With summer around the corner and the 4th of July festivities fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to start this American Flag Cardigan crochet pattern. This crochet project celebrates the red, white, and blue! So, it’s time to introduce my easy crochet pattern for a child’s American flag cardigan.
Inspiration
Every summer we head to Northern Wisconsin for the 4th of July. We spend time at our cabin on the lake and enjoy all the 4th of July festivities. My kids love to getting dressed up for the parade and the fireworks. My daughter already has a tank top that I made her so I knew I wanted to make her a cardigan that she could wear for the fireworks so I created this cardigan crochet pattern.
Get the PDF Pattern Here
My Americana Flag Crochet Blanket pattern is my most popular pattern by far. Using the same stitches I created this cardigan crochet pattern. Get the matching blanket pattern below.
This pattern is made up of a back panel, two front panels, and two sleeves. Also, the design features classic stripes and a star-spangled section to mimic the American flag. This pattern is written for children’s sizes XS, S, M, L.
Yarn
This pattern uses Lily Sugar’n Cream yarn. I love this yarn for a few reasons. First, it is 100% cotton. Second, this yarn is strong and durable so it will hold up to my kiddos being rough on it. Third, this yarn is available in a wide array of colors and is available at almost all craft stores and some big box stores. Finally, this yarn is available at an affordable price, making it a great option without breaking the bank.
Project Details
Yarn – Lily Sugar ‘n Cream, Weight 4 Medium, (100% Cotton, 200 yds/184m/4oz/113g), Color – (A) Red,
(B) White, (C) Dazzle Blue.
Hook Size – J 6.0mm and F 3.75mm Gauge – 4” square = 13 sts x 10 rows
Will need a tapestry needle and scissors.
Stitch markers may also be used to help with seaming sweater together.
Child Size Chart
Abbreviations
Stitch Description
Crdc: Yo, skip next stitch and insert hook into next stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo and pull though the first two loops, yo and pull through the last two loops.
In the stitch that you skipped yo and insert hook in front of the first dc made, pull up a loop, yo and pull through the first two loops, yo and pull through the last two loops.
Crdc/dctog: Work crdc until you have 2 loops left on the hook, do not complete the crdc. Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through all 3 loops to complete the decrease.
Dc/crdctog: Work dc until you have 2 loops left on your hook, yo, insert hook in second st from hook, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through all 3 loops, complete dc in st that you skipped. This creates a decrease.
Pattern Notes
- Ch 1 at the beginning of the row does not count as a stitch.
- Do not skip first stitch in each row.
- After beginning ch, work in back bump for Row 1. Rotate the chain toward you and insert your hook through the back bump loop.
- This pattern was written for child size XS with S, M, and L in parentheses as XS (S, M, L). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
- I find it easiest to go through the pattern and highlight all the numbers for the size you are making.
- Photos in this pattern are of the adult sizes and are to be used for general reference.
- The sleeve length includes extra length to be cuffed.
Pattern
Back
Begin: (Using J hook) with color A ch 39 (45, 49, 53).
Row 1: Dc in second ch from hook, crdc across to last st, dc in last ch; ch 1, turn. (38 (44, 48, 52)
Row 2: Sc across; ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 – 4: Rep Rows 1 – 2.
Rows 5 – 8: Join color B, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Rows 9 – 12: Join color A, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Rows 13 – 28: Rep Rows 5 – 12 two times.
Note: Move to corresponding size to finish Back.
Back (XS)
Continue from Back Row 28
Row 29: To begin shaping the armholes, skip 4 sts, join color C with sl st in next st, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 7, join color B, crdc 7, dc in last st leaving 4 sts unworked at this end; ch 1, turn. (30)
Row 30: Sc 15, join color C, sc 15; ch 1, turn.
Row 31: Dc, crdc 7, join color B, crdc 7, dc; ch 1, turn.
Row 32: Rep Row 30.
Rows 33 – 36: Join color A, rep Rows 31 – 32 using color A instead of B.
Rows 37 – 40: Join color B, rep Rows 31 – 32. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Back (S)
Continue from Back Row 28
Row 29: Join color C, dc, crdc 10, join color B, crdc 11, dc; ch 1, turn.
Row 30: Sc 23, join color C, sc 21; ch 1, turn.
Row 31: To begin shaping the armholes, sl st in next 5 sts, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 8, join color B, crdc 9, dc in last st leaving 4 sts unworked at this end; ch 1, turn. (36)
Row 32: Sc 19, join color C, sc 17; ch 1, turn.
Row 33: Dc, crdc 8, join color A, crdc 9, dc.
Row 34: Rep Row 32.
Rows 35 – 36: Rep Rows 33 – 34.
Rows 37 – 40: Join color B, rep Rows 33 – 34.
Rows 41 – 44: Join color A, rep rows 33 – 34.
