Sideways Cardigan Crochet Pattern

Sideways Cardigan in Berroco Comfort DK

What is Being Made

The Sideways Cardigan is a baby and toddler cardigan designed for sizes 3 to 24 months, with finished measurements ranging from 19 to 26 inches. This garment is constructed using a unique sideways construction method, worked from cuff to cuff rather than in the traditional top-down or bottom-up approach. The cardigan features five 5/8" buttons for closure and is designed to showcase the self-striping and self-patterning properties of the yarn, which creates stripes and dots automatically as you work.

Techniques Used

The primary construction technique for this cardigan is sideways construction, meaning the piece is worked horizontally from the left sleeve cuff across the body to the right sleeve cuff. This method allows the crocheter to build the entire garment in one continuous piece, eliminating the need for seaming multiple components together. The pattern includes sleeve shaping accomplished through strategic increases worked at the beginning and end of rows on the right side. Increases are worked every other row for a specified number of times depending on the size being made, ranging from 7 to 10 increase rows. The body section is attached by chaining stitches and incorporating them into the pattern, creating seamless transitions between the sleeve and body sections.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout this cardigan is Ridged Single Crochet, a textured variation of basic single crochet that creates a ridged appearance. The Ridged Single Crochet stitch pattern is worked over any number of stitches plus one chain and is established with a Set-Up Row worked on the wrong side. The pattern then alternates between two rows: Row 1 uses single crochet through the back loop only (sc-tbl), and Row 2 uses single crochet through the front loop only (sc-tfl). This alternating technique creates the characteristic ridged texture. The pattern also incorporates basic single crochet stitches for the initial foundation chain and for attaching new sections during the sideways construction process.

Materials: Yarn and Hooks

This pattern calls for Berroco Comfort DK yarn, a blend of 50% super fine nylon and 50% super fine acrylic. The yarn is available in the colorway #2856 Balance Beam, which features self-striping and self-patterning properties that create dots and stripes as the yarn is worked. The yardage requirement is 178 yards per 50-gram skein, with a total of 3 to 4 skeins needed depending on the size being made. Sizes 3, 6, and 9 months require 3 skeins, while sizes 12, 18, and 24 months require 4 skeins. A single US F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook is used throughout the entire project. The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working in Ridged Single Crochet, and crocheters are advised to adjust hook size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge for proper fit.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the Ridged Single Crochet stitch itself is described as simple and straightforward, the sideways construction method and the need to manage shaping increases and body attachments require some experience and attention to detail. The pattern is well-suited for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and have experience working with stitch variations and garment shaping.