Color Block Crochet Cardigan - Free Pattern by Cactus + Lace

This crochet color block cardigan is drapey, textured and perfect for layering. Find the free cardigan pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

Thanks to Lion Brand Yarns for supplying the yarn for this color block crochet cardigan pattern. This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome back to the Make & Do Crew guest designer series where talented designers from across the internet share their free patterns with you, right here on Make & Do Crew.

Today Ashley from Cactus & Lace Designs is back with her free color block crochet cardigan pattern! Last year, Ashley shared the popular Weekender Sweater pattern as part of our guest designer series.

You can see lots of of Ashley's free crochet patterns her blog, Cactus & Lace. And be sure to check her out on social media too: Instagram and Pinterest. Ashley, take it away!

Bring on Spring with a Color Block Cardigan

Hey guys, I’m Ashley- the designer and maker behind Cactus & Lace Designs! I am so excited to be back again sharing my new color block crochet crochet cardigan pattern! 

For most of us, spring is one of the best times of the year. I don’t know if it’s the warm morning sun combined with the crisp weather, the blossoming flowers, or all the light weight, breezy  sweaters that this season brings, but inspiration seems to be every where you look.

So when I was brainstorming ideas for my new spring design, I just knew I wanted to create a cardigan. For this particular cardigan design as well as most of my other designs,  I had a few requirements that had to be met before I would be happy with the end result.

Related: 25+ modern free crochet sweater patterns ⇨

First, the design needed to be beginner friendly. Second, I wanted this cardigan to be a quick make. No one wants to spend countless weeks working on one project, especially when there are tons of other amazing designs just begging to be made. And third, I needed this crochet cardigan to have just the perfect amount of that subtle boho vibe that I have become known for. 

I’d like to think that The Remi cardigan checks off all of my requirements and is the perfect sweater to add to your handmade spring wardrobe!

Drape for Days

Every great cardigan needs great yarn. For my Remi cardigan, I decided to use Lion Brand Coboo, a size 3 lightweight yarn.

From the very first time I ever laid my eyes (and hands) on this yarn, I knew I wanted to make all my wearables with it! It is a blend of cotton and bamboo, which gives this yarn an incredibly silky, smooth texture, and a drape that can’t be beat!

Another great thing about this yarn is that when worked double stranded, it creates an incredibly soft and squishy material that you will want to live in!

Deliver it! Make things easy and order your Coboo yarn ⇨

Crochet Color Block Cardigan Skills

To ensure that this cardigan is beginner-friendly, I decided to make the main body all in one piece, with no increases or decreases. The sleeves are then worked separately in turned rounds and attached to the sweater.

Another thing that makes this cardigan so unique is that it is made using only double crochet and single crochet stitches while holding two strands of yarn together, instead of the traditional one strand.

Pin It! Click to pin this pattern for later ⇨

More Free Crochet Sweater Patterns

Crochet sweater patterns don't need to be difficult. In fact, most of ours are made with very simple shapes. Dive into the wonderful world of crochet garments with cardigans, pullovers, ponchos, shrugs and more!

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Remi Color Block Crochet Cardigan
Free Pattern

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

Pin this pattern for later here.

Explanation: The Remi Cardigan is a lightweight and cozy cardigan with just the perfect amount of texture. The open stitch work paired with the one of the best draping yarns makes this crochet cardigan the perfect layering piece for those cool fall days. This Cardi is made in one piece, with no increases or decreases, and works up in just a few days, therefore making it a perfect project for beginner and experienced crocheters alike. 

Skills Required for this easy crochet cardigan include double crochet and single crochet. 

Supplies:
• Lion Brand Coboo (Weight: 3/light - 232 Yds, 3.5 oz)
- Mauve (#835-145) - 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5) balls
- Tan (#835-123) - 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5) balls
• U.S M (9.00 mm) crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Stitch markers

Sizes/Measurements:

Women's Sizes	Fits Bust (inches)	Length (inches)
XS	36	27
S	40	27
M	44	29
L	48	29
XL	52	30
2XL	56	31
3XL	60	31

Gauge:
• Holding 2 strands of yarn together and working in the back loop only
- 8 Dc = 4”
- 2 rows of Dc + 2 rows of Dc “X”s = 4”

Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms):
Ch-Chain
Yo- Yarn over
St- Stitch
Dc- Double Crochet
Fdc- Foundation Double Crochet
Sc- Single Crochet
Sl St- Slip Stitch
Blo- Back loop only

Overall Pattern Notes:
• Sweater is worked from the bottom up, holding two strands of light weight yarn together throughout entire pattern.

