Crochet this beautifully textured cardigan using the popular waffle stitch! The Watson Waffle Crochet Cardigan is a chunky sweater that looks so cozy with its long length, bulky feel, and large pockets. This cardigan works up very quickly, is easy to construct, and will look beautiful layered over jeans, leggings, or your favourite lounge wear! You can crochet 16 different sizes from baby to 5XL. Scroll down for the free pattern or purchase an inexpensive downloadable PDF from Etsy HERE or Ravelry HERE!
When I shared a picture of this cardigan on social media it was by far my most liked and shared image of 2019. I couldn’t wait to share the full pattern but ran into many snags along the way and it’s been almost a year of tinkering and trials to get to the finished instructions.
The main reason it took me so long to perfect the pattern is that I wanted to make sure it could be worked up in as many sizes as possible. As a relative newbie to sweater design I foolishly made the original sample to fit myself and then worried about scaling it up/down. It was complicated and involved A LOT of trial and error. I learned that it’s MUCH wiser to do the math & planning first and then create your piece. Despite the time it took I’m very proud that this pattern includes baby, toddler, child, and adult (up to 5XL) sizes!
This cardigan is beginner friendly . . . if you’re comfortable with ‘front post’ stitches then you can tackle this pattern. The video tutorial covers the most difficult parts and as you’ll see when you scroll down there are lots of pictures to help as well.
F I N I S H E D S I Z E S
Baby (6 months) – 14” chest, 11” length
Baby (12 months) – 17” chest, 13” length
Kids (2 years) – 20” chest, 15” length
Kids (4 years) – 23” chest, 17” length
Kids (6 years) – 26” chest, 19” length
Kids (8 years) – 29” chest, 21” length
Kids (10 years) – 32” chest, 23” length
Kids (12 years) – 35” chest, 25” length
Adult Small – 38” chest, 29.5” length
Adult Medium – 41” chest, 30” length
Adult Large – 44” chest, 31” length
Adult X-Large – 47” chest, 31” length
Adult 2 XL – 53” chest, 33” length
Adult 3 XL – 56” chest, 33” length
Adult 4 XL – 59” chest, 33” length
Adult 5 XL – 65” chest, 34” length
● Comfortable fit that is slightly oversized and larger than actual bust/chest
measurement
● Adult size pictured is a ‘Medium’ on a 5’4” tall person with a 36” chest
● Child size pictured is a ‘Kids (6 Years)’ on a 7 year old
M A T E R I A L S
Hook – US E / 9 – 3.50mm crochet hook
Yarn – Any fine weight yarn (size 2 / ‘sport’ / 5 ply)
◦ Loops & Threads® Cambria™ (Grey + White) – 660m/200g
▪ Amounts needed:
➢ Baby (6 months) – approximately 366 yards or 335 meters (1 skein)
➢ Baby (12 months) – approximately 524 yards or 479 meters (1 skein)
➢ Kids (2 years) – approximately 669 yards or 612 meters (1 skein)
➢ Kids (4 years) – approximately 871 yards or 796 meters (1 skein)
➢ Kids (6 years) – approximately 1054 yards or 964 meters (2 skeins)
➢ Kids (8 years) – approximately 1225 yards or 1120 meters (2 skeins)
➢ Kids (10 years) – approximately 1577 yards or 1442 meters (3 skeins)
➢ Kids (12 years) – approximately 1879 yards or 1718 meters (3 skeins)
➢ Adult Small – approximately 2314 yards or 2116 meters (4 skeins)
