60 Free Crochet Cardigan Patterns — Part 1 of 5
A cardigan is one of the most useful garments to crochet: you can wear it open, add it over a favorite outfit and enjoy the stitches without needing a close-fitting silhouette. These 12 free crochet cardigan patterns focus on relaxed construction, familiar repeats and practical everyday shapes. Some begin as rectangles; others grow in one piece or use a sideways approach that makes stripes part of the design.
Easy construction does not always mean every stitch will be familiar. The collection includes bobbles, ribbing and staged garment tutorials, so each section explains what you will practise. If this is your first cardigan, look at Building Blocks or Habitat first. If you already enjoy basic garment crochet, Maple Woods, Alchemy and the sideways designs offer a useful next step without relying on complicated fitted shaping.
This collection contains 12 different cardigan designs. Each photo shows the original project, and every pattern button leads to the creator or publisher’s instructions.
How to get the free patterns
Yarnspirations provides free pattern PDFs: open the linked pattern page and choose Free Download or Download Free Pattern. Make & Do Crew offers free instructions online; some tutorials continue across several linked parts, and some require a free Grow account to reveal the complete instructions. Optional ad-free printable PDFs and yarn kits may cost money.
Use the original pattern for stitch counts, size charts, yarn quantities and hook sizes. The descriptions below help you choose a project; they do not replace the designer’s instructions.
Patterns in this collection
- Maple Woods Cardigan
- Habitat Rectangle Cardigan
- Alchemy Cardigan
- Caron Nice and Easy Crochet Cardigan
- Bernat Building Blocks Crochet Cardigan
- Caron Crochet Slounge Cardigan
- Caron Cuff to Cuff Crochet Cardigan
- Caron Vertical Stripes Crochet Cardigan
- Red Heart Ribbed Crochet Cardigan
- Haven Bobble Cardigan
- Remix Cardigan
- Patchwork Party Cardi LITE
1. Maple Woods Cardigan
Emily of Hooked Hazel designed Maple Woods as a textured cardigan with a relaxed fit and very little seaming. The body is worked from the bottom upward in one piece, with shoulder joins and sleeves crocheted directly onto the garment. That construction lets you spend more time making fabric and less time sewing separate panels. The classic open front and ribbed edges make it easy to combine with denim, leggings or a simple dress.
- Yarn: Worsted-weight yarn; sample in Touch of Alpaca.
- Project level: Advanced beginner.
- Techniques: Bottom-up body, attached sleeves and post-stitch ribbing.
- Pattern access: Free instructions online; free account may be required.
Before you begin: Read the ribbing instructions carefully: this design uses a larger hook for that section to avoid drawing the edges inward.
Read the free pattern and tutorial →
2. Habitat Rectangle Cardigan
Habitat is a relaxed cocoon cardigan built around a single large rectangle. The Suzette-stitch fabric gives the surface a quiet texture, and the fold-and-join construction produces dolman sleeves without conventional sleeve-cap shaping. A ribbed collar finishes the open front and makes the cardigan look more structured than its starting shape suggests. It is particularly appealing as a first larger garment if you already enjoy making textured scarves or blankets.
- Yarn: Worsted-weight yarn; sample in Lion Brand Heartland.
- Project level: Beginner-friendly rectangle construction.
- Techniques: Suzette stitch, folding, joins and ribbed collar.
- Pattern access: Free instructions online; follow the links for all tutorial parts.
Before you begin: Measure the rectangle and follow the two tutorial parts; its roomy shape depends on the intended proportions.
Read the free pattern and tutorial →
3. Alchemy Cardigan
Alchemy is a lightweight cardigan taught through a staged crochet-along, making it useful if you prefer to tackle one garment section at a time. The tutorial begins with the back, then develops the fronts and sleeves before covering joining, pockets and ribbing. Its everyday silhouette makes the effort worthwhile: it is the kind of open layer that can move between warmer evenings and cooler days over a long-sleeved top.
- Yarn: DK/light yarn; original sample in Vanna’s Style.
- Project level: Step-by-step garment project.
- Techniques: Separate garment sections, seaming, pockets and ribbing.
- Pattern access: Free instructions online; follow the links for all tutorial parts; free account may be required.
Before you begin: Use the linked Part 1 to find all four tutorial stages, and check the current yarn-substitution guidance.
