Caribbean Crochet Cardigan: 3 Styles

Create the perfect warm-weather layering piece with the Caribbean Crochet Cardigan, featuring three beautiful styles: cropped, hip length, and long cover-up. Each version showcases an elegant lace stitch pattern that’s light, breathable, and ideal for spring and summer crochet projects.

This crochet cardigan is designed for minimal seaming and maximum comfort. The back panel and sleeves are crocheted together as one piece, while each front panel includes its sleeve worked directly onto the panel, creating a seamless fit with tapered cuffs and clean edges. Whether you choose the cropped cardigan for casual layering, the hip-length version for everyday wear, or the longer version for a beach cover-up, you’ll enjoy the same flattering silhouette across all styles.

The Caribbean Breeze Cardigan uses lightweight fingering-weight yarn—a soft blend of Pima cotton and acrylic—making it an excellent choice for breathable, drapey garments. Its open lace texture makes it a perfect crochet pattern for summer vacations, tropical getaways, or simply adding a touch of handmade elegance to your wardrobe.

The pattern includes full written instructions with an inclusive size range from XS to 5X. To help you along the way, a comprehensive YouTube video tutorial demonstrates the full construction of the cardigan in size medium, making it accessible to both confident beginners and experienced crocheters.

Key features of the Caribbean Cardigan:

• 3 crochet cardigan styles: cropped, hip-length, and long cover-up
• Lightweight and breathable for warm weather
• Fingering-weight yarn (Pima cotton and acrylic blend)
• Inclusive sizing XS–5X
• Full step-by-step YouTube tutorial included

The Caribbean Breeze Cardigan Collection offers a versatile and stylish addition to your handmade wardrobe. These are paid patterns only. You can find the links to purchase the patterns below.

Caribbean Vacation Crochet Along

Join us for the Caribbean Vacation Crochet Along, a summer-inspired collection filled with light, breezy designs perfect for warm weather. This CAL features 10 beautiful patterns, including garments and accessories that are stylish, fun to make, and ideal for sunny days. Whether you’re heading to the beach, the cottage, or enjoying some time at home, these projects are easy to take on the go. The crochet along runs from June 2 to 27 2025, and you can work at your own pace with video tutorials and community support to guide you every step of the way.

Caribbean Crochet Cardigan

The Caribbean Crochet Cardigan is one of my absolute favourites from this collection! Honestly, I love them all, but I’ve gotten so much wear out of these cardigans. I initially crocheted the black and ivory versions using a completely flat construction. However, I decided to revise the entire pattern to be worked in pieces, allowing the lace stitch to align perfectly at the sides and eliminating the upside-down lace on the front, for a more cohesive and polished look. I’m a cardigan girl through and through — no matter how warm it is, I always like to start my day with a lightweight layer. I love having my arms covered, and this cardigan checks all the boxes!

Best Yarn For A Lace Crochet Cardigan

When choosing the best yarn for a lace crochet cardigan, it’s important to select a fibre that highlights the open stitch work while providing beautiful drape and breathability.

For this type of crochet project, a lightweight fingering-weight yarn is ideal. Fingering-weight yarn allows the lace stitches to stay light and airy, which is perfect for warm-weather garments.

My top recommendation is a soft cotton blend, like Comfy Fingering. This luxurious combination of Pima cotton and acrylic offers the perfect balance of softness, lightweight comfort, and durability.

The cotton content gives the cardigan a cool, breathable feel that’s gentle against the skin, making it comfortable even on hot days. The acrylic adds just enough elasticity and structure to help the cardigan hold its shape while still allowing the lace design to shine.

Whether you’re crocheting a summer cardigan, beach cover-up, or lightweight layering piece, a fingering-weight cotton blend is truly the perfect yarn for creating elegant, airy lace crochet garments that you’ll love to wear season after season.

Size Chart & Yarn Requirements Mid & Long Length

Please note that this design is a close fit with an open-style front. You can easily add more coverage by adding rows to the edging or by sizing up.

Size Chart & Yarn Requirements Crop Length

Please note that this design is a close fit with an open-style front. You can easily add more coverage by adding rows to the edging or by sizing up. When selecting your size, refer to your preferred Finished Bust Measurement. For reference, the model is wearing a medium with a 36″ bust and is 5 feet 6 inches tall.

Please note that yarn amounts are estimates and may vary slightly between different yarn brands and individual tension. It’s always a good idea to have a bit extra yarn on hand to avoid running out during your project. Happy crocheting!

Skill Level

Intermediate, written in standard American terms.

Gauge Mid & Long Length Pattern

Blocked: 11 sts and 7 rows (sc, dc pattern) equal to 2″ with 4mm hook

Lace Pattern Section: 19 sts and 10 rows equal to 3.5″ with 4mm hook

Solid Pattern Section: 10 sts and 6 rows equal to 1.75″ with 4 mm hook

Gauge Cropped:

Blocked: 11 sts and 7 rows (sc, dc pattern) equal to 2″ with 4mm hook

Lace Pattern Section: 19 sts and 14 rows equal to 5″ with 4mm hook

Solid Pattern Section: 10 sts and 8 rows equal to 2.25″ with 4 mm hook

I’ve included some yarn recommendations that would serve as excellent alternatives for this project!

Suitable Yarn Substitutes for Comfy Fingering Weight

Mandala String Yarn 350yds/100g

Farmhouse Cotton 360yds/100g

Hawthorne Fingering 357yds/100g

Stroll 231yds/50g

Sandscapes 328/100g

Before starting your project, it’s advisable to create a gauge swatch. This initial step ensures that your tension and stitch count align with the pattern’s specifications, which is crucial when the recommended yarn is unavailable or when substituting yarn. Maintaining the correct gauge is essential for achieving the desired fit.

