Icebox Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern

The Icebox Cardigan free crochet pattern is vintage inspired and flattering on a curvy body. It is constructed as one piece from the top down. It’s fastened with snaps but you could also use buttons if you’d like. This pattern is rated as intermediate.

 

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View the Icebox Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern below. If you’d like to print this pattern or have it as a PDF you can purchase it.

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Sizes 
XS(S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X)
Chest: 28”(32”, 36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”)
Finished chest: 28”(32”, 36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”)
*Garment modeled in size S on a 35”” bust.

Yarn
Plucky Sweater by The Plucky Knitter (90% merino/10% nylon; 270 yd/247m; DK/8ply/light worsted/3 weight)
3(4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) hanks of Vintage Icebox

Hook
H/5mm hook (or hook to obtain gauge)

Notions
8 size 4 sew on snaps or 5/8” buttons
4 stitch markers
Yarn needle

Gauge 
17 herr hdc worked in the FLO by 10 rows = 4” square (blocked)

Notes
Please read all instructions before beginning.

This sweater is worked from top down in one piece.

Instructions for this top are written for all sizes as XS(S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X).

When instructed to join, join with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the round.

Abbreviations
Ch = chain
St = stitch
Fsc = foundation single crochet
Herr hdc = herringbone half double crochet
CL = Cluster
Sc = single crochet
SM = stitch marker
Rs = right side
Ws = wrong side
FLO = front loop only
BLO = Back loop only

Special Stitches
Foundation Single Crochet (Fsc): Ch 2, insert hook into the 2nd ch from hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 1 loop on hook (this makes the ch), yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook (completes the sc).
Next Fsc: Insert hook under the 2 loops of the ch of the last st and pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 1 loop, yarn over pull through 2 loops. Video HERE.

Herringbone Half Double Crochet (herr hdc): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch indicated, yarn over, pull through stitch AND first loop on hook, yarn over, pull through 2 remaining loops on hook.

Cluster (CL): (Yarn over insert hook into stitch indicated, pull up a loop) 3 times, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook.

Icebox Cardigan Free Crochet Pattern Instructions

Yoke
Shaping of Neck and Raglan
Row 1: Fsc 56(60, 64, 68, 72, 74, 80).
Place a SM on st # 4(4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6), 15(15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 17), 42(46, 50, 54, 58, 59, 64) and 53(57, 61, 65, 69, 70, 75).
Row 2: Ch 1 (does NOT count as a st from here on), turn, working in the FLO, 2 herr hdc in the 1st st, *herr hdc in each st until 1 st remains before the SM, 2 herr hdc in the next st, CL in the marked st and move SM to the st just made, 2 herr hdc in the next st; repeat from * 3 more times, herr hdc in each st unit 1 st remains, 2 herr hdc in the last st. 66(70, 74, 78, 82, 84, 90)

Repeat row 2 until you have 11(13, 15, 17, 19, 18, 19) rows. 156(180, 204, 228, 252, 244, 260)
You are adding 10 sts each row.

Shaping of Raglan only
Row 1: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO, *herr hdc in each st until 1 st remains before the SM, 2 herr hdc in the next st, CL in the marked st and move SM to the st just made, 2 herr hdc in the next st; repeat from * 3 more times, herr hdc in each remaining st. 164(188, 212, 236, 260, 252, 268)
Repeat row 1, 3(2, 2, 1, 1, 3, 3) more times. 188(204, 228, 244, 268, 276, 292)

Body
Divide for Underarms
Row 1 (dividing row): Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO, *herr hdc in each st before the SM, herr hdc in the marked st and remove SM, ch 4(6, 6, 8, 10, 16, 18), herr hdc in the next marked st (skip all sts in between the marked sts) and remove SM; repeat from * 1 more time, herr hdc in each remaining st. 112(124, 140, 152, 168, 172, 184) plus 2 ch spaces.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, *herr hdc in each st across. 120(136, 152, 168, 188, 204, 220)

Repeat row 2, 33 more times (35 total rows). 120(136, 152, 168, 188, 204, 220)

Do NOT Fasten off.

Trim
Front and Neck
Row 1 (ws): Ch 1, working in the FLO, (herr hdc in next, CL in next) evenly up the front, around the neck and down the other front.
Tip: work one st per row when working on the fronts of the cardigan.
Row 2 (rs): Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO, herr hdc in each st across.
Do NOT fasten off.

Bottom Ribbing
Row 1: Ch 5, sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next 3 chs,
slip st in the end of row 1 of the front trim and the 1st st of the bottom of the cardigan. (4)
Row 2: Working in the BLO, skip the 1st 2 slip st, sc in the next 4 sts. (4)
Row 3: Turn, working in the BLO, sc in the 1st 4 sts, slip st in the next 2 sts of the bottom of the cardigan. (4)
Repeat rows 2 and 3 across the bottom of the cardigan until you reach the other side of the front trim ending with row 2.
Next Row: Turn, working in the BLO sc in the 1st 4 sts, slip st in the ends of the 2 rows of the front trim.
Repeat row 2. (4)
Finishing Row (rs): Ch 1, turn, evenly sc in each st up the front trim, around the neck and down the other side of the front trim.
Fasten off.

Sleeves
Sizes XS, L, 1X and 3X only
With RIGHT side facing join to any st of the underarm.
Sizes S, M, L and 2X only
With WRONG side facing join to any st of the underarm.

All sizes
Round 1: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO herr hdc in each st around, join with a slip st to the 1st st. 42(46, 50, 54, 60, 68, 72)
Round 2: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO herr hdc in each st around, join with a slip st to the 1st st. 42(46, 50, 54, 60, 68, 72)
Repeat round 2 adding a decrease row (instructions below) every 4(4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2) rounds alternating between decrease round 1 and 2 until you have 28 total rounds.
Tip: if you do not alternate between the 2 decrease rounds the seam down the sleeve will slant to one side.
Decrease Round 1: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO herr hdc in each st until 1 st remains, skip the last st, join with a slip st to the 1st st.
Decrease Round 2: Ch 1, turn, Skip the 1st st, working in the FLO herr hdc in each remaining st join with a slip st to the 1st st.
You will end with 35(39, 43, 47, 46, 54, 58) sts.

Sleeve Trim
Row 1: Ch 5, sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next 3 chs,
slip st next 2 sts of the bottom of the sleeve. (4)
Row 2: Working in the BLO skip the 1st 2 slip st, sc in the next 4 sts. (4)
Row 3: Turn, working in the BLO sc in the 1st 4 sts, slip st in the next 2 sts of the bottom of the sleeve. (4)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 around the entire sleeve opening, join the first row to the last row working in the BLO to keep the ribbing consistent.

Fasten off, repeat on the other arm opening.

Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block to measurements.
Sew snaps (or buttons) onto trim spacing them about 2” apart.
If using buttons they will fit through the space between the CL and herr hdc of the front trim.