How to crochet the Sahara Cardigan

This is a cardigan I have crocheted during summer and I loved the sideaways style of working and how easily a rectangle creates a flattering shape cardigan!

Main pattern is worked in fronts and back piece and hdc pattern on sleeves.
If you are a beginner do try to crochet this pattern, as instructions are very detailed and you will find out it is a project for you!

Find the full step-by-step video tutorial for the Sahara Cardigan here!
and the ad-free large print, printable PDF pattern on my Etsy shop


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Skill level: easy+


PATTERN

Materials

 DROPS

MUSCAT   YARN col 61 beige

50gr =100m=109yds

  or

For sizes XS, S=1300yds, M = 1350 yds,  L= 1400 yds, XL=1500 yds, 2XL-4XL=1600-1700 yds

Paintbox CottonAran  or

Rico Baby CottonSoft DK

Crochet Hook

J/10 US (6mm)

I found a fantastic set of double ended Knitpro hooks here

and this  great ergonomic set of 8 hooks of Groves here

Gauge

12 hdc x 11 rows= a square of 3,93 inches (10cm)

Sizes: : Adult XS (S,M, L, XL, 2XL-4XL)

Sizing listed in the pattern will be in XS.( Small, Medium, Large, Xl, 2XL-4XL) are listed in parenthesis such as  above 

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 

	ROWS WORKED IN TOTAL FOR EACH PANEL	WIDTH OF EACH PANEL( both front and back) WITH BORDER	WIDTH OF FRONT PANEL WITH 1.50”BORDER	LENGTH FROM SHOULDER TO BOTTOM
XS	21 rows	18.11” (46cm)	7.87” (20cm)	24.40” (62cm)
S	22 rows	18.89” (48cm)	8.66” (22cm)	24.40” (62cm)
M	25 rows	20.86” (53cm)	8.66” (22cm)	24.80” (63cm)
L	27 rows	22.44: (57cm)	9.44” (24cm)	26” (66cm)
XL	29 rows	23.62” (60cm)	10.62” (27cm)	27” (69cm)
2XL-4XL	31 rows	25.20” (64cm)	12.20” (31cm)	28” (71cm)

Abbreviations in US terms:

Sts=stitches

Ch=chain

Sl st=slip stitch

Sc=single crochet 

Hdc=half double crochet

Dc=double crochet 

trc=triple crochet

Rep=repeat

Sk=skip

prev=previous

dec=decrease

rnd=round

dc2tog=double crochet two together, it is a decrease st

Special sts

Puff st around  hdc post=, work a hdc in indicated st, YO, insert hook from  right into  the post of hdc just worked,  to back and  left again, YO , insert hook in same post and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO insert hook in same post and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), YO insert hook in same post and pull up a loop (7 loops on hook), YO and pull through all 7 loops. (you do not chain 1 to secure the puff, you continue working the next hdc , skipping 1 st)

Trc=triple crochet: YO twice, insert hook in indicated st, YO and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), YO and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through remaining 2 loops.

Dc2tog: *YO, insert hook in indicated st, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next st and rep from * to * , you now have 3 loops on hook, YO and pull through all 3 loops, you decreased 1 st.

  

CROCHET PROJECT

 We are crocheting the body sideways.

This pattern starts with an initial chain which is the length of both front and half back piece. You will crochet 2 similar pieces for the body.

Note : the rule for this pattern is  to chain an odd number of chains and the number of  hdc worked in all rows has to be an odd number .( since we insert our hook in 3^rd ch from hook to work hdc then you will certainly have an odd number of hdc)

SKETCH A 

PANEL A

This is the left panel of cardigan

Ch 153(153,155,161,167,171) 

Note: ch2 in the beginning of all rows, does not count as hdc

Row 1:hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in every ch till the end, turn 151(151,153,159,165,171 hdc) 

Row 2: ch2, hdc 1st hdc of prev row, hdc across  to the end 151(151,153,159,165,171 hdc) 

Row 3:   rep row 2 ,

Row 4: ch2, hdc in 1st hdc of prev row, puff st around post of hdc just made, skip 1 st, *hdc in next st, puff st around the post of hdc, sk 1 st* rep from * to * to last 2 sts, skip 1 st, hdc in last st, turn

Repeat rows 1-4 for every size as follows:

1: for size XS work until row 18

2: for size S work until row 20

3: for size M work until row 20

4: for size L work until row 22

5: for size XL work until row 26

6: for size 2XL-4XL work until row 28

Now we have crocheted all we need for the front part. We will continue crocheting till the center of our piece and back again in order to make our back piece a little bit wider than the front. In our front part we are going to add a small collar and the wavy shell edging so it shall be wider then.

