Elevate your wardrobe with this free crochet cardigan pattern, featuring a stitch that beautifully mimics the knit cable or bamboo stitch for a textured, modern look. Crafted sideways, this unique construction creates a flattering flow and effortless drape. Designed with functional button closures and classic ribbed edges, it’s perfect for layering in any season. This timeless yet contemporary crochet pattern is ideal for adding elegance and versatility to your handmade collection.
We’ve included a step-by-step video on our Youtube channel, guiding you through each part of the process. Begin your journey in creating your very own Amber Frost crochet cardigan.
Find the AD-Free PDF pattern here
Choosing the right yarn
This free crochet cardigan pattern uses a Dk or weight 3 yarn. I chose to use Drops Lima which is beautiful wool yarn, a yarn I would 100% recommend for all your crochet wears. However, any yarn with similar gauge will totally work when creating this crochet cardigan. One thing to keep in mind when picking your yarn is to steer away from anything too fluffy or fuzzy. Choosing such yarns will make it difficult for yourself when completing the Wrap Around stitch.
Materials Needed
Drops Lima – Dk/weight 3 – 65% wool, 35% alpaca – 50g/100m/109yds per ball
Approx. 16(18, 18, 19, 19, 20) balls
4.5mm/US G-7 crochet hook
Yarn needle
3 button 1″ diameter
Stitches & Abbreviations
Ch = chain
Yoslst = yarn over slip stitch
YoslstBLO = yarn over slip stitch back loop only
Yoslst3L = yarn over slip stitch in the third loop
HdcBLO = half double crochet back loop only
Slst = slip stitch
WA = wrap around
Rep = repeat
St/s = stitch/es
How easy is the Wrap Around Stitch?
The Amber Frost Cardigan features a beautiful stitch I like to call, the Wrap Around stitch. With just a few yarn overs and a little practice, this stitch is pretty easy to learn. Yes it is a little fiddly when you first try to master it, but I promise you that you can do it with your eyes closed after a few practice runs.
So how do you create the Wrap Around (WA) stitch? Follow the steps below which include both written and photographic visual to help you on your way. It is highly recommended to check out our Youtube video tutorial for a better understanding completing this beautiful stitch.
SPECIAL STITCHES
Wrap Around (WA): yarn over, insert hook into designated stitch (from the back of work to the front) in the third row of horizontal “Vs”. You will be inserting the hook under the bottom leg of the V. Yarn over and pull through. Pull your yarn up slightly so it’s the same height of other stitches. You should now have 4 loops on hook. Pull the top loop through second loop. You should have three loops on hook now. Yarn over and pull through remaining three loops. Please refer to the video tutorial for a better understanding of the stitch.
The below images show you step-by-step how to create the stitch. Image 6 shows where to insert hook for the second row of WA.
It is highly recommended to follow the free Youtube video tutorial when following this free crochet cardigan pattern.
Yarn over slip stitch (yoslst): yarn over and insert hook into designated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop. You should have three loops on hook now. Pull the last loop through the other two loops on your hook.
Yarn over slip stitch in the third loop (yoslst3L): looking at your work you will notice the usual place where you insert your hook. We will call this the V of the stitch. If you lay your work down flat you will notice a horizontal bar to the front. This is the third loop. So, yarn over, insert hook into the third loop of designated stitch, pull up a loop. You should have three loops on hook now. Pull the last loop through the other two loops on your hook.
Construction
The Amber Frost crochet cardigan is constructed sideways, meaning the initial foundation chain will determine the length of your cardigan. We will the work sideways until we create the width of the back panel. Once finished, we move on to creating the two front panels which are crocheted in the same manner with less rows. Sleeves are also worked in the manner. Once all pieces are worked up, we seam the two front panels to the back panel across the shoulders. Next the two sleeves are sewn in. Finally we will crochet the ribbed inner edge of the cardigan that features some button holes.
Video Tutorial For The Amber Frost Crochet Cardigan
If you are a visual learner, we would recommend you take a look at our Youtube video tutorial. This video will guide you through every step of the process on how to create your new cardigan. You will learn how to create the yarn over slip stitch (yoslst), working into the third loop and also creating the wrap around stitch.
