Free Crochet Summer Cardi Pattern

Summer is in full swing and my wardrobe needed some fresh pieces! Cardigans are my favorite to wear pretty much all year, so I knew I had to create an open lace cardigan to layer all my summer tops!

I teamed up with some amazing fellow makers to be apart of a fun blog hop! It’s called…

6 Designers (myself included) all created summer themed patterns to put on our blogs for you for FREE! How exciting right 🙂 Be sure to click the links below to go to everyones posts for this epic Blogger Block Party!! Trust me these are some can’t miss patterns!

The Jane Cushion: Created by HookedHazel

The Waverly Hooded Cardigan: Created by MeghanMakesDo

The Sunset Clutch: Created by Life.and.Yarn

Home Dec Coaster & Aloha Placemat: Created by PinkPlumeriaMaui

The Pretty Pineapple Purse: Created by HookedUpCrochet

Lion Brand was so amazing to send me some of my favorite summer yarn “Coboo” in White, to create this fun Cardi for y’all! Let’s take a look how how I styled mine 🙂

This can be styled with jeans and a tank like pictured above, or….

you can wear it with a little black dress 😉

You can make this Cardi as long or as short as you would like! I made a longer version in black to wear as a beach cover up and to wear with some of my fancier dresses like so…

Now that you have seen how versatile this piece is are you ready to make one? Let’s get into the details friends 🙂

Materials: 

Lion Brand’s Coboo yarn (or any size 3 yarn to match gauge.) 

Yardage:

XSmall/Small: 650 yards

Medium/ Large: 750 yards

XL/2XL: 850 yards

3XL/4XL :950 yards

4 mm Crochet Hook 

1 Stitch Marker 

Yarn Needle 

Scissor 

Measuring Tape 

Stitches Used: 

SC- Single Crochet 

CH- Chain 

TRC- Treble Crochet 

Single Crochet Foundation Chain Method (Video Reference) 

Gauge: 

16 SC wide X 8 rows high  = 4 X 4 inches 

Chest Measurements: *In Inches* 

XSmall/Small: 32-36  in

Medium/ Large:  39-43 in

XL/2XL: 47- 56 in

3XL/4XL : 60-66 in

Don’t have time to make it now? No worries, Pin it to your crochet boards!

Notes: 

CH 7 at beginning of rows will count as a TRC+ CH 3

CH 3 at beginning of rows will count as a SC+CH 2

Turn your work after each Row. 

This Diagram is here to show you the construction of your cardigan. We will be starting with the back panel. Your starting Chain will create the width, and each Row will create the Length. 

Your Finished piece will create this “U” Shape. 

Sizes will be written in this order: 

XS/S  (M/L,  XL/ 2XL, 3XL/4XL) 

Back Panel :

1-SC foundation Chain 85 (97, 121, 139)

2-2-CH 1, SC in each st. 85 (97, 121, 139)

3- CH 7, *sk 2 sts, SC in next st. CH 3, sk 2 sts, TRC in next st. CH 3* Repeat * * until end of row. 

4- CH 3, *TRC in SC st from previous row, CH 2, SC in TRC st from previous row. CH 2* Repeat * * until end of row, Placing a SC in the 4th CH of the CH 7 from your previous row. 

5- CH 7, *SC in TRC st from previous row, CH 3, TRC in SC st from previous row, CH 3* Repeat * * until end of row, placing a TRC in the 1st CH of the CH 3 from your previous row.

Keep Repeat Rows 4-5  until you reach Row 65 (or the length you desire, be sure to end on a repeat of row 4) DO NOT TIE OFF! 

Front Panel: 

Turn work to start a new row, counting your SC & TRC stitches place Stitch Marker on the 11(13, 15, 17) st. (The Stitch should be a SC) 

1- CH 7, *SC in TRC st from previous row, CH 3, TRC in SC st from previous row, CH 3* Repeat * * until you reach your stitch marker. You should be ending your row with a TRC. 

This row creates the width of your front panel. You will leave the rest unworked for now. 

2- CH 3, *TRC in SC st from previous row, CH 2, SC in TRC st from previous row. CH 2* Repeat * * until end of row, Placing a SC in the 4th CH of the CH 7 from your previous row.

3- CH 7, *SC in TRC st from previous row, CH 3, TRC in SC st from previous row, CH 3* Repeat * * until end of row, placing a TRC in the 1st CH of the CH 3 from your previous row.

Repeat Rows 2-3 until you reach Row 62 (or how many ever rows to match the length you created for the back panel.)

63- CH 1, SC in first st, *2 SC in CH 2 sp, SC in next st. * Repeat * * until end of row, placing a SC in the 1st CH of the beginning CH 3 from the previous row. 31 (37, 43, 50) SC 

64-65- CH 1, SC in each st across. 31 (37, 43, 50) SC

Tie off.

Starting at the other side of your body panel, count your SC & TRC stitches place Stitch Marker on the 11(13, 15, 17) st. (The Stitch should be a SC)

Attach Yarn to the Stitch you put your place maker (You will be left with an opening in the middle for your neck)

Repeat Front Panel Rows 1-65 

Tie off 

Collar Border

Attach yarn to the inner corner of your front panel (where the blue dot is located) Working upward along the side of your front panel we will create a SC Boarder. 

1- CH 1, place 1 SC along the side of EACH of the 3 SC rows, *evenly SC along the CH spaces, and TRC along the side.* Repeat * * until you get to the Neck Opening Area. Place 1 SC in corner stitch. *place 2 SC around each CH sp, and 1 SC in each st.* going down the other side of your second front panel, evenly SC along the CH spaces, and TRC along the side until you reach the corner. (Red Dot) 

2- CH 1, TURN, SC in each st. 

Tie off

Side Border

Now we will create a SC boarder for the outer sides of the cardigan to give it a finished look. 

Attach yarn to the outer corner of your front panel (where the blue dots are located)

1- CH 1, SC along the side of EACH of the 3 SC rows, *evenly SC along the CH spaces, and TRC along the side.* Repeat * *you get to the first 3 SC rows of your “Body Panel” (where the red dots are) Place 1 SC in the side of each SC Row.  

2- CH 1, TURN, SC in each st.

Tie Off and repeat steps 1-2 on the other side. 

Assembly 

Lay your piece flat (it will be in the U shape) 

Take your two front panels and fold them over top your back panel. The Red Dotted lines indicate your front panels laying on top of your back panel. 

Take a measuring tape and measure from the top “shoulder” area (where the gold stars are) down until you reach 7.5 (8.5, 9.5, 10) inches. Place a stitch marker. This will become your armhole opening. (You may also count how many stitches down it is to ensure both openings are exactly the same)

Line up your corners (where the blue dots are). Using your Yarn Needle and yarn you can start seaming the sides together. You can start at the corners or a few inches upward if you want a slit opening on the sides. Keep seaming until you reach your stitch marker. 

Tie off, and repeat for other side. 

Weave in any and all loose ends & you are finished! Feel free to block your finished piece or wear it as is! 

I steamed blocked both of the Cardigans I made for myself to loosen up the stitches and give it a better fit over all. 

Hope you enjoyed this pattern! Be sure to tag me on Instagram in your progress and finished shots! @sierrascraftycreations 🙂