This pattern uses two strands of size 10 thread held together throughout. The openwork pattern of the body of the sweater changes to straight triple crochet on the sleeves to make increases easier. Pattern pieces are all rectangular except for the sleeves which taper to the wrist.
I like to chain 2 instead of chain 3 at the beginning of a row when making double crochet stitches. If you prefer to chain 3, be aware that your edge will be a bit wavy and not straight. The chain 2 counts as a stitch throughout this pattern. When you reach the end of a row and must place your last single crochet into the 2nd chain of the turning chain from the previous row. When working the sleeves, the ch 3 at the beginning of the row counts as a triple crochet stitch.
Size: 44″ Bust and Hips
Materials: Department 71 Size 8 Perle Cotton, 50 grams, 440 yds. 8 balls, Black. Size E (3.50mm) crochet hook, 3/8″ black button
Gauge: Body Pattern: 3 shells and 2 ch 3 sps ( shell, ch 3, shell, ch 3, shell ) = 4″
12 row = 4″
Sleeve Pattern: 16 sts and 7 rows = 4″
Stitches Used: ch, sc, sc 2tog, dc, tr, shell (5 dc into same ch 3 sp)
Lower back
Holding 2 strands of thread together, ch 114. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch1, sk 1 ch, *sc into next ch, ch3, sk 3 chs**. Repeat from * to ** to last 3 chs. Sc into next ch, ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc into last ch. This is the right side of your work. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2, dc into 1st sc, 2 dc into 1st ch 1 sp. * sk next sc, 5 dc ( shell) into next ch 3 sp**. Repeat from * to ** to last 3 sts. Sk next sc, 2 dc into next ch 1 sp, dc in next sc. Turn
Row 3: Sc into 1st dc, ch 1, sk 2 dc, *sc into next dc, ch 3, sk 3 dc, sc into next dc**. Repeat from * to ** to the last 3 sts. Sc into next dc, ch1, sk next dc, sc into top of tc from prev. row. Turn.
Rows 4- 22: Repeat rows 2 and 3 nineteen(19) times more. Make sure you end on the wrong side of the piece. Turn.
Shape armhole: Right side-sl st into the next 11 sts and chs. You will place your last stitch into the 5th dc of the 1st complete shell. Ch 1, sc into same st, ch 3, continue to work pattern to last complete shell. Sc in 1st dc of shell. Leave remaining sts unworked. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 5 ( counts as dc, ch3) *sk next 3 chs, 5dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3** Repeat pattern to last sc. Dc in last sc. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in 1st dc, *ch 3, sk 3 chs, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in next dc** Repeat pattern to Ch 5 from prev row. Ch 3, sk 3 chs, sc in next ch. Turn.
Rows 4-20: Repeat rows 1 and 2 or until piece measures 8 1/2″ from beginning of armhole shaping. Fasten off.
Right Front
Ch 58. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sk 1 ch, *sc in next ch, ch 3, sk 3 chs** Repeat from * to ** to last 2 chs. Ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc in last ch. Turn.
Rows 2-22: Work as for lower back until piece measures the same as lower back before armhold shaping.
Shape Armhole: Work right armhole shaping the same as for back. Continue working in pattern to front edge of right front piece. Work until armhole measures 4″, ending at armhole edge.
Shape Neck: Work pattern across 4 shells ending with a sc in last dc of last shell. Leave remaining stitches unworked. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2. Four dc in 1st ch 3 sp, 5 dc in next ch 3 sp…work in pattern to end of row. Turn
Row 3: Work in pattern to last shell. Ch 3, sc in top of tc from prev. row. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until armhole measures same as for back. End on a WS row. Fasten off
Left Front
Work same as for right front but reverse armhole and neck shaping.
Sleeves:
Ch 41. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and into ea ch across. Turn
Row 1: Ch 3. tr into ea st across. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 3. Tr into base of tc just made. Tr into ea st across to last st (tc from prev row) 2 tr into top of tc. Turn. (2 increases made).
Rows 3-33: Repeat rows 1 and 2. Fasten off (68 sts)
Joining: With right sides facing each other, stitch shoulder seams of back and both fronts. With right sides together, center top of sleeves over shoulder seams and stitch to armhole corner. Pivot sleeve and sew 2″ of long side of sleeve to armhole extensions on back and fronts. With right sides together, stitch underarm seams and side seams of fronts.
