How to crochet the Alpine Cardigan!

Have you been crocheting for a while and now you want to make your first garment? This was in my mind when I was designing this cardigan. 


I have designed several cardigans and this is the BASIC CONSTRUCTION pattern.
Pattern is worked from bottom up.
The cardigan is basically 3 rectangles, a back panel and two front panels.
Sleeves are worked from bottom up with a simple increase in the beginning and at the end of the same row.

ALPINE  CROCHET CARDIGAN!

During summer I purchased a lot of yarns for my projects and I find that these yarns below are both perfect for the Alpine Cardigan
 Stylecraft Special Aran yarn  because it  is so soft  that makes the cardigan worthy of wearing all fall and winter days. It is a great quality 100% acrylic yarn, very soft, that makes the cardigan drape beautifully and  it is very affordable.

And Lion Brand Vannas Style a perfect acrylic yarn that comes in a range of many shades.

You can find my tutorial video for this cardigan on my you tube channel

and the ad-free large print, printable PDF pattern HERE
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue here
Pin this pattern to your Pinterest Boards for later here

Materials needed

-US size J/10 (6 mm) crochet hook

You will need Worsted/Aran yarn  approximately

-  1-2 years 530 yds, 3-4 years 610 yds, 5-6 years 680,  7-8 years- 750 yds, 9-10  800 yds, 11-13 years-900 yds, 14-16 years- 1000 yds, Small- 1100  yds, Medium-1150 yds, Large -1200 yds, XL-1250 yds, 2XL- 1300 yds,  3XL-1350 yds, 4XL 1400 yds

Gauge

11 dcs = 4 inches (10 cm) width

7 dc rows 4 inches (10 cm) long

Sizes: Children:1/2 years, 3/4 years,5/6 years  7/8 years ,9 /10 years, 11-13 years, 14/16 years  Adults :Xsmall,  Small, Medium, Large, XL,2XL,  3X,L 4XL

Abbreviations in US terms:

YO=yarn over

Sts=stitches

Ch=chain

Sl st=slip stitch  

dc=double crochet 

Rep=repeat

Sk = skip

Prev =previous

Fpdc=front post double crochet

Bpdc=back post double crochet

Special sts

Fpdc=To begin the first front post double crochet, yarn over once as for traditional dc. Instead of inserting your hook into the top loops of the stitch to be worked, you will insert your hook from the front of the work (on the right side) to the back (the wrong side) beside the next stitch to be worked and to front again on the other side. Yarn over and draw a loop up from under the post of the stitch that you had on the hook. You will now have 3 loops on the hook, yarn over once more and draw through 2 loops on the hook,yo and draw through remaining 2 loops, completing one front post double crochet.

Bpdc=to work a back post double crochet in next st , yo, insert your hook from the back of the work (the wrong side) to the front of the work (the right side) beside the next stitch to be worked and on the back side again, yarn over and draw up a loop from under the post of the stitch you had on the hook. . You will now have 3 loops on the hook, yarn over once more and draw through  2 loops on the hook,yo and draw through remaining 2 loops, completing one back post double crochet.

Alternate fpdc and bpdc for ribbing pattern.

                      FINISHED    MEASUREMENTS

See in chart below, Total Chest circumference (with cardigan flat on a table), Length from shoulder to bottom, half armhole opening.

SIZE	CHEST	LENGTH	HALF ARMHOLE
1-2   YEARS	23” (58cm)	11” (28cm)	4.25”   (10,5cm)
3-4       “	24” (61cm)	13.5” (35cm)	4.75”   (12cm)
5-6      “	25” (63,5cm)	15.75” (40cm)	5”       (12,5cm)
7-8       “	27.5” (70cm)	16.5” (42 cm)	5.5”    (14cm
9-10     “	28.5” (72cm)	18.7” (46,7 cm)	6”       (15,5cm)
11-13    “	30.5” ( 77cm)	20” ( 51 cm)	6.5’     (16,5cm)
14-16    “	31.75” (80 cm)	22” (56 cm)	6.69”   (17cm)

