Moira Crochet Cardigan – Free Pattern
The Moira Crochet Cardigan combines delicate puff stitches with a beautiful braid inspired design to create a versatile handmade layer. With its relaxed silhouette, textured panels and ribbed edging, this cardigan is a lovely addition to your wardrobe throughout the year.
One of my favorite crochet techniques is the puff stitch. By arranging the stitches in carefully placed rows, I’ve created a distinctive braided effect that gives the Moira Cardigan its character.
For this design, I chose lightweight DK yarn and a slightly larger hook to create an airy finish that’s suitable for layering across different seasons. The cardigan falls around hip level, although you can easily extend the length by adding more rows.
How the Moira Crochet Cardigan is Constructed
The Moira Crochet Cardigan is made from five separate pieces: one back panel, two front panels and two identical sleeves. Each piece is crocheted flat from the bottom up, making the construction easy to follow.
The back and front panels begin with a ribbed hemline. Once the ribbing reaches the required length, you’ll turn your work and crochet along its long edge, building the main body of each panel in rows.
The sleeves are made in a similar way, beginning with the ribbed cuffs. Alternating sections of double crochet and puff stitches create the beautiful braid like texture that runs throughout the cardigan.
Once all five pieces are complete, the cardigan is assembled using simple seams. First, join the front panels to the back panel at the shoulders. Next, seam the sides, leaving openings for the armholes.
Attach the sleeves to the body and seam along their edges to complete the main construction. Finally, crochet the ribbed edging directly along the inner front edges and neckline to give the cardigan a neat, finished appearance.
Materials
- Yarn: Drops Sky – Dk
- Fiber content: 74% alpaca, 18% nylon, 8% wool
- Yarn length: 190m/ 208yds/ 50g per ball
- Yarn quantity: 6(6, 7, 7, 8, 8) balls
- Crochet hook: 4 mm
- Notions: Yarn needle, scissors
Moira Crochet Cardigan at a Glance
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Sizes: S(M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)
- Yarn weight: Dk
- Recommended yarn: Drops Sky
- Crochet hook: 4 mm
- Construction: Five separate panels worked flat from the bottom up
- Main stitches: Double crochet and puff stitches
- Design features: Braid inspired texture, ribbed cuffs and edging
- Terminology: US crochet terms
Sizing & Measurements
The Moira Crochet Cardigan is available in sizes from Small to 3XL. Use the finished measurements below to choose your preferred fit.
All measurements are in inches and refer to the finished cardigan, not body measurements.
| Size | Finished bust | Width |
|---|---|---|
| S | 44″ | 22″ |
| M | 48″ | 24″ |
| L | 52″ | 26″ |
| XL | 56″ | 28″ |
| 2XL | 60″ | 30″ |
| 3XL | 64″ | 32″ |
STITCHES & ABBREVIATIONS
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- Pst – puff stitch
- st(s) – stitches
- blo – back loop only
- yo – yarn over
- rep – repeat
Special Stitch: Puff Stitch (Pst): yo, insert hook into designated st, yo pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), (yo, insert hook in same st, pull up a loop) twice (7 loops on hook now), yo and pull through 6 loops (2 loops on hook now), yo and pull through the remaining 2 loops on hook.
GAUGE: 14 dc x 10 rows = 4″x4″
CROCHET MOIRA CARDIGAN PATTERN
Back Panel
Ribbed hem
Ch 10
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. [9 sc]
Row 2: ch 1, scblo in each st across, turn.
Rep row 2 until the end of row 77(83, 91, 97, 105, 111).
Do not fasten off. We will now work along the long edge of ribbing.
Main body
Row 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), dc a further 76(82, 90, 96, 104, 110) along the long edge of the ribbing, turn [77(83, 91, 97, 105, 111) dc total].
Row 2: ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 3: ch 1 (not counted as a st here and throughout), (1sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 4: ch 1, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 5: ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 6: ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 7: ch 1, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 8: ch 1 (1 sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Rep row 5-8 until the end of row 60(60, 64, 64, 68, 68).
Row 61(61, 65, 65, 69, 69): ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 62(62, 66, 66, 70, 70): ch 3, dc in each st across.
Fasten off.
Front Panel (Make 2)
Ribbed hem
Ch 10
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn [9 sc]
Row 2: ch 1, scblo in each st across, turn.
Rep row 2 until the end of row 29(33, 37, 39, 43, 47)
Do not fasten off. We will now work along the long edge of the ribbing.
Main body
Row 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), dc a further 28(32, 36, 38, 42, 46) sts along the long edge of the ribbing, turn [29(33, 37, 39, 43, 47) dc total].
Row 2: ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 3: ch 1 (not counted as a st here and throughout), (1sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 4: ch 1, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 5: ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 6: ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 7: ch 1, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 8: ch 1 (1 sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Rep row 5-8 until the end of row 60(60, 64, 64, 68, 68).
Row 61(61, 65, 65, 69, 69): ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 62(62, 66, 66, 70, 70): ch 3, dc in each st across.
Fasten off leaving a long tail.
Sleeves
Ribbed cuff
Ch 10
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. [9 sc]
Row 2: ch 1, scblo in each st across, turn.
Rep row 2 until the end of row 35(35, 35, 37, 37, 39)
Do not fasten off. We will now work along the long edge of the cuff.
Sleeve body
Row 1: ch 3, dc a further 34(34, 34, 36, 36, 38) sts across long edge of cuff, turn. [35(35, 35, 37, 37, 39) dc total]
Row 2: ch 3, dc in each st across, turn.
Row 3: ch 1 (not counted as a st here and throughout), (1sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 4: ch 1, (1 sc + 1 Pst) in first st, *skip next st, (1sc + 1 Pst) in next st, rep from * across until 2 sts rem, skip next st, sc in last st, turn.
Row 5: ch 3, dc in same st (inc made), dc in each st across placing 2 dc in last st, turn [37(37, 37, 39, 39, 39) dc total], turn.
Row 6: ch 3, dc in same st (inc made), dc in each st across placing 2 dc in last st (inc made), turn [39(39, 39, 41, 41, 41) dc total], turn.
Rep last 4 rows, increasing on every dc row at both ends until you have 53(53, 57, 59, 63, 67) dc.
Continue in stitch pattern WITHOUT increasing until the end of row 42.
Fasten off leaving a long tail.
Assembly
Lay the front panels on top of the back panel and using a whip stitch (or any other preferred way of seaming) across the shoulders.
Whip stitch up along the sides of the cardigan leaving gaps for the armholes.
Attach sleeves to the body of the cardigan and seam down along the sides of the sleeves.
Turn cardigan right side out so the seams are in the inside.
Collar ribbing
Attach yarn to the bottom right hand corner.
Row 1: ch 1, sc all the way around the inner edge of the cardigan until you reach the other side, turn.
Row 2: ch 10, sc in 2nd ch from hook and into each of the next 8 chains, slst in each of the next 2 sc on inner edge of cardigan, turn.
Row 3: skip the 2 slsts you just completed, scblo in next 9 sc, turn.
Row 4: ch 1, scblo in next 9 sts, slst in next 2 sc on the inner edge of cardigan, turn, rep from row 3-4 all the way around inner edge.
Fasten off.
Weave in all your ends.
