Crop Crochet Cardigan Pattern - Free

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The Wetherby is an easy crop crochet cardigan pattern with options for a hip and duster length version in adult sizes XS to 5XL. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to crochet a cardigan then this is for you – it’s perfect for beginners!

With a sophisticated and simple textured stitch pattern, you can add pockets and a belt and choose from a flat or rolled collar to complete your style.

With an easy construction you can simply leave the sleeves off to make a vest version too. Truly a cardigan that you can make to suit you!

With a full video tutorial this is the perfect free crochet cardigan pattern for anyone that wants to crochet their own clothes but doesn’t know where to start.

Woman wearing crop crochet cardigan pattern with hands in jeans pockets.

Scroll down and sign in for the free cropped crochet cardigan pattern, or purchase an ad-free, printable PDF version with 270 versions including hip, duster length, optional belt, pockets and flat or rolled collar:

Etsy

Ravelry

About this free crop crochet cardigan pattern

I adore designing simple, beginner crochet cardigan patterns. For me they are the garments that are the easiest to make, the most fun to customise and the best to wear!

I always get huge compliments on my crochet wearables but mostly for my cardi designs.

I’ve teamed up with 2 amazing designer friends of mine to offer you a collection of 3 easy crochet cardigan patterns to show you that you can make them too!

We’ve all designed them with beginners in mind, using different constructions and added as many options as possible to really give you the chance to adapt them to your style.

My Wetherby Cardigan is a really simple construction with the sleeves added afterwards making it super simple to make a sleeveless version too!

Woman wearing cropped crochet cardigan with toggle fastening.

How do you crochet a short cardigan?

Short or cropped crochet cardigans are so trendy at the moment and I love it!

Whether you want it as short as a crochet shrug that just covers your shoulders or a little longer like mine that sits just above your waist as a bolero cardigan they are much easier to make than you might think.

The construction of the cardigan means that we simply work a shorter starting chain (this one is crocheted side to side so that the rows sit vertically on you).

The way that a cardigan is constructed will change how you make it into a short crochet cardigan but it’s completely doable with most designs!

I’ve crocheted the crop version in the video tutorial so perfect to work along with me 🙂

Close up of crochet bolero with rolled collar.

Crochet Cardigan Pattern Video Tutorial

If you’d like to follow a full video tutorial for the cardigan then you can find it here: Crochet crop cardigan video tutorial.

Yarn

Yarn

To make cardigans I used Brava Tweed by WeCrochet 100% premium acrylic (218yds, 200m/100g).

I made four versions of the Wetherby cardi pattern myself –

a cropped one with a rolled collar and toggle fastening
a duster length one with a flat collar, pockets and tie
a child one with a flat collar and toggle fastening
a child one with a rolled collar and no fastening (you can find the child crochet cardigan pattern here)

You will need for the following sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) approximately:

875 (985, 1035, 1090, 1200) (1255, 1265, 1420, 1525) yards.

Details of the longer versions are included in the premium pattern PDF.

I often get asked about ideas for alternative yarns and I love swatching from my stash to see what works!

Here are some that I think would work really well for this crochet cardigan pattern in various price ranges:

Lion Brand Heartland – 100% acrylic, 252yds, 230m/140g
Sirdar Country Classic Worsted – 50% wool, 50% acrylic, 218yds, 200m/100g
Swish Worsted by WeCrochet – 100% superwash merino wool, 110yds, 100m/50g

Here’s a picture of me wearing the sleeveless duster length cardigan with pockets and a belt – it looks so different don’t you think?! Exactly the same pattern though!

Woman wearing long sleeveless crochet cardigan with pockets and belt.

Tension and Sizing

12 sts and 11 rows of Main Set Pattern = 4in by 4in / 10 cm x 10 cm using a 5.5mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension. (See Swatch info below for Main Set Pattern).

Ch25

Row 1: Exhdc in 2nd ch from hook and each across, turn. [24]

Row 2: ch1, sc in 3rd loop of each st across, turn.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in each st across, turn.

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until your swatch measures approximately 6 inches before measuring a 4 inch by 4 inch section of the swatch.

The free crop crochet cardigan pattern is for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)

To fit chest circumferences: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) (50, 54, 58, 62) inches.

