Crochet Cocoon Cardigan – The Embrace Cardigan

Wrap yourself in comfort and style with the Embrace Cardigan, an oversized and comfortable cocoon cardigan that is ideal for beginner crocheters! This cardigan’s cocoon shape flatters all body types, making it a staple for any wardrobe.

Scroll down for The Embrace Cardigan FREE crochet pattern and click HERE to pin this for later!

Cocoon Cardigan Details and Inspiration!

This easy and beginner friendly cocoon cardigan is made from two rectangle panels that are seamed together to make one larger rectangle. Each panel features crochet ribbing on the bottom. As a result, when the panels are seamed together, the ribbing is oriented at the bottom and top of the rectangle. When the corners are folded in you get one continuous ribbed collar! This design features simple repetitive stitches and a one row repeat for a relaxing and engaging project. Additionally, construction is easy with seaming in just a few places. Squishy ribbed cuffs are added to the arm openings to finish the look.

Unlike more structured designs, this cardigan’s cocoon shape offers an easy relaxed fit that is flattering for all body shapes. Furthermore, this versatile piece can be dressed up or down. For example, pair it with jeans and a simple top or layer over a dress for a cozy and chic look. I feel wrapped in comfort when I wear my cocoon cardigan!

Scroll down for The Embrace Cardigan FREE crochet pattern and click HERE to pin this for later!

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Let’s Talk Yarn . . .

Color Theory is easily one of my favorite acrylic yarns. It’s so soft and squishy and it comes in several easy to match colors. It’s a dream to work with and creates a lovely drape. At the beginning of last year, I was working on a V-neck cardigan design with Color Theory by Lion Brand. I had gotten as far as seaming the back panels and the front panels together. However, I didn’t like the way it fit, and the V-neck was just all wrong. Although I loved the saturated teal of the Peacock colorway, it was disappointing that my project didn’t turn out the way I wanted. I ended up putting it aside with plans to rework it.. H

Recently, when I was writing up the design notes for this cocoon cardigan project, I immediately thought again of that gorgeous green! Consequently, I pulled that cardigan apart and wound the yarn into balls so I could reuse it for the Embrace Cardigan.

Scroll down for The Embrace Cardigan FREE crochet pattern and click HERE to pin this for later!

Want the ad-free PDF version of The Embrace Cardigan?  Visit my ETSY and RAVELRY shops!

The Embrace Cardigan – A Cozy, Comfy Cocoon Cardigan!

When it comes to achieving that perfect blend of comfort, style, and handmade charm, the Embrace Cardigan checks all the boxes. This oversized, cozy cocoon cardigan is a timeless addition to your wardrobe. It’s also the ideal project for beginners looking to expand their crochet skills. Whether you’re snuggling up at home or layering it over your favorite outfit, the cocoon cardigan will quickly become your go-to piece for ultimate comfort. So, grab your crochet hook and your favorite soft worsted weight yarn, and start creating your cozy cocoon. Happy crocheting!

Scroll down for The Embrace Cardigan FREE crochet pattern and click HERE to pin this for later!

Looking for more cozy, comfy inspiration? Check these out!

• The Fairytale Blanket – Create a handmade heirloom with The Fairytale Blanket, a beginner-friendly textured crochet blanket featuring an enchanting color palette and glorious texture! Its perfect for curling up with a good book and features soft heathered worsted-weight yarn. This generously sized blanket is a gorgeous addition to your home decor.
• The Hygge Pocket Shawl – Wrap yourself in comfort with this super soft oversize crochet pocket shawl! This quick and easy project will take you through any season. Embrace the concept of hygge and surround yourself with warmth and coziness.
• 24 Crochet Super Scarf Patterns – This curated collection of 24 beautiful crochet super scarf patterns is an all-in-one free pattern reference for your next project!  Whether you are using delicate lightweight yarn or chunky bulky yarn, a crochet super scarf provides style and function at the same time. 

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The Embrace Cardigan – Free Crochet Pattern

SKILL LEVEL: Advanced Beginner

MATERIALS:

US Size I/9 5.50 mm crochet hook

Lion Brand Color Theory:  Weight – #4/Worsted 100% Acrylic (246 yards/225 meters, 3.5 ounces/100 grams)

• Peacock – 6 (7, 9, 11) skeins; approximately 1476 (1722, 2214, 2706) yards.

