Crochet Floral Summer Cardi

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Crochet Floral Summer Cardi

Get your wardrobe ready for the warmer weather and make this beautiful Crochet Floral Summer Cardi. With a flower pattern, this short-sleeved cardi will enhance your feminine side and make for a stunning layering piece.

Inspiration

At the beginning of the year, I got myself the book Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary by Dora Ohrenstein. As the title suggests, it’s a stitch dictionary, but it’s not just that. It explains how to manipulate 125 stitch patterns! You can read all about it in my review here.

I learned so many new stitch patterns with this book. And as I flipped through the pages, I kept having more and more ideas. And now, it’s time to reveal the first one! 🙂

This pattern was inspired by the Floral Array stitch pattern which you can find in the “Classic Laces” chapter. I thought this stitch pattern would look great on a summer cardigan. And thus, the crochet Floral Summer Cardi!

Project

So, let’s think about the design for a little. I wanted to highlight the floral stitch pattern. However, if I used it all over the cardi, it seemed to me that it would just be too much. It wouldn’t really stand out. Moreover, it wouldn’t give structure to the garment, so I decided to use it just for the top half and doing the bottom half in double crochet.

And now we get to the tricky part… I wanted the cardi to have sort of a V shape in the top half that would close with a simple cord. However, that meant I had to shape the floral stitch pattern!

DUM DUM!! (Trouble ahead!!)

Of course, that I had to choose a pattern that, as the book says, “due to its intricacy it does not lend itself to shaping, except by using plain filler stitches at the edge”. And I decided to use it right in the front… (facepalm). No matter! I’ll do my best as always and we’ll see what happens. 😉

The best part is that the floral array pattern, once you get comfortable with all the stitches, is easy to follow. Moreover, because half the cardi is also just a long panel of double crochets, it was actually a lot quicker to make than I was expecting.

It’s true that this design is a bit more challenging than my usual ones, but don’t let that scare away from making this beautiful and feminine Crochet Floral Summer Cardi.

Enjoy!!

Pattern

• You can buy the inexpensive ad-free, printable PDF pattern from Etsy HERE!
• Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE!
• PIN this pattern for later HERE!

Description

Get your wardrobe ready for the warmer weather and make this beautiful Crochet Floral Summer Cardi. With a flower pattern, this short-sleeved cardi will enhance your feminine side and make for a stunning layering piece.

Skill Level

• Intermediate

Have in Hand

• 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 9) skeins of Mondial Basic Cotton (120 yds/110 m) in 0126
  • or approx. 620 yd/ 565 m (685 yds/635 m, 810 yds/740 m, 880 yds/805 m, 1010 yds, 925 m) of another fingering weight, cat. 1 cotton yarn
• US Size E-4 (3.50 mm) crochet hook
• Stitch markers, scissors

Gauge

• 20 sts x 12 rows of double crochet = 4”/10 cm
• 19 sts x 8 rows in floral array = 4”/10 cm

Finished Measures

Written for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X):

	XS	S	M	L	XL	2X
Bust size ref.	30’’ 76 cm	34’’ 86.5 cm	38’’ 96.5 cm	42’’ 106.5 cm	46’’ 117 cm	50’’ 127 cm
Plain Panel width	30‘’ 76 cm	34’’ 86.5 cm	38’’ 96.5 cm	42’’ 106.5 cm	46’’ 117 cm	50’’ 127 cm
Plain Panel length	9.5’’ 23.5 cm	10’’ 25 cm	10’’ 25 cm	10.5’’ 26.5 cm	10.5’’ 26.5 cm	10.5’’ 26.5 cm
Back Floral Panel width	15’’  38 cm	17’’ 42.5 cm	19’’ 48.5 cm	21’’ 53.5 cm	23’’ 58.5 cm	25’’ 63.5 cm
Front Floral Panel width	7.5’’ 19 cm	7.5’’ 19 cm	9.5’’ 24 cm	9.5’’ 24 cm	11.25’’ 28.5 cm	11.25’’ 28.5 cm
Floral Panels length	10’’ 25.5 cm	10’’ 25.5 cm	10’’ 25.5 cm	10’’ 25.5 cm	10’’ 25.5 cm	10’’ 25.5 cm
Armhole depth	6’’ 15 cm	6.5’’ 16.5 cm	7’’ 18 cm	7.5’’ 19 cm	8’’ 20.5 cm	8.5’’ 21.5 cm

• The pattern includes 1’’ to 2 ‘’ of positive ease. If you’d like a tighter fit, go for the size immediately below. 