If you decide to change the weight of yarn used for the pattern, note that this may alter the finished size of the garment. If you can meet the gauge while still achieving a fabric with nice drape and flow, you can use the yarn without needing modifications to the pattern. However, if you cannot meet the gauge because the yarn works up significantly larger, you’ll need to figure out the necessary modifications to the pattern yourself or opt for a smaller size.

Adjusting your crochet hook size can help you meet the pattern’s required gauge, and trying a different hook style or brand may also make a difference. Keep in mind that not all Fingering Weight #1 yarns are the same; variations in thickness, drape, and softness can affect your project.

For your gauge swatch, I recommend crocheting both the lace and solid sections of the pattern over 25 stitches. After completing the swatch, block it thoroughly and measure your stitches at the center. If you find that you have too many stitches, consider using a larger hook size. Conversely, if you have too few stitches, switch to a smaller hook size. You can also lengthen stitches by gently pulling on them or tighten your tension to shorten them.

Additionally, I have included some yarn recommendations that I believe would serve as excellent alternatives.

Crochet Hooks Required: Long & Mid Length

US E/4 (3.5mm)

US G/6 (4mm)

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Crochet Hooks Required: Cropped Length

3mm crochet hook

4mm crochet hook

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Abbreviations

Blo – Back Loop Only

Ch – Chain

Dc – Double Crochet

Pm – Place Marker

Rep – Repeat

RS – Right Side

Sc – Single Crochet

Sk – Skip

Sl St – Slip Stitch

Sp(s) – Space(s)

St(s) – Stitch(es)

WS – Wrong Side

( ) – Work step in parentheses in indicated stitch

[ ] – Work step in brackets the number of times indicated

Special Stitches:

V Stitch – v st:

In indicated stitch, work 1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc, all in the same st.

2 Dc Cluster Stitch:

Yo (yarn over), go through indicated stitch and pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, going through the same st, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

3 Dc Cluster Stitch:

Yo (yarn over), go through indicated stitch and pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, *yo, going through the same st, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops; rep from *1 more time, yo, pull through all 4 loops on the hook.

Dc2tog:

Yo (yarn over), insert hook through indicated st and pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo pull through the last 3 loops on the hook.

Sc2tog:

Insert hook through indicated st and pull up a loop, insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 3 loops on the hook.

Cropped Cardigan Construction

The Caribbean Crop Cardigan is constructed in three pieces and worked from the bottom up. Begin by crocheting the back panel. At the top of the back panel, chains are added to each side to form the sleeves.

Next, the front panels are worked as two separate pieces. As with the back, chains are added at the top of each panel to shape the sleeves.

Once all three pieces are complete, block them before assembly. Seam the shoulders and sleeves together first, then join the side and underarm seams. Finish by adding the ribbed collar with buttonholes, and complete the cardigan with ribbed cuffs at the sleeve edges.

Long & Mid-Length Cardigan Construction

The Caribbean Breeze Cardigan is constructed in three pieces and worked from the bottom up. Begin by crocheting the back panel. At the top of the back panel, chains are added to each side to form the sleeves. Next, the front panels are worked as two separate pieces. As with the back, chains are added at the top of each panel to shape the sleeves. Once all three pieces are complete, block them before assembly. Seam the shoulders and sleeves together first, then join the side and underarm seams. Finish by adding a simple collar edge and i-cord ties.

Video for the Caribbean Cardigan

Pattern Comparison: Cropped vs. Long & Mid-Length

Cropped Cardigan (Photo 1)

• Worked in 3 separate pieces from the bottom up
• Back and front panels each have chains added at the top for sleeves
• Finished with a ribbed button-up collar and sleeve cuffs
• Available as a paid PDF with written instructions and a video tutorial

Long & Mid-Length Cardigan (Photo 2)

• Worked in 3 pieces from the bottom up
• Back and front panels each have chains added at the top for sleeves
• Finished with simple collar edging and i-cord ties
• Available as a paid PDF with written instructions and a video tutorial

Both patterns feature the same lace stitch, lightweight fingering cotton blend yarn, and inclusive sizing from XS to 5X. Patterns are premium PDF purchases only.

COPYRIGHT

The Caribbean Cardigan Patterns and their contents are fully owned and copyrighted by MJ’s Off The Hook Designs Inc., and all rights are reserved. This pattern is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced,

distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, screenshots, printing or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written consent of the author, except in the case of permitted sharing on social media platforms.

Any unauthorized distribution or reproduction of this pattern or elements of the instructions is strictly prohibited and may result in civil or criminal penalties. This free crochet pattern is intended for personal viewing on the blog only. By accessing this pattern, you acknowledge and agree to comply with these copyright terms and conditions.

If you have any questions regarding this copyright notice or the use of the pattern outlined within, please contact MJ’s Off The Hook Designs Inc. in writing.

Thank you for respecting the author’s intellectual property and hard work!

Pattern Support

Additionally, please note that the only pattern support offered for this pattern is available on our Facebook community group and through the YouTube tutorial. The modifications given in the PDF are the only ones included, so if you choose to modify the pattern or use a different yarn weight, you will need to figure out the modifications on your own.

We appreciate your understanding and hope that you have a fantastic experience creating this pattern. Please feel free to lend support to fellow members of the community group as we work together to create beautiful crochet projects.

I hope you love our Caribbean Crochet Cardigan pattern. You might also love these crochet patterns!

Caribbean Sand Sunhat

Peek-A-Boo Market Bag

Caribbean Sea Sweater

For more crochet patterns by MJ’s Off The Hook Designs see our Ravelry and Etsy Shop. Check out our Facebook and Instagram for inspiration.