Stitch Markers

Scissors

Yarn needle

Measuring Tape

SIZES:

	FITS CHEST*	LENGTH OF ONE PANEL (including 3 inches of ribbing)	TOTAL LENGTH OF CARDIGAN (both panels including ribbing at top and bottom)	PANEL WIDTH (measured across the back from forearm to forearm)	ARMHOLE DEPTH	SLEEVE CUFF RIBBING WIDTH	SLEEVE CUFF RIBBING HEIGHT
XS/S	28-34”	14”	28”	36”	3.5”	6.5”	5.5”
M/L	36-42”	16”	32”	42”	5”	8.5”	6.5”
XL/2X	44-50”	18”	36”	48”	6.5”	11.5”	7.5”
3X/4X/5X	52-62”	20”	40”	56”	8”	14.5”	8.5”

*FITS CHEST refers to the measurement of the intended wearer.

*This cocoon cardigan is intended to have an oversized and relaxed fit with sleeve cuffs that begin at the forearm.  The cardigan is meant to be worn open at the front. 

*The model is wearing a size Medium/Large and is 5’4” with a 38” bust. 

GAUGE:

Main stitch pattern:  15 sts (8 dc/7 sc) X 14 rows = 4 inches

Ribbing:  16 hdc sts X 11 rows = 4 inches

*Recommended: Work a gauge swatch that mirrors the pattern instructions, from the ribbing up.

GAUGE SWATCH:

Ribbing is crocheted first and is then turned horizontally to work single crochet stitches across the ends of the rows to continue the swatch from the bottom up. 

Ribbing:  Ch 13

Row 1:  Hdc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across.  Turn.  (12 hdc sts)

Row 2:  Ch 2, hdc in both loops in first st.  Hdc BLO in next st and in each st across, ending with hdc in both loops of last st.  Turn. (12 hdc sts)

Rows 3 – 19:  Repeat Row 2.  Do not fasten off yarn, you will continue with the working yarn. 

Turn the ribbing horizontally to work single crochet stitches into the ends of the rows.  Work approximately 4 sc stitches for every 3 ribbing rows for a total of 26 stitches:

Row 1 (WS):  Ch 2, sc evenly across the ends of the ribbing row ends according to the instructions above.  PM in first st worked.  Turn.  (26 sc sts)

Row 2 (RS):  Ch 2, dc in same st as tch, PM in this st.  *Sk next st, (sc, dc) in next st.* Repeat from * to * across until one st remains.  Sc in last st.  Turn.  (26 sts)

Rows 3 – 20:  Repeat Row 2.  Measure ribbing and main stitch pattern WITHIN your swatch to determine gauge.  

ABBREVIATIONS: 

ch(s) – chain(s)

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

hdc – half double crochet

hdc BLO – half double crochet BACK LOOP only

st(s) – stitch(es)

sk – skip

tch – turning chain

PM – place marker

RS – right side

WS – wrong side

OVERALL PATTERN NOTES:

• The Embrace Cardigan pattern is written in smallest size with larger sizes following in parentheses:  XS/S (M/L, XL/2X, 3X/4X/5X). 
• The cocoon cardigan is created from two identical rectangle panels that are crocheted from the ribbing up. 
• Ribbing is crocheted first and then turned horizontally to work the main stitch pattern across the ends of the rows.  The panels are then continued from the ribbing up.  The panels are seamed together so that ribbing is oriented on the bottom and top of the seamed panel.  This creates a continuous ribbed collar.
• The corners of the panel are then folded in and seamed, leaving holes for the arms that are positioned at the middle of the forearm.  Crochet the ribbed cuffs separately and then seam onto the armholes.    
• To create the main stitch pattern, work a single crochet and double crochet into the same stitch.  Each row begins with a double crochet as the first stitch and ends with a single crochet as the last stitch. 
• Easily adjust the length of the cocoon cardigan by adding more main stitch pattern rows, making sure to crochet the same number of extra rows for each panel. This does affect how far down the length of the overall cardigan that the armholes will be positioned and will create more fabric at the neckline. 
• Turning Ch 2 does NOT count as a stitch.   
• Place a stitch marker somewhere on the right side (RS) of the cardigan panels to assist with seaming. 

MAIN PANEL (make two)

Notes: Ribbing is crocheted first and then turned horizontally to work the main stitch pattern across the ends of the rows to continue the panels from the bottom up. 

RIBBING

Foundation Row:  Ch 13

Row 1:  Hdc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across.  Turn.  (12 hdc sts)

Row 2:  Ch 2, hdc in both loops in first st.  Hdc BLO in next st and in each st across, ending with hdc in both loops of last st.  Turn. (12 hdc sts)

Rows 3 – 100 (117, 133, 155):  Repeat Row 2.  Do not fasten off yarn, you will continue with the working yarn. 