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch: chain
• ch-# space: chain # space
• dc: double crochet
• dc2tog: double crochet 2 together
• hdc: half-double crochet
• rep: repeat
• sc:  single crochet
• sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
• sk: skip
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• tch: turning chain
• tr: treble crochet
• tr2tog: treble crochet 2 together 
• tr3tog: treble crochet 3 together 

Special Stitches

horizontal petal (HP)

• Ch 4, inserting hook in st just completed, tr2tog.

Notes

• This Crochet Floral Summer Cardi is worked as three separate panels. The panels are then slip stitched together. Finally, the sleeves are worked from the panels.
• The Floral Array pattern is written as in the book “Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary” by Dora Ohrenstein. You can find the review here and buy the book here.
• The Floral stitch pattern is an 8 row per 18 stitches repeat and is considered reversible.
• The stitch pattern does not have a fixed number of stitches in the pattern, that is why there is no stitch count in the Floral Panels.
• In the Floral Panels, Ch 3 and Ch 4 at the beginning of rows DOES COUNT as a st (double crochet and treble crochet, respectively).
• The yarn is referenced as a fingering weight yarn, but to me feels more like a sport (cat. 2) weight.

Crochet Floral Summer Cardi

Back Floral Pattern

Ch 72 (81, 90, 99, 108, 117) + 3.

Sizes XS, M, XL:

First section

Row 1: dc in 4^th ch from hook, dc in next 4 ch, * ch 4, sk 3 ch, tr3tog in next ch, ch 4, sk 3 ch **, dc in next 11 ch, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 6 ch, turn.

Row 2: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * sk 3 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in top of tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc**, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 3: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, ch 6 **, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 4: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc * 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp **, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 5: ch 4, tr in first dc, * ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in tr3tog, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc **, tr3tog in next dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, tr2tog in tch, turn.

Row 6: ch 1, sc in first tc, sc in next ch-4 sp, * HP, sk3 dc, dc in next 5 dc, HP, sk 3 dc, sc in next ch-4 sp **, sc in tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, rep from * across ending last rep at **, sc in tr2tog, turn.

Row 7: ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next sc, * ch 6, sk HP, dc in next 5 dc, ch 6, sk HP **, sc in next 3 sc, rep from * across ending in last rep at **, sc in last 2 sc, turn.

Row 8: ch 4, tr in same sc, * ch  3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, sk next sc **, tr3tog in next sc, rep from * ending last rep at **, tr2tog in last sc, turn.

Second section

Row 9: ch 3, * 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp **, dc in next tr3tog, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in tr2tog, turn.

Rows 10-24: Repeat Rows 2 to 9 three more times, ending on Row 8.

Fasten off and weave in end.

Sizes S, L, 2X:

First section

Row 1: dc in 4^th ch from hook, dc in next 4 ch, * ch 4, sk 3 ch, tr3tog in next ch, ch 4, sk 3 ch, dc in next 11 ch **, rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 4, sk 3 ch, tr2tog, turn.

Row 2: ch 1, * sc in top of tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc, dc in next 5 dc, sk 3 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp **, rep from * across ending last rep at **, sc in top of tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 3: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, ch 6, dc in next 5 dc **, rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 6, sk HP, sc in last 2 sts, turn.

Row 4: ch 4, tr in first sc, * ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp **, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, tr3tog in next sc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 5: ch 4, tr in first dc, * ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in tr3tog, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc **, rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 4, dc in last 6 sts, turn.

Row 6: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * HP, sk 3 dc, sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc, dc in next 5 dc **, rep from * across ending last rep at **, HP, sk 3 dc, sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in tr2tog, turn.

Row 7: ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next sc, * ch 6, sk HP, dc in next 5 dc, ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc **, rep from * across ending in last rep at **, ch 6, sk HP, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 8: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, dc in next 5 dc **, rep from * ending last rep at **, ch 3, tr2tog in last sc, turn. 

Second section

Row 9: ch 3, * 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc **, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next tr3tog, rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 4, tr2tog in tch, turn.

