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The Sydney Cardigan is an easy, side to side crochet cardigan pattern in sizes XS to 5XL. With the front and back made in one piece, there are hardly any seams to deal with and the easy crochet stitches create a beautiful crochet ribbed cardigan that will be a wardrobe staple all year round. 

The slouchy balloon sleeves are just right for Spring and Summer or make them longer for a cozy Winter wrap cardigan if you prefer. 

If you’ve ever been intimidated by crochet garments then this is the one for you!

Using just basic stitches and no shaping whatsoever, you can make this fabulous knit-look crochet sweater.

Woman wearing side to side crochet cardigan pattern

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Scroll down and sign in for the free side to side crochet cardigan pattern, or purchase an ad-free, printable PDF version with added extras in my stores:

About the simple side to side crochet cardigan pattern

I’ve always wanted to design a really simple, ribbed cardigan pattern that is really easy to wear and style differently.

After playing around with different stitches and combinations, I happened upon the idea of just mixing a long stitch (a US treble/UK double treble) with a slip stitch.

Even though I can knit, there’s something really appealing to me about knit-look crochet and I know so many others love it too.

Maybe it’s because of the funny conversations you can then have with people trying to convince them that not only did you make it, but that it’s crochet and not knitting too!

The entire body of the cardigan is worked side to side (so that the row sit vertically on you) in a two-row repeat and is such a lovely mindful project to get yourself lost in.

The sleeves are then worked separately with the cuff worked into them (I love anything that means less seaming!) and then added to the body.

Finally, there is a deep collar (which you can make as big or small as you like) worked in rows along the sides and neck to finish.

Super simple to crochet, super modern and so easy to wear. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Don’t forget to join HanJan Crochet to receive regular discount codes (and more free patterns!) and Pin this free ribbed crochet cardigan pattern to your crochet Pinterest board!

Woman wearing knit look crochet sweater

Are you new to crochet garment making?

If you’re new to crochet garment making then please don’t worry! I have a fabulous guide on how to start your perfect crochet wardrobe and also learn garment making with 12 free crochet top patterns for different skill levels.

If you have the garment making bug then you’ll also love this collection of easy crochet cardigan patterns for beginners!

Yarn

To make the Sydney Cardigan I used Alpaca Cloud DK yarn by WeCrochet which is 100% baby alpaca, 112m/50g in the shade Magnus.

It’s probably some of the softest yarn I’ve had the pleasure of working with and was perfect for this ribbed cardigan pattern.

You will approximately need the following amounts of yarn for each size:

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)

Balls of yarn: 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) (13, 14, 15, 16)

Approx metres of yarn: 896 (1008, 1120, 1232, 1344) (1456, 1568, 1680, 1792)

I often get asked about ideas for alternative yarns and so here are some great options that I think will also give you a fabulous crochet ribbed cardigan.

Here are some that I think would work really well for this pattern in various price ranges:

Whatever yarn you choose, just make sure to check your gauge before starting your project as they will all be slightly different.

three balls of alpaca cloud double knit yarn by WeCrochet stacked on top of each other with crochet swatch in the foreground

Tension and Sizing

The crochet cardigan pattern comes in sizes XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) to fit bust measurements of 76, (86, 96.5, 106.5, 117) (127, 137, 147, 157) cm.

You will need to get 17sts and 8 rows of the main pattern repeat to measure 10cm by 10cm.

Materials

Along with your yarn, you will need the following:

Glossary and Abbreviations

ch(s) – chain(s)

ss – slip stitch

RS – right side

WS – wrong side

tog – together

sk – skip

rep – repeat

blo – back loop only

Woman in knit look crochet sweater pattern.

Crochet Stitches

The side to side crochet cardigan pattern uses the following crochet stitches:

sc – single crochet (UK dc – double crochet)

tr – treble crochet (UK dtr – double treble crochet)

Constructing the cardigan

A ch1 at the beginning of a row does not count as a stitch.

A ch4 at the beginning of a row does count as a stitch, but you can work a stacked stitch if you prefer.

The cardigan is worked from side to side with the front and back created in one panel.

The sleeves are then worked separately and joined.

The collar rib is added once the cardigan is seamed to complete.

a knit-look crochet cardigan laid flat on a bed with crochet hook and yarn, one sleeve hasn't been joined yet.

Pattern Options

Get this easy side to side crochet cardigan pattern free in this blog post in US terms – just scroll down and login to the members area to find it! You can also purchase an ad-free, printable PDF with added extras in my pattern stores: 

Purchase and Print

Get the ad-free, printable PDF of the crochet cardigan pattern UK and US terms

Woman with hands on hip wearing ribbed crochet cardigan pattern.

