Chic Aran Cardigan - Free Crochet Pattern with Tutorial

When Red Heart invited me to participate in the Chic Sheep Designer Blog Tour, I have already imagined a soft and cozy cardigan made with 100% merino wool! A dream came true and the Chic Aran Cardigan pattern was born! :)

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*Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I might earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through these links. Thank you!
The yarn was provided by Red Heart Yarns.

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This open front cardigan made with the fabulous Chic Sheep by Marly Bird yarn, is featuring a beautiful aran pattern, it has a nice drape and it feels lovely to touch! So warm too!
I hope you will love it as much as I do!

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Chic Aran Cardigan

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SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate

SIZE: M/L
Finished Bust: About 42.5in (108 cm)
Finished Length: About 27 in ( 68 cm)

GAUGE:
8 groups of crossed dc = 16 sts = 4 inches (10 cm). This is important for the length of the cardigan.
approx. 3 panels (12 rows in aran pattern) = 4 in (10 cm). This is important for the width of the cardigan

NOTES:

1. Cardigan is worked in pieces: Back, Left Front Side, Right Front Side, Left Sleeve, Right Sleeve, Sleeve Cuffs, Bottom Cuff, Collar, that are sewn together.
2. The Back and the 2 Front Sides are worked sideways.
3. The sleeves are worked one top down, one bottom up, to match the overall aran pattern.
4. It it easy to lose stitches at the beg or at the end of rows, so it would be a good idea to use stitch markers. Count your sts!
5. You will find the term aran panel: this refers to a pattern repeat of 4 rows, ending with the front crossed dc row.

SUPPLIES:

• 10 skeins of yarn Chic Sheep by Marly Bird yarn ( shade: Suede)
Finished project yardage: 925 g. Click on the yarns to buy Chic Sheep yarn on Yarnspirations site!

• 5 mm crochet hook (used for the front/ collar ribbing)
• 5.5 mm crochet hook (I have used my Furls Crochet Hook!)
• tapestry needle to sew in the ends
• stitch markers/ yarn ends
• scissors.

ABBREVIATIONS: (US Terminology used)

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• st: stitch
• back bump of chains. See my picture tutorial.
• csdc: chainless starting double crochet.
  NOTE: To avoid gaps on the edge, I have used the csdc instead of ch3 at the beginning of rows. If you are not familiar with the csdc, you can watch this video tutorial by Moogly to learn how to.
  (Or you can use the traditional ch3 if you prefer that way.)
• RS = right side
• WS= wrong side

Special Stitches:

1. Yo-slst = yarn over slip stitch: Yarn over (yo) and insert the hook into the indicated st. Yarn over and draw the yarn through the chain. Having the 3 loops on hook, pull/slip the first loop on hook through the next 2 loops on hook to complete a Yarn Over Slip Stitch (yo-slst).
Please see my PICTURE TUTORIAL HERE to learn how to crochet the yarn over slip stitch and the yarn over slip stitch back loops only! )
2. Yo-slst-blo: yarn over slip stitch back loops only: work the same as above, but inserting the hook in the back loops of sts.
3. dec yo-slst-blo: Decrease 2 sts into one yo-slst-blo: working into back loops only of the sts, yo and insert hook into first st and then into second st. Yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.
4. Variations of the Crossed Double Crochet
By working these variations of the cross stitch, you will get stitches, which although crossed, are not entangled with each other.
1. Back Crossed Double Crochet (bcrdc): sk 1 st, work 1 dc into the next st, 1 dc back into skipped st going behind the last dc just made, so as not to catch it.
Note: The photo collage below is from my

Go with the Flow Super Scarf Pattern, that uses the same crossed dc sts.

Watch this video tutorial from Crochet Cabana to learn how to Back Crochet Double Crochet.
2. Front Crossed Double Crochet (fcrdc): sk 1 st, work 1 dc into the next st, 1 dc back into skipped st going in front of the last dc just made, but inserting the hook into the skipped stitch from back of the work to the front.
This is an important step to obtain the arrow look of this aran pattern!



You can watch this Video by the Crochet Crowd on YouTube to see how to insert the hook for this kind of Front Crossed Double Crochet.

CARDIGAN INSTRUCTIONS:

THE BACK:



Starting with the first armhole panel: Using a 5.5 mm crochet hook ch 75, turn.

Row 1 (WS): Working into back bump of chains, yo-slst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across; turn ( 74 sts)

Row 2 (RS): ch 1 (will not count as a st), yo-slst-blo in each st across; turn, (74 sts)

Row 3 (WS): ch 3 or csdc (counts as first dc), sk next st, 1 dc into next st, working behind the dc just made, 1 dc into skipped st to the right.

You just made the first bcrdc group.

Work bcrdc sts across the row till the you have 1 st left on the row, ending the row with 1 dc into last st; turn.