Rows 10-24: Repeat Rows 2 to 9 three more times, ending on Row 8.

Fasten off and weave in end.

Front Floral Pattern (Make 2)

Ch 36 (36, 45, 45, 54, 54) + 3.

Sizes XS, S, XL, 2X:

First section

Row 1: dc in 4^th ch from hook, dc in next 4 ch, * ch 4, sk 3 ch, tr3tog in next ch, ch 4, sk 3 ch **, dc in next 11 ch, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in next 4 ch, dc2tog, turn.

Row 2: ch 2, dc in next dc, * sk 3 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in top of tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc**, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 3: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, ** ch 6, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 4, dc2 tog in last 2 sts, turn

Row 4: ch 2, 2 dc in next ch-4 sp, *ch 3, sk next sc, tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp **, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 5: ch 4, tr in first dc, * ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in tr3tog, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp **, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, rep * across ending last rep at **, dc2tog in last st and tch, turn.

Row 6: ch 2, dc in next 6 dc, * HP, sk 3 dc, sc in next ch-4 sp **, sc in tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, sc in tr2tog, turn.

Row 7: ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next sc, * ch 6, sk HP **, dc in next 5 dc, ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, rep from * across ending in last rep at **, dc in next 4 dc, dc2tog in next 2 dc, turn.

Row 8: ch 2, dc in next 4 dc, * 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc **, tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * ending last rep at **, tr2tog in last sc, turn.

Second section

Row 9: ch 3, * 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc **, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next tr3tog, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog, turn.

Row 10: ch 1, sk 5 dc, * HP **, dc in next 5 dc, sk 3 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in top of tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, rep from * across ending last rep at **, sk 3 dc, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 11: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 6, sk HP **, sc in next 3 sc, ch 6, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 5, sc in last sc, turn.

Row 12: ch 2, * 3 dc in next ch-6 sp **, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 13: ch 4, tr in first dc, * ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in tr3tog, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, ** ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, rep * across ending last rep at **, ch3, sk 3 dc, tr3tog, ch 3, dc2tog in last 2 dc, turn.

Row 14: ch 1, 2 sc in next ch-4 sp, * sc in tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc, dc in next 5 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp **, rep from * across ending last rep at **, sc in tr2tog, turn.

Row 15: ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next sc, * ch 6, sk HP, dc in next 5 dc, ch 6 **, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, rep from * across ending in last rep at **, sc in next sc, sc2tog in next 2 sc, turn.

Row 16: ch 3, * tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc **, rep from * ending last rep at **, tr2tog in last sc, turn.

Third section

Row 17: ch 3, * 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp **, dc in next tr3tog, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc2tog in tr3tog and tch, turn.

Row 18 – 24: Repeat Rows 2 to 8.

Fasten off and weave in end.

Sizes M, L:

First section

Row 1: ch 4, tr in first ch, * ch 4, sk 3 ch **, dc in next 11 ch, ch 4, sk 3 ch, tr3tog, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in next 4 ch, dc2tog, turn.

Row 2: ch 2, dc in next dc, * sk 3 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp **, sc in top of tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, sc in last st, turn.

Row 3: ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next sc, * ch 6, sk HP, dc in next 5 dc, ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, ** rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 4, dc2tog in last 2 sts, turn.

Row 4: ch 2, 2 dc in next ch-4 sp, *ch 3, sk next sc, ** tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, rep from * across ending last rep at **, tr2tog in last st, turn.

Row 5: ch 3, * 3 dc in next ch-3 sp **, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in tr3tog, rep * across ending last rep at **, dc2tog in last 2 dc, turn.

Row 6: ch 2, dc in next 6 dc, * HP, sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc ** , dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts.

Row 7: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, ch 6 **, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending in last rep at ** dc in next 4 dc, dc2tog in next 2 dc, turn.

Row 8: ch 2, dc in next 4 dc, * 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp **, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Second section

Row 9: ch 4, tr in first st, * ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next tr3tog, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc **, ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog, turn.

Row 10: ch 1, sk 5 dc, * HP, dc in next 5 dc, sk 3 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp **, sc in top of tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, rep from * across ending last rep at **, sc in top of last st, turn.

Row 11: ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next sc, * ch 6, sk HP, dc in next 5 dc, ch 6, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, ch 5, sc in last sc, turn.

