Repeat Rows 3 and 4.

Cut yarn and fasten off.

Finishing

ASSEMBLY

Step 1: Seam front panels

Seam top edges of front panels (You can seam using the whip stitch on the WS, or the mattress stitch on the RS – either option is fine. Just be sure that both panels are facing the same way!)

Step 2: Seam shoulders

Lay both panels face down i.e. with WS facing up. Position top edge of back panel at the center of the long edge of the seamed front panels. Seam edges together.

Step 3: Seam sides Fold each front panel down so that the bottom edge touches the bottom each of the back panel. The RS of the front panels should now be facing up. Seam front and back panels together at each side (at the points indicated by the label “F” in the schematic), leaving approx. 7.5″ (8″, 8.5″, 9″, 9.5″) (10″, 10.5″, 11″, 11.5″) / 19cm (20cm, 22cm, 23cm, 24cm) (25cm, 27cm, 28cm, 29cm) at the top for the armholes.

BODY TRIM

Lay cardigan face down so that you are working along the bottom edge of the back panel. Join yarn to bottom edge at right hand side.

Note: for Round 1, you do not need to be too concerned about stitch counts, just work as evenly as you can along each edge.

Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), hdc evenly along the bottom edge and around the body opening, finishing along the bottom edge on the opposite side, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn.

Round 2: Ch 1, hdc (third loop) in first st and each st around, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn.

Round 3: Repeat Round 2.

Cut yarn and fasten off.

ARMHOLE TRIM

Join yarn to underarm at side seam.

Note: as with the Body Trim, for Round 1, you do not need to be too concerned about stitch counts, just work as evenly as you can around the armhole.

Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), hdc evenly around armhole, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn.

Round 2: Ch 1, hdc (third loop) in first st and each st around, sl st to join to beg st, do not turn.

Round 3: Repeat Round 2.Cut yarn and fasten off.

Weave in ends.

All done!

If you wish, you can purchase an inexpensive, ad-free PDF version of this pattern through Ravelry, Etsy or LoveCrafts.

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern, if you have questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me. And be sure to tag your finished project on Instagram or Facebook using @nedandmimi or #nedandmimi!

Happy crocheting!

Sarah