Note: The ch3 or csdc will count as your first dc here and throughout the pattern! You will always start working the first crossed dc into the 3rd st at beg of the row. (You will have 36 bcrdc sts total between the ch3/csdc at the beginning and the last dc st at the end of the row.)

Row 4 (RS): ch 3 or csdc (counts as first dc), sk next st, 1 dc into next st, working in front the dc just made, 1 dc into skipped st to the right. You just made the first fcrdc group. Work fcr sts across the row till the you have 1 st left on the row, ending the row with 1 dc into last st; Do not turn!

Continue with the Second Panel this way:

Chest increase: At the end of row 4 chain 31, turn! (74 sts + 31 ch)

Row 5 (WS): Working into back bump of chains, yo-slst in 2nd ch from hook and yo-slst in each of next 29 ch across; continue working yo-sl st in each of next 74 dc across, ch1, turn ( total sts= 30+ 74= 104 sts)

Row 6 (RS): 1 yo-slst-blo in each st across, turn . (104 sts)

Row 7 (WS): as row 3 having 51 bcrdc

Row 8 (RS): as row 4 having 51 fcrdc

Having 104 sts total, repeat in Aran pattern:

• 1 row of yo-slst,
• 1 row of yo-slst-blo,
• 1 row of bcrdc,
• 1 row of fcrdc until you have 5 long panels.
(See image of the back part above!)

Shaping the neck: After finishing the 5 th panel, work a row of yo-slst ( 104 sts)

Next row: work 102 yo-slst blo, leaving the last 2 sts unworked ( 102 yo-slsts, ) turn.

Having 102 sts total continue in aran pattern until you have 5 complete panels.

Neck shaping increase: After finishing the 5th. Panel, ch 3, turn.

Next row (yo-slst row): working into back bump of chains, 1 yo-slst in 2nd ch from hook and 1 yo-sl st in next ch, 1yo-slst in each dc across the row. ( 104 sts)

Having 104 sts total, repeat aran pattern until you have 5 complete panels.

Next row: work a row of yo-slsts.

Next row - shaping the 2nd Arm Hole(yo-slst- blo row): Ch 1, work a row of 74 yo-slst-blo. Leave the remaining sts at the end of the row unworked.

Next row: ch3 /csdc, turn, bcrdc row (36 bcrdc)

Next row: ch3/ csdc, turn frcdc row. ( 36 frcrd)

Next row: yoslst Cut yarn leaving a long tail that will be used to sew the sides of the back to the right front side.

FRONT SIDES:



RIGHT FRONT SIDE: Follow the instructions from the back part starting at *, ending at the second *. Practically it is the back part worked just until the neck shaping part! The last row will be a yo-slst row. Cut yarn. Fasten off.

LEFT FRONT SIDE: ( is the mirror image of the right front side): Start with ch 105, turn. Work 5 panels in the aran pattern. (104 sts total)

Next row: yo-slst row (104 sts total)

Next row - shaping arm hole: Ch 1, work a row of 74 yo-slst-blo.

Leave the remaining sts at the end of the row unworked. Work 1 panel with 74 sts total.

Last row: work yo-slst. Cut yarn. Fasten off.

ASSEMBLING THE PIECES:

Side Seam:Thread yarn through yarn needle; on the right side sew along the sides using the Mattress stitch.

Shoulder Seam: On the right side, sew shoulder seams, being careful to line up the panels.



SLEEVES: For the sleeves was used an unusual method: one sleeve is worked from top down with decreases and the other is worked from the bottom up with increases. If you would work both sleeves the same way, the arrows will not match with the overall pattern!

This is how the sleeves look when you fold them:

1) LEFT SLEEVE - worked top down making decreases at the beginning and at the end of rows. Chain 61.

Row 1 (WS): Working into back bumps of chains, yo-slst in 2nd ch from hook and yo-slst in each ch across; turn (60 sts)

Row 2 (RS): ch1, yo-slst-blo in each st across; turn (60 sts)

Row 3 (WS): ch3 / csdc, work bcrdc sts across the row till the last st, ending the row with 1 dc into last st; turn ( 30 bcrdc total)

Row 4 (RS): ch3 / csdc, work fcrdc sts across the row till the last st, ending the row with 1 dc into last st; turn ( 30 fcrdc total)

Row 5 (WS): ch 1, yo-slst in each st across; turn ( 60 sts)

Row 6 ( DECREASE ROW on RS): ch 1, dec yo-slst-blo first 2 sts, 1 yo-slst-blo in each st across until you have 2 sts left; dec yo-slst-blo the last 2 sts; turn. ( 58 sts)

Repeat rows 3-6, decreasing the sts on the edges of every row with yo-slst-blo until you get to 42 sts total.

After you have 42 sts total, continue in aran pattern repeat without decreasing anymore, 2 times more, until you have 11 panels total. The last row will be a yo-slst row!

