Cameo Toddler Crochet Cardigan Pattern

Make a basic Toddler Crochet Cardigan with this FREE Crochet Pattern by Crochet It Creations. Keep reading for the full written instructions. 

Prefer an ad-free PDF version to print? Click HERE to get the pattern from Ravelry

Today brings us to pattern #7 of the 8 patterns in the Cameo Cardigan Crochet Pattern series….. the Toddler Crochet Cardigan 1-2T size!!! The pattern sizes range from baby to women’s 2XL! You will also get 2 additional bonus sizes in the paid PDF pattern: Teen and Adult 3XL/4XL!

This pattern has been in the works for months. I wanted to share with you all a fairly simple cardigan pattern that uses basic crochet stitches and no sewing! I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I have enjoyed designing it! Please share feedback and photos of your finished work on one of my social media sites!

Working the pattern…

Pattern is worked in vertical continuous rows with no sewing. You will start at the front panel, work the back panel and join to the front panel for the shoulders, then continue on to the other front panel. 

If crocheting clothing intimidates you, try checking out the video tutorial post here. In the video I will show you start to finish of working the body. Part one goes over the body or the pattern, while Part 2 will include the sleeves. You will see how to make the joins for the shoulders and border seams.

• Find the Adult XS/S Women’s 0-6 Size here
• Adult Medium/Large Women’s 8-12 Size here
• Adult XL/2XL Women’s 14-20 Size here
• Purchase the Ad-Free, Printable PDF of the Adult and Child sizes together from Ravelry here
• Child Size Large 10/12 here
• Child Small 6/8 size here
• Preschool Size 3/5 here
• Baby size here

• Get the PDF version to print from Ravelry HERE
• Get the PDF version from Etsy HERE
• Pin the Toddler Crochet Cardigan Pattern for later HERE
• See the full video tutorial on YouTube HERE

Materials Needed

• K 6.5mm Crochet Hook, or hook to obtain gauge
• Worsted Weight #4 yarn, 350 yards for Toddler Crochet Cardigan
• Scissors
• Tapestry/Finishing Needle

Stitches Used (U.S. Terms)

• DC – double crochet
• HDC – half double crochet
• SC – single crochet
• Sl St – slip stitch
• BLO – back loop only
• Join – slip stitch to first st
• DC2TOG – decrease double crochet
• SC2TOG – decrease single crochet
• Foundation single crochet

Gauge

• 4” square = 9 rows of the pattern x 12 stitches.

Pattern Notes & Tips

1. Beginning chain(s) of the row DOES NOT count as a stitch. First stitch is placed in the same stitch as joined when working in the round.
2. Cameo Cardigan is made to be oversized and comfy. The K hook makes looser stitches. You will get some stretch and it will relax more after blocking or washing.
3. Fit will also depend on yarn used. A less dense yarn (Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn, which is in the photo above of Ivory Tweed) will stretch more. A more dense yarn (Red Heart With Love, the pink Cameo color in the photos on pg 2) will not stretch as much.  
4. Pattern is worked in vertical continuous rows of the front right panel, back panel, and left front panel. No finishing off on these rows, you will be joining the shoulders to the front or back panels and the border to close as you work them.
5. On the rows that join at the shoulders, border, or cuffs, turn the work left OVER right. This will keep your next stitch from being twisted. See photo (d) Also, re-adjust the tension on your hook after turning. If you find it hard to see where to place your next join, you could use stitch markers before turning.  
6. Check your gauge BEFORE starting the Cameo Cardigan. If you are getting more stitches/rows per 4” than the gauge, go up a hook size. If you are not getting enough stitches/rows, then go down a hook size.
7. When joining on the sleeve rows, pull your slip stitches tight. This will make the joins less visible.
8. To secure tails when changing skeins or colors, crochet over the tail then leave a few inches out. Go back and weave in the ends going the opposite direction. This will keep the tails from unraveling.
9. If you find the seam traveling on the sleeves or pockets, turn at each row.
10. Pattern is written with each size written in its own separate instructions. The Adult Sizes include instructions for pockets, but the Child Size Pockets can be added after.
11. If you find it difficult to slip stitch and join the shoulders as you work, feel free to work the pattern without slip stitching. Just chain for the arm holes, turn and work across/back and forth. This will make a large rectangle and you can sew at the shoulders once finished.

Toddler Crochet Cardigan

Size 1/2T Measures approximately 13”L x 18” around with 8.5” sleeve

Front right panel

Row 1: Foundation SC 38 (38) turn

Row 2: Ch 2, DC across (38) turn

Row 3: Ch 1, SC across (38) turn

Row 4 – 8: Repeat rows 2 & 3 (38) *ending with DC row

Arm Hole Row – Row 9: Ch 1, SC in 24 stitches, ch 14 skip remaining stitches. Join to corner of ch-2 from row 8. (38, including chains)

You will now be working the back panel and slip stitching to the front panel to close the shoulder up as you work each row.