➢ Adult Medium – approximately 2540 yards or 2323 meters (4 skeins)
➢ Adult Large – approximately 2820 yards or 2579 meters (4 skeins)
➢ Adult X-Large – approximately 3034 yards or 2775 meters (5 skeins)
➢ Adult 2 XL – approximately 3591 yards or 3284 meters (5 skeins)
➢ Adult 3 XL – approximately 3821 yards or 3494 meters (6 skeins)
➢ Adult 4 XL – approximately 4055 yards or 3708 meters (6 skeins)
➢ Adult 5 XL – approximately 4547 yards or 4158 meters (7 skeins)
G A U G E
24 stitches = 4 inches
16 rows = 4 inches
P A T T E R N A B B R E V I A T I O N S
English (US) terms
ch – Chain: Yarn over, pull through loop on hook
sc – Single Crochet: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn
over and pull through 2 loops
hdc – Half Double Crochet: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and
pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook
dc – Double Crochet: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull
through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook, yarn over and pull
through last two loops on hook
FP – Front Post Stitch: Work crochet stitch around the front ‘post’ of stitch
sl st – Slip Stitch: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch
and loop on hook
N O T E S
• Beginning chain does NOT count as a stitch in stitch counts
• Example photographs are in ‘Kids (6 years)’ size
• Stitch count in [ ] at the end of each row is in order of size
• You can construct a shawl or a cardigan/sweater simply by adding/omitting the ‘Panel B: Lower Back’ section of the pattern
• The Cardigan is made of:
– A long rectangle that covers upper back and front (Panel A)
– A smaller rectangle that covers the lower back (Panel B)
– And 2 pockets
V I D E O T U T O R I A L
There is a video tutorial available for this pattern on YouTube:
W R I T T E N P A T T E R N
English (US) terms
Pattern is broken into 6 sections:
1. Panel A: Front + Upper Back
2. Panel B: Lower Back
3. Pockets
4. Pocket Trim
5. Seaming
6. Cardigan Trim
PANEL A: FRONT + UPPER BACK
Row 1
Chain:
● 32 – Baby (6 months)
● 38 – Baby (12 months)
● 44 – Kids (2 years)
● 50 – Kids (4 years)
● 56 – Kids (6 years)
● 62 – Kids (8 years)
● 67 – Kids (10 years)
● 74 – Kids (12 years)
● 80 – Adult Small
● 86 – Adult Medium
● 92 – Adult Large
● 98 – Adult X-Large
● 110 – Adult 2 XL
● 116 – Adult 3 XL
● 122 – Adult 4 XL
● 134 – Adult 5 XL
dc in 3rd chain from hook, dc down chain
[30 dc | 36 dc – Baby Sizes]
[42 dc | 48 dc | 54 dc | 60 dc | 66 dc | 72 dc – Kids Sizes]
[78 dc | 84 dc | 90 dc | 96 dc | 108 dc | 114 dc | 120 dc | 132 dc – Adult Sizes]
Row 2
Ch 2, turn, *(FPdc, FPdc, dc), repeat from * down row, last stitch should go into beginning chain from previous row
[30 sts | 36 sts – Baby Sizes]
[42 sts | 48 sts | 54 sts | 60 sts | 66 sts | 72 sts – Kids Sizes]
[78 sts | 84 sts | 90 sts | 96 sts | 108 sts | 114 sts | 120 sts | 132 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 3
Ch 2, turn, *(dc, dc, FPdc), repeat from * down row, last stitch should go around beginning chain from previous row
[30 sts | 36 sts – Baby Sizes]
[42 sts | 48 sts | 54 sts | 60 sts | 66 sts | 72 sts – Kids Sizes]
[78 sts | 84 sts | 90 sts | 96 sts | 108 sts | 114 sts | 120 sts | 132 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 4 & up
Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until you finish:
● 112 rows (56 squares) – Baby (6 months)
● 128 rows (64 squares) – Baby (12 months)
● 144 rows (72 squares) – 42 Kids (2 years)
● 160 rows (80 squares) – Kids (4 years)
● 176 rows (88 squares) – Kids (6 years)
● 192 rows (96 squares) – Kids (8 years)
● 208 rows (104 squares) – Kids (10 years)
● 224 rows (112 squares) – Kids (12 years)
● 256 rows (128 squares) – Adult Small
● 264 rows (132 squares) – Adult Medium
● 272 rows (136 squares) – Adult Large
● 272 rows (136 squares) – Adult X-Large
● 288 rows (144 squares) – Adult 2 XL
● 288 rows (144 squares) – Adult 3 XL
● 288 rows (144 squares) – Adult 4 XL
● 296 rows (148 squares) – Adult 5 XL
PANEL B: LOWER BACK
Row 1
Chain:
● 26 – Baby (6 months)
● 32 – Baby (12 months)
● 38 – Kids (2 years)
● 44 – Kids (4 years)
● 50 – Kids (6 years)
● 56 – Kids (8 years)
● 62 – Kids (10 years)
● 68 – Kids (12 years)
● 74 – Adult Small
● 80 – Adult Medium
● 86 – Adult Large
● 92 – Adult X-Large
● 104 – Adult 2 XL
● 110 – Adult 3 XL
● 116 – Adult 4 XL
● 128 – Adult 5 XL
dc in 3rd chain from hook, dc down chain
[24 dc | 30 dc – Baby Sizes]
[36 dc | 42 dc | 48 dc | 54 dc | 60 dc | 66 dc – Kids Sizes]
[72 dc | 78 dc | 84 dc | 90 dc | 102 dc | 108 dc | 114 dc | 126 dc – Adult Sizes]
Row 2
Ch 2, turn, *(FPdc, FPdc, dc), repeat from * down row, last stitch should go into beginning chain from previous row
[24 sts | 30 sts – Baby Sizes]
[36 sts | 42 sts | 48 sts | 54 sts | 60 sts | 66 sts – Kids Sizes]
[72 sts | 78 sts | 84 sts | 90 sts | 102 sts | 108 sts | 114 sts | 126 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 3
Ch 2, turn, *(dc, dc, FPdc), repeat from * down row, last stitch should go around beginning chain from previous row
[24 sts | 30 sts – Baby Sizes]
[36 sts | 42 sts | 48 sts | 54 sts | 60 sts | 66 sts – Kids Sizes]
[72 sts | 78 sts | 84 sts | 90 sts | 102 sts | 108 sts | 114 sts | 126 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 4 & up
Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until you finish:
● 32 rows (16 squares) – Baby (6 months)
● 36 rows (18 squares) – Baby (12 months)
● 40 rows (20 squares) – 42 Kids (2 years)
● 44 rows (22 squares) – Kids (4 years)
● 48 rows (24 squares) – Kids (6 years)
● 52 rows (26 squares) – Kids (8 years)
● 56 rows (28 squares) – Kids (10 years)
● 60 rows (30 squares) – Kids (12 years)
● 72 rows (36 squares) – Adult Small
● 72 rows (36 squares) – Adult Medium
● 72 rows (36 squares) – Adult Large
● 68 rows (34 squares) – Adult X-Large
● 68 rows (34 squares) – Adult 2 XL
● 64 rows (32 squares) – Adult 3 XL
● 60 rows (30 squares) – Adult 4 XL
● 56 rows (28 squares) – Adult 5 XL
POCKETS
Row 1
Chain:
● 20 – Baby (6 months)
● 23 – Baby (12 months)
● 26 – Kids (2 years)
● 29 – Kids (4 years)
● 32 – Kids (6 years)
● 35 – Kids (8 years)
● 41 – Kids (10 years)
● 44 – Kids (12 years)
● 47 – Adult Small
● 50 – Adult Medium
● 53 – Adult Large
● 56 – Adult X-Large
● 65 – Adult 2 XL
● 68 – Adult 3 XL
● 71 – Adult 4 XL
● 77 – Adult 5 XL
dc in 3rd chain from hook, dc down chain
[18 dc | 21 dc – Baby Sizes]
[24 dc | 27 dc | 30 dc | 33 dc | 39 dc | 42 dc – Kids Sizes]
