Cropped Lacy Cardigan

Using a free crochet pattern from Caron International Yarns like this one you can make a cute cropped cardigan. The ruffle sleeves add a little extra design that you will have fun in. The buttons match the cardigan because you crochet those too.

Materials:

• Caron International's Simply Soft (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m skein):
• # 9721 Victorian Rose, 3 (3, 4) skeins
• One size US I/9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, or size to obtain gauge
• Split-ring stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• One size US G/7 (4.5 mm) for crochet buttons (optional)
• Or Six - 5/8" buttons (optional)
• Row counter

GAUGE
In Mesh stitch pattern, 7 spaces and 14 1/2 rows = 4"/10cm using larger hook

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
Inc 1 (at beg of row): After turning, ch 4, sc in first st (last sc of previous row) – 1 new space made. Then repeat from * of Mesh st.

Dec (at end of row): Work across until number of spaces indicated in instructions remain; ch 1, insert hook in next space, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through first loop on hook, insert hook in space under the two loops on hook, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 3 loops on hook; turn. Continue in Mesh st.

STITCHES USED
Chain (ch)
Double crochet (dc)
Half double crochet (hdc)
Single crochet (sc)
Treble (tr)

Mesh Stitch (multiple of 2 sts).

• Row 1 (RS): Sc in sixth ch from hook (counts as first space); *ch 3, skip 1 ch, sc into next ch; repeat from * to end; turn.
• Row 2: Ch 4, sc in first space, *ch 3, sc into next space; repeat from *across; turn.
• Repeat Row 2 for Mesh st.

Shell: Work [hdc, dc, hdc] in st indicated.

RIGHT FRONT

• Foundation Row: Using larger hook, loosely ch 32 (36, 40).
• Begin Mesh st—14 (16, 18) ch-spaces after Row 1.
• Work even for 8 more rows; end with a RS row—9 rows total.
• Shape Side
• Row 10: (WS) At armhole edge, inc 1, work to end—15 (17, 19) spaces.
• Rows 11 – 19: Work even.
• Row 20: Repeat Row 10—16 (18, 20) spaces.
• Rows 21 –32: Work even.
• Shape Armhole
• Next Row: (RS) Work across until 3 spaces remain, work dec—13 (15, 17) spaces remain.
• Continuing in Mesh st, work 2 (4, 6) rows even.
• Shape Front Neck
• Next Row: (WS) Work across until 3 spaces remain, work dec at neck edge; turn—10 (12, 14) spaces remain.
• Next Row: (RS) At armhole edge, dec 1 space—9 (11, 13) spaces remain.
• Next Row: At neck edge, dec 2 spaces—7 (9, 11) spaces remain.
• Working armhole edge even, dec 1 space at neck edge every other row 3 times—4 (6, 8) spaces remain; 44 (46, 48) rows completed.
• Work even until armhole measures 7 (7 1/2, 8)" from beginning of shaping, end with a RS row.
• Shape Shoulder
• Work 2 (3, 4) spaces, slip st into next space.
• Fasten off.

LEFT FRONT
Work as for right Front, reversing shaping.

BACK

• Foundation Row: Using larger hook, loosely chain 62 (70, 78).
• Begin Mesh st– 29 (33, 37) ch-spaces after Row 1.
• Work even for 8 more rows; end with a RS row—9 rows total.

Shape Sides

• Rows 10 and 11: Inc 1 space at beg of next 2 rows—31 (35, 39) spaces. Work even for 8 rows.
• Rows 20 and 21: Repeat Rows 10 and 11—33 (37, 41) spaces. Work even until piece measures same as right Front to underarm—32 rows completed.

Shape Armholes

• Dec 3 spaces at end of next 2 Rows—27 (31, 35) spaces remain. Work even for 2 rows.Dec 1 space at end of next 2 rows—25 (29, 33) spaces remain. Work even until piece measures 4 rows less than right Front to shoulder shaping.

Shape Neck and Shoulder

• Next Row: (RS) Work 5 (7, 9) spaces, dec at neck edge; leave remaining spaces unworked; turn—5 (7, 9) spaces for shoulder. Work 1 row even.
• Next Row: Work 4 (6, 8) spaces; dec at neck edge, turn—4 (6, 8) spaces remain. Work 1 row even.

Shape Shoulder

• Work 2 (3, 4) spaces, slip stitch into next space.Fasten off.Join yarn at opposite armhole edge; work as for first side.

SLEEVE – 2 lengths given (Longer length shown). Longer <shorter>sleeve, including 4" ruffle, measures 25<23>" long, including cap. Instructions for shorter length are shown in < >.

