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Stay Cozy with the Crop or Not Crochet Cardigan!
When it comes to winter wardrobe staples, the Crop or Not Cardigan checks all the boxes: stylish, versatile, and oh-so-cozy! This bulky, oversized cardigan is perfect for layering and can be customized to suit your style—cropped, long, or anywhere in between. With sizes ranging from XS to 5X and a step-by-step video tutorial on YouTube, this pattern is designed to be both inclusive and beginner-friendly.
Crafted with bulky weight yarn and featuring the stunning Herringbone Double Crochet Stitch, this cardigan works up quickly, making it ideal for instant gratification on chilly days. Wrap yourself in its warmth and enjoy the feeling of a big, cozy hug every time you wear it. View the free pattern for blog subscribers below—happy crocheting!
Key Takeaways
- The Crochet cardigan is an oversized, versatile piece, perfect for layering in winter.
- It features the Herringbone Double Crochet Stitch and can be customized in length, making it beginner-friendly.
- You can create it using bulky weight yarn, with a detailed video tutorial available for guidance.
- The pattern includes instructions for various sizes and provides yarn amounts needed for both cropped and long versions.
- Enjoy adding personal touches, like pockets, to enhance the cozy factor of your crochet cardigan.
Project Overview
The Crop or Not Cardi is worked in one piece with herringbone double crochet stitches worked throughout. The cardigan may be lengthened with pockets. The pattern works up quickly in bulky weight yarn. This soft and cozy design is made in Knit Picks/WeCrochet Biggo with Brava Bulky as an affordable alternative.
Hook Sizes: US K/10.5 (6.5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge, US M/13 (9mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Construction: Worked from the Bottom-Up
Video Tutorial: https://youtu.be/1QlT4Vp0BM0
I love a crochet cardigan with buttons. For this design, I used large 35mm wooden buttons with functioning buttonholes. It’s a fun modern style that looks great with high waisted jeans.
You can easily modify the length to suit your body or make it a long crochet cardigan. If you’re going to go long, why not make it a crochet cardigan with pockets! The pockets and long length give this cardigan a completely different look and add the ultimate cozy factor to this oversized crochet sweater.
The Crochet Cardigan Stitch Pattern
Hbdc – (Herringbone Double Crochet) Yarn over (YO), insert hook in stitch, YO draw up a loop, 3 loops on the hook, sl st through 1st loop, YO draw through next loop, YO draw through 2 loops on hook finishing the stitch.
This crochet cardigan pattern is worked in the herringbone Double Crochet Stitch. I love the angle and alternating effect this stitch creates. It’s also an easy and quick stitch to crochet. Crocheting the cardigan in one-piece allows for a seamless, beautiful cardigan. I slowly work through how to crochet this stitch in the video tutorial.
Video Tutorial
Join me and follow along to this detailed tutorial to complete the Crop-Or-Not Cardigan for size small.
The Yarn
Brava Bulky – 100% Premium Acrylic (136 yds/100g) shown in Brindle
The white cropped version was designed using Biggo Bulky from WeCrochet which is now discontinued.
Yarn Amounts
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)
Crop
Yards 560 (620, 690, 750, 810, 875, 940, 1000, 1060)
Balls Brava 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9)
Long
Yards 970 (1080, 1180, 1295, 1400, 1510, 1620, 1720, 1830)
Balls Brava 8 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13, 14)
Substitute Yarns
There are lots of good yarn alternatives for this crochet cardigan pattern! To start with, I crocheted the Long Crochet cardigan in Brava Bulky Weight yarn. It’s the most affordable alternative and has beautiful colours to choose from. Shown below in Brindle.
Save $
Brava Bulky – 100% Premium Acrylic (136 yds/100g) $2.49
Spend $$
Billow – 100% Pima Cotton (120yds/100g) $7.99
Lion Brand Hue + Me – 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool (137yds/125g) $6.99
Wool of the Andes Bulky Yarn – 100% Peruvian Highland Wool (137yds/100g) $5.99
Splurge $$$
Chroma Twist Bulky -70% Superwash Wool, 30% Nylon (127yds/100g) $11.99
Swish Bulky – 100% Fine Superwash Merino Wool (137 yds/100g) $10.99
Sizes
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)
Bust Measurement:
inches 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62)
Finished Bust:
inches 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68)
Crochet Hook Requirements:
US K/10.5 (6.5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
US M/13 (9mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Additional Supplies:
Blocking Mat and Pins (optional)
Helpful Resources
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Gauge:
5.5 sts and 5.5 rows equal to 2″ in sc blo with 6.5mm hook
8 sts and 5.5 rows equal to 4″ in hbdc with 9mm hook
Construction:
Whether you make a crochet crop cardigan or a long crochet cardigan, the construction is the same. The cardigan is worked from the bottom up, finishing with the front panels. You only need to seam the sides and sleeves. Finish with buttonhole edging for a cozy button-up crochet cardigan. Watch the video tutorial for assistance in constructing the crochet cardigan.
