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The Autumn Cluster Cardigan is the easiest crochet garment you will ever find, a simple square that is folded and joined to make the armholes. It is effortless, classy and perfect to throw on for those crisp Autumn days. I’ve always been dubious about crochet garments, they sometimes seem quite clumsy and not that wearable to me but I’ve found the key is to make sure you focus of the drape. Once the drape is there, you have got it sorted.
The cardigan is designed using a Cluster V Stitch which sounds tricky but it’s as easy as anything once you get the hang of it. I’ve included a step by step photo tutorial to help make the ‘how many loops should I have now?!’ worry that it sometimes causes!
Scroll down to find the free to view pattern, or purchase an ad-free, printable PDF version in my stores:
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The Yarn
I used Caron Simply Soft for it’s fabulous colours, it’s price and the fact it washes so well (pumpkin hats get mucky in our house I’m afraid!)
You will need:
Caron Simply Soft – Aran – 100% Acrylic, 170g/288m
You will need 3 balls of Grey Heather to make the cardigan.
Materials
Along with the yarn you will also need:
A 7mm/K crochet hook
Needle
Scissors
Tension
3 sets of Cluster stitches and 5 rows = 10cm by 10cm
Glossary/Abbreviations:
ch(s) – chain(s),
sk – skip,
RS – right side,
rep – repeat,
st(s) – stitches,
BL – back loop,
ss – slip stitch
UK TERMS: tr – treble
US TERMS: dc – double crochet
Special stitch: Cluster (Cl)
*Yarn over (yo), insert hook in desired st, yo, draw through st, yo, draw through 2 loops, repeat from * once more, yo, draw through all loops on hook.
Notes
The ch3 at the beginning of a row always counts as a stitch.
You can easily make the cardigan bigger or smaller by adding or subtracting multiples of 3 from the foundation chain.
The Pattern – Standard UK terms
Please scroll down for the pattern in US terms.
The cardigan is created by crocheting a large square which is then folded and seamed to make armholes. It is the easiest garment to construct you’ll ever find!
Standard UK terms
Foundation chain: ch92 [or any multiple of 3+2]
Row 1: (2tr-Cl, ch1, 2tr-Cl) in 4th ch from hook, *skip 2, (2tr-Cl, ch1, 2tr-Cl) in next, rep from * to last, tr in last.
Row 2: ch3, (2tr-Cl, ch1, 2tr-Cl) in each ch1-sp, tr in last.
Rows 3-45: Repeat Row 2
The Pattern – Standard US terms
Foundation chain: ch92 [or any multiple of 3+2]
Row 1: (2dc-Cl, ch1, 2dc-Cl) in 4th ch from hook, *skip 2, (2dc-Cl, ch1, 2dc-Cl) in next, rep from * to last, dc in last.
Row 2: ch3, (2dc-Cl, ch1, 2dc-Cl) in each ch1-sp, dc in last.
Rows 3-45: Repeat Row 2
Construction:
To seam the cardigan and make armholes –
Lay the square down flat with the foundation chain at the bottom nearest you.
Fold the square in half from left to right and make sure the first and last stitches of the foundation row and the first and last stitches of the last row are lined up.
Work a ss seam to join the first and last 8 sets of clusters on the foundation chain (a set of clusters = 2dc-Cl, ch1, 2dc-Cl), leave the remaining 14 sets of clusters unworked for the armhole.
Repeat the process for the last row to create the other armhole.
Cluster V Stitch Photo Tutorial
I’ve also put together this little step by step guide of how to crochet the cluster V stitch for anyone who would like it:
That’s all there is to it – Autumn ready with a super easy garment! I absolutely love to see completed projects so make sure you add your completed projects to Ravelry here or use #hanjancrochet and tag me over on Instagram so I can find you.
Also, if you have the garment making bug then you’ll love this collection of easy crochet cardigan patterns for beginners!
