Scroll down for the Free Crochet Pattern for the Velvet Cardigan Sweater.
The Crochet Velvet Cardigan has been a huge work in progress for the past month! My wonderful pattern testers did such a wonderful job and I'm so excited to share with you the final crochet pattern for this cardigan.
When I first picked up the Bernat Velvet yarn, I knew I wanted to wear it. This cardigan is everything I dreamed it would feel like and more! It's comfortably fitted and feels so soft against the skin, it's incredible.
The wonderful thing about this crochet velvet cardigan pattern is that it is easy to make and uses only basic stitches and construction. If you know how to double crochet, you know how to make this cardigan.
With the velvet yarn being a bulkier yarn, it also doesn't take much time to crochet this cardigan. I would say in total, it took me 3-4 sittings to make this entire cardigan including the seaming. The yarn is so wonderful to work with, you won't want to put it down!
Something different I did this time around with pattern sizing for a cardigan is adding heights to the sizes. I'm 4'11" so I have always calculated the measurements to suit the average height person when writing the pattern. Well, I know from a lot of you that I'm not the only shorty out here!
You will see in the pattern that I have added instructions on whether you would like to make your cardigan "short, average, tall" in addition to the typical sizing (small, medium, etc). I know how frustrating it can be when you are not the average size so I hope this extra addition to the pattern is helpful for you!
One thing I have to caution you on this yarn is that it is very delicate. When you crochet with it, it is wonderful and frogging (ripping out your finished work) is no issue but when it comes to seaming you need to be careful not to seam too tightly.
I also added in the pattern notes that you may want to use stitch markers to assemble your pieces and try it on to make sure it fits well before moving onto the actual sewing. From experience, taking out sewn pieces results in the yarn coming apart and takes far too much time because it's difficult to see.
Another thing my pattern testers and I have noticed is that since the yarn is so smooth and has not much traction, it's easy for the double crochet stitches to become loose in areas. This will not result in your cardigan coming a part or effect the wear of your cardigan but you may notice small loops forming from the loose stitches. (If anyone has any advice on this - I'd love to know!)
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Free Crochet Pattern for the Velvet Cardigan
Materials
Bernat Velvet 2-3 skeins
2 skeins: XS (short - tall lengths), S (short - tall lengths), M (short length), L (short length)
3 skeins: M (average - tall length), L (average - tall length), XL-3XL (short - tall lengths)
K/6.50mm hook
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Tape Measure
Pattern notes
The overall construction of the cardigan is as follows: You will begin crocheting the ribbing for the bottom of the back panel of the cardigan and then working the main body of the cardigan. You will continue to work to make the first front panel. You will attach yarn to the back panel to make the second front panel. Front panels will be folded down onto the back panel and sewn up sides leaving room for arm holes. Sleeves will be made separately, folded in half and sewn up the sides and onto the body of the cardigan. Edging will be crocheted around the front panels.
*It is helpful to use stitch markers to piece everything together before sewing just incase you need to adjust the garment to fit you. This yarn is not very forgiving when it comes to taking out sewn pieces.*
Sizes/Fit: This cardigan is comfortably fitted. The front panels will be fairly open and will not cover the entire bust for most sizes. The panels may seem not wide enough until you do the edging. You may add more edging if you’d like. If you are between sizes, I suggest going up a size.
XS - 28-30” bust
S - 32-34” bust
M - 36-38” bust
L - 40-42” bust
XL - 44-46” bust
2X - 48-50” bust
3X - 52-54” bust
In addition to bust sizes, I have adjustments in the pattern for short, average, and tall heights. I have the cardigan pattern written out so it hits several inches below the hips, but you can make yours as long or as short as you’d like by reviewing the below how long each cardigan will be with height adjustments. You may also choose to make it shorter or longer by decreasing/adding rows for each panel made.
You will see these heights in parentheses when making the back and front panels.
5’2” and below - short (Cardigan will be roughly 28” in height.)
5’3”-5’7” - average (Cardigan will be roughly 31” in height.)
5’8” and above - tall (Cardigan will be rougly 34” in height.)
Gauge: 4” x 4” ~ 9 st x 5 rows dc
Chain 3 in the beginning of each row DOES count as a stitch
Abbreviations (US terms):
Ch = chain, dc = double crochet, fpdc = front post double crochet, bpdc = back post double crochet, st = stitch(es)
Pattern
Ribbing
Row 1: Ch 38 (40, 42, 46, 48, 52, 56), dc in 4th ch from hook and across, turn (36,38,40,44,46,50,54)
Row 2: Ch 3, *fpdc, bpdc, repeat from * across, fpdc in last st, turn
Repeat Row 2 for 3 more rows
Main body/Back Panel
Row 6: Ch 3, dc across, turn
Repeat Row 6 for 32 (short), 36 (average), 40 (tall) more rows
This will complete the back panel, DO NOT fasten off. We will begin working on one of the front panels that will later be folded down onto the back panel.
Panel One worked off of main body
Row 1: Ch 3, dc into next 17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26) st, turn (18,19,20,22,23,25,27)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc across, turn
Repeat Row 2 for 30(short), 34 (average), 38(tall) more rows
Continue onto ribbing
Ribbing
Row 1: Ch 3, *fpdc, bpdc, repeat from * across, fpdc in last st if needed
Sizes XS, M, L Repeat Row 1 for 4 more rows
Sizes S, XL, 2X, 3X go to Row 2
Row 2: Ch 3, *bpdc, fpdc, repeat from * across
Sizes S, XL, 2X, 3X, repeat Row 1-2 until you have 5 rows of ribbing ending with Row 1
Fasten off
Panel Two
Attach yarn to main body on the opposite side of where the first panel begins. (Fig. 1)
Repeat instructions from panel one.
Contruction/Assembling Body of Cardigan
Fold panels down and sew up the sides leaving 6.5(7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10) inches for each arm hole. (Fig. 2)
This will be the wrong side. Keep it wrong side out for now.
Sleeves
Row 1: Ch 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44), dc into 4th ch from hook and across, turn (30,32,34,36,38,40,42)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc decrease, dc in remaining st, turn
Repeat Row 2 for 7(9,11,13,14,14,14) more rows
Ch 3, dc across, turn (22,22,22,22,23,25,27)
Repeat for 12(10, 8, 6, 5, 5, 5) more rows
*Note: If you need to add length to the sleeves, add more rows here. Sleeves are based on arms being ~18” long. Tall sizes may need more length.*
Ribbing
Row 1: Ch 3, *fpdc, bpdc, repeat from * across, fpdc in last st if needed
Sizes XS, S, M, L Repeat Row 1 for 4 more rows
Sizes XL, 2X, 3X go to Row 2
Row 2: Ch 3, *bpdc, fpdc, repeat from * across
Sizes XL, 2X, 3X repeat Row 1-2 until you have 5 rows of ribbing ending with Row 1
Fold in half and whip stitch up the side. This will be the wrong side. Keep it wrong side out. (Fig. 3)
Make 2 sleeves. Sew sleeves onto main body where holes were left for arms. Be sure not to sew too tightly with the velvet yarn.
Turn inside out, this will now be the right side of your sweater.
Edging
Attach yarn to bottom corner of front panel.
Ch 3, dc evenly up the front panel and down the second front panel (2dc for each row of dc)
Ch 3, *fpdc, bpdc, repeat from * around, fpdc in last st if needed.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
*Note: You may add more edging as you’d like by repeating the last row.
Labels: apparel, crochet, feature
