FREE Crochet Summer Cardigan Pattern in Sizes XS-3XL

Everyone needs a good crochet summer cardigan pattern – am I right? Usually, crocheters focus on sweaters and cardigans in the cooler months…but personally I love a good warm-weather cardigan! That’s exactly why I designed the Midsummer Cardigan!

Find the free crochet pattern instructions below, or purchase a print-friendly, ad-free PDF here.

I have to tell you the story of this cardigan before we jump into any details. It was NOT an easy road getting this pattern published by summer time.

I ordered the beautiful deep purple yarn a few months back, started on the design, and was making great progress. However, several major roadblocks caused me to put the project on “time out”

First, I ran out of yarn. I ordered more from We Crochet…and when it came, I realized I had ordered the wrong color. UGH!

Then, after I finished an entire front panel, I realized that one of the balls of yarn I did have had a weird coloring to it that made the panel look different from the other panels.

After getting past these 2 roadblocks, I was sewing everything together and realized I had done the shells on the wrong side of one of the panels!

Let’s just say, I might have “fudged” that mistake a bit and by sewing the panel on the opposite way so the shells matched😂😂

Anyway, I tell you this story just because I love to keep things real around here! Even designers make mistakes…lots of them.

Thankfully, in the end I can finally present to you a brand new summer cardigan crochet pattern. Meet, the Midsummer Cardigan!

The Perfect Crochet Summer Cardigan Pattern

This pattern is inspired by a summer night – where I live, we get amazing summer sunsets! I really wanted to design something reminiscent of the deep purple glow in the sky right before the sunset turns to the black night sky.

Thankfully, just because it is pretty doesn’t mean it is hard to make! This summer cardigan is simple, yet elegant and beautiful. With the Midsummer Cardigan, I’ve included a statement border with large triple-crochet shell stitches. The best part is, this border is included in the panels themselves – no need to do any extra work after the seaming and blocking portion!

Of course, those same shells will be incorporated as a border on the short sleeves as well.

How do you crochet a Short Sleeve Cardigan?

Speaking of short sleeves – cardigans with short sleeves are very easy to make! They are made in the same exact way as long sleeves…you just don’t have to crochet as long!

In the case of the Midsummer Cardigan, we will be making 3 rectangular panels, sewing them together, and then working around the armholes to make the short sleeves. We won’t decrease as much as regular sleeves do, so that we end up with a flowy, loose short sleeve that drapes amazingly over the upper arm.

Midsummer Cardigan PDF Pattern

If you want this pattern free, just keep scrolling down. However, if you would like to print out the PDF pattern, I have you covered! The Midsummer Cardigan can be purchased HERE.

AND…the PDF includes something pretty awesome: a fully adjustable version of the pattern! That’s right – if you purchase the premium version, you’ll get not only a PDF of sizes XS-3XL, but also a second PDF that will walk you through the process of getting the perfect fit in this cardigan.

The perks of having this PDF are:

• Create a custom gauge. You won’t have to stick to the gauge provided. I’ll show you how to make a swatch and create a custom cardigan from your OWN gauge!
• Add a customized amount of ease. You don’t have to stick to the standard sizes, but can customize the exact amount you want (through a step by step worksheet).

Lightweight Cardigan (made with sport weight yarn!)

Another very important factor of a crocheted summer cardigan is that it is lightweight and breathable. I chose to make the Midsummer cardigan with one of my favorite sport weight yarns – We Crochet Galileo! This yarn is a lovely blend of bamboo and merino wool, which makes for a light and bouncy cardigan.

Of course, you can substitute for other yarns, but I would advise you to choose something that has a good portion of cotton, bamboo, or another plant-based fiber in it. This will allow the cardigan to be much cooler for summer.

I chose Galileo because it is breathable but also has just enough warmth with the merino wool added in.

Mid-length (but adjustable!)

As far as the length of this cardigan, the good news is it is very easily adjusted! I made my cardigan to fall just below my hips. There will be instructions within the pattern for how to adjust the length to make it perfect for you! You could even make it into a cropped crochet cardigan if you really wanted to.

(Remember, to make this pattern FULLY adjustable for your body, grab the PDF pattern!)