You will have 11 panels:

• 1st panel with 60 sts
• 2 snd panel with 58 sts
• 3rd. Panel with 56 sts
• 4th. panel with 54 sts
• 5th. panel with 52 sts
• 6th. panel with 50 sts
• 7th. panel with 48 sts
• 8th panel with 46 sts
• 9th panel with 44 sts
• 10th and 11th panels 42 sts

2) RIGHT SLEEVE - worked bottom up making increases at the beginning and the end of rows. Chain 43.

Row 1 (WS): Working into back bumps of chains, yo-slst in 2nd ch from hook and yo-slst in each ch across; turn (42 sts)

Row 2 (RS): ch1, yo-slst-blo in each st across; turn (42 sts)

Row 3 (WS): ch3 / csdc, work bcrdc sts across the row till the last st, ending the row with 1 dc into last st; turn ( 20 bcrdc total)

Row 4 (RS): ch3 / csdc, work fcrdc sts across the row till the last st, ending the row with 1 dc into last st; turn ( 20 fcrdc total)

Row 5 (WS): ch 1, yo-slst in each st across; turn ( 42 sts)

Row 6 (RS): ch1, yo-slst-blo in each st across; turn (42 sts)

Rows 7-9: Repeat as rows 3-5; turn. (42 sts)

Row 10 (INCREASE ROW on RS): ch 1, work 2 yo-slsts-blo into first st, 1 yo-slst-blo in each st across until the last st, work 2 yo-slsts-blo into last st; turn. (44 sts)

Work in the pattern stitch increasing the sts on the edges of every row of yo-slst-blo until you get to 60 sts total and you have 11 panels, ending with a row of yo-slsts.

You will have 11 panels:

• 1st and 2.nd panel with 42 sts total
• 3rd. Panel with 44 sts
• 4.th panel with 46 sts
• 5.th panel with 48 sts
• 6.th panel with 50 sts
• 7.th panel with 52 sts
• 8th panel with 54 sts
• 9.th panel with 56 sts
• 10.th panel with 58 sts
• 11.th panel with 60 sts

RIBBED CUFFS (make 2): With 5.5 mm crochet hook Ch 9, turn,

Row 1: 1 yo-slst into 2nd ch from hook, 1 yo-slst into each of next 7 ch, ch1, turn ( 8 sts)

Row 2: 1 yo-slst-blo into each st across ( 8 sts)

Rows 3- 42: Repeat row 2 until you have 21 ribs.

Sew Cuffs to Sleeves. Sew sleeves into shoulder inset, being careful to match the aran pattern, then sew along the sleeves, including the ribbing.



BOTTOM RIBBING: With 5.5 mm crochet hook Ch 9, turn,

Row 1: 1 yo-slst into 2nd ch from hook, 1 yo-slst into each of next 7 ch, ch1, turn ( 8 sts)

Row 2: 1 yo-slst-blo into each st across ( 8 sts)

Repeat row 2 until you have 75 ribs. Cut yarn, fasten off.

Sew the ribbing evenly onto bottom of cardigan starting at the left front corner.



COLLAR / SIDE RIBBING: 7 With 5 mm crochet hook Ch 13.

Row 1: Working into back bumps of chains, yo-slst-blo into 2nd ch from hook and yo-slst-blo in each ch across; ch 1, turn. ( 12 sts)

Row 2: work 1 yo-slsr-blo in each st across, ch1 turn ( 12 sts).

Repeat row 2 until the piece fits along Left Front edge, around the Back neck and along Right Front edge of Cardigan. I’ve got 130 ribs! Fasten off, sew evenly in place.



UPDATE 10/27/2018: If you enjoyed the aran pattern used in this cardigan, you might be happy to know that I have created a whole Chic Aran Series!

You can find all the patterns FREE here on My Hobby is Crochet Blog. Check them out at the links below:

1. Chic Aran Cowl
2. Chic Aran Headband/ Earwarmer
3. Chic Aran Boot Cuffs
...... and the series continues....

Other free crochet patterns worked with Chic Sheep Yarn:

1. The Chic Cable Slippers
2. The Chic Cable Beanie (from Toddler to Adult)
   

Get all my free crochet patterns and tutorials on my Free Crochet Pattern Page!

Make sure to check out all the other lovely patterns in the Chic Sheep Designer Blog Tour!



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Chic Aran Cardigan - Written Instructions and Pictures Copyright © 2018 Kinga Erdem This pattern is free for your personal use, you can sell the products of your work, a link back to my blog would be appreciated. Do not use my photos for selling purposes or modify them in any way. Please don't repost the pattern itself to any other sites, but please share the link to the pattern if you want to share the pattern with your friends. You may not give away copies of this pattern. Do not make video tutorials or translate my pattern in other languages without my written consent! Thank you. Kinga