How to Crochet a Square Cardigan
A colorful cardigan made from granny squares looks great with jeans, and is simple to make. Providing you have basic crocheting skills, such as slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet stitches, you can make a cardigan in a day or two. It is a good use of leftover yarn from other projects, and is an ideal project for a beginner. You need a total of 12 squares and you piece the squares together in simple kimono fashion, with two squares for each of the front sides, four squares for the back of the cardigan, and two squares for each sleeve.
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Things You'll Need
- Pen
- Paper
- Tape measure
- Worsted-weight yarn
- Crochet hook, size G
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Calculate the size of squares you need to crochet. You will need the recipient's chest measurement. Divide the measurement by four to give you the size of the squares. Add one-inch to each square, for seam allowances. For example, for a 36-inch chest measurement, you will crochet 10-inch-wide squares.
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2
Join your yarn to your crochet hook using a slip stitch. Make six chain stitches and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
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3
Chain three stitches, this counts as the first double crochet in this round. Make two more double crochet stitches. The three stitches you now have form what is known as a shell. Chain two stitches and make three double crochet stitches, or one shell. Continue in this manner, until you have four shells in the ring. Chain two stitches and join to the first double crochet you made with a slip stitch. You have completed your first round.
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4
Crochet one shell followed by two chain stitches and another shell in the first chain space. Repeat in this manner for the second, third and fourth chain spaces. Chain two stitches and join to the first double crochet you made with a slip stitch. You have completed your second round and you now have an obvious square shape.
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5
Continue making rounds until your square measures 10 inches. Make one shell in every chain space followed by two chain stitches. At each corner crochet one shell followed by two chain stitches and another shell into the corner chain space.
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6
Crochet another 11 squares in the same manner.
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7
Crochet the squares together, using single crochet stitch. Crochet four squares together in a two-square by two-square formation to make the back of the cardigan.
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8
Crochet two squares together to make each of the two front sides. Join these to the top of the back piece to make shoulder seams.
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9
Crochet two squares together to make each of the sleeves. Fold in half so that one square makes the front of the sleeve and one square makes the back of the sleeve. Crochet to the body of the cardigan, aligning the folds in the sleeves with the shoulder seams.
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10
Crochet the sleeve seams and side seams together.
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11
Finish the cardigan off by crocheting a row of shells followed by two chain stitches around the edge of the cardigan. Join your yarn to the cardigan with a slip stitch at one of the side seams at the hem. Work around the hem, up the front, across the neck, back down the front and back around until you reach the point you started at. Cut the yarn, pull it through the stitch on the hook and trim of any excess yarn.
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References
- "Crocheting Patchwork Patterns: 23 Granny Squares for Afghans, Sweaters and Other Projects"; Annette Lep; 1981
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