Rows 45 – 48: Join color B, rep rows 33 – 34. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Back (M)
Continue from Back Row 28
Rows 29 – 32: Join color B, rep Rows 1 – 4 from Back.
Row 33: To begin shaping the armholes, sk 4 sts, join color C with sl st in next st, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 9, join color A, crdc 10, dc in last st leaving 4 sts unworked; ch 1, turn. (40)
Row 34: Sc 21, join color C, sc 19.
Row 35: Dc, crdc 9, join color A, crdc 10, dc; ch 1, turn.
Row 36: Rep Row 34.
Rows 37 – 40: Join color B, rep Rows 35 – 36.
Rows 41 – 44: Join color A, rep Rows 35 – 36.
Rows 45 – 48: Join color B, rep Rows 35 – 36.
Rows 49 – 50: Join color A, rep Rows 35 – 36. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Back (L)
Continue from Back Row 28.
Rows 29 – 32: Join color B, rep Rows 1 – 4 from Back.
Row 33: Join color C, dc, crdc 12, join color A, crdc 13, dc; ch 1, turn.
Row 34: Sc 27, join color C, sc 25.
Row 35: To begin shaping the armholes, sl st in next 5 sts, ch 1, dc in same st, crossed dc 10, join color A, crossed dc 11, dc in last st leaving 4 sts unworked on this end; ch 1, turn. (44)
Row 36: Sc 23, join color C, sc 21.
Row 37: Dc, crdc 10, join color B, crdc 11, dc; ch 1, turn.
Row 38: Rep Row 36.
Rows 39 – 40: Rep Rows 37 – 38.
Rows 41 – 44: Join color A, rep Rows 37 – 38.
Rows 45 – 48: Join color B, rep Rows 37 – 38.
Rows 49 – 52: Join color A, rep Rows 37 – 38. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Left Front Panel
Begin: With color A, ch 21 (23, 25, 27).
Row 1: Dc in second ch from hook, crdc to last st, dc; ch 1, turn. (20 (22, 24, 26)
Row 2: Sc across; ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 – 4: Rep Rows 1 – 2.
Row 5 – 8: Join color B, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Rows 9 – 12: Join color A, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Rows 13 – 16: Join color B, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Rows 17 – 20: Join color A, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Rows 21 – 24: Join color B, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Rows 25 – 28: Join color A, rep Rows 1 – 4.
Note: Move to corresponding size to finish Left Front Panel.
Left Front Panel (XS)
Continued from Left Front Panel Row 28
Row 29: To begin shaping the armhole, sk 4 sts, join color C with sl st in next st, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 7, dc in last st leaving no sts unworked on this end; ch 1, turn. (16)
Row 30: Rep Row 2 from Left Front Panel.
Row 31: Dc, crdc to last 3 sts, crdc/dctog; ch 1, turn. (15)
Row 32: Sc across; ch 1, turn.
Row 33: Dc, crdc to last 2 sts, dc2tog; ch 1, turn. (14)
Row 34: Rep Row 32.
Rows 35 – 40: Rep Rows 31 – 34. (11) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Left Front Panel (S)
Continued from Left Front Panel Row 28
Rows 29 – 30: Join color C, rep Rows 1 – 2 from Left Front Panel.
Row 31: To begin shaping the armhole, sl st in next 5 sts, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 8, dc in last st leaving no sts unworked; ch 1, turn. (18)
Row 32: Rep Row 2 from Left Front Panel.
Rows 33 – 48: Rep Rows 31 – 34 from Left Front Panel size (XS). (10) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Left Front Panel (M)
Continued from Left Front Panel Row 28
Rows 29 – 32: Rep Rows 1 – 4 from Left Front Panel (XS). (24)
Row 33: To begin shaping the armhole, sk 4 sts, join color C with sl st in next st, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 9, dc in last st leaving no sts unworked on this end; ch 1, turn. (20)
Row 34: Rep Row 2 from Left Front Panel.
Rows 35 – 50: Rep Rows 31 – 36 from Left Front Panel size (XS). (12) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Left Front Panel (L)
Continued from Left Front Panel Row 28
Rows 29 – 32: Rep Rows 1 – 4 from Left Front Panel. (26)
Rows 33 – 34: Join color C, rep Rows 1 – 2 from Left Front Panel.
Row 35: Sl st in next 5 sts, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 10, dc; ch 1, turn. (22)
Row 36: Rep Row 2 from Left Front Panel.
Rows 37 – 52: Rep Rows 33 – 36 from Left Front Panel (XS). (14) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Right Front Panel
Begin: With color A, ch 21 (23, 25, 27).
Rows 1 – 28: Rep rows 1-28 from Left Front Panel.
Note: Move to corresponding size to finish Left Front Panel.
Right Front Panel (XS)
Continued from Right Front Panel Row 28
Row 29: To begin shaping the armhole, sk 4 sts, join color B with sl st in next st, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 7, dc in last st leaving no sts unworked; ch 1, turn. (16)
Row 30: Rep Row 2 from Left Front Panel.
