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A ribbed t-neck cardigan pattern in two panels

A ribbed t-neck cardigan pattern using single crochet (UK: double crochet) through the back loop only.

A ribbed t-neck cardigan pattern in two panels
Skill
Intermediate
Time
4-6 hours
Yarn weight
Worsted
Hook
6 mm

Intermediate

What the original write-up called it. Nothing here is graded again.

Worsted

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 two-panel t-neck cardigan worked in single crochet (UK: double crochet) through the back loop only, giving a ribbed, stretchy fabric throughout. Each panel is 20 rows of body, a 21-chain t-neck section worked over 22 to 24 rows, then 20 more rows, repeated once for the second panel, plus separately worked sleeves seamed on afterward.

This cardigan is built from single crochet (UK: double crochet), worked through the back loop only across every row to create a firm, visibly ribbed fabric. That single stitch choice does the work usually left to knit trims, giving the cardigan its stretch at the neckline and cuffs while keeping the whole project inside one crochet technique. The result reads as a wardrobe basic rather than a textured statement piece, with the rib running the length of each panel rather than sitting only at the edges.

Each side of the cardigan starts as a single flat panel: 20 rows of ribbed single crochet, then a separate chain of 21 stitches attached directly into the body to form the t-neck detail, worked for 22 to 24 rows before the panel continues with a further 20 rows above the neck. The same sequence is worked twice to produce two matching panels, which are seamed together afterwards along with separately worked sleeves.

Materials

  • T yarn (100% acrylic)
  • 6 mm crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • Stitch markers

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.

Body Panels

Chain : Create a chain to match shoulder-to-shoulder width.

  1. Row 1

    Ch 1, skip the first loop, SC into second loop. Continue SC across the chain.

    Key2
    ch
    chain
    sc
    single crochet
  2. Row 2

    Ch 1, turn, SC into back loops only.Continue working in back loops for 20 rows.T-Neck Addition: Chain: Ch 21 to start the t-neck.Attach: Continue working the pattern, incorporating the t-neck directly.Rows: Add 22–24 rows for the t-neck.Post-T-Neck: Continue with 20 additional rows after finishing the neck area.

    Key2
    ch
    chain
    sc
    single crochet

Creating Two Pieces

Repeat the above steps to create a second identical panel.

Joining the Pieces

Use a tapestry needle to seam the panels together, aligning row edges.

Stitch loop-to-loop for a clean join.

Arm Separation

Use stitch markers to define armhole placements.

Seam around the armhole gaps using a tapestry needle.

Sleeves

Start Loop : Create a loop at the underarm.

Ch 61 (adjustable for sleeve length).

  1. Row 1

    Ch 1, skip first loop, SC into the second loop across.

    Key2
    ch
    chain
    sc
    single crochet

Attach to Body

Slip stitch into next loop on cardigan body.

  1. Row 2

    Turn, SC into front loops only.Continue attaching each sleeve row to the body with a slip stitch.Repeat until sleeve reaches desired length.

    Key1
    sc
    single crochet

Making up

  1. Step 1Seam sleeves using either a tapestry needle or slip stitch.
  2. Step 2Weave in all ends to secure.

Notes from the pattern

  • The pattern calls for a 6 mm hook with T yarn (100% acrylic); swapping either without adjusting the other changes the row count needed to reach the stated 20 rows of ribbing.
  • Stitch markers are worth placing at the start of the 21-stitch t-neck chain and at the 20-row marks either side of it, since the ribbing texture makes row counting by eye harder than usual.
  • Back-loop-only single crochet naturally pulls tighter than standard single crochet, so keep tension slightly looser than usual across all ribbed rows to stop the fabric puckering.
  • The pattern uses a single colour throughout, so no colour-change joins are needed; if working stripes, change colour only at the start of a row to keep the back-loop rib unbroken.
  • Measurements: Measure from shoulder to shoulder to determine width (example given: 50 cm) before working the starting chain for each body panel.