• Foundation Row: Using larger hook, loosely chain 34.
• Begin Mesh st—15 ch-spaces after Row 1.
• Work even for 4 (4, 2) rows.Inc 1 space each side at beg of next 2 rows—15 (15, 17) spaces; 5 rows total.

Shape Sleeve

• Inc 1 space at beginning of this row, then every 9 (7, 7) <7 (5, 5)> rows 6 (8, 8) times—21 (23, 25) spaces.
• Work even until piece measures 16 1/2 <14 1/2)" from Foundation row.

Shape Cap

• Dec 2 spaces at end of next 2 rows—17 (19, 21) spaces remain.Dec 1 space at end of next 4 rows—13 (15, 17) spaces remain.
• Work even for 2 rows.Dec 1 space at end of next 8 rows—5 (7, 9) spaces remain
• Fasten off.

SLEEVE RUFFLE

• Note: Ruffle is worked in-the-round; place a marker (pm) in the dc or tr that ends each rnd.
• With RS held together, partially seam lower edge of sleeves.
• Rnd 1: With right side facing, join yarn in firstspace on lower edge next to seam; * ch 4, sc in next space; repeat from * to last space, ch 2, dc into same space as beg ch 4 (counts as last ch-4 space); pm in top of dc—15 spaces.
• Rnd 2: * Ch 4, sc in next space; ch 5, sc in same space; repeat from * to last space (formed by ch-2 and dc), end ch 4, sc in last space, ch 2, tr in marked st of previous row (counts as last ch-5 space); pm.
• Rnds 3 and 6: Ch 4, sc in each ch-4 and ch-5 space around to last space, end ch 2, dc in top of marked st; pm—30 ch-4 spaces after Rnd 3; 45 ch-4 spaces after Rnd 6.
• Rnd 4: Work shell in marked dc of Rnd 2, sc in next space; * ch 4, sc into next space, shell in sc between spaces, sc into next space; repeat from * around, end ch 2, dc in marked st; pm—15 ch-4 spaces, 15 shells.
• Rnd 5: *Ch 4, sc in dc of shell, ch 4, sc into next space, ch 5, sc in same space; repeat from * around, end ch 4, sc in top of dc of last shell, ch 4, sc in last space (ch-2 and dc of previous row), ch 2, tr in top of marked st; pm—30 ch-4 spaces, 15 ch-5 spaces.
• Rnd 7: Work shell in dc of Rnd 5, sc in next space; * ch 4, sc into next space, ch 5, sc into same space, ch 4, sc into next space; work shell in sc between spaces, sc into next space; repeat from * around, end ch 2, dc in top of marked dc; pm—30 ch-4 spaces, 15 ch-5 spaces, 15-shells.
• Rnd 8: [Ch 4, sc] in dc of each shell and in each ch-4 and ch-5 space around; end ch 2, dc in top of marked stitch; pm—60 ch-4 spaces.
• Rnd 9: * [Ch 4, sc] in next 3 spaces, work shell in next sc, sc in next space; repeat from * around, end work shell in sc between last two spaces, slip st in top of marked dc and in next two ch of ch-4 space of previous row—45 ch-4 spaces, 15 shells.
• Rnd 10: [Ch 5, sc] in each space and in dc of each shell around, end ch 2, tr in slip st at beg of rnd—60 ch-5 spaces. Fasten off. Repeat for second sleeve.

FINISHING

• Seam shoulders seams. Set in sleeves; sew side and sleeve seams.
• Note: You may find it helpful to place markers at center Back, and center Back neck to help in working the same number of sts in each section of Edging.

Edging

• With right side facing, join yarn at right side seam.
• Rnd 1: Ch 1, * sc evenly around lower edge, along center fronts and neck shaping, working 3 sc in each corner at lower edge and Front neck edge, join with a slip stitch to beg sc; pm.
• Rnd 2: Slip st in next sc, work shell in next sc, * slip st in each of next 2 sc, shell in next sc; repeat from * around, working ch-5 button loops evenly spaced on center right Front edge between 2 slip sts in pattern, end with a slip st in last sc at side seam. Fasten off. Weave in ends. Sew crocheted or purchased buttons opposite button loops.

Crochet Buttons (optional – make 6 if desired)
Place working yarn across 8" of yarn tail, making a loop. Insert smaller hook through crossing and pull up a loop. Ch 2, work 10 hdc into loop. Cut yarn, leaving an 8" tail. Pull yarn out of last hdc; with tail threaded on yarn needle, pass tail through top of first hdc and back through top 'v' of last hdc; weave yarn through outer edge of all 10 sts. Turn button over to WS; thread up beginning yarn tail and weave through all hdc around; pull up tightly to close center opening. Pull up and tighten yarn woven through outer stitch edges and tie in knot with yarn tail at center.