Cardigan Width: 17.5 (19.5, 21.75, 23.25, 25.5) (27.5, 29.75, 31.75, 34) inches.

Garment Circumference: 35 (39, 43.5 46.5, 51) (55, 59.5, 63.5, 68) inches.

Armhole Depth: 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9) (9.5, 10, 10.5, 11) inches.

Crop Cardigan Length: 16 inches all sizes.

Sleeve Length: 18.75 inches all sizes.

Materials

Along with your yarn, you will need the following:

A 5.5mm(I) crochet hook and 5mm(H)- my favourites are Furls Streamline Swirl crochet hooks or Clover Amour crochet hooks.
Scissors
Tapestry Needle

Pattern Options

Get this easy crochet cardigan pattern free in this blog post in US terms – just scroll down and login to the members area to find it! You can also purchase an ad-free, printable PDF with added extras in my pattern stores:

Purchase and Print

Get the ad-free, printable PDF with 270 versions of the cardigan available including longer lengths, pockets, belt and more!

Etsy

Ravelry

Don’t forget to join HanJan Crochet to receive regular discount codes (and more free patterns!) and Pin this free short crochet cardigan pattern to your crochet Pinterest board!

Woman wearing duster length crochet vest.

Glossary and Abbreviations

ch(s) – chain(s)

sp – space

ss – slip stitch

RS – right side

WS – wrong side

sk – skip

rep – repeat

yoh – yarn over hook

blo – back loop only

flo – front loop only

Crochet Stitches

US crochet terminology

sc – single crochet (UK dc – double crochet)
hdc – half double crochet (UK htr – half treble crochet)

Special Stitches

3rd loop

Extra loop created on hdc or Exhdc from the yarn over. When working in rows this will be the first loop you come to when looking at the stitch.

Exhdc – Extended half double crochet (UK Exhtr)

Yoh, insert your hook, yoh and pull up a loop, yoh and pull through one loop, yoh and pull through remaining three loops.

Person wearing crochet cardigan vest with hands in pockets.

Four crochet cardigans in adult and child sizes hanging on rail.

Pattern Notes

If you’re new to crochet garment making please don’t worry! I have a fabulous guide on how to start your perfect crochet wardrobe and also learn garment making with 12 free crochet top patterns for different skill levels.

A ch1 at the beginning of a row does not count as st.

Turn at the end of every row.

Read through the entire pattern before beginning.

Before you start, go through the pattern and find the stitch and row counts that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).

Make sure that you are familiar with all of the stitches in the abbreviations list before you begin.

Instructions are given for the smallest size, with larger sizes in brackets ( ).

Stitch counts are given in [ ] at the end of each row. If no stitch count is given, then the count is the same as the previous row.

The pattern is written in standard US crochet terms.

Cardigan Construction

The Front and Back is made in one piece creating a ‘U’shape.

The sleeves are made separately and then sewn in place before seaming the sides.

The garment is made side to side with the rows sitting vertically when worn. Other examples of this construction are my Spofforth V Neck Sweater and my Chloe Tabard Top. It’s such a great way to make crochet garments!

The collar is added as follows in the second diagram:

Crop crochet cardigan pattern construction diagrams.

There are two options for the collar in the cardigan pattern – rolled or flat.

They are both worked in rows joining to the fronts and neckline as you go.

The rolled collar is worked with the WS facing the front of the cardigan so that when you roll it back you see the RS.

The flat collar is worked with the RS facing the front.

Learning to Crochet Garments

If you’re new to crochet garments and worried about all the sizing, seaming, gauge and other things that might seem really daunting, please don’t worry. I used to feel exactly the same! If you can make a blanket, then you can make this garment. I promise!

I’ve written all about my experience with learning to both make and design garments and you can learn about crochet garment making with 12 free summer top patterns.

I also had my lovely friend Fran (who is a really talented crochet garment pattern designer) write all about how to make perfect crochet garments which is a great read packed full of experience and tips!

Here are my boys wearing the versions I made for them. You can get the Wetherby child crochet cardigan pattern on the blog or in my stores too. It has almost as many options as the adult one!

Two children wearing cozy crochet cardigan pattern.