How to Crochet the Midsummer Cardigan – Free Pattern

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• To buy the inexpensive, ad-free PDF, click HERE
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Video Tutorial:

Explanation: This lacy summer cardigan is inspired by deep purple glow in the sky after the sun goes down on a hot midsummer day. The pattern features lots of triple crochet stitches, with a unique crochet shell stitch for amazing detailing!

So without further ado, let’s get started with this easy summer cardigan crochet pattern!

Materials:

• We Crochet Galileo Yarn: (50% Merino Wool, 50% Viscose from Bamboo, 131 yds/119 m, 1.7 oz/50 g) Galactic 7 (7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11) balls
• Or approximately 850 (917, 1048, 1179, 1250, 1310, 1441) yards of sport weight yarn
• G/4mm crochet hook (or size to obtain gauge)
• Yarn needle

See my favorite sweater yarns here!

Sizing/Fit: 

This pattern is written in sizes XS, with S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL in parentheses.

The fit: This sweater is designed to be slightly oversized. The sizing is written with 4” of positive ease written in for XS, and 5” of positive ease for the rest of the sizes. If you would like your sweater to be more fitted, feel free to size down. Or, if you would like a very oversized cardigan, feel free to size up. If you are in between sizes, consider whether you would like your cardigan to be more flowy or more fitted and choose a size accordingly.

To fit finished bust size: 30 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52)”

Finished Bust Measurement (all panel measurements combined): 34 (37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57)”

Width of back panel: 18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30)”

Width of front panels: 8 (8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5)”

Length of all panels: 22 (22, 22, 23, 23, 23, 23.5)”

Gauge:

16 stitches and 5.5 rows in even triple crochet = 4” 

MORE CROCHET CARDIGAN PATTERNS

• Angelica Cardigan
• Juniper Cardigan
• Becky Cardigan
• Summer Breeze Vest

Notes:

1. Ch 4 at beginning of rows counts as a tr.
2. Cardigan is made from 3 panels: 1 back panel and 2 front panels. Pieces are sewn together and then sleeves are joined at the base of the armhole and worked in the round.
3. When the pattern refers to the “left” and “right” panels of the cardigan, this refers to the position when the cardigan is laid out flat (NOT the position when you’re wearing it).
4. All pieces of the cardigan start with a foundation single crochet row (fsc). If you are unfamiliar with this technique, check out this blog post. Starting with a regular chain stitch is not recommended because it won’t be as stretchy. But if you need to start with a chain, just be sure to add one more chain to your starting row number. Then, skip the first chain and work one row of sc across (this will give the same result of fsc, just less stretchy).

Abbreviations/Stitches Used:

Chain – ch

Slip Stitch – sl st

Single crochet – sc

Double crochet – dc

Triple crochet -tr

Repeat – rep

Round – rnd

Skip – sk

Stitch(es) – st(s)

Space – sp

RS – right side

YO – yarn over

Special Stitches:

Triple Crochet Shell (tr sh): Tr into indicated st. (Ch 1, tr in same st) 4 times. 

Triple Crochet 2 Together (tr2tog): *YO twice, insert hook into next st. YO, pull up a loop. (YO, pull through 2 loops) twice. Rep from * once more. YO, pull through last 3 loops on hook.

Midsummer Cardigan Written Instructions

BACK PANEL

Fsc 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120)

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1 (does not count as st), dc in first fsc. Dc in each fsc across, turn. 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) dc

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as tr), tr in next dc and each dc across, turn. 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) tr

Rep row 2 for a total of 30 (30, 30, 31, 31, 31, 32) rows. Note: you can very easily adjust the length of this cardigan. Simply repeat these rows until desired length. 

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

LEFT FRONT PANEL

Fsc 32 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54)

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, dc in first fsc. Dc in each fsc across, turn. 32 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54) dc

Row 2: Ch 4, tr in next dc. Sk 3 dc, sh in next dc. Sk 3 dc, tr in next 23 (25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45) dc, turn. 25 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) tr, 1 sh

Row 3: Ch 4, tr in next 22 (24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44) tr. Sh in middle tr of sh. Tr in last 2 tr, turn. 25 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) tr, 1 sh

Row 4: Ch 4, tr in next tr. Sh in middle tr of sh. Tr in next 23 (25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45) tr, turn. 25 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) tr, 1 sh

Rep rows 3-4  for a total of 29 (29, 29, 30, 30, 30, 31) rows, OR until you have ONE LESS row from the back panel.