Continuing the Panel:

Turn the ribbing horizontally to work single crochet stitches into the ends of the rows.  Work approximately 4 sc stitches for every 3 ribbing rows as per below:

• XS/S:  134 sts across 100 rows – 4 sc sts for every 3 ribbing rows, working last 2 sts into last row. 
• M/L:  156 sts across 117 rows – 4 sc sts for every 3 ribbing rows.    
• XL/2X:  178 sts across 133 rows – 4 sc sts for every 3 ribbing rows, working last 2 sts into last row.    
• 3X/4X/5X:  206 sts across 155 rows – 4 sc sts for every 3 ribbing rows, working last 2 sts into last two rows.

Reference Photos – Ribbing and Beginning Row

Row 1 (WS):  Ch 2, sc evenly across the ends of the ribbing row ends according to the instructions above.  PM in first st worked.  Turn.  [134 (156, 178, 206) sts] 

Row 2 (RS):  Ch 2, dc in same st as tch, PM in this st.  *Sk next st, (sc, dc) in next st.* Repeat from * to * across until one st remains.  Sc in last st.  Turn.  [134 (156, 178, 206) sts] 

Rows 3 – 39 (45, 51, 57):  Repeat Row 2.  Fasten off.  For one of the panels, the yarn tail should be at least twice the width of the panel. 

Reference Photos – Main Stitch Pattern

Seaming the Panels

Lay panels flat on your work surface with the WS facing up.  Lay one panel flat with ribbing at the bottom and the other panel flat with the ribbing at the top, making sure both panels are WS facing up.  Pin the panels together, lining up your stitches. 

Using the mattress stitch for a smooth join, seam your cocoon cardigan panels together. 

Reference Photos – Panel Seaming

Creating the Armholes

With the seamed rectangle panel lying flat and with RS facing up, fold in the four corners so that the ends of the rows are touching and so that the ribbing lines up to create a continuous collar.    

Pin the row ends together, leaving 3.5 (5, 6.5, 8) inches for the armholes.  You may wish to customize the armhole for your preferred fit before tying off your seam, please refer to the below notes. 

A NOTE ON THE ARM OPENINGS: The armhole measurements are indicated for the written pattern instructions, but this measurement can be customized to the circumference of your forearm, or wherever the arm opening falls on your arm.  Please try your cocoon cardigan on at this point to determine how you want this opening to fit. 

For my sample, I left 5 inches for the arm opening before seaming; this was 10 total inches in circumference and the opening was snug around my forearm with room to push the sleeve up.   

Join yarn at the outer edge of where the ribbing was seamed together.  Using the mattress stitch, seam in towards the armhole. 

Repeat for the other side.  If you do not wish to add ribbed sleeve cuffs to your cocoon cardigan, fasten off your seam and weave in all your ends. 

Reference Photos – Armholes

RIBBED SLEEVE CUFFS (make two)

Ribbed sleeve cuffs are crocheted separately and then seamed on to the arm openings. The width of the cuff around your arm will be the number of rows and the length of the cuff from the armhole to your wrist or hand is the number of stitches worked.  The yarn tail from each cuff will be used to seam the cuff to the armhole and to seam the edges together.

Foundation Row:  Ch 23 (27, 31, 35)

Row 1:  Hdc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across.  Turn.  [22 (26, 30, 34) hdc sts]

Row 2:  Ch 1, hdc in both loops in first st.  Hdc BLO in next st and in each st across, ending with hdc in both loops of last st.  Turn. [22 (26, 30, 34) hdc sts]

Rows 3 – 20 (24, 28, 32):  Repeat Row 2.  Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail twice the length of the arm opening and the inner seam.  

A NOTE ON THE SLEEVE CUFFS: As with the armhole measurements, sleeve cuff measurements are indicated for the written pattern instructions but can be customized. 

To increase or decrease the length of the cuffs, work your starting chain to your preferred length; subsequent rows will be one less stitch than your starting chain.  To adjust the width of the cuffs, determine how you want the cuff to fit against your arm.  The width instructions on the pattern are 1.5 inches less than the circumference of the arm opening, so that the cuff naturally fits more snugly on the arm.  For a looser fit, crochet more rows to increase the width. 

Reference Photos – Sleeve Cuffs

Seaming the Cuff to the Armhole

With your cocoon cardigan facing WS out, lay the cardigan flat into a rectangle shape, so that the arm openings are at the top and on each side of your folded piece. 

Lay the cuff flat with ribbing horizontal lengthwise and fold the cuff down so that the edges are lined up.  Pin the edge together and pin the cuff to the armhole.  Orient the long yarn tail at the bottom of the armhole. 

Using the mattress stitch, seam the cuff to the armpit, seam up the armhole back to the armpit and then seam down the inner edge of the cuff. 

Repeat for the other cuff.  Fasten off and weave in all your ends! Wrap yourself up in your handmade cocoon cardigan!

Reference Photos – Cuff Seaming

Want the ad-free PDF version of The Embrace Cardigan?  Visit my ETSY and RAVELRY shops!

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