About This Pattern
This cardigan grows from two kinds of work. Flower motifs build the body, square by square. Striped sleeves build separately, row by row. It sits well across a few evenings, not one. The motif rounds want quiet focus. The sleeve rows go faster, good for half an hour before bed. Keep the two pieces in separate bags. Nothing here is fast, but nothing is hard either.
In the basket
Abbreviations
- Beg
- Beginning
- Ch
- Chain(s)
- Cont
- Continue(ity)
- Dc
- Double crochet
- Hdc
- Half double crochet
- Rep
- Repeat
- Rnd (s)
- Round(s)
- RS
- Right side
- Sc
- Single crochet
- Sl st
- Slip stitch
- Sp(s)
- Space(s)
- St(s )
- Stitch(es)
- Tog
- Together
- WS
- Wrong side
- Yoh
- Yarn over hook
Flower motif granny cardigan with striped sleeves
Creating a Motif
Start: With Color 1, chain (ch) 4. Join with a slip stitch (sl st) to the first chain to form a ring. Refer to the diagram on page 4 for guidance.
- Round 1Right Side - RS Ch 6. Make (3 double crochet (dc), ch 3) three times in the ring. Add 2 dc in the ring. Join.
- Round 2Sl st in ch-3 sp. Ch 6. 3 dc in the same ch-3 sp. *Ch 1. (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * twice more. Ch 1. 2 dc in the first ch-3 sp. Join.
- Round 3Sl st in ch-3 sp. Ch 6. 3 dc in the same ch-3 sp. *Ch 1. 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the next ch-3 sp. Repeat from * twice more. Ch 1. 3 dc in the last ch-1 sp. Ch 1. 2 dc in the first ch-3 sp. Join.Repeat: the last 2 rows until the sleeve measures 19 inches (for larger sizes) or 17 inches (for smaller sizes).Step by step: Finish Off: Fasten off the yarn once you've reached the desired length.4th and 5th Rounds: Replicate the steps of the 3rd round with variations in the ch-1 space distributions and finalize by joining and fastening off.
Sleeve Construction
Sleeves Notes: Use yarn A as ‘self-striping’ yarn allowing colors to naturally transition.
Ch 2 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch.
Starting the Sleeve: Foundation: For sizes XS/S/M/L, chain 39; for XL/2/3XL, chain 49.
- Round 1(RS): Make 1 single crochet (sc) in the 2nd chain from the hook and 1 sc in each chain to the end. Turn your work. You should have 38 (48) sc.
- Round 2Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc to the end of the row. Repeat this row twice. Proceed with Sleeve Pattern: 1st Row (RS): Ch 2. Make 1 half double crochet (hdc) in the first sc. *2 hdc in the next sc, skip the next sc. Repeat from * to the last 2 sc. 2 hdc in the next sc, 1 hdc in the last sc. Turn your work. You should have 18 (23) groups of 2 hdc.
- Round 2Ch 2. Make 1 hdc in the first hdc. Skip the first group of 2 hdc. *Make 2 hdc in the space between the next 2 groups of hdc. Repeat from * across to the last group of 2 hdc. Skip the last group of 2 hdc. Make 1 hdc in the last hdc. Turn your work.
Shaping the Sleeves
- Round 1Ch 2, 2 hdc in the first hdc, 2 hdc in space (sp) between the first hdc and the first group of 2 hdc. *2 hdc in sp between the next 2 groups of hdc. Repeat from * to the last group of 2 hdc, 2 hdc in sp between the last group of hdc and the last hdc, 2 hdc in the last hdc. Turn.
- Round 2Ch 2, 1 hdc in the first hdc. Skip the next hdc. *2 hdc in sp between the next 2 groups of hdc. Repeat from * to the last group of 2 hdc. Skip the next hdc, 1 hdc in the last hdc. Turn.
- Round 3Ch 2, 1 hdc in the first hdc. Skip the first group of 2 hdc. *2 hdc in sp between the next 2 groups of hdc. Repeat from * to the last group of 2 hdc. Skip the last group of 2 hdc, 1 hdc in the last hdc. Turn.Repeat: the last 3 rows 9 (for smaller sizes) or 8 (for larger sizes) times more. You should have a total of 28 (for smaller sizes) or 32 (for larger sizes) groups of 2 hdc by the end.