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Crop Or Not Crochet Cardigan
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Pattern Support is only available in our Facebook Community group and Video Tutorials.
No additional support is provided for modified patterns, alternate yarns, or changes to gauge.
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Band
The band is joined as you go to the body edge.
Row 1:
Ch 9, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sk first st at the body edge, sl st in next 2 sts (body edge), turn—8 sts.
Row 2:
Sk sl sts, 1 sc in the blo of each st across, turn—8 sts.
Row 3:
Ch 1, work 1 sc in the blo of each st across, sl st in next 2 sts (body edge), turn—8 sts.
Rows 4- 17 (19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33):
Rep Row 2 & 3. The last Row fasten off. Weave in ends.
Right Sleeve/ Front Panel:
Row 1 (WS):
Sk over the neck opening. Join yarn in next st after marker, ch 2, work 1 hbdc in same st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn— 37 (39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53) sts.
Row 2 (RS):
Ch 2, work 1 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn— 37 (39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53) sts.
Row 3:
Ch 2, work 2 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn— 38 (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) sts.
Row 4:
Ch 2, work 1 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn— 38 (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54) sts.
Row 5:
Ch 2, work 2 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn—39 (41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55) sts.
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X)
Rows 6-7 (9, 9, 11, 11, 13, 13):
Rep Rows 4 & 5 [1 (2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4) times] ending with 40 (43, 45, 48, 50, 53, 55) sts. Last row fasten off. Weave in ends.
4X (5X)
Rows 6-15:
Rep Rows 4&5 [4 times] Rep Row 4 [ 2 more times] ending with 57 (59) sts. The last row fasten off. Weave in ends.
Mark Body
From sleeve count over 26 sts, pm in last st.
Front Right Body
Notes: Front Left Body is increased to half the back sts less 1 st for each size. Once the front panel is increased to the required number of stitches work even in rows (Total of 10 Rows for Crop and 30 Rows for long).
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)
Skip over sleeve. Join yarn in next st after the marker.
Row 1(RS):
Ch 2, work 1 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn— 14 (17, 19, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts. For sizes 2X-5X no more increases are needed. Skip to All Sizes section.
XS (S, M, L, XL)
Row 2 (WS):
Ch 2, work 2 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn—15 (18, 20, 23, 25) sts.
Row 3:
Ch 2, work 1 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn—15 (18, 20, 23, 25) sts.
XS (S, M)
Row 4:
Ch 2, work 2 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn—16 (19, 21) sts.
Row 5:
Ch 2, work 1 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn—16 (19, 21) sts.
XS
Row 6:
Ch 2, work 2 hbdc in first st, work 1 hbdc in each st across, turn—17 sts.
All Sizes
Rep Row 3 for a total of 10 Rows Crop or 30 Rows Long, ending with 17 (19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts. Last Row change to smaller hook.
Final Row:
Ch 1, work 1 sc in each st across, turn— 17 (19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33) sts.
Band
Work the same as Front Left.
Sleeve Cuff:
Repeat for left and right sleeves.
Sleeve Edge:
With smaller hook join yarn to the edge of sleeve, ch 1, work 1 sc in each row across, 14 (18, 18, 22, 22, 26, 26, 30, 30) sts.
Band
The band is joined as you go to the sleeve edge.
Row 1:
Ch 9, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sk first st at the body edge, sl st in next 2 sts (sleeve edge), turn—8 sts.
Row 2:
Sk sl sts, 1 sc in the blo of each st across, turn—8 sts.
Row 3:
Ch 1, work 1 sc in the blo of each st across, sl st in next 2 sts (sleeve edge), turn—8 sts.
Rows 4- 14 (18, 18, 22, 22, 26, 26, 30, 30):
Rep Row 2 & 3 ending on Row 2. The last Row fasten off. Leave an extra long tail for seaming sleeves and sides.
Finishing:
Blocking is optional for this design. For a long cardigan, you may wish to block the ribbing to stretch it to the width of back and front panels. For Crop style leave ribbing unblocked to pull in at the waist.
Block:
Use a blocking mat and pins. Dampen garment and pin piece to measurements. Allow to fully dry.
Seaming:
Repeat for Left and Right Sides.
Fold garment RS facing lining up sides and sleeves. With yarn needle and yarn, whip stitch sleeve and side together. Weave in ends.
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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 January 16th, 2025.
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