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Crochet Open Front Cardigan – FREE Crochet Pattern

Janne Kleivset
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Last Updated
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The crochet Open Front Cardigan is a great crochet pattern I’m sure you’re going to love! It’s the perfect crochet cardigan for fall & it works up fast.

What’s most amazing is the fact that the yarn used is super soft & combined with the crocheted stitches it’s a really cozy cardigan.

This is an easy crochet cardigan pattern & comes in 9 sizes from XS to 5XL.

It’s for sure one of the most popular free crochet cardigan patterns I’ve ever shared.

Find more: 44+ crochet cardigan pattern collection.

Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

The Yarn


For the Crochet Open Front Cardigan you’ll need a yarn called New Basic 175 by Lion Brand Yarn or similar.  It’s a great yarn made of a combination of Acrylic & Wool.

It’s a really soft yarn & I loved the silver grey tone the yarn I picked had. It also comes in other soft tones I’m sure you’re going to love!

Find it here.

Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

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Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

THE PERFECT FALL WEATHER CARDIGAN CROCHET PROJECT


The Crochet Open Front Cardigan  is a great pattern for a crochet garment for fall and winter season. It’s such a lovely oversized cardigan that works well with any fall wardrobe.

My personal preference is combining crochet sweaters like this with jeans & a t-shirt. This open front crochet cardigan doesn’t need buttons to look good. But it could also look more dressed up, with skirts or dresses, if that’s your style.

You don’t have to be an advanced crocheter to make this cardigan. If you’re a crochet beginner, step out of your comfort zone. This pattern may seem difficult, but could easily be made if you set off some time to dive into the details.

Since you like the Crochet Open Front Cardigan, these might interest you too?

Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

1. Everyday Cable Cardigan

2. Regelo Cardigan

3. Polus Cardigan

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Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

How Long Does It Take To Crochet That?


How long it takes to crochet something varies depending on your skill & how fast you crochet. But that isn’t a helpful answer is it?

Well, I’ve developed a yarn calculator to help you get the answer to this question.

It will help you calculate exactly how much time you’ll spend crocheting a project.

All you need to know is how much yarn you will use on the project in either meters, yards or skeins. Then crochet your test square & time it.

Calculate how long it takes to crochet that. 

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CROCHET OPEN FRONT CARDIGAN – THE FREE CROCHET PATTERN


About The Pattern


The Crochet Open Front Cardigan is definitely a fall favorite. It’s a classic crochet cardigan that you’ll never get tired of.

The pattern comes in 9 sizes from XS to 5XL & is skill level easy.

Because of the stitch combination with chains, you’ll finish up this cardigan quickly! You’ll also love the great texture the ribbed classic style edgings gives it.

Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

Project Level 


Easy Skill Level

Read about skill levels.

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Materials Needed


Crochet Hook

Size 8 mm / US: L – 11 / UK: 0

Hook I used: Symphonie Rose Crochet Hooks from Knitpro

Yarn

Yarn used:

Lion Brand Yarn – New Basic 175 in color Whisper.

Find it here.

Yarn amount used: 

  • Size XS: 5 skeins / 445 g / 705 m / 770 yards
  • Size S: 5 skeins / 495 g / 790 m / 860 yards
  • Size M: 6 skeins / 535 g / 850 m / 930 yards
  • Size L: 6 skeins / 585 g / 930 m / 1015 yards
  • Size XL: 7 skeins / 625 g / 995 m / 1085 yards
  • Size 2XL: 7 skeins / 680 g / 1085 m / 1185 yards
  • Size 3XL: 8 skeins / 725 g / 1155 m / 1265 yards
  • Size 4XL: 8 skeins / 775 g / 1235 m / 1350 yards
  • Size 5XL: 9 skeins / 815 g / 1300 m / 1420 yards

Yarn characteristics:

Other Materials Needed

Gauge


Measured with *1 half double stitches, 1 ch* repeating, crocheted in rows:

12 stitches & 10 rows per 10 cm / 4”.

Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

Notes 


  • This crochet pattern is written in US terms.
  • All measurements given are unblocked.
  • Note that measurements are given as exact as possible. But crochet tension & technique might give variations in the result, that changes from person to person.
  • Read pattern instructions carefully before beginning to make sure you understand everything. It might save you hours frogging your work & crocheting it again!
  • Make a swatch that measure at least 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches using the stitch the gauge is given for. If your swatch matches the gauge, you’re good to go. If the gauge is wrong, you might need to change your hook. Go up in crochet hook size if your stitches are smaller & go down in crochet hook size if your stitches are bigger. Learn more about testing gauge.
  • Check yarn info if you want to find an alternative or test your yarn against the gauge. Learn more about substituting yarn.
  • This pattern is written for 9 sizes, where the different sizes is given in parenthesis like this: XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL. If just one number is given, it applies to all sizes. I recommend that you highlight or circle the size you’re making before you begin to make the pattern easier to follow. Size adjustments are added under the heading “Size & Measurements”.
  • At the end of each row, the stitch count is given in parenthesis.

Size & Measurements


Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

Size Notes

  • Cardigan might stretch in length and widen when used.
  • This pattern is written to have a normal to loose fit. Learn more about mastering ease in crochet garments.
  • Take measurements to find the right size for you.

Size Adjustments

Sleeves:

  • For all sizes: Best place to adjust length by adding or reducing rows before you start the ribbing.
  • For all sizes: Start with fewer/more stitches, added/reduced by 2 stitches at a time to adjust fit. Make sure it’s still centered on the middle.

Body:

  • For all sizes: Adjust length by adding or reducing stitch count when starting the cardigan.
  • For all sizes: Adjust bust measurements/width by adding or reducing rows after row 20 (23) 25 (28) 30 (33) 35 (38) 40.

Diagram


Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

Abbreviations

We try our best to include all crochet abbreviations in the list above for the crochet pattern, but sometimes we may forget one or two.

Learn more about crochet abbreviations & find a complete list on our Crochet Abbreviations & Terms post.

Stitches You Will Need 


Foundation Single Crochet (FSC)

Written description:

Step 1: Ch 2 st.

Step 2: Insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, pull up a loop. Yo and pull through first loop (making “chain”). Yo and pull through both loops on hook.

Step 3: Insert hook into previous “chain” you made (It should look like you go through a resemblance of a “normal” st, with 2 strands of yarn), pull up a loop, yo and pull through first loop (making “chain”). Yo and pull through both loops on hook.

Repeat step 3 until you’ve made enough stitches. *2nd ch in step 1 makes 1 st, step 2 makes 1 st & every time step 3 is repeated you make 1 st.

Find video tutorial here.

Techniques You Will Need 


CROCHETING IN THE FRONT & Back LOOP:

In this crochet pattern you need to know how to crochet in the back loop only.

This means that you will not crochet through the whole stitch as usual. A typical stitch contains two loops. One in the front, nearest you, and another stitch in the back, furthest away from you. One is called the front loop (the one nearest you), the other one the back loop, the one furthest away from you. For this pattern you will crochet half double crochet stitches through the back loop.

CHAIN SPACES:

You will need to know how to crochet in chain spaces. Chain spaces are formed when you chain one or more stitches, then skip one or more stitches, & finally you crochet in the next stitch.

In this pattern you will make chain spaces with 2 chains on one row, and crochet two half double crochet stitches into the chain space on the next row.

Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

Open Front Cardigan Pattern Instructions


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MAIN PARTS:

Repeat 2 times. 

FSC 89 st.

Row 1: Hdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), *ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in next st*, repeat from *to* until you have 10 st left, BLhdc 1 in the next 10 st, turn (=89 st).

