Florentine Cardigan
Free Crochet Pattern
The Pattern
This FREE pattern includes detailed directions and step-by-step photos to guide you along the way. Scroll down this page and enter your email address in the form below and I’ll send you this pattern straight to your inbox!
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The Pattern
The Florentine Cardigan is a stunning short-sleeved crochet cardigan constructed as a bottom-up paneled drop shoulder.
The main technique used is interlocking crochet, which means you only have to work with one color at a time!
Featuring a captivating Florentine-like stitch, it’s assembled from one back, two front, and two sleeve panels. Faux i-cord details accent the hem, collar, lapel, and cuffs, while delicate buttons add refined elegance.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Measurements
Finished bust circumference: 26 (32.5, 38.75, 42.25) (51.5, 58, 64.5) inches or 66 (82.5, 98.5, 115) (131, 147.5, 164) cm
The sizing for this pattern is based on the standard Craft Yarn Council (CYC) measurements.
This cardigan is designed to be worn with up to 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) of positive ease around the bust.
All my garment patterns are size-inclusive and are graded for actual bust circumferences of up to at least a 60 inches or 152 cm.
Materials
Yarn
DK weight
Shown in
Hobbii Acacia (51% Acrylic, 49% Cotton; 273 yds/250 m per 3.5 oz/100 g ball) in color Ecru (02) as the main color and Teal (12) as the contrast color.
Hooks
US H-8/5.0 mm (main gauge) hook, US G-6/4.0 mm (secondary) hook, or sizes needed to obtain gauge. I’m a tight crocheter, so you may have to go down in hook size.
Notions
Scissors, yarn needle, tape measure, 4 stitch markers, eight 12-mm buttons.
Yardage
Main color (MC): 3 (3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 5) skeins or 635 (685, 805, 920) (1035, 1095, 1135) yds/580 (625, 735, 840) (945, 1000, 1040) m
Contrast color (CC): 2 (3, 3, 3) (4, 4, 4) skeins or 540 (580, 690, 780) (880, 940, 975) yds/495 (530, 630, 715) (805, 860, 890) m
These yardages are estimated. Check the tester lookbook below for exact yardages tracked by my pattern testers.
I’d LOVE to see your work, so be sure to tag me @CrochetHighway on Instagram and use the #CrochetHighway hashtag for a chance to be featured on my stories!
Yarn Substitution Ideas
Need help picking an alternative yarn? You’re in luck! Here’s a round-up of some great options recommended by my testers and me.
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Enter your email address in the form above and I’ll send you this pattern straight to your inbox! This version is formatted in my usual pattern layout, so it’s great if you want to see how I usually write and format my patterns.
The pattern can also be found on the Hobbii website, formatted in Hobbii’s usual pattern template, and it’s available in a bunch of languages including German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, and Dutch.
A word from my testers
Tester Lookbook
My patterns would not be so smooth without the input of my team of talented testers. Swipe left & right for more photos of your favorite versions. Want to test my future patterns? Check out how you can become a pattern tester for CrochetHighway!
Size 3, using 680 yds of Laines Du Nord, Holiday as MC, and 544 yds of Laines Du Nord, Holiday as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm
Mods: I did not use mattress stitch as I got better results with crochet slip-stitch and regular seaming from the back.
Mariaoze (Mariaoze69 on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 699 yds of Hobbii Acacia color 02 as MC, and 552 yds of Hobbii Acacia color 12 as CC
Hook size(s): 2.5 mm; 3.5 mm
Mods: For the sleeves I started with 74 chains.
Cyndi (socreative on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 678 yds of Lion Brand Truboo as MC, and 570 yds of Lion Brand Coboo as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm
Mods: None.
Halima (Halimawana on Ravelry)
Size 2, using 632 yds of Alize Cotton Gold as MC, and 451 yds of Alize Cotton Gold as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm; 5 mm
Mods: None.
Faye (fae1695 on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 985 yds of Crocheted By Carisse Fine Cotton as MC, and 930 yds of Crocheted By Carisse Fine Cotton as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm; 5 mm
Mods: For the length of cardi, I removed a few rows since my body measurement is smaller than what’s on the size chart of the pattern. Due to my tight tension when making SLST, I used my main hook (5mm) for the edging.
Iris (Knittmouse on Ravelry)
Size 5, using 1507 yds of Katia Capri as MC, and 1370 yds of Katia Capri as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm; 5 mm
Mods: I made the cardigan a bit longer.
Johanna (HookYarnTinker on Ravelry)
Size 2, using 890 yds of Crocheted By Carisse 12Ply Fine Cotton Yarn Mix In Honey Mustard as MC, and 860 yds of Crocheted By Carisse 12Ply Fine Cotton Yarn Mix In Peppermint as CC
Hook size(s): 3.5 mm; 4.5 mm
Mods: I added 8 stitches on the shoulder.
Natasha (SurelyKnotNatasha on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 739 yds of Hobbii Acacia Hunter Green as MC, and 560 yds of Hobbii Acacia Ecru as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm; 4.5 mm
Mods: None.
Size 4, using 819 yds of Hobbii Acadia as MC, and 760 yds of Hobbii Acadia as CC
Hook size(s): 4.5 mm
Mods: None.
Maru (malonsooo on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 1087 yds of Tsm Marbella (Color 115) as MC, and 948 yds of Tsm Marbella (Color 55) as CC
Hook size(s): 3 mm; 4 mm
Mods: None.
Stacy (sehortner on Ravelry)
Size 4, using 820 yds of Hobbii, Acacia as MC, and 683 yds of Hobbii, Acacia as CC
Hook size(s): 4.5 mm
Mods: None.
Kimberly (KayCee65 on Ravelry)
Size 5, using 923 yds of Hobbii Acacia (03 Double Cream) as MC, and 783 yds of Hobbii Acacia (17 Ginger) as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm; 4.5 mm; 5 mm
Mods: For me, the sleeve for size 5 was too wide (I have a large bust but skinny arms), so I dropped down to the stitch count for size 4.
Swathi (@tvishasfashion on Instagram)
Size 4, using 1093 yds of Vardhman Cotone as MC, and 840 yds of Vardhman Cotone as CC
Hook size(s): 4 mm
Mods: None.
Julieta (@knots.bycc on Instagram)
Size 2, using 680 yds of locally sourced cotton yarn as MC, and 570 yds of locally sourced cotton yarn as CC
Hook size(s): 3.5 mm; 3 mm
Mods: I did some decreases in the border round around the neck to have a tighter fit around the shoulders.
Pippa (pippasmakes on Ravelry)
Size 3, using 791.7 yds of Hobbii Acadia In Ecru as MC, and 573.3 yds of Hobbii Acacia Print in Into the Woods as CC
Hook size(s): 3 mm; 4 mm
Mods: None.
Virginie (virginiespoodercrochet on Instagram)
Size 4, using 763 yds of Hobbii Twister Solid XL as MC, and 770 yds of Hobbii Panettone as CC
Hook size(s): 5 mm
Mods: None.
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