Rows 31 – 32: Continue with color B, rep Rows 31 – 32 from Left Front Panel (XS).
Rows 33 – 36: Join color A, rep Rows 33 – 36 from Left Front Panel (XS).
Rows 37 – 40: Join color B, rep Rows 33 – 36 from Left Front Panel (XS). (11) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Right Front Panel (S)
Continued from Right Front Panel Row 28
Rows 29 – 30: Join color B, rep Rows 29 – 32 from Left Front Panel (S).
Rows 33 – 36: Join color A, rep Rows 33 – 36 from Left Front Panel (S).
Rows 37 – 48: Rep Rows 29 – 36. (10) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Right Front Panel (M)
Continued from Right Front Panel Row 28
Rows 29 – 32: Rep Rows 1 – 4 from Left Front Panel (XS). (24)
Row 33: To begin shaping the armhole, sk 4 sts, join color A with sl st in next st, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 9, dc in last st leaving no sts unworked on this end; ch 1, turn. (20)
Row 34: Sc across; ch 1, turn.
Rows 35 – 36: Rep Rows 31 – 32 from Left Front Panel (XS). (19)
Rows 37 – 38: Join color B, rep Rows 33 – 34 from Left Front Panel (XS).
Rows 39 – 40: Rep Rows 33 – 34 from Left Front Panel (XS).
Rows 41 – 44: Join color A, rep Rows 31 – 34 from Left Front Panel (XS).
Rows 45 – 48: Join color B, rep Rows 31 – 34 from Left Front Panel (XS).
Rows 49 – 50: Join color A, rep Rows 31 – 32 from Left Front Panel (XS). (12) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Right Front Panel (L)
Continued from Right Front Panel Row 28
Rows 29 – 32: Rep Rows 1 – 4 from Left Front Panel (XS). (26)
Rows 33 – 34: Join color A, rep Rows 1 – 2 from Left Front Panel.
Row 35: To begin shaping the armhole, sl st in next 5 sts, ch 1, dc in same st, crdc 10, dc in last st leaving no sts unworked on this end; ch 1, turn. (22)
Row 36: Rep Row 2 from Left Front Panel.
Rows 37 – 40: Join color B, rep Rows 31 – 34 from Left Front Panel (XS). (21)
Rows 41 – 44: Join color A, rep Rows 31 – 34 from Left Front Panel (XS). (18)
Rows 45 – 52: Join color B, rep Rows 31 – 34 from Left Front Panel (XS). (14) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Right Sleeve
Begin: With color A, ch 39 (51, 55, 55).
Row 1: Dc in second ch from hook, crdc to last sts, dc; ch 1, turn. (38 (50, 54, 54))
Row 2: Sc across; ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 – 4: Rep Rows 1 – 2.
Row 5: Join Color B, dc/crdctog, crdc 23 to last 3 sts, crdc/dctog; ch 1, turn. (36 (48, 52, 52))
Row 6: Rep Row 2.
Row 7: Dc 2, crdc to last 2 sts, dc 2; ch 1, turn.
Row 8: Rep Row 2.
Row 9: Join Color A, dc2tog, crdc to last 2 sts, dc2tog; ch 1, turn. (34 (46, 50, 50))
Row 10: Rep Row 2.
Row 11: Dc, crdc to last st, dc; ch 1, turn.
Row 12: Rep Row 2.
Rows 13 – 36: Join Color B, rep Rows 5 – 12 three times. (22 (34, 38, 38))
Size XS: stop here, move to Left Sleeve.
Rows 37 – 44: Join Color B, rep Rows 5 – 12. (X (30, 34, 34)
Sizes S & M: stop here, move to Left Sleeve.
Rows 45 – 46: Join color B, rep Rows 11 – 12. (X (X, X, 34) Fasten off, weave in ends.
Left Sleeve
Begin: With Color C, ch 39 (51, 55, 55).
Rows 1 – 46: Join color C, rep Rows 1 – 46 from Right Sleeve.
Stars
Using F hook, make any number of stars you want to attach to the cardigan.
Begin: With color B, ch 2.
Round 1: Hdc 11 in second ch from hook, sl st in first hdc.
Round 2: *Ch 5, sl st in second ch from hook attaching to the cardigan by working the sl st under a loop of the cardigan, dc, hdc, sc, sk next hdc, sl st in next st attaching to the cardigan by working the sl st under a loop of the cardigan, rep from * to end. Fasten off.
Round 2: *Ch 5, sl st in second ch from hook attaching to the cardigan by working the sl st under a loop of the cardigan, dc, hdc, sc, sk next hdc, sl st in next st attaching to the cardigan by working the sl st under a loop of the cardigan, rep from * to end. Fasten off.