[45 dc | 48 dc | 51 dc | 54 dc | 63 dc | 66 dc | 69 dc | 75 dc – Adult Sizes]
Row 2
Ch 2, turn, *(FPdc, FPdc, dc), repeat from * down row, last stitch should go into beginning chain from previous row
[18 sts | 21 sts – Baby Sizes]
[24 sts | 27 sts | 30 sts | 33 sts | 39 sts | 42 sts – Kids Sizes]
[45 sts | 48 sts | 51 sts | 54 sts | 63 sts | 66 sts | 69 sts | 75 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 3
Ch 2, turn, *(dc, dc, FPdc), repeat from * down row, last stitch should go around beginning chain from previous row
[18 sts | 21 sts – Baby Sizes]
[24 sts | 27 sts | 30 sts | 33 sts | 39 sts | 42 sts – Kids Sizes]
[45 sts | 48 sts | 51 sts | 54 sts | 63 sts | 66 sts | 69 sts | 75 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 4 & up
Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until you finish:
● 11 rows (6 squares) – Baby (6 months)
● 13 rows (7 squares) – Baby (12 months)
● 15 rows (8 squares) – Kids (2 years)
● 17 rows (9 squares) – Kids (4 years)
● 19 rows (10 squares) – Kids (6 years)
● 21 rows (11 squares) – Kids (8 years)
● 23 rows (12 squares) – Kids (10 years)
● 25 rows (13 squares) – Kids (12 years)
● 27 rows (14 squares) – Adult Small
● 29 rows (15 squares) – Adult Medium
● 29 rows (15 squares) – Adult Large
● 29 rows (15 squares) – Adult X-Large
● 31 rows (16 squares) – Adult 2 XL
● 31 rows (16 squares) – Adult 3 XL
● 31 rows (16 squares) – Adult 4 XL
● 31 rows (16 squares) – Adult 5 XL
POCKET TRIM
Row 1
continuing from last row of pocket . . .
Ch 2, turn, FPhdc to end of row
[18 sts | 21 sts – Baby Sizes]
[24 sts | 27 sts | 30 sts | 33 sts | 39 sts | 42 sts – Kids Sizes]
[45 sts | 48 sts | 51 sts | 54 sts | 63 sts | 66 sts | 69 sts | 75 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 2
Ch 1, turn, *(FPhdc, sc), repeat from * to end of row
[18 sts | 21 sts – Baby Sizes]
[24 sts | 27 sts | 30 sts | 33 sts | 39 sts | 42 sts – Kids Sizes]
[45 sts | 48 sts | 51 sts | 54 sts | 63 sts | 66 sts | 69 sts | 75 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 3
Ch 1, turn, sc to end of row
[18 sts | 21 sts – Baby Sizes]
[24 sts | 27 sts | 30 sts | 33 sts | 39 sts | 42 sts – Kids Sizes]
[45 sts | 48 sts | 51 sts | 54 sts | 63 sts | 66 sts | 69 sts | 75 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 4
Ch 1, turn, *(FPdc around FP stitch from Row 2, sc), repeat from * to end of row
[18 sts | 21 sts – Baby Sizes]
[24 sts | 27 sts | 30 sts | 33 sts | 39 sts | 42 sts – Kids Sizes]
[45 sts | 48 sts | 51 sts | 54 sts | 63 sts | 66 sts | 69 sts | 75 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 5 & up
Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until you finish:
● 4 rows – Baby sizes
● 6 rows – Kids sizes
● 8 rows – Adult sizes
SEAMING
Center last row of Panel B along one of the long sides of Panel A and sl st or sew to attach. To center begin attaching Panel B on:
● 25th square along long edge of Panel A – Baby (6 months)
● 28th square along long edge of Panel A – Baby (12 months)
● 31st square along long edge of Panel A – Kids (2 years)
● 34th square along long edge of Panel A – Kids (4 years)
● 37th square along long edge of Panel A – Kids (6 years)
● 40th square along long edge of Panel A – Kids (8 years)
● 43rd square along long edge of Panel A – Kids (10 years)
