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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.
Project Overview
The Caribbean Crochet Cardigan: 3 Styles is a lightweight, airy lace design that blends effortless style with warm weather comfort. Constructed in three pieces with sleeves worked in as you go, it offers a flattering fit with minimal shaping and minimal seaming. Crocheted in a soft fingering weight cotton blend and available in three style options and sizes XS to 5X, this versatile layer works beautifully as a beach cover up or everyday cardigan, and includes a full video tutorial to guide you through the process.
Skill level: Intermediate
Sizes: XS-5XL
Yarn Weight: Fingering Weight # 1
Hook Sizes: US E/4 (3.5mm), US G/6 (4mm)
Construction: Worked in three pieces, Bottom-up
Video Tutorial: https://youtu.be/ER-oEymDUOU
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.
Yarn Requirements
WeCrochet Comfy Fingering Weight #1
218yds/50g, 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic Shown in white
See the size chart below for yarn requirements.
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!
Gauge Mid & Long Length Pattern
Lace Pattern Section: 19 sts and 10 rows equal to 3.5″ with 4mm 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
Suitable Yarn Substitutes for Comfy Fingering Weight
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.
Crochet Hooks Required: Long & Mid Length
Crochet Hooks Required: Cropped Length
3mm crochet hook
4mm crochet hook
Materials Needed
25mm Gold Button (3) (cropped)
Abbreviations
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
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.
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 Tutorial
Join me and follow along with this detailed tutorial to complete the Caribbean Crochet Cardigan in size medium. The video covers all of the length options.
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.
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Digital PDF Download
Digital pattern only. No physical item will be shipped.
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This pattern is designed by Michelle Moore of MJ’s Off The Hook Designs Inc, based in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. Your go-to source for modern, easy crochet patterns. Published on June 8th, 2025.
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