The essentials

Rounds
4
Parts
8
Level
Intermediate
Time
4-6 hours
Hook
6 mm
Yarn
Worsted

Stitches you will use

  • Back loop only single crochet (ribbing) Worked across all 20-row body sections and the 22-24 t-neck rows; keep the front loop untouched every row so the rib stays even, and watch for accidentally slipping into both loops after a break in concentration.
  • Front loop only single crochet Used on the row that attaches the t-neck to the body, giving a smooth contrasting ridge against the ribbed panel. Check the row is worked into front loops only, not back, or the join will not sit flush.
  • Chain foundation and slip-stitch joining A chain of 21 starts the t-neck and a chain of 61 (adjustable) starts each sleeve; slip stitch or a tapestry needle then seams sleeves to the body. Keep the chain tension loose enough that seaming does not pull the ribbing out of shape.

Troubleshooting

The ribbing looks flat rather than textured.

This happens when stitches are worked into both loops instead of the back loop only; unpick to the last correct row and check the loop before continuing.

The t-neck section puckers or rolls at the edges.

Uneven tension across the 22-24 t-neck rows, or a missed stitch where the 21-chain attaches to the body, pulls the fabric off-square; check the attaching row lies flat before working further rows.

The two body panels come out different widths.

The starting chain was measured differently between panels; measure shoulder-to-shoulder once, for example 50 cm, note the chain length, and use the same count for the second panel.

Substituting yarn

Cotton, worsted weight
Cotton has far less stretch than acrylic, so the ribbed t-neck holds its shape more but gives less at the neckline; a 6 mm hook still suits worsted cotton, though the panel will feel heavier.
Wool-blend, DK weight
A DK wool blend is thinner than the pattern's yarn, so drop to a smaller hook, around 4-4.5 mm, and expect to add extra rows to reach the same panel width and t-neck depth.
Acrylic, chunky weight
A bulkier acrylic yarn needs a larger hook, around 8 mm, produces a thicker, more pronounced rib, and reaches the stated row counts faster, so panels may need fewer rows to match the shoulder-to-shoulder measurement.

Washing and care

  • As the pattern uses 100% acrylic yarn, the finished cardigan can typically be machine washed on a gentle cycle; check the yarn band details before the first wash.
  • Dry flat rather than in a tumble dryer to stop the ribbed t-neck stretching out of shape, and reshape the panels by hand while still damp to keep the rib even.

The photographs taken while this was being made

Every one was taken by whoever published the pattern, in the order the source listed them.

  • A ribbed t-neck cardigan pattern in two panels — photo 2
  • A ribbed t-neck cardigan pattern in two panels — photo 3
  • A ribbed t-neck cardigan pattern in two panels — photo 4
  • A ribbed t-neck cardigan pattern in two panels — photo 5

FAQs

Questions

What does the t-neck detail actually look like on this cardigan?

It is a ribbed panel built from a 21-stitch chain attached into the body and worked for 22 to 24 rows, sitting at the neckline like a fitted knit trim. The back-loop-only single crochet gives it the stretch and texture that makes it read as a t-neck rather than a plain collar.

Can the cardigan be resized for a different shoulder width?

Yes; the pattern starts from a chain measured shoulder-to-shoulder, with 50 cm given as an example, so lengthening or shortening that starting chain adjusts the width of the whole panel.

What is the difference between back loop only and front loop only in this pattern?

Back loop only is used throughout the body and t-neck to build the ribbed texture, while front loop only is used specifically on the row that attaches the t-neck to the body. Working the wrong loop at either point changes how the seam and rib sit against each other.

Do both body panels need to match exactly?

Yes, the second panel repeats the same chain length, 20 rows, t-neck sequence and final 20 rows as the first, so keeping the same stitch counts and markers for both is what makes them line up when seamed.

Is the sleeve length fixed?

No, the sleeve starts from a chain of 61 which the pattern notes as adjustable, so the length can be lengthened or shortened before working the single crochet rows across it.

These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.