Are you ready for a super fabulous & retro, easy crochet sweater pattern for beginners?! Then look no further! The Happy Stripes Cardigan is the perfect crochet cardigan pattern for you!
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Before we begin, here are some quick links for you:
- If you want a PDF of this pattern, then you can find it on Ravelry , Etsy, & my shop (my shop will be the biggest discount! 😉) – keep reading for more information about the design process!
- Add your finished project and view other completed projects on Ravelry here.
- Use the pattern hashtag #HappyStripesCardigan on Instagram to show off your makes!
- Shop Lion Brand Comfy Cotton here!
- If you have any pattern questions, then please email herrstitches@gmail.com.
- Do you want another easy crochet sweater pattern for beginners? Check out my other crochet patterns here.
A Beginner Crochet Sweater Pattern
Why is that the things that make us the happiest are often the most simple? Why are some of our favorite memories casual occasions like a bonfire with friends or a day at the park? The complicated and the intense all have their place in life, but I love the casual and straightforward. With the Happy Stripes Cardigan, I wanted to create a straightforward, easy crochet sweater pattern for beginners. It’s a crochet cardigan pattern that embodies simplicity and ease.
Embracing simplicity, I designed the Happy Stripes cardigan to be an incredibly easy crochet sweater pattern aimed towards beginners. Thus, its cool retro design makes use of just the single crochet stitch, the most basic of crochet stitches. And if you love how easy and fun this crochet project is, check out the Happy Stripes Pullover too!
Yarn
This cardigan is made with Lion Brand Comfy Cotton yarn, a cotton-polyester blend yarn that, in addition to being durable and very soft, is machine washable. This yarn also comes in really large cakes (with 392 yards per cake!), which is incredible because you don’t need many of them to complete any crochet project. I also really love when yarn already comes as a cake, there’s something just so practical about it. I feel like it doesn’t get tangled up as much as a skein can get tangled.
For the colorful sleeve stripes, this crochet cardigan offers a great opportunity to make use of any bon-bons, leftovers, or old favorites you have laying around – make it yours! (I used Lion Brand Bonbons for my stripes, they’re lovely!). But you can really let your creativity shine and use any yarn you have laying around. (Fuzzy yarn would look super cool!)
Crochet Hook & Stitches
For this project, I broke out a Furls Streamline hook, which is a treat to crochet with – and looks great doing it! The thick grip of this hook allows for easy manipulation of the yarn and prevents my hand from cramping up. If you use a light-weight yarn, then I highly recommend investing in a Furls hook! The hook is so light and really glides through the yarn. If you’ve never used a Furls hook before, check out my blog post here comparing 3 different types of Furls hooks.
The stitch for this design is none other than the single crochet! It’s honestly one of my favorite stitches because I remember it was the first stitch I ever learned (I’m probably in the majority with that! LOL). But it also creates such a nice, cozy fabric. I really wanted this cardigan to be simple enough that a beginner could tackle it without being overwhelmed, and for me, the single crochet stitch plus a VERY simple cardigan construction was the way to do that.
A Classic Easy Crochet Sweater Pattern
Inspired by the love of the understated, this simple pattern is sure to be fun to make and wear, whether it is your first project or your thousandth. I may be biased, but with its vintage letterman cardigan styling, the Happy Stripes cardigan will be at the top of your wardrobe’s roster!
xo,
Jessica
P.S. I absolutely LOVE seeing your makes! If you make any Herr Stitches patterns, then tag me and then I’ll share them!
P.P.S. If you love this design, don’t forget to Pin It to save for later!