• ALL stitches are worked in the Back Loop Only.

• Color A is the bottom color (Mauve), Color B is the top color (Tan).

• This sweater is worked in one piece and then divided for armholes.

• Sleeves are worked from cuff up in TURNED rounds.

• Ch 2 and Ch 3 do NOT count as stitches throughout.

• Pattern is worked in a 4 row repeat. Repeat as follows 2 Dc rows in the back loop only, then 2 Dc “X” rows in the back loop only.

Begin Cardigan

Instructions written Xs ( S, M, L, Xl, 2XL, 3XL).

With Color A

Row 1: Holding 2 strands of yarn together, Fdc 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120). Turn.

*If you are uncomfortable with the Fdc, you can Ch 74 (82, 90, 98, 106, 114, 122), Dc in the 3rd Ch from the hook and in each Ch across*

Row 2: Ch 2. Working in the Blo, Dc in the first St, and each St across. Turn. [72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) Dc]

Row 3: Ch 3. Skip the First St, Dc in the Blo of the 2nd St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St. (one X created). *Skip the next stitch, Dc in Blo of the next St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St*. Repeat from * to * across. Turn. [36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60) X’s]

Row 4: Ch 3. Skip the First St, Dc in the Blo of the 2nd St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St. (one X created). *Skip the next stitch, Dc in Blo of the next St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St*. Repeat from * to * across. Turn. [36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60) X’s]

Row 5: Ch 2. Working in the Blo, Dc in the first St, and each St across. Turn. [72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) Dc]

Row 6-19 (19, 19, 18, 19, 18, 18): Repeat rows 2-5 in Color A. At the end of row 13 (14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14) change to color B.

Sizes Xs, S, M, & XL will end in an X row.

Sizes L, 2XL & 3XL will end in a DC row.

Do not finish off, this is where we will divide for the armholes.

Panels will be divided as follows:

Size	Left Front	Back	Right Front
XS	18	36	18
S	20	40	20
M	22	44	22
L	24	48	24
XL	26	52	26
2XL	28	56	28
3XL	30	60	30

With your sweater laying in front of you, count 18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) from each side towards the middle and place a stitch marker in this stitch.

You will now have 2 stitch markers dividing your sweater into 3 panels.

With working yarns still attached, continue working in established pattern beginning with first front panel.

First Front

Row 20 (20, 20, 19, 20, 19, 19): Repeat row 4 (4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3) ending with your last St in the first stitch marker. [9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ) X’s]

Row 21 (21, 21, 20, 21, 20, 20): Repeat row 5 (5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4). [18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) Dc]

Row 22 (22, 22, 21, 22, 21, 21)-26 (27, 27, 27, 28, 28, 28): Repeat rows 2-5.

Size Xs will end with a Dc row, all others will end with an X row

Finish off leaving a long tail to seam shoulders.

Back Panel

Join yarn in the next open stitch from row 19 (19, 19, 18, 19, 18, 18).

Row 20 (20, 20, 19, 20, 19, 19): Repeat row 4 (4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3) ending with your last St in the stitch BEFORE the stitch marker. [18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) X’s]

Row 21 (21, 21, 20, 21, 20, 20): Repeat row 5 (5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4). [36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60) Dc]

Row 22 (22, 22, 21, 22, 21, 21)-26 (27, 27, 27, 28, 28, 28): Repeat rows 2-5.

Size XS will end with a Dc row, all others will end with an X row.

Second Front

Join yarn in the next open stitch from row 19 (19, 19, 18, 19, 18, 18) (the one with the stitch marker)

Row 20 (20, 20, 19, 20, 19, 19): Repeat row 4 (4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3). [9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) X’s]

Row 21 (21, 21, 20, 21, 20, 20): Repeat row 5 (5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4). [18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) Dc]

Row 22 (22, 22, 21, 22, 21, 21)-26 (27, 27, 27, 28, 28, 28): Repeat rows 2-5.

Size Xs will end with a Dc row, all others will end with an X row

Finish off leaving a long tail to seam shoulders.

Seaming The Shoulders

With your sweater laying in front of you, fold the left panel over the back panel and your right panel over the back panel.

It should be noted that there is no Right Side or Wrong side to this cardi as both sides look the same. So it does not matter which side you do the seam on.

You should line up your stitches to ensure you sew the shoulders evenly.
For example, if your front panel is 18 stitches wide, you will seam up to the 18th stitch of the back panel on both sides.

Using your yarn needle and yarn tails mattress seam the shoulder pieces to the back piece.

Sleeves

Make 2.

