Adult Crew-Neck Button-Front Crochet Cardigan Pattern Free: Sizes XS to 5XL

Every crocheter deserves a timeless, button-front crew-neck sweater pattern that fits like a classic knit cardigan and works for both women and men. The Adult Crew-Neck Button-Front Crochet Cardigan is graded across six inclusive sizes (XS/S through 4/5XL, with both Her Version and His Version body/sleeve lengths and buttonhole placements) using soft #4 worsted Caron® Simply Soft® and a 5.0 mm (US H/8) hook. Each panel starts with a stretchy 9-stitch back-loop single crochet ribbed band before transitioning directly into the Lemon Peel Stitch (alternating 1 sc and 1 dc).

Why the Lemon Peel Stitch (`1 Sc, 1 Dc`) Makes Better Sweaters

By alternating a short stitch (1 sc) with a tall stitch (1 dc) across every row—and always working the next row’s sc into the top of a dc and the dc into the top of an sc—the fabric forms a interlocking seed-stitch texture with zero gaps between rows. Because the Back, Left Front, Right Front, and Sleeves all begin by working single crochets directly along the long edge of a custom-fitted `sctbl` ribbed band, the hem and cuffs never flare out.

Materials & Complete Size-Inclusive Yardage Chart

Choose your size based on your chest measurement and preferred ease:

Abbreviations & Stitch Guide (US Crochet Terms)

• Beg = Beginning
• Ch = Chain(s)
• Cont = Continue(ity)
• Dc = Double crochet
• Inc = Increase(ing)
• Pat = Pattern
• Rem = Remaining
• Rep = Repeat
• RS / WS = Right side / Wrong side
• Sc = Single crochet
• Sctbl (Single Crochet in Back Loop Only) = Work 1 single crochet in the back loop only of the next stitch.
• Sc2tog (Single Crochet 2 Together) = Draw up a loop in each of next 2 stitches, yoh and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
• Sl st = Slip stitch

Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions

Instructions are written for XS/S (M – L – XL – 2/3XL – 4/5XL).

Part 1: Back Panel

1. Bottom Ribbing: Ch 10. Row 1 (RS): Work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn (9 sc). Row 2: Ch 1, work 1 sctbl in each st to end of row, turn. Repeat Row 2 until the ribbing (when slightly stretched) measures 18½ (20¼ – 22¼ – 24½ – 27½ – 31½)”, ending on a WS row. Do not fasten off or turn.
2. Pickup Row (WS): Ch 1. Work 61 (67 – 73 – 81 – 91 – 103) sc evenly across the long edge of the ribbing. Turn.
3. Row 1 (RS – Lemon Peel Pat): Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first st. *Work 1 dc in next st. Work 1 sc in next st. Repeat from * to the end of the row. Turn.
4. Row 2 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc). *Work 1 sc in next dc. Work 1 dc in next sc. Repeat from * to the end of the row. Turn.
5. Row 3 (RS): Ch 1. Work 1 sc in first dc. *Work 1 dc in next sc. Work 1 sc in next dc. Repeat from * across, working the last sc in the top of the ch-3. Turn.
6. Work to Armholes: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until the Back measures 16 (16 – 16 – 16½ – 16½ – 16½)” from the lower edge for Her Version OR 17 (17 – 17 – 17½ – 17½ – 17½)” for His Version, ending on a WS row. Fasten off.
7. Shape Armholes: With RS facing, skip the first 6 (8 – 10 – 12 – 14 – 18) sts. Join yarn with sl st in next dc, ch 1, work 1 sc in same st, and work in pattern across the next 48 (50 – 52 – 56 – 62 – 66) sts. Turn, leaving the remaining 6 (8 – 10 – 12 – 14 – 18) sts unworked. Continue even over these 49 (51 – 53 – 57 – 63 – 67) sts until the armhole measures 8½ (9 – 9 – 9½ – 10 – 10½)”, ending on a WS row. Fasten off.
8. Shape Shoulders: With RS facing, skip first 6 (6 – 8 – 8 – 10 – 10) sts, join yarn, ch 1, 1 sc in same st, and pat across next 36 (38 – 36 – 40 – 42 – 46) sts. Fasten off and turn, leaving remaining 6 (6 – 8 – 8 – 10 – 10) sts unworked. On next row, skip first 7 (7 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 8) sts, join yarn, and pat across next 23 (25 – 25 – 27 – 27 – 29) back neck sts. Fasten off.

Part 2: Left Front & Right Front Panels

1. Front Ribbing & Body: Work the 9-stitch `sctbl` ribbing for 9 (10 – 11 – 12 – 13½ – 15½)” slightly stretched. Along the long edge on WS, work 31 (33 – 37 – 41 – 45 – 51) sc evenly. Work in the Lemon Peel Pattern (Rows 1–3) until the Front matches the Back height to the underarm, ending on a WS row.
2. Shape Armhole: Skip 6 (8 – 10 – 12 – 14 – 18) underarm sts at the side edge and work even over the remaining 25 (25 – 27 – 29 – 31 – 33) sts until the armhole measures 8 rows less than the Back to shoulder, ending on a WS row.
3. Shape Crew Neck & Shoulder: Leave the 6 (6 – 7 – 8 – 7 – 9) center front neck stitches unworked and work across the remaining 19 (19 – 20 – 21 – 24 – 24) sts, decreasing 1 stitch (sc2tog) at the neck edge on the next 6 rows until 13 (13 – 14 – 15 – 18 – 18) shoulder sts remain. Work 1 row even, then step-off the final 6 (6 – 8 – 8 – 10 – 10) shoulder sts to match the Back shoulder slope.

Part 3: Tapered Sleeves (Make 2)

1. Cuff Ribbing: Work the 9-stitch `sctbl` cuff ribbing for 9½ (9½ – 10 – 10 – 10½ – 10½)”, then work 31 (31 – 33 – 33 – 35 – 37) sc across the long edge on WS.
2. Sleeve Increases: Work Rows 1–3 of Lemon Peel Pattern, then increase 1 stitch at each end of Row 4 (`(1 sc, 1 dc)` in first and last sc) and Row 6, repeating the increase cycle as specified in the PDF until you reach 55 (59 – 59 – 61 – 65 – 69) sts.
3. Work even until the sleeve measures 17 (17 – 17 – 16½ – 16 – 16)” for Her Version or 18 (18 – 18 – 17½ – 17 – 17)” for His Version, place markers at each end of the last row, and work 6 (6 – 8 – 10 – 12 – 14) more rows for the square underarm extensions. Fasten off.

Part 4: Ribbed Crew Neckband & 7-Button Front Bands

1. Sew Shoulders & Attach Neckband: Sew both shoulder seams. For the neckband, ch 7, work 6 sctbl rows until the band fits smoothly around the crew neckline, and sew in place.
2. Button Band (5 Rows Sc): Join yarn with RS facing and work 71 (73 – 73 – 77 – 77 – 81) sc for Her Version (or 75 [77 – 77 – 81 – 81 – 85] sc for His Version) evenly along the front edge, including the neckband end. Work 4 more rows of 1 sc in each sc. Place 7 button markers evenly along the band.
3. Buttonhole Band (5 Rows Sc): Work 2 rows of sc matching the Button Band stitch count. On Row 3, work *ch 2, skip next 2 sc* at each of the 7 button markers. On Row 4, work 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, then finish with Row 5 in plain sc. Sew in sleeves, seam sides and sleeves, and sew on the 7 buttons.