My idea for this sweater started as I was making the Gingham Heart Blanket and wondered how big the heart would turn out if I used all SC instead of working the graph in corner to corner crochet.
I roughly estimated the width of a 12 month size sweater width and centered the heart in the middle and I worked up a square. I LOVED how cute it looked so I simple shaped a neck, made a plain square for the back with a keyhole closure. I sewed up the shoulders and the sides leaving enough room for arm holes. And then, felt like the sleeves needed to be something special.
I worked all SC in the round for about 8 rows, then worked one row of DC, the worked one row of 2DC per stitch, then worked two more rounds of DC, one in each stitch. I love how it created a simple bell sleeve.
I then added a skirt using the same technique of one row of 2DC per stitch and then rounds of DC one in each stitch until I had the length I wanted. My sweater idea sort of turned into a sweater dress!
To finish, I simply worked a row of SC around the neck, then wove in all the ends.
I will say the trickiest part of the sweater is making the heart fabric. I don’t think there is a good way to tell you how to do this except to follow the graph, and be really good and changing colors in the appropriate place. If you are still a beginner at changing colors, I highly recommend that you do the heart all one color, do not attempt the gingham quite yet. You really need to understand how to carry yarn, and change color by pulling through with the new color before you finish a stitch so doing it all one color will eliminate extra yarn color changes.
Most of the time, as I made the gingham heart, I had multiple little balls of yarn colors I was working with and I wove in a lot of ends after I was done. So don’t think that this heart is made seamlessly. Where I could work over a color and use it four spaces later I did, but if not, I dropped a color, and picked up a new color with a new little ball of yarn. It’s a glorious mess as you are making it, but weave those ends in when you are finished and it will all come together.
For this sweater I used one skein each of Caron Simply Soft in Strawberry, White, and Soft Pink. (You won’t use all of it, so if you have at least a half a skein of the Strawberry and Soft Pink, you’ll have plenty, but you will use close to a whole skein of the White.)
Materials
Caron Simply Soft (100% acrylic, 170 g/6 oz, 288 m/315 yds)
1 skein each Strawberry, White, Soft Pink
Size I/5.5mm hook, scissors, tapestry needle
Button
Stitches
Single Crochet (SC): Insert your hook, yarn over (YO) and pull up a loop, YO, pull through two loops on hook.
Double Crochet (DC): YO, insert your hook, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through two loops, YO, pull through remaining two loops.
Pattern
Front Panel
Chain 36.
Starting in the second chain from the hook, work 2 rows of all single crochet (SC) in white, on the third row, start with the bottom of the heart and work your first color change in the 18th SC. Continue working the gingham heart changing color according to the graph.
Work 4 more rows of all white after you finish the last row of color to complete the heart.
On the 5th row from the completion of the heart, SC in the next 13 spaces, Chain 1 and turn.
SKIP first SC, SC in each of the remaining spaces. (12 SC) Chain 1 and turn.
SC in each stitch, (12 SC), Chain 1 and turn.
SKIP first SC, SC in each of the remaining spaces, (11 SC) Chain 1 and turn.
SC in each stitch, (11 SC), Chain 1 and turn.
SKIP first SC, SC in each of the remaining spaces, (10 SC) Chain 1 and turn. Tie off and secure yarn.
Go back to the 5th row from the heart, (where you started shaping the neck), SKIP over 9 SC, pull up a loop in the 10th space, SC in that space and remaining 12 to the end. (13 SC), Chain 1 and turn.
SC in the next 12 spaces, (12 SC), Chain 1 and turn.
SC in the next 12 spaces, (12 SC), Chain 1 and turn.
SC in the next 11 spaces, (11 SC), Chain 1 and turn.
SC in the next 11 spaces, (11 SC), Chain 1 and turn.
SC in the next 10 spaces, (10 SC) tie off and secure yarn.
Back Panel
Chain 36, SC in the second chain from the hook and each stitch across, chain 1 and turn. (35 SC)
SC for 21 rows.
In the 22nd row, SC in the next 17 spaces, chain 1 and turn. SC in the 17 spaces for 10 rows. Tie off and secure yarn.
Go back to the 22nd row, skip one space, pull up a loop in the next space and SC the next 17 spaces. Chain 1 and turn. SC in the 17 spaces for 10 rows. Before you tie off, *chain 10, to make a loop and slip stitch to the starting chain, tie off and secure yarn. (*Make your chain as big or little as you need depending on the button you will be using.)
Sew the panels together with white yarn at the shoulders and along the sides, leaving 12 rows open for the arm holes.
Weave in all the ends.
Sleeves
Pull up a loop in the bottom of the armhole. Work 26 SC around. Slip stitch to join, chain 1 and turn. Work 7 more rows of SC, joining and turning after each round.
On the 8th round, instead of chaining 1 and turning, chain 2 and turn. Work a DC into each stitch around.
On the 9th round, chain 2 and turn, work 2 DC into each DC around.
On the 10th and 11th round, chain 2 and turn, DC one DC into each DC. Tie off and weave in ends.
Make other sleeve in the same manner.
Ruffle
At the bottom of the sweater, pull up a loop in either side, work SC into each space around the bottom of the sweater. Slip stitch when you get back to the beginning, chain 2 and turn. Work 2 DC into each SC around. Slip stitch into the CH 2.
Continue the next 9 rows (or more if you want it longer, or less for shorter) joining and working the rounds of DC in the same direction.
Tie off, weave in all ends.
Neck finish
Pull up a loop just to the left of the button loop, going in the direction of the neck first, SC in each space around and finish by the button loop. Tie off and weave in the ends.
Sew on the button.
Done!
Now wasn’t that easier than you thought? And so adorable?
Here’s Gigi wearing the sweater!
Thank you so much for stopping by! Come and find me on Instagram or Facebook @daisyfarmcrafts!
Let’s be crochet friends!
Tiffany
Click here or on image below for printable pattern