Cuffs

With Color A

Row 1: Holding 2 strands of yarn together, Ch 9. Sc in the second Ch and in each Ch across. Ch 1, Turn. (8)

Row 2-14(16, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20): Sc in the Blo across. Ch 1, Turn. (8)

Do not fasten off.

You will now be connecting the two short ends of the cuff by slip stitching them together.

Fold the cuff with the short sides together (row 1 & row 14 (16, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). Going through both loops on each end of the band, SL ST the edges together. (8 Sl St)

Ch 1 and flip the band to where the seam is now on the inside of the band and turn your cuff to face you.

You will now start working the main portion of the sleeves

Round 1: 2 Sc in the first St (where your Ch 1 is) and in each stitch around. Join with a Sl St to first Sc. [30 (34, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) Sc]

***This portion of the sleeves is worked in TURNED rounds. Join at the end of each round with a Sl St and then TURN your work so that your next round will be worked in the opposite direction. ***

Round 2: Ch 3. Skip the First St, Dc in the Blo of the 2nd St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St. (one X created). *Skip the next stitch, Dc in Blo of the next St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St*. Repeat from * to * around. Join with a Sl St to the first Dc. Turn. [15 (17, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) X’s]

Round 3: Ch 3. Skip the First St, Dc in the Blo of the 2nd St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St. (one X created). *Skip the next stitch, Dc in Blo of the next St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St*. Repeat from * to * around. Join with a Sl St to the first Dc. Turn. [15 (17, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) X’s]

Round 4: Ch 2. Working in the Blo, Dc in the first St, and each St around. Join with a Sl St to the first Dc. Turn. [30 (34, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) Dc]

Round 5: Ch 2. Working in the Blo, Dc in the first St, and each St around. Join with a Sl St to the first Dc. Turn. [30 (34, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) Dc]

Round 6-16 (16, 16, 17, 17, 17, 17): Repeat rows 2-5. At the end of round 10 (11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12) change to color B.

Sizes XS, S & M will end in a Dc round

Sizes L, XL, 2XL & 3XL will end in an X round

Finish off leaving a very long tail for seaming sleeves to sweater.

Attaching Sleeves

Turn your sweater and your sleeves which ever way you choose is wrong side out. Line up your sleeve seam with the under side of the armhole and mattress seam around the arm hole.

Turn your sweater right side out.

Collar Band

With Color B

Turn your sweater so that the Right side front panel is facing you. Attach yarn in the bottom right corner of your sweater.

Row 1: Holding 2 strands of yarn together. Sc 62 (64, 64, 64, 66, 66, 66) evenly along the edge of the first front panel and then Sc 62 (64, 64, 64, 66, 66, 66) evenly down the second front. When you reach the bottom corner of the Left front panel, Ch 1 and Turn. [124 (128, 128, 128, 132, 132, 132) Sc]

Row 2-4: Sc in each stitch around.

Pockets (optional)

With Color A

Row 1: Holding 2 strands of yarn together. Ch 15, Sc in the 2nd Ch from hook and in each Ch across. Turn (14)

Row 2: Ch 3. Skip the First St, Dc in the Blo of the 2nd St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St. (one X created). *Skip the next stitch, Dc in Blo of the next St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St*. Repeat from * to * across. Turn. (7 Xs)

Row 3: Ch 3. Skip the First St, Dc in the Blo of the 2nd St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St. (one X created). *Skip the next stitch, Dc in Blo of the next St. Then going behind the Dc you just made, Dc in the Blo of the skipped St*. Repeat from * to * across. Turn. (7 Xs)

Row 4: Ch 2. Working in the Blo, Dc in the first St, and each St across. Turn. (14)

Row 5: Ch 2. Working in the Blo, Dc in the first St, and each St across. Turn. (14)

Row 6: Repeat row 2

Row 7: Repeat row 3

Row 8: Repeat row 4

Finish off leaving a long tail for attaching pocket to sweater.

Attaching Pockets

Lay your sweater in front of you. Position the pockets where you like them. I lined the bottom of my pocket up with row 2 on both of the front panels about 2 Xs or 4 Dc stitches from the collar. Take your yarn tail and mattress stitch the pocket to the sweater.

Tip: It is useful to place stitch markers in the 4 corners of your pocket attaching it to the sweater so that the pocket doesn’t move around as much while seaming.

Tie off, tuck in all your loose ends and wrap yourself up in your new favorite sweater!

Thanks again to Ashley from Cactus & Lace Designs for sharing this free color block crochet cardigan pattern! Be sure to check out Ashley's blog for lots more free modern crochet patterns!

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