🧶 Easy Crochet Baby Cardigan Sweater (Beginner Friendly)

Sure! Here’s a detailed guide on how to make an easy crochet baby cardigan sweater, perfect for beginners. This step-by-step tutorial assumes you have basic crochet skills like chaining, single crochet, and double crochet.

🧶 Easy Crochet Baby Cardigan Sweater (Beginner Friendly)

📏 Size:

This pattern is for a 0–3 month old baby, but you can adjust the size by using thicker yarn, a larger hook, or adding more rows and stitches.

✅ Materials Needed:

Yarn: Medium weight (Category 4) acrylic or cotton yarn (approx. 200g)
Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6) or 4.5 mm crochet hook
Scissors
Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)
Stitch markers (optional)
Buttons (2–3 small buttons, optional)

🔤 Abbreviations (US Terms):

Abbreviation	Meaning
ch	chain
sc	single crochet
dc	double crochet
sl st	slip stitch
st(s)	stitch(es)
rep	repeat
inc	increase (2 sts in one)

🧵 Instructions: Top-Down Raglan Style

This pattern is made in one piece from the top down, then the sleeves are worked in the round.

✨ Step 1: Yoke

Foundation chain:
Ch 52

Row 1 (Setup row):
Dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. (50 dc)
Turn.

Row 2 (Increasing row):
Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in each of next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st – repeat across row.
You will now have 56 dc.
Turn.

Row 3–8 (More increases):
Continue working dc across with increases at raglan points (every 8–10 sts) until the yoke reaches approx. 4.5–5 inches.

📌 Use stitch markers to mark raglan increase points to help keep track.

✨ Step 2: Divide for Body & Sleeves

Row 9:

Dc across to the first stitch marker.
Skip all stitches between the first and second stitch marker (these are sleeve stitches).
Ch 4 (creates underarm).
Dc across back section to the third stitch marker.
Skip to the fourth stitch marker (2nd sleeve).
Ch 4 again.
Dc to the end.

You should now have a “U” shaped piece — only the body part.

✨ Step 3: Body

Rows 10–18 (or desired length):
Dc in each st across (including the 4 ch underarms).
Repeat until the cardigan reaches the desired body length (about 6–7 inches total from neck).

Fasten off and weave in the end.

✨ Step 4: Sleeves

Attach yarn to the armpit area.
Round 1:
Dc evenly around the sleeve hole. Join with sl st.

Rounds 2–8:
Dc around. Repeat until sleeve is ~4 inches long.
(You can make them short or long-sleeved.)

Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat for second sleeve.

✨ Step 5: Collar and Button Band (Optional)

Collar:
Attach yarn at neck. Sc or dc evenly around neckline (1–2 rows).

Button Band (Optional):

On the front edge, sc evenly down.
On the opposite side, repeat but add buttonholes (ch 2, skip 2 stitches) at even intervals.
Sew buttons on opposite side.