This crochet pattern PDF helps you make a sleeveless granny stitch summer cardigan with an anatomical spine motif in the back and stripes.

The pattern can be extended as long as you want, to a long top or duster. The front features an expanding design from the center. The construction allows for comfortable horizontal stretch around your back while the spine minimizes vertical stretching from gravity. The bamboo-cotton blend I used drapes beautifully in the front, but any size 3 yarn will do. You’ll create two front panels and 1 back panel, then seam them together on the sides and shoulders.

Also, if you hate weaving the ends of stripes, this pattern is built to allow yarn to be carried over between stripes in many places, so there are fewer ends to weave in. You can also make it a solid color or use different shades in your rows to get gradient effects in the front panels.

Materials needed:
This pattern uses 820-1255 yards, depending on your size, of Premier Bamboo Fair (weight 3 light/DK (60% bamboo, 40% cotton, 3.5 oz/100 g, 273 yds/250 m) in 3 colors:
Color A: 5.6 oz/160 g (437 yds/478 m) in color “Fossil” - 1.6 skeins
Color B: 5.6 oz/160 g (437 yds/478 m) in color “Midnight” - 1.6 skeins
Color C: 0.7 oz/19 g (53 yds/58 m) in color “Ivory” - 0.2 skein

You can substitute any DK (light, size 3) yarn, though bamboo/cotton blends drapes extra nicely. Coboo is a nice replacement you can find in stores.

3 mm crochet hook
Yarn needle for weaving ends
Scissors
Tape measure for selecting your size (optional)

Gauge:
A 4 in (10 cm) square is 18 dc and 6 ch1s across x 12 rows high. Your starting 4 in (10 cm) granny square is 5 rounds. Round 5 is 60 dc, 16 ch1s and 4 ch2s around. The starting ch3 counts as a dc here.

Refunds: Due to the instant, digital nature of this product, all sales are final and no refunds or exchanges can be provided.

Terms of Use: Do not sell, copy, distribute or share this pattern or any photos within it. You can sell what you make at small scale, as long as you credit Violet Vale Crochet & link to the Ravelry shop. No mass production.