Sand Stitch Baby Cardigan - Free Crochet Pattern

Sand Stitch Baby Cardigan - This cardigan is too cute right? Make it for your own little one or give it away as a present! Made using the sand stitch, this cardigan is nicely firm and comfortable. This yarn is available in many different colours, so pick your favourite and get going with this free baby and toddler pattern!

Spoil your own little one - or someone else's - with this sturdy cardigan! This baby cardigan is made of the soft yarn Rico Baby Classic dk. This thread consists of 50% polyamide and 50% acrylic, feels supple and is available in many different colours. We've chosen a basic light grey colour (colour 31) and added a bright accent at the edges, but you're free to vary with colours according to your own taste!

Size Chart:
The sizes have been measured with the cardigans laying flat.

Sand Stitch Baby Cardigan - Size 62 t/m 86

The pattern for the cardigan is described three sizes. The pattern for the size 74 and 86 are in between (). Usually size 62 is suitable for babies of 2 to 4 months, size 74 for babies of 9 months and size 86 for toddlers of 18 months - 2 years. At the image above the smallest and largest sizes are pictured.

What do you need for the cardigan? 
- 3 balls (4 balls - 4 balls) Rico baby Classic dk colour 31
- 1 ball Rico Essentials Big colour 26/ 1 ball Rico Essentials Big colour 35
- Crochet hook no. 5 and 4,5 mm
- 2 x 2 Rico Wooden Buttons 20 mm

Stitches used:
Ch. = chain
Sl.st. = slip stitch
Sc. = single crochet
Dc. = double crochet
Sand Stitch  = sc. 1, dc. 1 in 1 st., skip 1 st.

The number of stitches must be a multiple of 2 + 1 st., plus 2 for the foundation chain.

Sand Stitch Baby Cardigan - Free Crochet Pattern:

Size 62 (74 – 86)

With crochet hook no. 5, ch. 83 (93 - 103).

Row 1: Continue with crochet hook no. 4,5. Dc. 1 in the 3rd ch. from your hook, skip 1 st., work the sand stitch until the end of the row, end with sc. 1, tch. 1. You'll get 81 (91 / 101) sts.
Row 2: Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch until the end of the row, end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Rows 3 - 24 (25 / 26): Repeat row 2
Row 25 (26 / 27): For the buttonhole: dc. 1 in the first st., ch. 2, skip 3 sts., work the sand stitch 3 x, skip 1 st., in the next st. sc. 1, dc. 1 , ch. 2, skip 2 sts. Repeat the sand stitch until the end, sc. 1, tch. 1.
Rows 26 - 27 (27 - 28 / 28 - 29): Repeat row 2
As of row 28 (29 / 30) you're going to continue your work in 3 separate parts (one for the left front, one for the back, and one for the right front). Continue with the first 21 (25 / 29) sts. for the front.
Row 28(29 / 30): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 9x (11x / 13x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 29 - 38 (30 - 41 / 31 - 44): Repeat row 2 over 21 (25 / 29) sts.

Shoulder
Row 39 (42 / 45): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., 5x (6x / 7x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 40 (43 / 46): Skip 2 sts., work the sand stitch 5x (6x / 7x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 41 (44 / 47): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 4x(5x / 6x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 42 (45 / 48): Skip 2 sts., work the sand stitch 4x (5x / 6x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 43 (46 / 49): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 3x (4x / 5x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.

Back
The back is made using the middle 33 (35 / 37) sts.
Row 1: Cast on a new yarn in the 4th st. from your front. Ch. 1, dc. 1 in the same st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 15x (16x / 17x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 2 - 16 (18 / 20): Repeat row 2 over 33 (35 / 37) sts.

Shoulder
Row 17 (19 / 21): Work this row using 9 (11 / 13) sts. Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 3x (4x / 5x),  end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 22: Skip 2 sts., work the sand stitch 3x (4x / 5x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Cast off.

2nd shoulder
Row 1: Cast on a new yarn in the 16th(14th / 12th) st. from your first shoulder. Ch. 1, skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 3x (4x / 5x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 2: Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 2x (3x / 4x), skip 1 st., in the next st. sc. 1, dc. 1, sl.st. 1 in the last st. Cast off.

