Big, soft, and covered in blooms, this crochet flower sweater has that easy oversized fit you can throw on over anything. The floral motifs work up individually and join as you go, so it’s a relaxed make you can pick up and put down without losing your place. It’s a proper cottagecore sweater outfit piece, cozy enough for autumn mornings and pretty enough to wear out. Pattern’s waiting for you, free and fully written.
Big daisy appliqués scattered across a hot pink cropped cardigan make this one of those projects where the embellishment does as much work as the stitch. The body itself is straightforward front loop single crochet, so the construction moves quickly and lets you focus your attention on making and placing the flowers. If you want to explore more appliqué style crochet, this cotton crochet top uses puff stitch flower motifs built directly into the fabric.
Crochet Loose Flower Sweater
The daisy appliqués are worked separately as pom pom style flowers with white petals and a yellow center, then sewn on once the cardigan body is complete. Placement is flexible so you can scatter them however you like across the front panels and sleeves. The chunky yarn and oversized silhouette give the finished piece a cozy, relaxed feel despite the playful floral detail.
Materials
- Chunky or bulky yarn (choose a weight that gives you a fabric roughly 19–20 cm tall per panel at your natural tension)
- A crochet hook suited to your yarn
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
The source pattern doesn’t specify a hook size or yarn brand — check your yarn label for the recommended hook and swatch a few rows of half double crochet to confirm your fabric sits at the right gauge for the measurements given.
Basic Stitch to Know
The Pattern
The cardigan is worked as individual ribbed panels, each topped with half double crochet body rows, then shaped on one front edge to create the neckline angle. Mirror-image front panels, a back panel, and sleeves complete the assembly.
Step 1: The Ribbed Band (Foundation Row)
- Initial chain: Chain 10.
- Row 1: Working exclusively into the front loops only, single crochet across the entire chain.
- Row 2 onwards: Chain 1 and turn. For this row and all subsequent ribbing rows, work only into the back loops. The stitch used in this band is a modified decrease technique: insert your hook into the back loop, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), grab the yarn again and pull through to create 5 loops, then pull through all 5 loops.
- Length: Repeat until the ribbed band measures 23 cm long. When finished, it should measure approximately 4 cm wide.
Step 2: Growing the Main Body Panel
- Row 1: Work a foundation row of half double crochet stitches directly into every available space along the long edge of the completed ribbed band.
- Subsequent rows: Chain 1, turn, and continue working half double crochet across into the loops on each row.
- Final measurement: Repeat until the panel reaches 19–20 cm in total length.
If you’re new to reading crochet patterns, don’t worry, just follow along with the video tutorial below and use the written pattern as a reference!
Step 3: Shaping the Front Panel (Neckline Decreases)
- Row 1 (first decrease): Work across to the edge where the neckline decrease is needed. Insert your hook into the loop, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), grab yarn again and pull through the loop to reach 5 loops, then pull through all 5 loops to complete the decrease stitch. Chain 1, turn, and continue with regular half double crochet back across the row.
- Following rows: Chain 1, turn, and work a decrease at the neckline edge on each alternating row, gradually tapering the front panel inward to create the angled neckline.
- Repeat these steps to create the mirror-image second front panel, the back panel, and the sleeves as needed to complete the full cardigan assembly.
A Few Tips
- The ribbing decrease stitch is the key technique here. It’s essentially a 5-loop pull-through worked into the back loops of the band — take your time with it in the first few rows and the rhythm will click.
- Measure the band against your body, not just a ruler. The 23 cm length is a guide — stretch the band gently around your torso and confirm the fit before moving to the body panel.
- Work all panels to the same row count. Since the body rows build on the ribbing, match your half double crochet row count exactly across all panels so the assembly lines up cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. The source doesn’t describe the back panel, second front, or sleeves in detail — how should I approach those? The back panel follows the same method as the front: a ribbed band of the same length, then half double crochet rows to 19–20 cm, but without any neckline decreases. The second front panel mirrors the first, with the decrease on the opposite edge. Sleeves are typically worked as separate ribbed-and-body panels sized to your arm. Because the original tutorial leaves these to the visual demonstration, watching the accompanying video is recommended for the assembly and seaming steps.
2. What does the decrease stitch in the ribbing do? Rather than a standard single crochet, this technique creates a compressed, slightly denser stitch in the ribbing band by pulling through 5 loops at once. Combined with back-loop-only working, it gives the band a firm but stretchy texture that holds its structure well as a hem.
3. Can I make this longer than a crop? Yes — simply work more half double crochet rows on each panel until the body section reaches your preferred length. Just match all four panels (both fronts, back, and the body of the sleeves) to the same row count so they seam evenly.