It is highly recommended you join us for the video tutorial to help you along the way to help throughout creating this free crochet cardigan pattern.
Size Chart
| SIZE | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL |
| Finished bust (in) | 36 | 40 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 56 |
| Length (in) | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Arm circ. (in) | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Skill Level
Intermediate, using standard US terms.
Gauge
19 sts x 5 “cables” = 4×4″
CROCHET AMBER FROST CARDIGAN
BACK PANEL
S(M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)
Ch 105(105, 111, 117, 117, 123)
Row 1: Yoslst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. [104(104, 110, 116, 116, 122) sts]
Row 2: Ch 1, 9 yoslstBLO, hdcBLO in each remaining st across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, yoslst3L in each st across until 9 sts remain, 9 yoslstBLO, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, 11 yoslstBLO, WA, *5 yoslstBLO, WA, rep from * across until 2 sts remain, yoslstBLO, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across, turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, 9 yoslstBLO, hdcBLO in each remaining st, turn.
Row 7: Ch 1, yoslst3L in each st across until 9 sts remain, 9 yoslstBLO, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, 14 yoslstBLO, *WA, 5 yoslstBLO, rep from * across, turn.
Rep Rows 1-8 until you have a total of 22(25, 27, 30, 32, 35) “cables” completed. You must end on either a Row 4 or Row 8 depending on how many “cables” you need to complete for your size.
Fasten off.
FRONT PANEL (MAKE 2)
Ch 105(105, 111, 117, 117, 123)
Rep Rows 1-8 as for Back Panel until you have a total of 9(10, 11, 12, 14, 15) “cables”. Fasten off leaving a long tail.
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
Ch 87
Row 1: Yoslst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across until 9 sts remain, slst 9 sts, turn. [86 sts]
Row 2: Ch 1, 9 slstBLO, hdcBLO in each remaining st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, yoslst3L in each st across intil 9 sts remain, 9 slstBLO, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, 9 slstBLO, yoslstBLO 2, *WA, yoslstBLO 5, rep from * across until 2 sts remain, 2 yoslstBLO, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across until 9 sts remain, 9 slstBLO, turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, 9 slstBLO, hdcBLO in each remaining st, turn.
Row 7: Ch 1, yoslst3L in each st across until 9 sts remain, 9 slstBLO, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, 9slstBLO, 5 yoslstBLO, *WA, 5 yoslstBLO, rep from * across, turn.
Rep Rows 1-8 until you have a total of 18(19, 19, 20, 20, 21) “cables” completed.
Fasten off leaving a long tail. Fold the sleeve in half lengthways making sure the right side in in the inside. Using a yarn needle and your yarn tail seam the edges of the sleeve together.
ASSEMBLY
Lay the back panel on a flat surface with the right side facing up. Next lay the two front panels (wrong side facing up) on top of the back panel. Seam across the shoulders to connect the pieces together. Next seam up along the sides leaving a 7.5(8, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 9) opening for the armholes. Sew the sleeves, with the seam of sleeves facing downward, to the armhole.
BUTTON Up COLLAR
Ch 10
Row 1: yoslst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. [9 sts]
Row 2: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, 4 yoslstBLO, ch 3, skip next st, yoslstBLO in remaining 4 sts, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across placing 1 yoslst in the ch 3 space, turn. [9 sts]
Rows 5-11: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across, turn.
Row 12: Ch 1, 4 yoslstBLO, ch 3, skip next st, yoslstBLO in remaining 4 sts, turn.
Row 13: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across placing one yoslst in the ch 3 space, turn. [9 sts]
Rows 14-20: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across, turn.
Row 21: Ch 1, 4 yoslstBLO, ch 3, skip 1, yoslstBLO in remaining 4 sts, turn.
Row 22: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across placing one yoslst in the ch 3 space, turn. [9 sts]
Row 23: Ch 1, yoslstBLO in each st across, turn.
Rep Row 23 until the ribbed collar is long enough t go around the entire inner edge of the crochet cardigan.
Using a yarn needle and some yarn, sew the ribbed collar to the inner edge of the cardigan. Sew in your buttons.
Weave in all your ends.