Row 2: BLhdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), BLhdc 1 in the next 9 st, *ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in ch-space*, repeat from *to* until you have 1 st left, hdc 1 in last st, turn (=89 st).

Row 3: Hdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), *ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in ch-space*, repeat from *to* until you have 10 st left, BLhdc 1 in the next 10 st, turn (=89 st).

Row 4-7: Repeat row 2-3 every other row.

Row 8: BLhdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), BLhdc 1 in the next 9 st, *ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in ch-space*, repeat from *to* until you have 1 st left, hdc 1 in last st, FSC 95 st, turn (=89 st + 95 FSC = 184 st).

Row 9: BLhdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), BLhdc 1 in the next 9 st, *ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in next st*, repeat from *to* 42 times, **ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in ch space**, repeat from **to** until you have 10 st left, BLhdc 1 in the next 10 st, turn (= 184 st).

Row 10: BLhdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), BLhdc 1 in the next 9 st, *ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc 1 in ch space*, repeat from *to* until you have 10 st left, BLhdc 1 in the next 10 st, turn (= 184 st).

Repeat row 10 until you have crocheted 20 (23) 25 (28) 30 (33) 35 (38) 40 rows.

Fasten off & cut yarn.

Sleeves

Repeat sleeve instructions on both main parts. 

Attach yarn in stitch number 76 (76) 74 (74) 72 (70) 66 (66) 64 counting from the last stitch crocheted, where you fastened off.

Row 1: Hdc 1 directly in 1st st (no ch), *hdc 1 in ch-space, ch 1, sk 1 st*, repeat from *to* 15 (15) 17 (17) 19 (21) 25 (25) 27 times, hdc 1 in next st, turn (=34 (34) 38 (38) 42 (46) 54 (54) 58 st).

Row 2- 32: Repeat row 1.

Do not fasten off, continue directly on “Ribbing Sleeves”.

RIBBING SLEEVES / SLEEVE CUFFS:

Repeat on both sleeves.

Continuing directly from the sleeves, ch 10 st.

Row 1: BLhdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), BLhdc 1 in the next 9 st, sl st 1 in the next 2 ch-spaces from row 32 on the sleeves, turn (=12 st).

Row 2: Sk 2 sl st, BLhdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), BLhdc 1 in the next 9 st, turn (=10 st).

Repeat row 2 until you have crocheted 18 (18) 20 (20) 22 (24) 28 (28) 30 rows, doing the sl st on the last repeat in the last two stitches instead of the ch-spaces.

Fasten off & cut yarn.

Finishing


When you’re finished crocheting you have 2 parts:

Now you have to seam the 2 pieces together.

Use a needle & seam them together by going through each of the 89 FSC stitches made when you started each main part.

Then use a needle & seam together the sides & under the sleeves on both sides.

FRONT RIBBING EDGE:

Attach yarn in lower corner on one of the fronts.

Row 1: Hdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), hdc 1 on the other side of the 94 FSC st made on the first main part, hdc 1 for each row of the first 7 rows on the first main part, hdc 1 for each row of the first 7 rows on the second main part, hdc 1 on the other side of the 95 FSC st made on the second main part, turn (=206 st).

Row 2: BLhdc 1 in 1st st (no ch), BLhdc 1 in the next 205 st, turn (=206 st).

Row 3- 8: Repeat row 2.

Fasten off & cut yarn.

Fasten threads & weave in ends.

Crochet Open Front Cardigan - FREE Crochet Pattern

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Janne Kleivset

Janne Kleivset

Founder, Crochet Pattern Designer & Owner of Joy of Motion Crochet.

Janne has helped millions of crocheters find their next crochet project with more than 250 free crochet patterns and 110 crochet tutorials on her blog.

With more than two decades of crochet experience, and crochet designing since 2011, she's been featured on multiple prominent sites such as Lion Brand Yarn, in crochet magazines and the OML "Make" book.

Learn more about Janne.



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