Now work the following row for all sizes. It’s a row that you are going to be working until the middle of the piece and you are turning back. So put a marker in the middle of your piece and work until there. In some sizes this separation row is going to be a simple hdc row and in others a puff hdc row.

Next Row, its row No 19 (21, 21, 23,27,29) : ch2, hdc in first hdc of prev row, hdc across  to the middle of the piece,  turn

Work repeating the main pattern as in rows 1-4 and work as follows for sizes:

1: for size XS work until row 21

2: for size S work until row 22

3: for size M work until row 25

4: for size L work until row 27

5: for size XL work until row 29

6: for size 2XL-4XL work until row 31

*in some sizes you may have to work 4 rows of simple hdc at the beginning and at the end so the puff stiches patterns is beautifully divided in the garment.

Fasten off weave in ends.

End of panel A

PANEL B

This is the right panel of cardigan

Work as in Panel A

Repeat rows 1-4 of the pattern for every size as follows:

1: for size XS work until row 18

2: for size S work until row 20

3: for size M work until row 20

4: for size L work until row 22

5: for size XL work until row 26

6: for size 2XL-4XL work until row 28

*Now instead of continuing working ,you will have to fasten off and weave in ends

Attach yarn to the other edge of your last row worked for every size and start working  the first row for every size until the middle of the piece.

Note: We do this small change so we have 2 panels that when folded for   sewing, will be both right side facing us.

Fasten off , weave in ends.

Sewing

Now fold the pieces in half vertically.  Then you will get your yarn needle and long piece of yarn to sew. Sew the back of the pieces till the center back neckline.

*after folding the 2 pieces, right side facing you , sew the back seam

*sew the side from bottom up, till indicated point so you leave an opening for armhole

Now start on the side seams. Start from bottom up and sew up to a point so you are leaving an opening for armhole as follows:

Sizes              XS= 7,08 inches(18 cm)

Size              S,M= 7,87 inches(20 cm)

Size                  L= 8,66 inches(22 cm)

Size                XL= 9,44 inches(24 cm)

Sizes      2XL-4XL=10.20 inches (26cm)

SLEEVES

Note: for sizes M, L, XL, see instructions at the end of sleeves pattern

We work in rounds from top (the armhole) to bottom.

Attach yarn at the bottom armhole right side facing you. We work the sleeves joining every round with a sl st and turning.

Note:We work simple hdc rounds.

For sizes XS, S work around the  7,08 inches(18 cm) opening

Round 1: ch2, hdc in 1st st ,  work  22 hdc(equally spaced) till shoulder point( it is half the perimeter of armhole),work  22 hdc (equally spaced) to the end of round , sl st in first hdc to join ,(44 hdc) turn

Round 2: (now wrong side is facing you) ch2, hdc in 1st hdc of prev round ,  work  hdc  in each of next  sts to the end of round , sl st in first hdc to join  ,(44 hdc) turn

Rounds 3-4 rep rep rounds 1-2

Note: You can stop here if you want as short sleeve cardigan

In next round you will decrease 1 st at the beginning of the round and 1 st at the end of the round.