Toddler Size Continued…

Back Panel

Sl st again in the ch-2 space from row 8. This will count as ch 2 for row 10. Turn.

Row 10: DC in 14 chains and across (38) turn

Row 11: Ch 1, SC across (38) join to the side of the SC from row 7 of the front panel, pull Sl St tight. Sl St to the ch-2 of next row of front panel. Sl St again in the ch-2 space. This will count as ch 2. (3 Sl St total) Turn your work.

Row 12: DC across (38) turn

Row 13 – 17: repeat rows 11 & 12

Join after row 17 to last row’s SC of the front panel (the foundation row) turn

Row 18: Ch 2, DC across (38) turn

Row 19: Ch 1, SC across (38) turn

Row 20 – 28: repeat rows 18 & 19. Ending with DC row

Arm Hole Row – Row 29: Ch 1, SC in 24 stitches, ch 14, skip remaining stitches. Join to corner of ch-2 from row 28. (38, including chains)

You will now be working the other front panel and slip stitching to the back panel to close the shoulder up as you work each row.

Front Left Panel

Sl St again in the ch-2 space from row 28. This will count as ch 2 for row 30. Turn.

Row 30: DC in 14 chains and across (38) turn

Row 31: Ch 1, SC across (38) join to the side of the SC from row 28 of the back panel, pull Sl St tight. Sl St to the ch-2 of next row of back panel. Sl St again in the ch-2 space. (3 Sl St total) This will count as ch 2. Turn your work.

Row 32: DC across (38) turn

Row 33 – 37: Repeat rows 31 & 32 ending with SC row and 1 Sl St to side of SC to join shoulder. There will be 3 rows at the neck that will be left “open”. Finish off                                

Neck/Front Border

Join to the inside corner of the right front panel. Band is made in horizontal rows and joined to the stitches of the front and back panels to continue the no sew of the pattern.

Chain 9

Row 1: HDC in each chain across (8) join to next st of row 37, pull Sl St tight. Sl St in next 2 stitches, counts as chain for beginning of next row (3 Sl St total) turn

Row 2: HDC in BLO of 7 st, HDC in both loops of last st (8) turn

Row 3: Ch 1, HDC in BLO across (8) join to next st, pull tight. Sl St in next 2 stitches, counts as chain for beginning of next row (3 Sl St total) turn

Repeat rows 2 & 3 up the front right panel, across the neck, and down the front left panel. Continue the same concept of joining the shoulder for attaching the border around the neck – Sl St 1 in SC rows and 2 in each ch-2 of DC rows.

Last row should end at the corner of front left panel. DO NOT FINISH OFF. Continue to bottom border. If for some reason yours ends on the inside of the border, finish off and attach to the corner of the front left panel.

Bottom Border

Ch 1 and turn to work across the bottom border.  

Row 1: Ch 1, SC across the front border, SC across bottom placing 2 SC across the end of DC rows, 1 SC at the end of SC rows, SC across the other front border. Finish off

Garment is now essentially reversible since every row has been back and forth. They look the same on either side. Choose the side of your liking before starting on the sleeves. You may notice that one side of the joins at the shoulders look “bumpy” from the slip stitches. I prefer to have those on the inside. Or you could keep it as a vest.

Sleeves

Join with slip stitch to bottom of sleeve hole.

Row 1: Ch 1, SC 28 times in arm hole, join (28)

Row 2: Ch 2, DC2TOG, DC in remaining st around, join (27)

Row 3: Ch 1, SC2TOG, SC in the remaining st around, join (26)

Row 4 – 9: repeat rows 2 & 3 (ending with 20 st at row 9)

Row 10: Ch 2, DC around, join (20)

Row 11 – 18: repeat rows 3 & 10. It will end on DC row with 16 stitches.

Row 19: Ch 1, SC around, join (16) Finish off. Weave in ends.

I hope you enjoy this toddler crochet cardigan pattern and many others from me!

• The Adult XS/S Women’s 0-6 Size here
• Adult Medium/Large Women’s 8-12 Size here
• Adult XL/2XL Women’s 14-20 Size here
• Purchase the Ad-Free, Printable PDF of the Adult sizes together from Ravelry here
• Child Size Large 10/12 here
• Child Small 6/8 size here
• Preschool Size 3/5 here
• Baby Size here 
• Also, find the full video tutorial of part 1 and part 2

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