Summer Cardigan, Vintage Crochet Patterns for Women

A summer cardigan is a versatile and lightweight garment that can be a stylish addition to your warm-weather wardrobe. Here’s a simple crochet pattern to create a summer cardigan:

Materials:

• Fingering or sport weight cotton yarn in your desired color
• Crochet hook (size appropriate for your yarn)
• Yarn needle
• Buttons or other closure options

Instructions:

1. Begin by taking your measurements. You’ll need to measure your bust, waist, and desired cardigan length. This will help you determine the size and shape of your cardigan.
2. Create a gauge swatch. Using your chosen yarn and crochet hook, create a small swatch in the stitch pattern you plan to use for your cardigan. This will help you determine the number of stitches and rows needed to achieve the correct size.
3. Start with the back panel. Chain the desired number of stitches based on your bust measurement, allowing for ease. This will be the widest part of your upper body.
4. Work the back panel in a stitch pattern suitable for warm weather, such as a lacy stitch pattern or an open stitch pattern like a mesh or filet crochet. Repeat the stitch pattern until the panel reaches your desired length.
5. Move on to the front panels. To create the front panels, chain the desired number of stitches based on your bust measurement, accounting for the desired overlap in the front. The number of stitches may be slightly smaller than the back panel to create the overlap.
6. Work the front panels in the same stitch pattern as the back panel, matching the length of the back panel. You can create shaping by decreasing stitches gradually along the neck edge.
7. Create the sleeves. For each sleeve, you’ll need to create a rectangular panel. Chain the desired number of stitches based on your arm circumference, and then work in the same stitch pattern as the body until the panel reaches the desired length, typically the elbow or mid-forearm.
8. Assemble the cardigan. Lay the back panel, front panels, and sleeves flat on a surface, right sides facing up. Use the yarn needle to sew the shoulder seams, attaching the front panels to the back panel. Then, sew the side seams, leaving room for the armholes.
9. Add any desired edgings or borders. You can crochet a border along the front opening, collar, and cuffs using a complementary stitch pattern or a simple single crochet or slip stitch edging.
10. Finally, add closures such as buttons, toggles, or ties to the front opening. Sew them securely to ensure the cardigan stays closed when worn.