EVERY CROCHET Garments 11 rounds No account, no download
Granny stitch strawberry cardigan for toddlers
Top-down granny stitch cardigan with strawberry motifs. Uses US double crochet (UK treble crochet) throughout.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- DK
- Hook
- 4 mm
Intermediate
What the original write-up called it. Nothing here is graded again.
DK
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
4-6 hours
What the original page reckoned. Your own pace is the one that matters.
About this pattern
This is a top-down granny stitch cardigan for a 2–3 years size, worked with a 4 mm hook (or 4.5 mm for a softer drape) in DK weight yarn, with small strawberry motifs added in red and green. The yoke starts from a 22-loop chain foundation, uses stitch markers to divide it into fronts, sleeves and back, then continues in granny stitch rounds to the preferred body length.
The Strawberry Cardigan crochet pattern is a playful and cozy design created especially for young children aged one to five years. Using the classic granny stitch, this cardigan features sweet strawberry details that add charm without complicating the construction. The pattern is worked top down, making it easy to adjust sizing, customize strawberry placement, and control length for a comfortable everyday garment.
This piece is a toddler-sized cardigan built on the granny stitch, the openwork cluster fabric formed from groups of three double crochets (UK treble crochets) separated by chain-one spaces. The technique produces a soft, drapey fabric well suited to outerwear for small children, and it takes colour changes easily, which is put to use later for the strawberry motifs worked in red and green.
The yoke begins with a loop foundation built from a chain-3 base, each loop formed by chaining 3 and working a double crochet into the previous loop until 22 loops sit ready for the 2–3 years size. Markers then divide those loops into two front sections, two sleeves and a back, and the granny stitch clusters build outward from those marked points across three yoke rows before the body continues in plain rounds.
Materials
- 4 mm crochet hook for the main pattern
- 4.5 mm crochet hook for a softer drape if preferred
- DK weight yarn in a main color approximately 200 to 250 grams
- Small amounts of red and green yarn for strawberries
- Stitch markers
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Buttons approximately 2 cm in size
The list is the pattern's own wording.
Instructions
Every round is printed as the pattern wrote it, brackets and all. Open the key beside a round to see only the short forms that round uses.
Starting the Foundation Loop Chain
- Foundation Loop
Chain 3 and work 1 double crochet into the first chain to create the first loop. Chain 3 and work 1 double crochet into the bottom of the previous loop. Repeat this loop sequence until you have 22 loops for size 2–3 years or adjust based on neck measurement.
Placing Stitch Markers
Count 3 loops and place a marker in the 4th loop for the first front section. Count 3 loops and place a marker in the 4th loop for the first sleeve. Count 6 loops and place a marker in the 7th loop for the back. Count 3 loops and place a marker in the 4th loop for the second sleeve. The remaining loops form the second front section.
Yoke Construction Rows 1 to 3
- Round 1
chain 2 turn work 3 double crochets in each loop with chain 1 between clusters and work 2 double crochets chain 2 2 double crochets in marked corner loops
- Round 2
chain 2 work 1 double crochet in the first space work granny stitch across make corner increases and finish with 2 double crochets at the end
- Round 3
chain 2 work granny stitch across and finish with 1 double crochet
Making a Strawberry Motif
- Motif Row 1
Join green yarn in the last stitch of a 3 double crochet cluster chain 1 turn and work 1 half double crochet 2 half double crochets and 1 half double crochet across
- Motif Row 2
Join red yarn in the first green stitch chain 1 and work 4 double crochets together across then chain 2 and fasten off
- Motif Row 3
On the next row work 3 double crochets chain 1 slip stitch into the top of the strawberry chain 1 and continue with 3 double crochets in the next space
Shaping the Shoulders Rows 4 and 5
- Row 4
Row 4 work only 3 double crochets in corner spaces without increasing
- Row 5
Row 5 work granny stitch across skipping the previous corner clustersResume standard corner increases from the next row onward.
