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IntermediateFree Cardigan Crochet Pattern
I named this the La Loire Summer Cardigan in honor of the Bergere de France yarn that I used. La Loire is a coastal region of France, and this cardi would be perfect to wear in the summertime there!
This seamless cardigan is crocheted from the top down using shell pattern, with raglan sleeves. The body of the cardigan is worked back and forth and the sleeves are worked in the round. The cardigan is completely reversible.
This lightweight cardigan goes well with any summer outfit. Try pairing it with the La Loire Summer Top!
Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2X)
Finished Measurements
Chest: 34 [38, 42, 46, 50] inches (86 [96, 106, 117, 127] cm
Length: 25 (26, 26, 27, 27) inches [62 (64, 64, 67, 67) cm]
Materials: Bergère (affiliate link) de France Bigarelle fingering weight yarn (55% Cotton, 36% Linen / Flax, 9% Rayon), 427 yards(390 meters) / 100 grams, color Ecru – 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) balls.
Hook: 2.75 mm (C)
Gauge
for double crochet: 24 dc x 13 rows = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)
for shell pattern: 4.8 dc x 12 rows = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm), or 6 shells in 5 inches (12.5 cm)
Abbreviations
ch = chain
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
Shell - (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into the ch-2 of the prev row shell
V-stitch (V-st) - (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) into the same stitch
Shell Pattern
Chain multiple of 5 + 2
Setup row: ch 3, skip 2, *shell into the next ch, ch 1, skip 4, repeat from * to the last 4 ch, shell into the next ch, skip 2, 1 dc.
Row 1: ch 3, *shell into the ch-2 of the shell of the prev row, ch 1, repeat from * to the last shell, 1 dc into the top of ch-3.
Repeat row 1.
Shell Edging
Row 1: single crochet
Row 2: ch 2 (counts as 1 sc and 1 ch), skip 2, *(2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next st, ch 1, skip 2, 1 sc, ch 1, skip 2, repeat from * across.
Shell Increase
To shape the raglan line and V-neck you have to increase stitches. The shell increase (adding 1 shell) is spread over 3 rows. When shaping the raglan, the increases are worked on both sides of the raglan shell column. When shaping the V-neck the increase is worked between the edge st (ch 3 or dc) and the first shell.
Row 1: shell into the ch-2 of the prev row shell, ch 1, 1 dc into ch-1 of the prev row, ch 1, shell into the ch-2 of the next shell.
Row 2: shell into the ch-2 of the prev row shell, ch 1, V-st into dc of the prev row, ch 1, shell into the ch-2 of the next shell.
Row 3: shell into the ch-2 of the prev row shell, ch 1, shell into ch-1 of V-st, ch 1, shell into the ch-2 of the next shell.
Cardigan
The cardigan is worked from the top down in rows in shell pattern. The sleeves are worked in the round.
Chain 70 (75, 80, 80, 80)
Set up Row: shell into the 6th ch from the hook, ch 1, skip 4, *shell into the next ch, ch 1, skip 4, repeat from * to the last 4 ch, shell into the next ch, ch 1, skip 2, 1 dc. Total shells 13 (14, 15, 15, 15). Place markers on the 1st, 4th, 10th (11, 12, 12 ,12) and the last shell. These shells are raglan columns. The raglan increases are made on both sides of them.
Beginning from row 2 the raglan and V-neck increases are made.
Row 1: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), 1 dc into ch-1, ch 1, [*shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the marked shell (raglan shell), 1 dc into ch-1 immediately before the raglan shell, ch 1, shell into ch-2 of raglan shell, ch 1, 1 dc into ch-1 immediately after raglan shell, ch 1] four times, *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, 1 dc into ch-6, ch 1, 1 dc into ch-6.
This is the first row of the increase and there are 10 increases: 8 increases on both sides of the four raglan columns and 1 increase at the beginning and the end of the row to shape V-neck.
Row 2: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), V-st into 1 dc, ch 1, [*shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the marked shell (raglan shell), V-st into 1 dc before the raglan shell, ch 1, shell into ch-2 of raglan shell, ch 1, V-st into 1 dc after raglan shell, ch 1] four times, *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, V-st into 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc into ch-4.
This is the second row of the increase.
Row 3: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), shell into ch-1 of V-st, ch 1, [*shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the marked shell (raglan shell), shell into ch-1 of V-st before the raglan shell, ch 1, shell into ch-2 of raglan shell, ch 1, shell into ch-1 of V-st after raglan shell, ch 1] four times, *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, shell into ch-1 of V-st, ch 1, 1 dc into ch-4. Total shells 23 (24, 25, 25, 25).
Work 15 (15, 18, 21, 21) more rows, repeating rows 1-3. Start the shell increase on both side of raglan shell in every 3rd row, starting from row 4 (rows, 4, 7, 10, 13, etc.). Work total 6 (6, 7, 8, 8) increases.
AT THE SAME TIME, the increases at the beginning and the end of the row begin every 6th row, starting from row 7: (7, 13, 19, 25, 31, 37). Total 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) times.
Work another 6 (8, 8, 8, 10) rows, making increases only at one side of each raglan shell at the back and the fronts (no increases for sleeves), total 2 (2, 2, 2, 3) times.
Stitch count before division for sleeves = 79 (82, 91, 97, 101) shells.
Divide for sleeves
Next row: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), [*shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the marked shell (raglan shell), ch 1, shell into ch-2 of raglan shell, ch 7 (12, 12, 17, 22) (underarm chain), skip sleeve shells, shell into ch-2 of next raglan shell] twice, *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, 1 dc into ch-4.
Next row: ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), [*shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the underarm chain, skip 2, *shell into the next ch, ch 1, skip 4, repeat from * to the last 2 ch] twice, *shell into ch-2 of next shell, ch 1, repeat from * to the end of the row, 1 dc into ch-4.
Stitch count after division for sleeves = 57 (58, 67, 79, 85) shells.
Work as established for 50 rows or to desired length. Tie off.
Sleeves
Set up row: Secure the yarn at the first sleeve shell and work shell pattern as established to the underarm. Work 1 shell in the same st underarm shell were worked. Sl st to the first shell. Turn the work for 180 degrees.
Row 1: continue to work as established.
Repeat row 1 six more times or to desired length, turning the work every row to work in the opposite direction, as if you work in rows. Tie off.
Finishing
Weave in ends.
Work Shell Edging, starting from the lower edge of the left front, along the left front, neckline and right front.
Block.
Enjoy!
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