Looking to brighten up your wardrobe with a stylish handmade piece? This Free Color Pop Cardigan Crochet Pattern is just the project you need! It features beautiful vertical striping, bobble textures, and a unique construction that’s worked side-to-side.
Whether you’re an intermediate crocheter or a confident beginner ready to level up, this free pattern has everything laid out to guide you to a stunning result.
Let’s dive in!
Contents
Materials Needed
- Worsted weight yarn (approx. 252 yds/230 m per 3 oz/85 g ball),
- Yardage is listed for sizes XS (S-M-L-XL-2/3XL-4/5XL) in that order:
- Contrast A (Orange): 1 (1-1-2-2-2) balls
- Contrast B (Gold): 2 (2-2-3-3-3) balls
- Contrast C (Blue Steel): 1 (1-1-2-2-2) balls
- Contrast D (Burnished Rose): 1 (1-1-2-2-2) balls
- U.S. G/6 (4 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
- 2 snap fasteners
- 2 decorative buttons (approx. 1¼” / 3 cm in diameter)
- 3 stitch markers
Gauge
15 sc and 16 rows = 4″ [10 cm]
Sizes
To fit bust measurement:
- XS/S: 28–34″ [71–86.5 cm]
- M: 36–38″ [91.5–96.5 cm]
- L: 40–42″ [101.5–106.5 cm]
- XL: 44–46″ [112–117 cm]
- 2/3XL: 48–54″ [122–137 cm]
-
4/5XL: 56–62″ [142–157.5 cm]
Finished bust measurement:
- XS/S: 36″ [91.5 cm]
- M: 40″ [101.5 cm]
- L: 44″ [112 cm]
- XL: 48″ [122 cm]
- 2/3XL: 54″ [137 cm]
- 4/5XL: 62″ [157.5 cm]
Abbreviations
- Beg = Beginning
- Ch = Chain(s)
- Cont = Continue
- Dc = Double crochet
- Pat = Pattern
- Rem = Remaining
- Rep = Repeat
- RS = Right side
- Sc = Single crochet
- Sl st = Slip stitch
- Sp(s) = Space(s)
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- WS = Wrong side
- Yoh = Yarn over hook
Pattern Instructions
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ). Numbers for each size are shown in the same color throughout the pattern. When only one number is given in black, it applies to all sizes.
Notes
- To join new color, work to last 2 loops on hook. Draw new color through last 2 loops then proceed in new color.
- Body and Sleeves are worked side to side.
- Body is worked in one piece.
Body
Beg at Left Front edge, with B, ch 61 (63-65-67-69-71).
1st row: (RS). 1 dc in 4th ch from hook. 1 dc in each ch to end of chain. Turn. 59 (61-63-65-67‑69) dc.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc to end of row. Join A. Turn.
3rd row: With A, ch 3 (counts as dc). 1 dc in each sc to end of row. Turn.
4th row: As 2nd row. Join B.
5th and 6th rows: With B, as 3rd and 4th rows. Join C.
7th and 8th rows: With C, ch 1. 1 sc in each st to end of row. Join D. Turn.
9th and 10th rows: With D, as 3rd and 4th rows. Join B.
11th row: With B, as 3rd row.
Rep 2nd to 11th rows for Body Pat until work from beg measures 9 (10-11-12-13-15)” [23 (25.5-28-30.5-33-38) cm], ending with a WS row.
Shape Lefqt Armhole:
Next row: Pat to last 18 (20-22-24-26-28) sts. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked.
Cont working in pat on rem 41 sts for 1½ (1½-2-2-3-3)” [4 (4-5-5-7.5-7.5) cm], ending on any RS row of pat except 6th row. Ch 19 (21-23-25-27-29).
Next row (WS): Keeping cont of pat, 1 dc in 4th ch from hook and each of next 17 (19-21-23-25-27) ch. 1 dc in each st to end of row. 59 (61-63-65-67-69) dc. Place marker at beg of row.
Cont in pat until work from bottom of marked row measures 15 (17-18-20-22-26)” [38 (43-45.5-51-56-66) cm], ending with a WS row.
Shape Right Armhole:
Work from ** to ** as given for Left armhole.
Cont in pat until work from bottom of last marked row measures 9 (10-11-12-13-15)” [23 (25.5-28-30.5-33-38) cm], ending with a RS row. Fasten off.
Yoke
Place markers 1½ (1½-2-2-2½-2½)” [4 (4-5-5-6-6) cm] in from front edge at top of Right and Left Front.
