Crochet Granny Square Cardigan: Free Pattern and Sizing Guide
Twenty-eight squares, four seams and a ribbed band make a cardigan that fits — with a size chart from XS to 3XL and no complicated shaping anywhere.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Intermediate
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4), 1200–1900 yd depending on size
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- 20–30 hours
- Finished size
- XS to 3XL — see the chart
You'll need
- Worsted weight (#4) yarn — 1200–1900 yd total depending on size
- 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle, pins, stitch markers
- A tape measure
In this post
The granny square cardigan is the garment that converts people who "don't make clothes". There is no shaping, no decreasing at an armhole, no set-in sleeve. It's squares, joined in a shape, with a band around the front.
Every square is the same, so you can make them anywhere, and the only decision that matters is how many.
Sizing
Each finished square is 7 in (18 cm). Squares are counted, not measured, which makes sizing simple.
| Size | To fit bust | Squares | Layout (back / each front / each sleeve) | Yarn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS–S | 32–36 in | 24 | 8 / 4 / 4 | ~1200 yd |
| M–L | 38–42 in | 28 | 9 / 5 / 4½* | ~1500 yd |
| XL–2XL | 44–48 in | 32 | 12 / 6 / 4 | ~1750 yd |
| 3XL | 50–54 in | 36 | 12 / 6 / 6 | ~1900 yd |
*For M–L, make 28 squares: 9 for the back (3 × 3), 5 for each front, and the remainder split between the sleeves. The pattern below is written for M–L.
This is an oversized cardigan by design. Squares don't drape like shaped fabric, so the fit is meant to be relaxed. If you want it closer-fitting, drop one size.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
The pattern
The square (make 28)
The classic granny square, five rounds. The beginning ch 3 counts as the first dc.
- Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st to form a ring. Ch 3, 2 dc in the ring, ch 2, *3 dc in the ring, ch 2*; repeat from * twice more. Join. (4 clusters)
- Rnd 2: Sl st into a ch-2 corner. Ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same space. *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner*; repeat from * twice more. Join. (8 clusters)
- Rnd 3: As Rnd 2, with 3 dc worked into each side gap. Join. (12 clusters)
- Rnd 4: As Rnd 3, now 2 gaps per side. Join. (16 clusters)
- Rnd 5: As Rnd 4, now 3 gaps per side. Join and fasten off. (20 clusters)
Weave in every end as you finish each square. Twenty-eight squares' worth of ends saved to the end is a miserable evening.
Block them. Pin each square to exactly 7 in, mist with water, let dry. Blocked squares line up; unblocked ones don't.
Layout
- Back: 9 squares in a 3 × 3 block.
- Fronts: 5 squares each — a 1 × 3 column with 2 more beside the lower half, leaving the neck open.
- Sleeves: the remaining 9 squares, in two strips of 4 and 5, each folded into a tube.
Joining
- Step 1: Hold two squares wrong sides together and sc through both layers across the edge. This leaves a raised ridge on the right side, which is part of the look.
- Step 2: Join the back block first, then each front, then attach the fronts to the back at the shoulders only.
- Step 3: Fold each sleeve strip in half and seam it into a tube.
- Step 4: Pin each sleeve tube into the armhole opening, easing it to fit, and sc it in place.
- Step 5: Seam down each side from underarm to hem.
Front band
- Rnd 1: Starting at the bottom right front, sc evenly up the front, around the back neck and down the left front. Work 2 sc into the side of each dc row so the band lies flat.
- Rnds 2–5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
- Finish: Sl st along the final row. Fasten off.
Add the same 4-row band to each cuff and the hem if you'd like a more finished edge.
Common questions
How many granny squares make a cardigan?
24 to 36 seven-inch squares depending on size — 28 for a medium-large. See the chart above for the layout.
How much yarn does it take?
1200–1900 yd (1100–1740 m) of worsted weight. Buy all your yarn in the same dye lot at the start; running out halfway is the classic granny cardigan disaster.
Can I use different colours in each square?
Yes, and it looks wonderful — the trick is to work the final round of every square in the same colour. That one shared frame makes even the wildest scrap combination look designed.
How long does it take?
20–30 hours. Each square is around 25 minutes, and the joining and band take an evening or two.
Do I have to block the squares?
For a garment, yes. Unblocked squares vary by half an inch and the seams go wavy. It's an hour that saves the whole project.
Start with one square tonight. Twenty-seven to go. 🧥
Did you make this?
Tap a star to rate this pattern — it helps other makers find it.
Be the first to rate it!
YarnBloom
Crochet patterns & tutorials
YarnBloom shares cozy, beginner-friendly crochet patterns written in clear US terms, with a stitch count on every round and tips for the tricky bits. Grab your hook — let’s make something lovely.
Leave a comment