Fun Time Cardigan
Make this cute little cardigan as a gift for your daughter, granddaughter, or niece and watch her eyes light up as she opens it. This Fun Time Cardigan free crochet pattern uses a size I crochet hook and Red Heart Kids medium weight yarn. it can be a challenge to find reasonably priced kids clothes these days, and they outgrow clothing so fast. Save some money and crochet your own clothes at home with free patterns like this cute crocheted sweater pattern.
Crochet HookI/9 or 5.5 mm hook
Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
MATERIALS:
- RED HEART® “Kids®”: 1 skein each 2846 Cruise Blue A, 2650 Pistachio B.
- Crochet hooks: 4mm [US G-6] and 5.5mm [US I-9].
- Six buttons, 7/8” diameter.
- Sewing needle and matching thread.
- Yarn needle
- Assembly Diagram
SIZE:
Directions are for size 2. Changes for sizes 4, 6, and 8 are in parentheses.
Finished Chest: 26 (28, 30, 32)”.
Finished Length: 12 1/2 (13, 14 1/2, 15)”.
GAUGE:
14 dc = 4”; 11 rows = 6” using larger hook.
CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.
INSTRUCTIONS:
BACK
With larger hook and B, ch 48 (51, 55, 58).
Row 1 (Right Side): Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across – 46 (49, 53, 56) dc.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, dc in each dc, dc in top of turning ch.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 5 1/2 (5 1/2, 6 1/2, 6 1/2)” from beginning, end on wrong side row.
Shape Armhole
Next Row (Right Side): Ch 1, turn, slip st in first 5 sts, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st to last 4 sts, leave last 4 sts unworked – 38 (41, 45, 48) sts.
Work in dc until Armhole measures 5 1/2 (5 1/2, 6 1 /2, 6 1/2)”.
Fasten off.
Rib
With right side facing and smaller hook, join A at lower edge, ch 3 (counts as dc), work 45 (47, 51, 55) dc evenly across opposite edge of beginning ch – 46 (48, 52, 56) sts.
Ribbing Row:
Ch 2 (counts as st), [Fpdc, Bpdc] across to last st, hdc in top of turning ch.
Repeat Ribbing Row until Rib measures 1 1/2 (2, 1 1/2, 2)”.
Fasten off
LEFT FRONT
With larger hook and B, ch 25 (26, 28, 30).
Row 1 (Right Side): Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across – 23 (24, 26, 29) dc.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, dc in each dc, dc in top of turning ch.
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 5 1/2 (5 1/2, 6 1/2, 6 1/2)” from beginning, end on wrong side row.
Shape Armhole
Next Row (Right Side):
Ch 1, turn, slip st in first 5 sts, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across – 19 (20, 22, 25) sts.
Work in dc until Armhole measures 4 (4, 5, 5)”, end with a right side row.
Shape Neck
Next Row (Wrong Side):
Ch 3, dc to last 7 (7, 7, 9) sts, leave remaining sts unworked for Neck – 12 (13, 15, 16) sts.
Dec 1 st at Neck edge every row twice – 10 (11, 13, 14) sts.
Work until piece measures same length as Back to Shoulders. Fasten off.
Rib
With right side facing and smaller hook, join A at lower edge, ch 3 (counts as dc), work 22 (23, 25, 28) dc evenly across opposite edge of beginning ch – 23 (24, 26, 29) sts.
Ribbing Row:
Ch 2 (counts as st), [Fpdc, Bpdc] across to last st, hdc in top of turning ch.
Repeat Ribbing Row until Rib measures 1 1/2 (2, 1 1/2, 2)”.
Fasten off.
Right Front
Work same as for Left Front reversing shaping.
SLEEVES
With larger hook and B, ch 28 (30, 32, 34).
Row 1 (Right Side): Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across – 26 (28, 30, 32) dc.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, dc in each dc, dc in top of turning ch.
Repeat Row 2, inc 1 st each side every other row 6 (5, 8, 7) times – 38 (38, 46, 46) dc.
Work even until piece measures 8 (9, 10, 11 1/2)” from beginning. Fasten off.
Rib
With right side facing and smaller hook, join A at lower edge, ch 3 (counts as dc), work 21 (21, 22, 25) dc evenly across opposite edge of beginning ch – 22 (22, 24, 26) sts.
Ribbing Row:
Ch 2 (counts as st), [Fpdc, Bpdc] across to last st, hdc in top of turning ch.
Repeat Ribbing Row until Rib measures 2”. Fasten off.
FINISHING
Sew Shoulders. Sew in Sleeves. Sew side and Sleeve seams.
Neck Band
With right side facing and smaller hook, join A at Right Front Neck edge, ch 3, work 47 (47, 49, 49) sts evenly spaced around Neck edge – 48 (48, 50, 50) sts.
Work Ribbing Row as for Back. Fasten off.
Button Band
(Work on Left Front for girls, Right Front for boys)
With right side facing and smaller hook, join A and work 39 (40, 45, 47) sc evenly spaced along Front edge.
Work 2 more rows in sc. Fasten off.
Buttonhole Band
Mark for 6 buttons evenly spaced on Button Band.
Work 1 row in sc as for Button Band.
Buttonhole Row:
Ch 1, turn, [sc to where marked for Button, ch 2, skip 2 sc] 6 times, sc to end.
Next Row:
Ch 1, [sc to ch-2 space, work 2 sc in ch-2 space] 6 times, sc to end. Fasten off.
Sew on buttons. Weave in ends.
ABBREVIATIONS: A, B, etc= color A, B, etc; Bpdc: Back post double crochet; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; dec = decrease; Fpdc: Front post double crochet; inc = increase; mm = millimeters; sc = single crochet; st(s) = stitch (es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified
See this crochet pattern and more in our free eBook, 26 Homemade Christmas Gifts for Kids: Christmas Crochet Ideas