Xsmall	33.07” (84cm)	23” (58cm)	7.08”   (18cm)
Small	35” ( 89cm)	24” ( 61cm)	7.87”   (20cm)
Medium	39.37” (100cm)	24” (61 cm)	8.02”   (21cm)
Large	43.30” (110cm)	25” (63 cm)	8.66”   (22cm)
XL	47” (119cm)	26” (66 cm)	9.44”   (24cm)
2XL	50.75” (128cm)	27” (69 cm)	9.84”   (25cm)
3XL	53”  (134cm)	28” (71cm)	10.20” (26cm)
4XL	60.5” (153cm)	30” (76 cm)	10.6”   (27cm)

CROCHET PROJECT

This pattern consists of  6 pieces: 1 back piece, 2 fronts, 2 sleeves,  the hood. You can crochet the ears of course.

We start crocheting the back piece.

Then we crochet the 2 front pieces.

We sew the shoulders and the side seams until the bottom armhole point.

We crochet the sleeves, sew the side seam of sleeves and join together the sleeves and the body.

We crochet the hood and join together the neckline edge and the hood edge.

CROCHET PATTERN

BACK PIECE

With your crochet hook and main color make a slip knot and chain the number of chains needed to obtain the size of cardigan you would like to make.

Sizes:

Chain    33       1-2 years

Chain    35       3-4  “

Chain    37       5-6  “

Chain    40       7-8    “

Chain    42       9-10  “        

Chain    44       11-13  “

Chain    46       14-16    “

Chain    48       Adult Xsmall 

Chain    51       Small

Chain    57       Medium

Chain    62       Large

Chain    67       X Large

Chain    72       2X Large

Chain    76       3X Large

Chain    85       4X Large

Note: ch3 at the beginning of the row count as a dc

We will work 5 rows of fpdc/bpdc ribbing.

Row 1: insert hook in 4rth ch from hook, and work a dc, *  dc in every ch to end, turn  (31, 33, 35, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 49, 55, 60, 65, 70, 74, 83 dc)

Row 2: ch3,* fpdc in next st (it is the second dc of prev row), bpdc in next st* rep from * to * to the end, turn (it does not matter if you end up with a fpdc or a bpdc)

Row 3: (change to colour brown) ch3, work starting from second st and make a fpdc in every fpdc of prev row and bpdc in every bpdc of prev row, turn

Row 4 : (change to main colour):rep row 3

Row 5 :rep row 3

Now we will continue with simple dc pattern

Row 6:ch3, dc in next st, dc in each st to end, turn 

Rep row 6 to desired length for every size as follows. Work the same amount of rows for the front pieces also.

1-2 years	rows 7-19
3-4 years	rows 7-24
5-6 years	rows 7-28
7-8 years	rows 7-30
9-10 years	rows 7-33
11-13 years	rows 7-36
14-16 years	rows 7-40

Adult Xsmall	rows 7-41
Small	rows 7-43
Medium	rows 7-43
Large	rows 7-44
X Large	rows 7-46
2X Large	rows 7-48
3X Large	rows 7-50
4X Large	rows 7-53

Fasten off yarn, weave in all ends.

FRONT PIECE (make 2)

Note: you do not  need to make buttonholes as you can easily use the space between dcs instead.

With your crochet hook make a slip knot and chain the number of chains needed to obtain the size of cardigan you would like to make.

Sizes:

Chain    20       1-2 years

Chain    21       3-4  “

Chain    22       5-6  “

Chain    23       7-8    “

Chain    24       9-10  “       

Chain    25       11-13  “

Chain    26       14-16    “

Chain    27       Adult Xsmall 

Chain    28       Small

Chain    31       Medium

Chain    34       Large

Chain    36       X Large

Chain    39       2X Large

Chain    41       3X Large

Chain    46       4X Large

We will work 5 rows of fpdc/bpdc ribbing

Row 1: insert hook in 4rth ch from hook, and work a dc, *  dc in every ch to end, turn  (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 32, 34, 37, 39, 44 dc)

Row 2: ch3,* fpdc in next st (it is the second dc of prev row), bpdc in next st* rep from * to * till the end, turn (it does not matter if you end up with a fpdc or a bpdc)

Row 3: (change to colour brown) ch3, work starting from second st and make a fpdc in every fpdc of prev row and bpdc in every bpdc of prev row, turn

Row 4 : (change to main colour):rep row 3

Row 5 :rep row 3

Now we will continue with simple dc pattern

Row 6:ch3, dc in next st, dc in each st to end, turn

Rep row 6 to the number of rows for every size, following instructions of the back piece of chart on page 6 of this PDF.

