Crochet Journel: Mesh Cardigan

Hey there , 

I’m experimenting with a new idea, I have a lot of reservation about writing crochet patterns but I do really like the idea of making posts about my creative process of some of my crochet projects. So this is going to be my first attempt. I hope it makes sense.

In this post I’m going to talk about how I made my mesh spring cardigan. 

My chosen materials were a skein of Big Twist in Black and a skein of Big Twist Vampy reds (Maybe a skein and a half of the vampy reds, I kind of used up one and then finished with my second skein) and a crochet hooks in J-6mm

We are making a mesh or net pattern for this, starting with the back panel I chained 62 and then starting in the 3rd chain from the hook I placed a double crochet, chain 1, skip 1 double crochet in the next and repeat til the end of the row then chain 2 and turn the work. 

Row two is the repeat so I double crochet in the same stitch then chain 1, skip 1 and place a double crochet in the next stitch. You should find that you are only placing double crochets on top of the double crochet from the row before not in the chain 1 space. For my back panel I worked 50 rows.

Image of the back panel of my cardigain. (Please ignor the pet hair ☺️)

Next I worked on the two front panels, I made the front panels out of a different color. Starting with the new color I again chained 62 then starting in the 3rd chain from the hook I placed a double crochet then chain 1, skip 1 double crochet in the next and repeat til the end of the row ending with a chain 2 and turn the work. Row two is the same repeat as before only for the front panels I worked 22 rows.

Once I had the back and both front panels complete i laid out the back panel on a flat surface then laid the two front panels one top aligning them with the sides to make the base of the cardigan. From here I sowed the tops together. I like to just start from one side single crochet the first panel to the back. Then add a few single crochets in the gap along the back panel and then attach the second front panel to the back panel with single crochet until the end.

Image of the back panel with the two front panels laid on top aligned on the sides.

Image showing the beginning of the sleeve process

With the base of the cardigan compelte I like adding my sleeves in the rounds right onto the body. So I started on one side at the bottom of the side of the body I attched my yarn and then single crocheted the sides together up 15 rows leaving the rest unworked to be my arm hole.

At this point your hook should be at the bottom of the arm hole so you can chain two and then place a double crochet in the same space to start your sleeve row. Opening the hole I then start work in the round. Since we are keeping with the same mesh pattern I just worked double crochet, chain 1, double crochet in the next in right into the body of the cardigan. Once I worked back to the starting point I slip stitched to compelte the round and then chain 2 and repeat the last round. So DC in the same stitch, then chain 1, DC in the next until it was my desired length. for me that was 32 rows of the mesh pattern.

For the cuff I did a round of single crochet 2 together and tested to make sure my hand fit through the opening, If you need it smaller do another round of 2 together.

Once I was happy with the hand opening I did 5 rounds of half double crochet to make a cute little cuff.

From here I just needed to weave in the ends and did 1 round of half double crochet around the body to just give it a ‘clean’ edge and then it was done! I’m super happy with how it came out and I think it is going to be a staple in my wordrobe from now until winter. I hope you enjoyed reading my process and maybe it inspired you to make yourself one!

~ Haylie

Image of me in the finished piece