Note: the last row shown below may have the shell at the beginning OR end of the row depending on whether you ended on a right side or wrong side row. That is why the instructions are written like they are. Just know you’ll be making regular tr before and after the sh, regardless of which side it is on.

Last Row: Ch 4, tr until you get to the shell. Tr in space between current tr and sh. Tr in first ch-sp of sh. Dc in next 2 ch-sps of sh. Tr in last ch-sp of sh. Tr in space between last ch-sp and next tr. Tr across the rest of the row, turn. 31 (33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53) sts

Want to adjust this cardigan for the perfect fit? Grab the Premium Pattern here!

RIGHT FRONT PANEL

Note: the only difference between the two front panels is where the shell is placed on the first row. This will ensure that the shells are on the right side of the panels when you assemble the cardigan.

Fsc 32 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54)

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, dc in first fsc. Dc in each fsc across, turn. 32 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54) dc

Row 2: Ch 4, tr in next 22 (24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44) tr. Sk 3 dc, sh in next dc. Sk 3 dc, tr in last 2 dc, turn. 25 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) tr, 1 sh

Row 3: Ch 4, tr in next tr. Sh in middle tr of sh. Tr in next 23 (25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45) tr, turn. 25 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) tr, 1 sh

Row 4: Ch 4, tr in next 22 (24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44) tr. Sh in middle of next sh. Tr in last 2 dc, turn. 25 (27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47) tr, 1 sh

Rep rows 3-4 for a total of 29 (29, 29, 30, 30, 30, 31) rows, OR until you have ONE LESS row from the back panel. 

Last row: Repeat the last row same as for left front panel. Note that whichever side the shell was on before, now it will be opposite.

Cardigan ASSEMBLY

Lay front panels on top of back panel, with right sides facing each other (inside). 

Using yarn needle and length of yarn, sew across shoulders using seaming method of choice. There should be 31 (33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53) stitches on each side, with 10 (14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14) unworked sts from the back panel. 

Sew up the sides leaving a 6.5 (7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)” armhole opening. 

See schematic below for help with seaming.

SLEEVES (Worked in the Rounds)

Rnd 1: With right side of cardigan facing out, join yarn with a sc at the base of the armhole. Work 51 (55, 59, 63, 67, 71, 75) more sc evenly around the armhole. Join with a sl st to first sc. 52 (56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76) sc

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (does NOT count as a tr, here and throughout sleeves) tr in same st as sl st and each st around. Join with a sl st to first tr. 52 (56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76) tr

Rnd 3: Ch 3, tr2tog over same st as sl st and next tr. Tr all the way around until 2 sts left. Tr2tog over last 2 sts, join with a sl st to first st. 50 (54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74) sc

Note: if you would like longer sleeves, feel free to add in more simple tr rounds here before doing the edging.

Sizes XS, L, and 3XL

Rnd 4: Ch 5 (counts as a tr and a ch) tr in same st as sl st. (Ch 1, tr in same st) 3 times. (Sk 5 tr, sh in next tr) 6 (8, 10) times. (Sk 4 tr, sh in next tr) 2 times. Skip last 3 tr, join with sl st to the 4th ch of beg ch 5. (9, 11, 13 shs)

Sizes S and XL

Rnd 4: Ch 5 (counts as a tr and a ch) tr in same st as sl st. (Ch 1, tr in same st) 3 times. (Sk 5 tr, sh in next tr) 8 (10)  times. Sk last 5 tr, Join with sl st to the 4th ch of beg ch-5. (9, 10 shs)

Sizes M and 2XL:

Rnd 4: Ch 5 (counts as a tr and a ch) tr in same st as sl st. (Ch 1, tr in same st) 3 times. (Sk 5 tr, sh in next tr) 8 (10) times. Skip 4 tr, sh in next tr.  Skip last 4 tr, join with sl st to the 4th ch of beg ch-5. (10, 12 shs)

FINISHING

Wet block your cardigan to the finished measurements listed. To be sure it turns out the right size, you may want to block it out an inch or two BIGGER than listed, because it will tend to shrink back a bit after removing pins (this is at least true when using Galileo yarn).

Here’s what mine looks like blocking:

After blocking, weave in your ends!

I hope you enjoyed this crochet cardigan pattern for summer. I certainly had fun (and quite the adventure!) designing it!

To see ALL my sweater crochet patterns, click HERE.

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