Main Pattern
- Round 1Ch 4. Join with sl st to form a ring. 1st row (RS): Ch 3. 1 dc in ring. Ch 3. 3 dc in ring. Ch 3. 2 dc in ring. Fasten off. With Color 2: 2nd row: Join with sl st to top of ch 3 from the previous row. Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). *(3 dc. Ch 3. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Ch 1. Repeat from * once more. Skip the next dc. 1 dc in the last dc. Fasten off.
With Color 3:
- Round 3Join in 3rd ch of ch 4 from the previous row. Ch 3. 1 dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. (3 dc. Ch 3. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Ch 1. 3 dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. (3 dc. Ch 3. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Ch 1. 1 dc in next ch-1 sp. 1 dc in the last dc. Fasten off.
With Color 4
- Round 4Join to top of ch 3 from the previous row. Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1). 3 dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. (3 dc. Ch 3. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. (Ch 1. 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) twice. Ch 1. (3 dc. Ch 3. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Ch 1. 3 dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Miss the next dc. 1 dc in the last dc. Fasten off.
With Color 5:
- Round 5Join in 3rd ch of ch 4 from the second row. Ch 3. 1 dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. 3 dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. (3 dc. Ch 3. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. (Ch 1. 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) three times. Ch 1. (3 dc. Ch 3. 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Ch 1. 3 dc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. 1 dc in next ch-1 sp. 1 dc in the last dc. Fasten off.
Tools
Ch 2, 1 hdc in the first hdc, 2 hdc in sp between the first hdc and the first group of 2 hdc. *2 hdc in sp between the next 2 groups of hdc. Repeat from * to the last group of 2 hdc, 2 hdc in sp between the last group of hdc and the last hdc, 1 hdc in the last hdc. Turn.
Size U.S. I/9 (5.5 mm) Susan Bates® Silvalume® crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
Susan Bates® yarn needle.
1 button – 1" [25 mm].
General Notes for Motifs
- Round 1Ch 3 at the beginning of a round counts as a double crochet (dc).
- Round 2Ch 6 at the beginning of rounds counts as dc and chain-3 space (ch-3 sp).
- Round 3Join all rounds with a slip stitch (sl st) to the third chain of ch-6 unless indicated otherwise.
Back Neck Half Motif
To fill in the back neck space of your garment, you'll create a Back Neck Half Motif that matches the full motifs already made.
Colors: Color 1 Color 2 Color 3 Color 4 Color 5
Before the first stitch
- Check your yarn amounts against the ball count before casting on anything.
- Make one motif first and measure it against the 6 inch target.
- Read through the 3rd Round once before you start Round 1.
Minutes per piece
- Creating a Motif about 25 minutes each, because the rounds grow longer every pass
- Sleeve Construction and Shaping about 2 hours per sleeve, because the hdc groups need steady counting
Other yarns that work
- Cotton, worsted weight Firmer motifs, less drape, same hook size works fine.
- Acrylic-wool blend, worsted weight Softer drape, warmer finish, no hook change needed.
Where it ends up
- An open cardigan over a plain tee, for cool mornings.
- A layering piece for the office, worn over a solid top.
- A porch cardigan, paired with jeans and bare feet.
Small notes
- Use the size U.S. I/9 hook throughout, and check gauge against the 6 inch motif before joining pieces.
- Let Color A stripe on its own; do not cut and rejoin mid-row.
- Count your hdc groups at the end of each shaping row before turning.
Little questions
Can I make fewer motifs for a smaller size?
The pattern is written for XS/S/M/L with XL/2/3XL changes in parentheses. Follow the smaller numbers throughout if that is your size. Do not mix motif counts between the two size sets.
Do the sleeves attach before or after the motifs are joined?
Sleeves are built separately through Shaping the Sleeves. Keep them aside until the motif body is complete. Joining comes after both sections match in gauge.
What if my motif comes out smaller than 6 inches?
Try a larger hook and remake one test motif. A half-inch difference across many motifs adds up fast. Match gauge before you commit to a full set.
Why does Round 1 start with Ch 6 instead of Ch 3?
The ch-6 sets up both the turning chain and a ch-3 space together. It looks unusual but keeps the corner spacing even. Follow it once and the rhythm becomes clear.
Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/crochet-granny-cardigan-pattern/
About the Author
Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.