Bottom Edging
Round 1: Attach yarn on RS at bottom left front corner. Ch 1, sc into 1st sc, sc into ch 1 sp, sc into next sc. *3 sc into next ch 3 sp ( you will be working around the ch 3 from the starting ch and from the row below the starting ch, having 2 ch 3′s enclosed in your 3 sc’s ), sc in next sc** Repeat from * to ** side seam. [Sc in next sc, sc into ch 1 sp] twice. Sc into next sc. Repeat from * to ** around bottom in this manner, working side seam as stated above. until you come to the right front edge. 3 sc into corner sc. Work 79 sc along front edge ( place 1 sc into ea sc and ea dc at end of ea row). 2 sc into corner st at neck edge, sc into ea of next 2 dc, [3 sc into ch 3 sp, sc into ea of next 5 dc] twice. sc into next ch 3 sp, Work into ends of rows as for front to ch 3 sp in corner. sc into ch 3 sp, *sc into ea dc, 3 sc into ea ch 3 sp** to front corner st, 3 sc into corner st, work sc along front edge as for opposite front ( 79 sts). Turn.
Round 2: Sc along front edge, place 3 sc into top corner st at neck, sc around neck placing 1 sc into ea st but skipping the center sc over ea ch 3 sp. Sc 2 tog at inside corners. 3 sc into opposite neck corner st, sc into ea sc down center front, 3 sc into bottom corner st, Sc along bottom edge, skipping middle sc over ch 3 sp to corner. Turn
Row 3: Ch 1, sc into ea st along bottom edge to corner. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 3, tr into 1st 2 sc. 4 tr into ea sc around bottom edge to last 3 sts. Tr into ea of last 3 sts. Fasten off
Neck Edge:
Round 1: Attach yarn on rs neck corner st of right front. Ch 1, sc in same place. Sc around neck, skipping middle sc over ch 3 sp to corner and working a sc2tog in ea inside corner. Turn
Round 2: Ch 3, tr into ea of next 2 sc, 4 tr into ea sc around neck to last 3 sc. Tr into ea of last 3 sc. Fasten off.
Front Edges
Right Front Edge:
Attach yarn on RS in corner st near hem. Ch 1. sc in same place, 5 dc into end of ruffle row, sk 1 row, sc into end of next row, *sk 1 sc, dc into next sc, sk 1 sc, sc into next sc**. Repeat from * to ** End with 5 dc into end of ruffle row at neck. Sc into top of tr of ruffle row. Fasten off
Left Front Edge:
On RS attach yarn at neck edge. Sk 1 row, 5 dc into end of next row, *sk 1 sc, sc into next sc, sk 1 sc, 5 dc into next sc** Repeat from * to ** along front edge to bottom, ending with 5 dc into end of ruffle row, sc into top of tr from ruffle row. Fasten off.
Lightly block edges of cardigan Weave in ends. Sew small button at right front neck edge. Use space between Tr stitches as buttonhole.
Copyright Carol Wolf, March 2011
ChrisB
March 4, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Thanks for the sharing! This is on my *to do* list.
It is definitely elegant looking. I’m thinking of using one black and one white #10 thread.
Wolf Crochet
March 5, 2011 at 5:07 am
That’s a great idea Chris. I also think I might make this in another color. But beware, making those ruffles is a bit mind-numbing!
Tatha
March 4, 2011 at 7:59 pm
This is just lovely!
Wolf Crochet
March 5, 2011 at 5:05 am
Thank you Tatha. It doesn’t look so great over the turtleneck but it was the only way I could get the stitches to show up against the black background.
Carolyn
March 5, 2011 at 3:00 pm
This is really pretty, I have some slightly fuzzy black with a silver thread going throuth it that is the same size as two #10 threads, I am going to make it in that.
Wolf Crochet
March 6, 2011 at 5:26 am
That sounds even better than my black thread Carolyn. I should mention that I wasn’t thrilled with the Department 71 thread I used.
Lynsey
March 18, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I want you to know that I’ve been looking for several weeks and this is the only thread jacket/cardigan pattern I’ve found. I think it is very pretty but may be a bit beyond my skill level right now. I’ve made two purses in the 15 days since I started learning to crochet. But I’m book marking this for ‘someday’.
Do you know of or have you seen patterns for a cardigan in this style (thead, dressy, bell sleeved) that is kind of assymetrical or has “tails” on the side? I’m kinda a chunky monkey and I like how that kind of thing flows. (Can you tell I have an image of what I mean but have a complete inability to describe that?)
This is very pretty and I’m loving it in the thread!
Lynsey
Wolf Crochet
March 19, 2011 at 5:30 am
I agree Lynsey, this is probably a bit too complicated for a beginner. Carolyn Christmas has some beautiful thread designs at Gourmet Crochet. Her patterns are very well written. They are not free but certainly worth the price.