Free Easy Hexagon Crochet Cardigan Pattern (Beginner-Friendly!)
Sweater weather is finally here! If you have been browsing crochet ideas looking for your very first wearable garment, you are in the right place. Today, I am sharing the famous Free Hexagon Crochet Cardigan Pattern.
If you have never crocheted clothes before, making a sweater can feel terrifying. But what if I told you that you don’t need to worry about complicated shaping, armholes, or decreasing?
This viral crochet cardigan relies on a magical math trick. You simply crochet two large granny hexagons (a shape with 6 sides). When you fold a hexagon in half, it magically folds into an “L” shape, creating one half of a sweater (the body and the sleeve)! You just make two, sew them together down the back, and you have a beautiful, cozy crochet sweater.
Materials You Will Need
This pattern is incredibly flexible. You can use a solid color, self-striping yarn (like Lion Brand Mandala), or use up your scrap yarn to make colorful stripes!
- Yarn: 4 to 6 skeins (approx. 1,200 – 1,800 yards depending on your size) of Light (Size 3) DK or Medium (Size 4) Worsted weight yarn.
- Crochet Hook: A 5.5 mm (I-9) or 6.0 mm hook (a slightly larger hook gives the cardigan a beautiful, flowy drape).
- Tools: A measuring tape, stitch markers, a tapestry needle, and scissors.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR: Magic Ring
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- dc: double crochet
- sp: space
- cluster: 3 double crochets worked into the same space
The Magic Hexagon Pattern (Make 2!)
Note: The ch-3 at the beginning of a round counts as your first double crochet (dc).
Round 1: Make a Magic Ring.
Ch 3, 2 dc into the ring (this is your first cluster).
Ch 2, 3 dc into the ring. Repeat from * to * four more times.
Ch 2, and join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Pull the magic ring tight.
(You should have 6 clusters of 3-dc, separated by 6 ch-2 corner spaces).
Round 2: Sl st across the next 2 dc to get into the first ch-2 corner space.
Ch 3. In the same corner space, work (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). This is your new corner!
Skip the next 3 dc. In the next ch-2 corner space, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc).
Repeat from * to * in all 6 corners. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
Round 3: Sl st to the first ch-2 corner space.
Ch 3, and work (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into the corner space.
Skip the next 3 dc. Work 3 dc into the space between the clusters.
In the next ch-2 corner space, work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc).
Repeat this pattern around the hexagon (corners get the corner sequence; flat sides get a normal 3-dc cluster). Join with a sl st.
Rounds 4 and Beyond:
Continue this exact same pattern! Every corner gets a (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). Every space along the flat sides gets a (3 dc) cluster.
Keep growing your hexagon until it is large enough.
How Do I Know When to Stop?
Here is the magic trick: Fold your hexagon in half! Place one corner touching the opposite corner. It will form an “L” shape.
Wrap the sleeve part around your arm, and the body part across your chest. When the sleeve is comfortably loose and the body reaches the middle of your chest, your first half is done! Now, make a second identical hexagon.
Assembly: Putting the Cardigan Together
- Fold Both Hexagons: Fold both hexagons into their “L” shapes. Lay them flat on a table so the two back edges touch.
- Seam the Back: Use your tapestry needle and a piece of yarn to sew the two back panels together (starting from the bottom hem, up to the neck).
- Seam the Sleeves: Sew the top of the arm tubes together to close the sleeves (starting from the neck, down to the wrist).
Customizing Your Cardigan
Once your crochet clothes are assembled, you might find the sleeves are too short, or the body isn’t long enough. Don’t worry!
- To lengthen the sleeves: Simply attach your yarn to the wrist hole and crochet in rounds until it reaches your hands.
- To lengthen the body: Attach your yarn to the bottom hem and crochet back and forth in rows until the sweater is as long as you want it.
You can even add a ribbed border around the front opening for a polished look!
If you loved discovering the magic behind this free crochet cardigan pattern, make sure to Save it to your Pinterest boards so you can make one in every color this fall!
Happy Crocheting! 🧶🍂
