This beginner crochet cardigan pattern is worked top down in one piece with no seams and no blocking — a long, hip-covering cardigan with pockets built into the fronts, written out in full for nine sizes from XS to 5X, with step-by-step photos at every stage people get stuck on.

Make yourself the cardigan you reach for every day. My First Cardi is worked from the shoulders down in one continuous piece — you start with a single chain at the shoulders, the back grows down from the top of it, both fronts grow down from its underside, and the shoulders are made rather than sewn. The sleeves are picked up around the armholes and worked in the round. The hem, cuffs and front band are ribbing, joined on as you go. The pockets are built onto the fronts three sides at a time. When you fasten off the last stitch the cardigan is finished. There is nothing to seam, nothing to set in, and nothing to pin out. It is called My First Cardi because it is the one I would hand to someone who has never made a garment before.

THIS LISTING IS FOR A DIGITAL PDF CROCHET PATTERN — NOT A FINISHED CARDIGAN

NOT ONE SEAM, START TO FINISH No shoulder seams, no side seams, no sleeves to set in, no underarms to close — and the pockets and bands are not sewn on either. Most long cardigan patterns are flat pieces you sew together at the end, which is where the fit goes wrong and where most people quit. This one comes off the hook as a cardigan. Because it is top-down you can slip it on at any point and check the fit across your shoulders before you commit.

ONE STITCH, THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH Half double crochet for the body, sleeves and pockets. Single crochet for the ribbing. Slip stitch to join the bands. That is the entire stitch list. There is no shaping you have to think about and no grading math to do yourself — what this pattern asks of you is time, not technique.

STEP-BY-STEP PHOTOS WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HELP Photographed at each of the stages that are easier shown than written — the starting chain with the back worked down from it, picking the fronts up out of the underside loops, the underarm join where three pieces become one, and a band mid-join with the slip stitch going in.

POCKETS BUILT IN, NOT SEWN ON The pockets grow out of the cardigan fronts as you work, anchored on three sides, with only the top left open. No patch to cut, pin or stitch down, and no chance of a corner lifting after a few washes.

NO BLOCKING NEEDED The sample was never blocked, not once. Match the gauge and it measures correctly straight off the hook. Every measurement in this pattern was taken from the finished garment you see in the photos, not from a swatch and not from a calculation.

✨ Pattern Details: Skill Level: Advanced Beginner — three stitches the whole way through, half double crochet, single crochet and slip stitch Sizes: Nine, XS through 5X, every one written out in full Finished Bust: 34, 38, 42, 47, 51, 55, 60, 64 and 68 inches — 4” of ease at XS to M, rising to 6” at 3X to 5X Finished Length: 28” to 33” depending on size, including the 2½“ ribbed hem band Yarn: Worsted weight #4. Shown in Lion Brand Heartland — Grand Canyon. About 1,486 yds for size S; 1,326 to 2,761 yds across the range, with skein counts worked out per size Hooks: 5.5mm / US I-9 for the body, sleeves and pockets, 5.0mm / US H-8 for the ribbing Gauge: 4” x 4” = 13.3 hdc x 9.8 rows, unblocked Additional Materials: Tapestry needle. No buttons and no stitch markers needed Format: PDF instant download Language: English (US terms)

Why You’ll Love This Pattern: ✔️ Completely seamless — it comes off the hook finished, with nothing to sew ✔️ No blocking. The cardigan in the photos was never blocked ✔️ Only three stitches from start to finish, and only one of them does the real work ✔️ Pockets built into the fronts as you go, not patch pockets stitched on afterwards ✔️ Nine sizes written out in full, XS to 5X — no grading math to do yourself ✔️ A full schematic with thirteen measurements for every size ✔️ Step-by-step photos at each of the tricky stages ✔️ A stitch count at the end of every single row ✔️ Fit checkpoints on every band, so a drift is caught in four rows instead of fifty ✔️ A named worsted yarn you can buy anywhere, including on Amazon ✔️ A tie belt and belt loops, with belt lengths worked out for every size ✔️ Top-down, so you try it on as you go and set the length where you want it

Instant Digital Download: Your PDF pattern is available immediately after purchase — no waiting, no shipping. Access anytime via Your Account > Purchases and Reviews.

You’re very welcome to sell the cardigans you make from this pattern — please credit SeeLoveShare as the designer. Please don’t copy, share or resell the pattern itself.