2nd shoulder
Row 1: Cast on a new yarn in the 4th st. from your back.
Ch. 1 and dc. 1 in the same st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 9x (11x / 13x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Rows 2 - 7 (9 / 11): Repeat row 2
Rows 8 (10 / 12): For the buttonhole: Dc. 1 in the first st., ch. 2, skip 3 sts., work the sand stitch 3x, skip 1 st., in the next st. sc. 1, dc. 1, ch. 2, skip 3 sts. Repeat the sand stitch until the end of the row, end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 9 - 11 (11 - 13 / 13 - 15): Repeat row 2

Shoulder
Put the right side of the front beforeyou (with the buttonholes on the right side)
Row 12 (14 / 16 ): Cast on a new yarn in the 9 (11 / 13) st., skip 1 st. and work the sand stitch 5x (6x / 7x), end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 13 (15 / 17): Dc. 1 in the first st., work the sand stitch 4x(5x - 6x), skip 1 st., end with sc. 1.
Row 14 (16 / 18): Skip 2 sts., work the sand stitch 4x(5x - 6x), skip 1 st.
Row 15 (17 / 19): Dc. 1 in the first st., work the sand stitch 3x(4x - 5x), skip 1 st., end with sc. 1.
Row 16 (18 /  20): Skip 2 sts., work the sand stitch 3x(4x - 5x), skip 1 st., end with sc. 1.
Cast off.

Hoodie
With crochet hook no. 5 ch. 25 (27 / 29).
Row 1: Continue with crochet hook no. 4,5mm. Dc. 1 in the 3rd ch. from your hook, skip 1 st., work the sand stitch until the end of the row. End with sc. 1, tch. 1. You'll get 23 (25 / 27) sts.
Rows 2 - 59 (62 / 65): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch until the end of the row,  end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Cast off.

Fold the hoodie in two (see image 1) and sew the hoodie on one side together with needle and thread (see image 2). This will be the middle seam of the hoodie.
Take the cardigan and place the fronts the right way depending on whether you're making it for a boy or girl. For a girl's cardigan put the right over the left front and for a boy's cardigan put the left over the right front.
Sew the hoodie to the neckline starting mid front (exactly in between de buttonholes).

Sleeves 2x
Row 1: Cast on a new yarn in the middle of the armhole (pit), dc.1 in the same stitch. Divide 14 (15 / 16) sand stitches over the armhole and end with sc.1, tch. 1. Turn your work.
Rows 2 - 12 (14 / 16): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch until the end of the row, end with sc.1, tch. 1.
Row 13 (15 / 17): Skip 2 sts., work the sand stitch 13x (14x / 15x), skip 1 st., sc. 1, skip 1 st., sl.st. 1, tch. 1.
Row 14 (16 / 18): Skip 1 st., dc. 1, skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 12x (13x / 14x), skip 1 st., sc. 1, tch. 1.
Rows 15 - 21 (17 - 27 / 19 - 33): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 12x (13x / 14x) until the end of the row, end with sc.1, tch. 1.
Row 22 (28 / 34): Skip 2 sts., work the sand stitch 11x (12x / 13x), skip 1 st., sc. 1, skip 1 st., sl.st. 1, tch. 1.
Row 23 (29 / 35): skip 1 st., dc. 1, skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 10x (11x / 12x), skip 1 st., sc. 1, tch. 1.
Rows 24 - 30 (30 - 36 / 36 - 42): Dc. 1 in the first st., skip 1 st., work the sand stitch 10x (11x / 12x) until the end of the row, end with sc. 1, tch. 1.
Row 31 (37 / 43): Work a row of sc. At the end of the row do not turn but continue alongside the open sides of the sleeve with sc. towards the armpit and alongside the other open part back up.
Cast off but leave a longer yarn on your work to sew the sleeve seam.
Work a round of sc. with crochet hook no. 4,5 around the whole cardigan.

To decorate the edges cut a yarn of Rico essentials big and embroider a decorative edge around the borders of the cardigan, keeping 1 stitch in between. Do the same for the sleeves.

Make a little pompon and attach it to the hoodie.

Note: The video below is in Dutch but offers great visual images on how to work the Sand stitch.

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