Side to side crochet cardigan pattern

To view the pattern all you need to do is sign up for free below and join the HanJan membership site.

US Crochet Terminology (crochet cardigan pattern UK terms included in PDF version)

FIRST SIDE AND BACK PANEL

Foundation chain: ch 205, (205, 209, 209, 209), (211, 211, 215, 215)

Row 1: WS: ss in blo of second chain and each of the following chains to end, turn [204, (204, 208, 208, 208), (210, 210, 214, 214)]

Row 2: RS: ch 4, tr in blo of each st across, turn.

Row 3: ch 1, ss in blo of each st across, turn.

Rows 2 and 3 set the pattern.

Repeat the pattern (Rows 2 and 3): 2, (3, 4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9, 10) more times.

Repeat Row 2 again for all sizes, do not fasten off. [8, (10, 12, 14, 16), (18, 20, 22, 24) rows]

BACK

Row 1: WS: ch 1, ss in blo of 102, (102, 104, 104, 104), (105, 105, 107, 107) sts, turn.

Row 2: ch 4, tr in blo of next 101, (101, 103, 103, 103), (104, 104, 106, 106) sts, turn. [102, (102, 104, 104, 104), (105, 105, 107, 107)]

Repeat (Rows 1 and 2) 7 more times for all sizes, do not fasten off. [16 rows for all sizes]

SECOND SIDE AND BACK PANEL

Row 1: WS: ch 1, ss in blo of 102, (102, 104, 104, 104), (105, 105, 107, 107) sts, ch 105, (105, 107, 107, 107), (108, 108, 110, 110), turn.

Row 2: tr in 5th chain from hook, dtr in blo of each of the following chains and sts to end, turn. [204, (204, 208, 208, 208), (210, 210, 214, 214)]

Row 3: ch 1, ss in blo of each st across, turn.

Row 4: ch 4, tr in blo of each st across, turn,

Rows 3 and 4 set the pattern.

Repeat the pattern (Rows 3 and 4): 2, (3, 4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9, 10) more times. [8, (10, 12, 14, 16), (18, 20, 22, 24) rows]

JOIN SIDE SEAMS

Fold in half at the shoulder and join the side seams as follows:

With WS facing and a ss seam, working from the bottom up, join 72, (70, 70, 68, 66), (65, 63, 63, 61) sts, leaving remaining 30, (32, 34, 36, 38), (40, 42, 44, 46) sts open for armhole.

SLEEVES (MAKE 2)

The sleeve and cuff are worked in one piece as follows.

Foundation chain: ch 77 for all sizes.

Row 1: WS: ss in blo of second chain and each of the following chains to end, turn [76 for all sizes].

Row 2: RS: ch 1, sc in blo of next 26, tr in blo of next 50, turn.

Row 3: ch 1, ss in blo of each st across, turn.

Rows 2 and 3 set the pattern.

Repeat the pattern (Rows 2 and 3): 13, (14, 15, 16, 17), (18, 19, 20, 21) more times.

Repeat Row 2 again for all sizes. [30, (32, 34, 36, 38), (40, 42, 44, 46) rows]

Seam long edge of sleeve with a ss seam on WS of work to complete.

Sew sleeves into armholes with a whip stitch.

COLLAR

The collar is worked in rows along the front sides of the cardigan, across the neckline and back down the other front side of the cardigan.

Join yarn to first stitch of first side panel.

Row 1: RS: ch 1, sc in blo of 102, (102, 104, 104, 104), (105, 105, 107, 107) sts to neckline, dc 24 evenly across neckline (this is 3 sc in side of each tr st), sc in blo 102, (102, 104, 104, 104), (105, 105, 107, 107) sts along next side panel, turn. [228, (228, 232, 232, 232), (234, 234, 238, 238)]

Row 2: ch 1, ss in blo of each st across, turn.

Row 3: ch1, sc in blo of each st across, turn.

Row 4: ch 1, ss in blo of each st across, turn.

Rows 3 and 4 set the pattern.

Repeat the pattern (Rows 3 and 4) 9 more times for all sizes. Fasten off.

To finish weave in ends and block lightly to finish.

I hope you’ve enjoyed making this side to side crochet cardigan pattern – I’ve loved sharing it with you!

Woman in crochet cardigan with balloon sleeves.

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Purchase and Print

Get the ad-free, printable PDF of the crochet cardigan pattern UK and US terms

Woman with hands on hip wearing ribbed crochet cardigan pattern.

More Side to Side Crochet Patterns You Might Enjoy

If you enjoy making crochet cardigan and garment patterns as much as I do (especially side to side ones like this) then here are a few more of my designs you might enjoy exploring!

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