1st row: With RS facing, join A with sl st at Right Front marker. Work 29 (33-37-41-42-51) sc evenly across top of Right Front. Ch 5 (5-7-7-11-11). Work 63 (71-77-85-87-97) sc evenly across top of Back. Ch 5 (5-7-7-11-11). Work 29 (33-37-41-42-51) sc evenly across top of Left Front. 131 (147-165-181-193-221) sts (sc and ch).
Fasten off. Do not turn.
2nd row (RS): Join A with sl st to first st. Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). Miss first 2 sc.
[Yoh and draw up a long loop 5 times in next sc. Yoh and draw through all loops on hook – Bobble made. Ch 1. Miss next sc. Rep from * to last sc. Bobble in last sc. (Ch 1. Miss next ch. Bobble in next ch) 2 (2-3-3-5‑5) times. Ch 1. Miss last ch] twice.
Bobble in next sc. Ch 1. Miss next sc. Rep from ** to last sc. 1 dc in last sc. Join B. Turn.
64 (72-81-89-95-109) bobbles.
3rd row: With B, ch 3. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 5 (6-7-8-9-11) times.
*Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 11 (12-13-14-15-17) times. Rep from * 3 times more. Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp.
Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from ** to last turning ch 4. Bobble around 4th ch of ch 4. 1 dc in 3rd ch of ch 4. Join C. Turn.
4th row: With C, ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 5 (6-7-8-9-11) times.
*Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 10 (11-12-13-14-16) times. Rep from * 3 times more.
Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from ** to last turning ch 3. 1 dc in top of ch 3. Join D. Turn.
5th row: With D, ch 3. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 5 (6-7-8-9‑11) times.
*Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 9 (10-11-12-13-15) times. Rep from * 3 times more. Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp.
Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from ** to last turning ch 4. Bobble around 4th ch of ch 4. 1 dc in 3rd ch of ch 4. Join A. Turn.
6th row: With A, ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 5 (6-7-8-9-11) times.
*Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 8 (9-10-11-12-14) times. Rep from * 3 times more.
Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from ** to last turning ch 3. 1 dc in top of ch 3. Join B. Turn.
7th row: With B, ch 3. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 5 (6-7-8-9‑11) times.
*Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 7 (8-9-10-11-13) times. Rep from * 3 times more. Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp.
Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from ** to last turning ch 4. Bobble around 4th ch of ch-4. 1 dc in 3rd ch of ch 4. Join C. Turn.
8th row: With C, ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 5 (6-7-8-9-11) times.
*Miss next bobble and ch-1 sp. (Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1) 6 (7-8-9-10‑12) times. Rep from * 3 times more.
Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from ** to last turning ch 3. 1 dc in top of ch 3. Fasten off.
Sleeves
With B, ch 30.
Work in Body Pat as given for Body (over 28 sts) until work from beg measures 13 (14-16-17-20-21)” [33 (35.5-40.5-43-51-53.5) cm], ending with a WS row. Fasten off.
Cuff:
1st row (RS): Join A with sl st to top right corner, work 47 (51-59-63-75-77) sc evenly across side edge of Sleeve. Fasten off. Do not turn.
2nd row (RS): Join A with sl st to first st. Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). Miss next sc.
Bobble in next sc. Ch 1. Miss next sc. Rep from * to last sc. 1 dc in last sc. Join B. Turn.
3rd row: With B, ch 3. Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from * to last turning ch-4. Bobble around 4th ch of ch 4. 1 dc in 3rd ch of ch 4. Join C. Turn.
4th row: With C, ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). Bobble in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from * to last turning ch 3. 1 dc in top of ch 3. Join D. Turn.
Rep last 2 rows, changing colors as follows: D, A, B, A until cuff measures approx 3″ [7.5 cm].
Fasten off. Sew sleeve seams. Sew sleeves into armholes.
Finishing
Try on Cardigan. Overlap fronts 1½ (1½-2-2-2½-2½)” [4 (4-5-5-6‑6) cm].
Mark positions of 2 sets of snap fasteners, having top set 1″ [2.5 cm] below neck edge and 2nd set 5″ [12.5 cm] below top set. Sew decorative buttons on Right Front on top of snap fasteners.
You Did It
This Color Pop Cardigan Crochet is a vibrant and satisfying project for any intermediate crocheter. With its playful texture and striking colors, it’s sure to become a standout piece in your handmade wardrobe. Grab your hook, pick your favorite shades, and start stitching today!