Read the free pattern and tutorial →
4. Caron Nice and Easy Crochet Cardigan
Nice and Easy is an open-front cardigan with a relaxed outline and very little fussy finishing. The body is worked together up to the armholes before dividing into fronts and back, which helps the garment feel like one continuous project. A half-double-crochet V-stitch provides the main texture, and back-loop front bands give the edges a more defined finish. It is a practical choice if you want an everyday layer that relies on its fabric and drape.
- Yarn: Caron Simply Me Montage.
- Project level: Easy.
- Techniques: Half double crochet V-stitch, back-loop front bands.
- Pattern access: Free PDF from the publisher’s pattern page.
Before you begin: Swatch the V-stitch pattern rather than plain half double crochet; the open repeat affects both width and drape.
Get the free pattern PDF on Yarnspirations →
5. Bernat Building Blocks Crochet Cardigan
Building Blocks is an especially approachable cardigan because it is assembled from five simple pieces with no shaping. A reversible single-crochet-and-chain texture provides the fabric, and the collar detail is built into the blocks rather than added through complicated fitting. The tweedy fleece yarn gives the original a soft, cozy surface with visual variation. If you have made rectangles successfully and want to turn that skill into clothing, this is a sensible pattern to explore.
- Yarn: Bernat Forever Fleece Tweeds.
- Project level: Beginner.
- Techniques: Five blocks, single crochet and chain-one texture.
- Pattern access: Free PDF from the publisher’s pattern page.
Before you begin: Keep all five pieces at the same tension, and use the schematic when laying them out for assembly.
Get the free pattern PDF on Yarnspirations →
6. Caron Crochet Slounge Cardigan
Slounge is a roomy cardigan with a sideways ribbed fabric and gently changing shades. Its simple two-row repeat makes the stitching rhythmic, while the direction of the work creates a different visual effect from a cardigan crocheted upward from the hem. The publisher presents it as a men’s design, but the useful fit information is the actual measurement chart and the amount of ease you prefer. It is a comfortable option for casual indoor or office layers.
- Yarn: Caron Colorama Halo Perfect Phasing.
- Project level: Easy; originally presented as a men’s cardigan.
- Techniques: Sideways ribbing, two-row half-double-crochet repeat.
- Pattern access: Free PDF from the publisher’s pattern page.
Before you begin: Choose by measurements and desired fit, and keep the sideways direction in mind when planning yarn color transitions.
Get the free pattern PDF on Yarnspirations →
7. Caron Cuff to Cuff Crochet Cardigan
Cuff to Cuff builds an open-front cardigan from side to side in one piece. That direction turns the self-striping yarn into vertical bands and reduces the need to juggle separate body panels. The pattern combines half double crochet with back-loop single crochet and adds edging and cuff ribbing for a finished outline. It is a good choice if you enjoy easy repeats but want the construction to do something a little different.
- Yarn: Caron Latte Cakes.
- Project level: Easy.
- Techniques: One-piece sideways body, half double crochet and cuff ribbing.
- Pattern access: Free PDF from the publisher’s pattern page.
Before you begin: Check sleeve and body dimensions before beginning; sideways construction changes which measurements grow as you crochet.
Get the free pattern PDF on Yarnspirations →
8. Caron Vertical Stripes Crochet Cardigan
Vertical Stripes uses a sideways construction to give its color bands a long, flowing direction. The open front keeps the cardigan easy to wear and removes the need for button placement, while the soft halo yarn gives the fabric a gentle, blurred appearance. Simple shaping and familiar stitches keep the main work approachable. This is a useful option if you want an expressive striped cardigan without managing a separate strand for every color band.
- Yarn: Caron Colorama Halo.
- Project level: Easy.
- Techniques: Sideways work, half double crochet, single crochet and shaping.
- Pattern access: Free PDF from the publisher’s pattern page.
Before you begin: Look at the yarn’s color sequence before starting and use the PDF measurements to plan the finished fit.
Get the free pattern PDF on Yarnspirations →
9. Red Heart Ribbed Crochet Cardigan
Ribbed creates a long cardigan with vertical ridges and gentle color transitions. Both the body and sleeves are worked from side to side, giving the textured fabric its directional appearance. Back-loop single crochet and half double crochet worked into the horizontal bar form the main techniques, so it is an appealing next step if you want a knit-like surface while staying with crochet. The long silhouette makes the combination of color and texture especially visible.
- Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Ombre.
- Project level: Easy; suitable for an advanced beginner.
- Techniques: Sideways single crochet in back loops and half-double-crochet bars.