Round 5(dec rnd):ch2, dc2tog in next 2 sts (dec),  hdc in next 40 sts, work dc2tog in last 2 sts(dec) (42 sts)

Rounds 6,7,8  work as in rnd 2 , (working on one row  right side facing you and on next row wrong side facing you, you will always have 42 sts

Round 9(dec rnd):ch2, dc2tog in next 2 sts (dec),  hdc in next 38  sts, work dc2tog in last 2 sts(dec) (40 sts)

Rounds 10,11,12  work as in rnd 2 , (working on one row  right side facing you and on next row wrong side facing you, you will always have 40 sts

Round 13(dec rnd):ch2, dc2tog in next 2 sts (dec),  hdc in next 40 sts, work dc2tog in last 2 sts(dec) (38 sts)

Rounds 14,15,16 work as in rnd 2 , (working on one row  right side facing you and on next row wrong side facing you, you will always have 38 sts

Round 17(dec rnd):ch2, dc2tog in next 2 sts (dec),  hdc in next 40 sts, work dc2tog in last 2 sts(dec) (36sts)

Rounds 18,19,20 work as in rnd 2 , (working on one row  right side facing you and on next row wrong side facing you, you will always have 36 sts

 Round 21(dec rnd):ch2, dc2tog in next 2 sts (dec),  hdc in next 40 sts, work dc2tog in last 2 sts(dec) (34sts)

Rounds 22,23,24 work as in rnd 2 , (working on one row  right side facing you  and on next row wrong side facing you, you will always have 34 sts.

Round 25(dec rnd):ch2, dc2tog in next 2 sts (dec),  hdc in next 40 sts, work dc2tog in last 2 sts(dec) (32sts)

Rounds 26-36  work as in rnd 2 , (working on one row  right side facing you and on next row wrong side facing you, you will always have 32 sts

Fasten off, weave in ends

For size M work also 36 rows, you are going to crochet 48 hdc all around armhole 7,87 inches(20 cm) opening

,make decreases in  7 rows in

5^th, 9^th, 13^th,17^th,21^st,25^th,29^th

So you decrease 14 sts and you end with 34 sts to wrist

For size L work also 36 rows,you are going to crochet 52 hdc all around armhole 8,66 inches(22 cm) opening

,make decreases in  9 rows in

5^th, 9^th, 13^th,17^th,21^st,25^th,28^th, 30th,32^nd

So you decrease 18 sts and you end with 34 sts to wrist

For size XL work also 36 rows, you are going to crochet 56 hdc all around armhole 9,44 inches(24 cm) opening

,make decreases in  11 rows in

5^th, 9^th, 13^th,17^th,2O^th, 23^th,26th,29th,31st,33rd,35^th

So you decrease 22 sts and you end with 34 sts to wrist

For size 2XL-4XL  work  38 rows, you are going to crochet 60 hdc all around armhole 10.20”(26CM)  opening ,make decreases in  11 rows in

5^th, 9^th, 13^th,17^th,2O^th, 23^th,26th,29th,31st,33rd,35^th

So you decrease 22 sts and you end with 38 sts to wrist

COLLAR FOR ALL SIZES

Join yarn in the left bottom side of the front piece.

You will work for size XS and S, 73 hdc till the shoulder seam, 16  hdc in the back neckline and 73 hdc along the other front panel.(162 hdc all around)

Row 1: ch2(does not count as hdc), hdc first  st, hdc across the left front piece equally spaced 73 hdc till shoulder,  work 16 hdc  at the back neckline, then 73 hdc equally spaced along the right front piece until the bottom, turn

You have worked 162  hdc  in total for the collar for sizes XS and S. For all other sizes see the chart in last page No 16 of this pdf

Row 2: ,ch2,  hdc in 1^st hdc of prev row, hdc across, turn

Now we will work the last shell row

Follow my diagram on sketch A

Row 3:ch1, sl st in first hdc of prev row, *sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3trc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st*, rep from * to *,  to last st, sl st in last st.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

POCKETS

make 2

Chain 23

Row 1:  in 3rd ch hdc, hdc across, turn (21 hdc, beg ch2 counts as hdc)

Row 2: sl st in 1st st , ch1,(or just ch2), hdc in 2nd st, hdc across, turn (21)

Rows 3-17 rep row 2

Row 18:ch1, sc in very first hdc of prev row, sc in each st to the end (21sc).

Fasten off weave in ends.

Size of the pocket  17 x 17 cm (6,69 x 6,69 inches) approximately.

Put the pockets on the cardigan and sew with a tapestry needle

End of tutorial

SKETCH B

SKETCH C

Happy crocheting!!