Crop Crochet Cardigan Pattern with Rolled Collar

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If you’d prefer to get a PDF copy to print and keep then you can get it on Etsy or on Ravelry as an individual pattern.

US Crochet Terminology

Main Body

(Front and Back worked together) :

Section 1: first armhole shaping –

Foundation chain: ch 99 all sizes.

Row 1: RS: Exhdc in 2nd ch from hook, Exhdc in next 26 (25, 23, 22, 21) (19, 18, 16, 14), ss in flo of next 44, (46, 50, 52, 54) (58, 60, 64, 68) (this creates the sleeve shaping), Exhdc in next 27 (26, 24, 23, 22) (20,19, 17, 15). [98 all sizes].

Row 2: WS: ch1, ss in flo of next 10, sc in 3rd loop only of next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), ss in flo of next 44, (46, 50, 52, 54) (58, 60, 64, 68), sc in 3rd loop only of next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), ss in flo of next 10.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in blo of next 10, Exhdc in next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), ss in flo of next 44, (46, 50, 52, 54) (58, 60, 64, 68), Exhdc in next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), Exhdc in blo of next 10.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Section 2: first straight side panel –

Row 1: ch1, Exhdc in blo of next 10, Exhdc in next 78, Exhdc in blo of next 10.

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of next 10, sc in 3rd loop only of next 78, ss in flo of next 10.

Rows 1 and 2 create the Section 2 Set Pattern.

Rows 3 – 8, (10, 14, 16, 18) (22, 24, 28, 30): Repeat Section 2 Set Pattern.

Section 3: Back neckline –

The Back neckline only works for a portion of the stitches that you have already made. At the end of each row turn and work the next row into the Back neckline, leaving the other stitches to work the Collar into later.

Row 1: ch1, Exhdc in blo of next 10, Exhdc in next 38. [48].

Row 2: ch1, sc in 3rd loop only of next 38, ss in flo of next 10.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Section 3 Set Pattern.

Rows 4 – 21, (23, 21, 21, 23) (21, 23, 21, 23): Repeat Section 3 Set Pattern.

Section 4: second straight side panel –

The second straight panel works for the entire length of the cardigan again so we need to continue from the final stitch on the last row of Section 3 and create a new Foundation Chain to make the total of 98 stitches again.

Chain: ch 51

Row 1: ss in flo of 2nd ch from hook, ss in flo of next 9, sc in back bump of next 30, sc in 3rd loop only of next 48, ss in flo of next 10. [98].

Row 2: ch1, Exhdc in blo of next 10, Exhdc in next 78, Exhdc in blo of next 10.

Row 3: ch1, ss in flo of next 10, sc in 3rd loop only of next 78, ss in flo of next 10.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Rows 3 and 4 create the Section 4 Set Pattern.

Rows 5 – 8, (10, 14, 16, 18) (22, 24, 28, 30): Repeat Section 4 Set Pattern.

Section 5: second armhole shaping –

Row 1: ch1, ss in flo of next 10, sc in 3rd loop only of next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), ss in flo of next 44, (46, 50, 52, 54) (58, 60, 64, 68), sc in 3rd loop only of next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), ss in flo of next 10.

Row 2: ch1, Exhdc in blo of next 10, Exhdc in next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), ss in flo of next 44, (46, 50, 52, 54) (58, 60, 64, 68), Exhdc in next 17 (16, 14, 13, 12) (10, 9, 7, 5), Exhdc in blo of next 10.

Rows 1 and 2 create the Section 5 Set Pattern.

Rows 3 – 6: Repeat Section 5 Set Pattern.

Break yarn but do not weave in ends yet.

You can either add the Collar or make the Sleeves next.

See construction page for collar options and joining points.

FLAT COLLAR

Right side of collar: With WS facing, join yarn to first st using 5mm hook (or hook 0.5mm smaller than the size you met the gauge with).

Foundation chain: ch 13

Row 1: RS of collar: Exhdc in 2nd ch from hook and each to end, ss in next 2 sts (or rows when working the back section) of Main Body. [12].

Row 2: ss in flo of each st to end.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to end ss in next 2 sts (or rows when working the back section) of Main Body.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern until you reach the halfway point of the back collar as shown in the diagram. Break yarn.