Joining the Body
- Body Join Row
Crochet across the first front section to the corner. Work 1 double crochet chain 1 skip the sleeve section and work 1 double crochet into the next corner space. Continue across the back and repeat for the second sleeve.
- Underarm Row
On the following row work 3 double crochets into each underarm chain space
Making up
- Step 1Continue working granny stitch in rounds
- Step 2Add strawberry motifs as desired on the front and body
- Step 3Stop at your preferred length allowing space for ribbing to be added later
Notes from the pattern
- Place markers at the exact loop counts given -- the 4th loop for each front and sleeve, the 7th for the back -- since the whole yoke shape depends on these positions.
- Check that the starting row reaches 22 loops before continuing; the pattern allows adjusting this count to match a different neck measurement, so recount if the size is being changed.
- When joining the green and red yarn for the strawberry motifs, fasten off and weave in each colour cleanly before starting the next round to keep the granny stitch background free of stray ends.
The essentials
- Rounds
- 11
- Parts
- 6
- Level
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 4 mm
- Yarn
- DK
Stitches you will use
- Chain-loop foundation Forms the opening row of 22 loops for the neckline; keep loop size consistent so markers land on the correct loop for sizing.
- Granny stitch with corner increases Used through rows 1 to 3 of the yoke; place clusters into chain spaces rather than stitch tops, and work the 2dc-chain2-2dc corner at every marker to shape the raglan lines.
- Two-colour motif joins Green is joined into a 3-double-crochet cluster and red into the first green stitch to build each strawberry; weave in ends promptly so the small colour blocks stay defined.
Troubleshooting
The marked corner loops don't line up
This usually means a loop was miscounted when placing markers; recount from the first loop and reposition markers at the 4th, 4th, 7th, 4th loop sequence given for fronts, sleeves and back.
The yoke doesn't lie flat after row 3
A missed or shortened corner increase at one of the marker points is the likely cause; check that every marked corner has the full 2 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet worked into it on each row.
The strawberry motif looks muddled
This happens when the red join is worked into the wrong green stitch; join red specifically into the first green stitch of the cluster row so the colour block starts cleanly.
Substituting yarn
- Cotton, DK weight
- Gives a crisper, more structured cardigan with less stretch across the yoke; a 4.5 mm hook can soften the fabric if the cotton feels stiff.
- Acrylic, DK weight
- A close match to the original weight, machine washable and budget-friendly for children's wear; the 4 mm hook from the materials list works as stated.
- Wool-blend, DK weight
- Adds warmth and elasticity, which can make the granny stitch clusters sit more evenly, though blocking helps open the chain spaces fully for a neater finish.
Washing and care
- Hand wash the finished cardigan in cool water and lay it flat to dry, checking the yarn band for the fibre actually used, since DK weight yarn can mean wool, cotton or acrylic with different washing needs.
- Reshape the yoke and sleeves gently while damp so the granny stitch spaces sit evenly, and store the cardigan folded rather than hung to keep the shoulders from stretching out of shape.
The photographs taken while this was being made
Every one was taken by whoever published the pattern, in the order the source listed them.
FAQs
Questions
Can this cardigan be resized for an older child?
Yes. The starting loop count of 22 is given for the 2–3 years size and can be adjusted based on the child's neck measurement, with the rest of the yoke shaping following the same marker sequence.
Which hook size should be used?
A 4 mm hook is the main size for this pattern. A 4.5 mm hook can be used instead if a softer, more relaxed drape is preferred.
How much yarn is needed for the whole cardigan?
Around 200 to 250 grams of DK weight yarn in the main colour is needed, plus small amounts of red and green for the strawberry motifs.
When are the strawberry motifs added?
They are worked as decoration on the front and body once the main yoke rows and granny stitch rounds are underway, using the green and red joins described for the motif rows.
What are the stitch markers actually for?
They divide the starting loops into the two front sections, the two sleeves and the back, marking exactly where the corner increases happen to shape the raglan yoke.
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.