Fasten off yarn, weave in all ends.

SEW  shoulders

Place back piece flat on a table and place front parts on to the back, right sides facing you.

Starting (shoulders) at the outside, sew fronts to back, leaving unsewn approx. this neck line(both back and 2 fronts equally divided total)circumference

For sizes 1/2 and  3/4                             13.38” (34 cm)

For sizes 5/6 and 7/8                              15.74” (40cm)

For sizes 9/10 and 11/13                        18.11” (46cm)

For sizes 14/16 and Xsmall                     20.47” (52cm)

For S/M/L/XL/2XL/3XL/4XL                     22.04” (56cm)

*Use whip stitches (or different joining method you like).

Fasten off.

SEW UP   the sides until bottom of armholes. Start sewing from cardigan”s  bottom up to a point so that you leave unsewn a part for armholes as indicated in chart on page 4 of this PDF

Tie off and weave in ends.

  

SLEEVES (make 2)

With your crochet hook make a slip knot and chain the number of chains needed for every size. We will work from bottom up.

Sizes:

Chain    22       1-2 years

Chain    22       3-4  “

Chain    24       5-6  “

Chain    24       7-8    “

Chain    24       9-10  “       

Chain    24       11-13  “

Chain    26       14-16    “

Chain    26       Adult Xsmall 

Chain    26       Small

Chain    28       Medium

Chain    28       Large

Chain    28       X Large

Chain    28      2X Large

Chain    28       3X Large

Chain    28       4X Large

We will work 5 rows of fpdc/bpdc ribbing

Row 1: insert hook in 4rth ch from hook, and work a dc, *  dc in every ch to end, turn  (20, 20, 22, 22, 22, 22, 24, 24, 24, 28, 28, 28, 28, 28, 28 dc)

Row 2: ch3,* fpdc in next st (it is the second dc of prev row), bpdc in next st* rep from * to * till the end, turn (it does not matter if you end up with a fpdc or a bpdc)

Row 3: (change to colour brown) ch3, work starting from second st and make a fpdc in every fpdc of prev row and bpdc in every bpdc of prev row, turn

Row 4 : (change to main colour):rep row 3

Row 5 :rep row 3

Now we will continue with simple dc pattern

Row 6:ch3, dc in next st, dc in each st to end, turn

Rep row 6 to the number of rows for every size

1-2 years:       rows 7-12        

3-4 years:       rows 7-14

5-6 years:       rows 7-17

7-8 years:       rows 7-21

9-10 years:     rows 7-25

11-13 years:    rows 7-28

14-16 years:    rows 7-32

Adult Xsmall:    rows  7-34

Small:               rows 7-34

Medium:           rows 7-35

Large:              rows 7-35

X Large:          rows 7-35

2X Large:         rows 7-36

3X Large:         rows 7-36

4X Large:         rows 7-36

You should work increases in some rows, so the sleeves are wide enough to match  to the armhole opening we left unsewn.

To achieve the width required , you should have the number of dc indicated in the chart below,for every size at the last row worked for sleeves.

Work this increase row below , for every row you need to make increase.