Row 12: ch 2, * 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc **, tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, rep from * across ending last rep at **, tr2tog in last st, turn.

Row 13: ch 3, * 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, ** ch 4, sk 3 dc, tr3tog in next dc, ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in tr3tog, rep * across ending last rep at **, ch3, sk 3 dc, tr3tog, ch 3, dc2tog in last 2 dc, turn.

Row 14: ch 1, 2 sc in next ch-4 sp, * sc in tr3tog, sc in next ch-4 sp, HP, sk 3 dc **, dc in next 5 dc, HP, sc in next ch-4 sp, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Row 15: ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, * ch 6 **, sk HP, sc in next 3 sc, ch 6, sk HP, dc in next 5 dc, rep from * across ending in last rep at **, sc in next sc, sc2tog in next 2 sc, turn.

Row 16: ch 3, * tr3tog in next sc, ch 3, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp **, dc in next 5 dc, 3 dc in next ch-6 sp, ch 3, sk next sc, rep from * ending last rep at **, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

Third section

Row 17: ch 4, tr in first st, * ch 4, sk 3 dc, dc in next 2 dc, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp **, dc in next tr3tog, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, tr3tog in next dc, rep from * across ending last rep at **, dc2tog in tr3tog and tch, turn.

Row 18 – 24: Repeat Rows 2 to 8.

Fasten off and weave in end.

Plain Panel

Ch 144 (153, 180, 189, 220, 229) + 3. 

Row 1: dc in the 4^th st from hook, dc across <144 (153, 180, 189, 220, 229, 254)>.

Row 2: ch 3, dc across <144 (153, 180, 189, 220, 229, 254)>.

Row 3 – 28 (30, 30, 32, 32, 32): Repeat Row 2.

Fasten off and weave in end.

Assembly

Joining the panel

Place the Plain Panel and Floral Panels as shown below.

Ch 50.

Sl st the Plain Panel to the first Front Panel. Once finished, do the same for the Back Panel and then for the second Front panel. Once you reach the end, ch 50. 

Fasten of.

Joining at the shoulders

Fold the plain panel to get the cardi as shown below.

Sl st the 11 (11, 20, 20, 29, 29) sts of the top of the Front Panel to top the Back Panel to join the first shoulder as shown above. Repeat for the second Front Panel and the Back Panel.

Closing the sides

Sl st the first 8 (8, 6, 6, 4, 4) first rows of the Front Panel to the Back Panel at the side, going from base to top to join the side as shown above. Repeat for the second Front Panel and the Back Panel.

Sleeves

For this part you’ll need to crochet along the rows of the panels. As a reference, make 1 st for each sc at the end of the row, 2 sts for each dc, 3 sts for each tr. Make the sc around the sts. Make sure that you have the same number of sts between the side and the shoulder seam. Use a st marker to identify the last st of the first half of the sleeve and don’t forget to change it as you work the rounds.

Starting from the sl st seam in the armpit.

Round 1: ch 1, sc evenly along the rows, join with a sl st <64 (64, 72, 72, 80, 80)>

Round 2: ch 3, dc across, join with a sl st <64 (64, 72, 72, 80, 80)>.

Round 3: ch 3, dc across until last 2 sts, dc2tog, join with a sl st <63 (63, 71, 71, 79, 79)>.

Round 4: ch 3, dc2tog, dc across until st before stitch marker, dc2tog, dc2tog the next 2 sts after the st marker, dc until end of row, join with a sl st <60 (60, 68, 68, 76, 76)>.

Make sure that you’ve marked the first dc2tog from the middle with the stitch marker.

Round 5: ch 1, sc the next 4 sts, hdc the next 4 sts, dc across until st before stitch marker, dc2tog, dc2tog the next 2 sts after the st marker, dc until last 8 sts, hdc the next 4 sts, sc the next 4 sts, join with a sl st <58 (58, 66, 66, 74, 74)>.

Make sure that you’ve marked the first dc2tog from the middle with the stitch marker.

Round s: sl st the next 10 sts, sc across until st before stitch marker, sc2tog, sc2tog the next 2 sts after the st marker, sc until last 10 sts, sl st the last 10 sts, join with a sl st <56 (56, 64, 64, 72, 72)>.

Fasten off and weave in end.

Finishing

Weave all ends.

Block your piece to measure and straighten the floral panels.