I’ve been making a lot of striped things lately if you haven’t noticed! When I saw a striped blanket at target with a similar color palette I knew I had to get my hands on some yarn and make something with it! I debated between a cardigan and a blanket for a bit but wasn’t a hard choice to go with a cardi! That’s how The Morning Coffee Cardigan came about!
The Morning Coffee Cardigan is a VERY beginner friendly pattern. It has no shaping and minimal seaming. I decided to add in some optional shaping only at the forearms. This cardigan is designed to have loose cuffs/sleeves. I know that some people prefer to have there sleeves tapered so I added that option just in case!
I also recommend leaving the tails of yarn long enough on the sides of the front/back panel so that you can use these to sew your panels together. This will help cut down on the ends you need to weave in. Another tip is when you are crocheting the trim, that you crochet directly over the ends of yarn. This way you can skip the weaving process.
Description: This striped sweater is perfect for a beginner who wants to dive into the world of crocheting with colors! With no shaping and minimal sewing it’s the perfect practice piece.
M- 21” W (to fit bust size 36-38”), 26.5” L, 18.75” sleeve length
L- 22.75” W (to fit bust size 40-42”), 26.5” L, 18.75” sleeve length
XL- 24.5” W (to fit bust size 44-46”), 27.5” L, 19” sleeve length
2X- 27” W (to fit bust size 48-50”), 27.5” L, 19” sleeve length
3X- 29” W (to fit bust size 52-54”), 28.75” L, 19.25 sleeve length
4X- 30.75” W (to fit bust size 56-58”), 28.75” L, 19.25 sleeve length
5X- 33.25” W (to fit bust size 60-62”), 28.75” L, 19.5” sleeve length
Pattern Notes:
Your back and front panels are worked from the bottom up. Your sleeves are worked in the round from the top down. You will join and turn after every sleeve round.
The sleeves are meant to be loose and not fitted so there is NO shaping. If you want the forearms of your sleeves more fitted work the following round every 3rd round starting at Round 21 until you reach your preferred circumference. Optional decrease round: Ch 1, Hdc2tog, 1 Hdc in each remaining St around, join and TURN.
When your cutting and joining yarn on the front panels, be sure to leave tails of yarn long enough so you can later use them to seam the stripes together up the side.
Abbreviations (US Terms):
Fhdc- Foundation Half Double Crochet
Hdc- Half Double Crochet
Ch- Chain
St- Stitch
Sl St- Slip Stitch
WS- Wrong Side
RS- Right Side
Hdc2tog- Half Double Crochet 2 Together (decrease)
Lay your front and back panels together, right sides facing. Join the last row of the first front panel to the last row of the back panel by using the tail of yarn and slip stitching across. Make sure your stitches are lined up correctly. Repeat on second front panel. There will be 6 unworked stitches in the center of your back panel.
Next, you will be seaming the sides of your cardigan together. Using the tails of yarn from your panels, Sl St from the bottom hem up the side, joining the first front panel and back panel together. Be sure to use the same color yarn as the current stripe to help hide the seam. Leave a 6.5(7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5)” hole unworked to create the armhole. Repeat on the opposite side. Turn your sweater right side out.
Sleeves (make 2)-
With color A-
Join yarn to the bottom of the arm hole opening, directly to the left of the seam, with a Sl St. Note- The sleeves are meant to be loose and not fitted so there is NO shaping. If you want the forearms of your sleeves more fitted work the following round every 3rd round starting at Round 21 until you reach your preferred circumference. Optional decrease round: Ch 1, Hdc2tog, 1 Hdc in each remaining St around, join and TURN.
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a St), Work 43(46,49,52,55,58,61,64,67) Hdc evenly around the opening of the arm hole. Join to the first Hdc made with a Sl St, TURN. (43(46,49,52,55,58,61,64,67) Hdc)
Round 2: Ch 1, 1 Hdc in each St around, join and TURN.
Note- at this point you can try on your sweater and make sure your sleeve length is as long as you want it. Feel free to add or take away rows here to adjust.
Tie off and repeat sleeve on other side.
Trim:
With color A-
With your sweater correct side out, join yarn to the bottom corner of the left panel (right panel when worn) with a Sl St. Note- Exact St count is not crucial to this portion of the pattern. Just be sure to keep your stitches even and equally placed on both sides.
Row 1: Ch 1 (does not count, work Hdc stitches evenly up the side of the first panel, across the back of the neckline and back down the other side of the second front panel. When you reach the corner, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, 1 Hdc in each St across, turn.
Row 3: Repeat Row 2.
Tie off.
Optional Inside Pocket:
With left over yarn of your color choice-
Row 1: 20 Fhdc, turn. (20 Hdc)
Rows 2-16: Ch 1, 1 Hdc in each St across, turn.
Tie off, leave a long tail. Using a needle, sew the left, bottom and right sides of the pocket to the inside of your front panel.
Weave in all ends.
I hope you guys like The Morning Coffee Cardigan! Be sure to check out my other cardigan patterns here!