Increase row : ch3, dc in same first st(=increase), dc in  each st to one st before the end, 2 dc in last st,  turn

  1-2  years  = 24dc , work increase row in rows  7 and  9

 3-4       “      = 26 dc, work increase row in rows  7,  9 and  11

 5-6       “      =28 dc, work increase row in rows  7, 9 , 11 

 7-8       “      =32 dc, work increase row in rows  7, 9, 11

 9-10     “      =34 dc, work increase row in rows  7,9,11, 15, 19, 23

11-13    “      =36 dc, work increase row in rows  7, 9,11, 15, 19, 23, 25

14-16    “     =38 dc, work increase row in rows  7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 25, 27

XS               =40 dc, work increase row in rows 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 25, 27, 31

S                 =44 dc, work increase row in rows  7,11,13,15, 17,19, 23, 25, 27,31

M                =46 dc, work incr row in rows  7,9 11, 15,17,19, 23, 25, 27, 31

L                 =48 dc, work incr row in rows  7,9, 11, 15, 17,19, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33

XL              = 52 dc, work incr row in rows  7,9,11,13,15, 17,19,21, 23, 25,27,31,33

2XL            =56 dc, work incr row in rows  7,9,11,13,15, 17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33,35          3XL            =58 dc, work incr row in rows  7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21, 23, 25,27,29,31,33,35,36

4XL            =58 dc, work incr row in rows  7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21, 23, 25,27,29,31,33,35,36

     

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Note:You can crochet more rows if you want  longer  sleeves.

SEW THE SLEEVES SEAM AND SEW THEM ON THE CARDIGAN

Fold the sleeves in half, lengthways and sew the sleeve seams.

 Then place the midway widest point of sleeves on to the shoulder seam, right side facing you, pin in place and sew together.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

  HOOD

 With your crochet hook make a slip knot and chain the number of chains needed for every size.

1-2 and 3-4 years     chain 38

5-6 and 7-8 years     chain 46

9-10 and 11-13  “     chain 52

14-16 and XS          chain 58

S – 4XL                   chain 64 

Row 1: insert hook in 4rth ch from hook, and work a dc, * dc in every ch to end, turn 

Row 2: ch3, dc in next st, dc in each st to the end,turn

Rep row 2 as follows for every size

1-2 and 3-4 years     16 rows

5-6 and 7-8 years      18 rows

9-10 and 11-13  “       21 rows

14-16 and XS             24 rows

S – 4XL                       26 rows

Work a decrease in the last row of the hood as follows

Last decrease hood row:ch3, work (15, 19, 22, 25,28 dc ), dc2tog, dc2tog, work  (16,20,23, 26,29 dc). (34,42,48,54,60 sts)

Break yarn leaving a tail long enough for stitching the top of the hood fold. Fold the last row worked in half and seam up the top of the hood.

Weave in all ends

ATTACH  THE HOOD TO THE NECKLINE

Fold hood in half and pin in to back center neckline. Seam evenly to the edge front points of the neckline using your preferred sewing method.

EARS (make 2)

With main color chain 3

Row 1: ch1,  6  sc in first st, turn( 6)

Row 2: ch1, 2 sc in each sc of prev row, turn (12)

Row 3: ch1, *2 sc in first , 1 sc in next st*, rep from * to * to end  turn (18)

Row 4: ch1,* 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts*, rep from * to * to end,  turn (24)

Row 5: ch1, sc in each st to end (24)

Fasten off, weave in all ends.

Work a second pair of ears in brown color , work until row 4 , it will be smaller.

Attach brown ear to parchment ear and sew together.

Make the second pair of ears .

Fold in half the ear and sew on the ears equally spaced from the hood seam.

EDGING

Attach yarn at bottom right corner of the left front piece and work a sc row all along the left front , then the hood and finally the right front piece.

Row 1: ch1,sc evenly all around the opening of the cardigan

  Fasten off , weave in all ends.

BUTTONS

Sew on buttons on right front edge. If buttons are not big, you do not need to make button holes as the spaces between dc work as buttonholes.If you want to make button holes , put markers in the points you want the holes and work as follows:

Next row:  ch3, dc in next st, ch1, skip next dc of prev row, dc in each of next sts to end, turn

Next row:  ch3, dc in each st to end (dc also in ch1 st of prev row)

In sizes 1-2 up to 14-16 sew on 6 buttons

In sizes XS up to 4XL sew on 7 buttons.

END OF TUTORIAL

Thank you for your patience and I wish you happy crocheting!

Mary