Left side of collar: This begins in a similar way but you need to work a foundation chain of 12 before joining with a slip stitch to the 1st st on the left side of the Collar (with WS facing).

Row 1: RS of collar: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to end. [12].

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts (or rows when working the back section) of Main Body.

Rows 1 and 2 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern until you reach the halfway point of the back collar as shown in the diagram.

Once both sides are complete, join the Collar together at the back centre with either a whip stitch or a slip stitch seam.

ROLLED COLLAR

The rolled collar is worked in the same way as the flat collar but with the RS of the Collar facing the inside of the cardigan.

Right side of collar: With RS facing, ch 24 using 5mm hook (or hook 0.5mm smaller than the size you met the gauge with). Join with a slip stitch to the 1st st on the right side of the Collar.

Row 1: WS of collar: Exhdc 2nd ch from hook and in each to end. [24].

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts of Main Body.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to end.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern until you reach the level of the armhole shaping.

Increase Row: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to last, 2Exhdc in last st. [25]

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts of Main Body.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in each st to end.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern 9 more times.

Increase Row: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to last, 2Exhdc in last st. [26]

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts of Main Body.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to end.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern until you reach the halfway point of the back collar as shown in the diagram.

Left side of collar: This begins in a similar way but you need to join yarn to first st on the left side of the Collar with RS facing.

Foundation chain: ch 25

Row 1: WS of collar: Exhdc in 2nd ch from hook and each to end, ss in next 2 sts (or rows when working the back section) of Main Body. [24].

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of each st to end.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts (or rows when working the back section) of Main Body.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern until you reach the level of the armhole shaping.

Next Row: Repeat Row 2

Increase Row: ch1, 2Exhdc in blo of next st, Exhdc in blo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts of Main Body.

[25]

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of each st to end.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts of Main Body.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Rows 3 and 4 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern 9 more times.

Increase Row: ch1, 2Exhdc in blo of next st, Exhdc in blo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts of Main Body. [26]

Row 2: ch1, ss in flo of each st to end.

Row 3: ch1, Exhdc in blo of each st to end, ss in next 2 sts of Main Body.

Rows 2 and 3 create the Collar Set Pattern.

Repeat the Collar Set Pattern until you reach the halfway point of the back collar as shown in the diagram.

Once both sides of the rolled Collar are complete, join together at the back centre with either a whip stitch or a slip stitch seam.Then fold over the Collar and stitch into place if you’d like to.

sleeves with loose cuff

(Make 2):

Foundation chain: ch 61 all sizes.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 19 (adjust this if you would like your cuff shorter or longer), Exhdc in each remaining st to end. [60].

Row 2: ch1, sc in 3rd loop of each st to cuff, ss in flo of each remaining st to end.

Row 3: ch1, sc in blo of each st of cuff (20 in this case), Exhdc in each remaining st to end.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Rows 3 and 4 create the Set Pattern for the Sleeves.

Rows 5 – (40, 42, 44, 48) (50, 52, 56, 58, 62): Repeat the Set Pattern for the Sleeves.

sleeves with tighter cuff

(Make 2):

Foundation chain: ch 61 all sizes.

Row 1: ss in 2nd ch from hook, ss in next 19 (adjust this if you would like your cuff shorter or longer), Exhdc in each remaining st to end. [60].

Row 2: ch1, sc in 3rd loop of each st to cuff, ss in flo of each remaining st to end.

Row 3: ch1, ss in flo of each st of cuff (20 in this case), Exhdc in each remaining st to end.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Rows 3 and 4 create the Set Pattern for the Sleeves.

Rows 5 – (40, 42, 44, 48) (50, 52, 56, 58, 62): Repeat the Set Pattern for the Sleeves.

FINISHING

Once you have made all of the component parts, block them to measurements.

Begin to construct your cardigan by joining the sleeves with the WS facing you into the armhole shaping with either a whip stitch or a slip stitch seam.

Then with the WS facing you, join the side and underarm seams with either a whip stitch or slip stitch seam.

If you have chosen to add toggles then sew them in place.

Weave in ends securely to finish.

I hope you enjoyed this crop crochet cardigan pattern – I’ve loved sharing it with you!

Woman and 2 boys wearing matching crochet cardigan patterns.

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