Crochet Leannán Cardigan

Learn to crochet this quick and easy crochet cardigan with pockets. Designed full of texture and perfect for all seasons of the year, this cardigan will be a firm favorite.

The Crochet Leannán [lan-awn] cardigan is quickly becoming one of my favorite pieces to date. Yes, I know I say this about most pieces, but this cardigan has a place in my heart. The word “leannán” is a Gaelic word and basically means lover. How appropriate for the month of February! The cardigan is a two row repeat, one row of crossed double crochets, and one row of puff stitches. I like to think of the crossed double crochet as two lovers intertwined. Ok I’m getting corny now!

So there are a few panels you will have to work, a back panel, two identical front panels, two identical sleeves, and two identical pockets. Once all these pieces are crocheted we will sew them together using a yarn needle. Then we will work the inner ribbed edge and finally we will sew the pockets to the cardigan.

All pieces are worked from the bottom up. We start by crocheting the ribbed bottom hemline/sleeve cuffs, then we work along the long edge of the ribbing in pattern until we reach the appropriate length. It really is a pretty easy pattern and perfect for any level of crochet ability.

YARN

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The yarn I used for this crochet cardigan is Stylecraft Aran with Wool in the shade Duck Egg Nepp. This yarn is 77% acrylic, 20% wool and 3% viscose. There are several shades of this yarn and each shade is as stunning as the next.

This yarn comes in a variety of solid color shades but my eye was definitely attracted to the colors that had little flecks to them. I adore this kid of yarn.

But like I always say, any weight 4 yarn will work perfectly with this cardigan. You can even use a cotton yarn is you prefer.

MEASUREMENTS

S(M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)

To fit bust 32-34(36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54) inches

Back width: 20(22, 24, 26, 28, 30) inches

Length: 25(25, 26, 26, 27, 27) inches

MATERIALS

Yarn – Stylecraft Aran with Wool – weight 4/aran/10 ply yarn

Approximately 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 4) balls. Each ball has 816 metres.

6 mm crochet hook

Measuring tape

Yarn needle

Stitch marker

STITCHES & ABBREVIATIONS

ch = chain

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

slst = slip stitch

CP = crossed pair

BLO = back loop only

rep = repeat

st = stitch

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Crossed Pair (CP): skip next ch-2sp and Puff, dc in next ch-2sp, working in front of st just made dc in skipped ch-2sp. CP are always worked into the ch-2sp on either side of a Puff.

Puff: (yo, insert hook in designated space, draw up loop) 3 times, yo, draw through 7 loops on hook. Puffs are always worked between the 2dc in a CP.

CROCHET LEANNÁN CARDIGAN PATTERN

BACK PANEL

Ch 9

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch to end. Turn.

Row 2: ch 1, sc in BLO in each st to end. Turn.

Repeat row 2 for a total of 58(61, 67, 73, 79, 82) rows.

Now working along the long edge of the ribbing:

Next row: ch 1 and make 58(61, 67, 73, 79, 82) sc across. Turn.

Next row: ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), *skip next st, dc in next, working in front of dc just made, dc in last skipped st (CP made), dc in next st, rep from * to end of row. Turn.

Next row: ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 2, Puff between 2 dc of next CP, ch 2, sc in next dc, rep from * across placing last dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn.

Next row: ch 3, *CP, dc in next sc, rep from * across. Turn.

Repeat last two rows until back panel measures 25 inches long. Add/subtract rows here for a longer/shorter cardigan but make sure your last row completed is a CP row.

Fasten off and weave in tails.

FRONT PANEL (MAKE 2)

Ch 9

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc to end. Turn

Row 2: ch 1, sc in BLO in each st across. turn

Repeat row 2 until you have a total of 25(28, 31, 34, 37, 40) rows

Now working along the long edge of ribbing:

Next row: ch 1, make 25(28, 31, 34, 37, 40) sc across. Turn.

Next row: ch 3, *skip next st, dc in next, working in front of dc just made, dc in last skipped st (CP made), dc in next st, rep from * to end of row. Turn.

Next row: ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 2, Puff between 2 dc of next CP, ch 2, sc in next dc, rep from * across placing last dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn.

Next row: ch 3, *CP, dc in next sc, rep from * across. Turn.

Rep last two rows until the front panel is the same length as back panel. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

SLEEVES:

Ch 9

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch to end. Turn.

Row 2: ch 1, sc in BLO in each st across. Turn.

Rep row 2 until you have a total of 27(27, 29, 29, 31, 31) rows

Now working along the long edge of the ribbing:

Next row: ch 1, make 37(40, 43, 46, 52, 55) sc across. Turn.

Next row: ch 3, *skip next st, dc in next, working in front of dc just made dc in in last skipped st (CP made), dc in next st, rep from * to end of row. Turn.

Next row: ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 2, Puff between 2 dc of next CP, ch 2, sc in next dc, rep from * across placing last dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn.

Next row: ch 3, *CP, dc in next sc, rep from * across. Turn.

Rep last two rows until sleeve measures 17(17, 17, 18, 18, 18) inches long from beginning ribbed cuff. Fasten off leaving long tail.

POCKETS (MAKE 2):

Ch 9

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch to end. Turn.

Row 2: ch 1, sc in BLO in each st across. Turn

Rep row 2 for a total of 19 rows.

Now working along the long edge of ribbing:

Next row: ch 1, make 19 sc across. Turn.

Next row: ch 3, *skip next st, dc in next, working in front of dc just made dc in skipped st (CP made), dc in next st, rep from * to end of row. Turn.

Next row: ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 2, Puff between 2 dc of next CP, ch 2, sc in next dc, rep from * across placing last dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn.

Next row: ch 3, *CP, dc in next sc, rep from * across. Turn.

Repeat last two rows until you have a total of 9 rows completed. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

ASSEMBLY:

Lay the cardigan out entirely flat with the wrong side facing up. Now mark the centre of a sleeve with a stitch marker. Line that sleeve centre to the shoulder seam and attach stitch marker. Using your yarn tail and yarn needle sew sleeve to cardigan. Repeat on other side.

Now fold cardigan over and sew along the under edge of sleeve and down along side edge of cardigan. Repeat for other side.

Now turn your cardigan the right side out.

Attach yarn to bottom inner edge on the right hand side.

Ch 1, and sc all the way around the inner edge of cardigan until you reach the other side. DO NOT FASTEN OFF.

Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hoo, sc in next 5 chains, slip stitch in each of next 2 sc on main body of cardigan,* turn, skip 2 slip stitches, sc in BLO in next 6 sc, ch 1, turn, 6 sc in BLO, slip stitch in each of next 2 sc of main body of cardigan, rep from * all the way around inner edge of cardigan.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Now place your pockets where you want them and sew them to cardigan using the long tail and yarn needle.

You are now finished your cardigan !