- Pattern access: Free PDF from the publisher’s pattern page.
Before you begin: Practise both stitch placements in the swatch; working into a different part of the stitch changes the finished dimensions.
Get the free pattern PDF on Yarnspirations →
10. Haven Bobble Cardigan
Haven pairs a roomy cardigan shape with raised bobbles that give the fabric a playful, tactile surface. The main construction is based on a rectangle, without increases or decreases, making it approachable if garment shaping is the part you find intimidating. Chunkier yarn gives the stitches a clear, substantial appearance, and the finished cardigan works well over fitted basics when you want the crochet texture to take center stage.
- Yarn: Bulky yarn; original sample in Color Made Easy.
- Project level: Beginner-friendly construction; learn bobbles.
- Techniques: Bobbles, a rectangle body and minimal seaming.
- Pattern access: Free instructions online; free account may be required.
Before you begin: Practise a few bobble repeats before making the full rectangle, especially when substituting the original yarn.
Read the free pattern and tutorial →
11. Remix Cardigan
Remix is a flowing hooded cardigan with pockets and a rainbow gradient that you arrange yourself. The designer separates the colors in a yarn cake before crocheting, allowing the shading to follow a deliberate plan rather than the cake’s original sequence. The cardigan begins with a large rectangle and uses straightforward double crochet, so the interesting part is watching a simple fabric become a wearable garment.
- Yarn: DK/light yarn; Lion Brand Mandala.
- Project level: Confident beginner.
- Techniques: Double crochet, rectangle construction, color planning.
- Pattern access: Free instructions online; follow the links for all tutorial parts; free account may be required.
Before you begin: Plan the color order for both sides before starting; matching the gradient takes more preparation than the stitch repeat.
Read the free pattern and tutorial →
12. Patchwork Party Cardi LITE
Patchwork Party Cardi LITE creates a softer, painterly version of a patchwork cardigan using broad crocheted strips and ombre yarn. It has fewer strips to join than the original design, but keeps the relaxed fit, pockets and optional buttons that make it practical to wear. The changing shades provide visual movement without requiring a separate square for every color. This entry is the LITE pattern, counted once for the entire multi-part project.
- Yarn: Bulky Scarfie body with worsted Wool-Ease ribbing.
- Project level: Beginner garment skills; some seaming.
- Techniques: Extended half double crochet, broad strips and ribbing.
- Pattern access: Free instructions online; follow the links for all tutorial parts.
Before you begin: Start with Part 1, then follow all four sections; the link does not begin halfway through the cardigan.
Read the free pattern and tutorial →
Choose your first everyday cardigan
Start with a shape you can picture
A rectangle-based cardigan makes assembly easier to understand, while a one-piece body reduces the number of panels to join. Read the schematic before choosing your favorite photo.
Swatch the actual stitch pattern
A V-stitch, bobble fabric or sideways rib needs its own gauge check. Wash or block the swatch as appropriate for your yarn, then measure the fabric rather than pulling it to the required width.
Decide how much room you want
Compare finished measurements with a cardigan you already like. A relaxed cardigan often includes generous ease, so a clothing-size label alone is not enough.
Frequently asked questions
Are all of these cardigan patterns free?
The linked publishers offer a free version of the instructions. Yarnspirations uses downloadable PDFs; Make & Do Crew provides online tutorials and may ask for a free account. A paid printable PDF is an optional alternative, not the free pattern link used here.
Can I use a different yarn?
Start with the designer’s substitution notes and match the stitch-pattern gauge. Check fiber, drape and finished fabric as well as yarn weight. Buy the quantity required for your size and any length adjustments.
How do I choose the right size?
Use the original pattern’s measurement chart and schematic. Compare finished chest, sleeve and length measurements with a garment you enjoy wearing. For a child’s cardigan, use the child’s measurements rather than age alone.
Explore all 60 free crochet cardigan patterns
These five collections feature 12 distinct patterns each. Continue with another style:
- 12 Easy Free Crochet Cardigan Patterns for Relaxed Everyday Layers — you are here
- 12 Free Hexagon and Granny Square Crochet Cardigan Patterns
- 12 Free Long and Cozy Crochet Cardigan Patterns for Cooler Days
- 12 Free Lightweight and Lace Crochet Cardigan Patterns
- 12 Free Crochet Cardigan Patterns with Color, Texture and Statement Details
Browse more projects in our Crochet Cardigan Pattern category.