● 46th square along long edge of Panel A – Kids (12 years)
● 53rd square along long edge of Panel A – Adult Small
● 54th square along long edge of Panel A – Adult Medium
● 55th square along long edge of Panel A – Adult Large
● 54th square along long edge of Panel A – Adult X-Large
● 56th square along long edge of Panel A – Adult 2 XL
● 55th square along long edge of Panel A – Adult 3 XL
● 54th square along long edge of Panel A – Adult 4 XL
● 54th square along long edge of Panel A – Adult 5 XL
Reminder: Example photographs are in ‘Kids (6 years)’ size
Pull Panel A down so that long edge lines up with sides of Panel B as shown
Beginning at bottom of cardigan attach Panel A to each side of Panel B as follows:
● Attach 13 squares up side of Panel B – Baby (6 months)
● Attach 14 squares up side of Panel B – Baby (12 months)
● Attach 16 squares up side of Panel B – Kids (2 years)
● Attach 18 squares up side of Panel B – Kids (4 years)
● Attach 19 squares up side of Panel B – Kids (6 years)
● Attach 21 squares up side of Panel B – Kids (8 years)
● Attach 22 squares up side of Panel B – Kids (10 years)
● Attach 24 squares up side of Panel B – Kids (12 years)
● Attach 29 squares up side of Panel B – Adult Small
● Attach 29 squares up side of Panel B – Adult Medium
● Attach 29 squares up side of Panel B – Adult Large
● Attach 27 squares up side of Panel B – Adult X-Large
● Attach 27 squares up side of Panel B – Adult 2 XL
● Attach 26 squares up side of Panel B – Adult 3 XL
● Attach 24 squares up side of Panel B – Adult 4 XL
● Attach 22 squares up side of Panel B – Adult 5 XL
The holes that remain are the arm holes
Attach pockets to front of cardigan
Suggested pocket placement:
● Up 1 squares, over 2 squares from bottom corner – Baby (6 m)
● Up 1 squares, over 2 squares from bottom corner – Baby (12 m)
● Up 2 squares, over 3 squares from bottom corner – Kids (2 years)
● Up 2 squares, over 3 squares from bottom corner – Kids (4 years)
● Up 2 squares, over 3 squares from bottom corner – Kids (6 years)
● Up 2 squares, over 3 squares from bottom corner – Kids (8 years)
● Up 2 squares, over 3 squares from bottom corner – Kids (10 years)
● Up 2 squares, over 3 squares from bottom corner – Kids (12 years)
● Up 3 squares, over 5 squares from bottom corner – Adult Small
● Up 3 squares, over 5 squares from bottom corner – Adult Medium
● Up 3 squares, over 5 squares from bottom corner – Adult Large
● Up 3 squares, over 5 squares from bottom corner – Adult X-Large
● Up 4 squares, over 7 squares from bottom corner – Adult 2 XL
● Up 4 squares, over 7 squares from bottom corner – Adult 3 XL
● Up 4 squares, over 7 squares from bottom corner – Adult 4 XL
● Up 4 squares, over 7 squares from bottom corner – Adult 5 XL
Reminder: Example photographs are in ‘Kids (6 years)’ size
CARDIGAN TRIM
Turn cardigan so bottom is facing up and waffle is away from you, lay cardigan flat so you can work along bottom edge (waffle side should be facing down), join your yarn as shown
Work bottom of cardigan as follows:
Row 1
Ch 2, FPhdc around each stitch along edge
[84 sts | 102 sts – Baby Sizes]
[120 sts | 138 sts | 156 sts | 174 sts | 192 sts | 210 sts – Kids Sizes]
[228 sts | 246 sts | 264 sts | 282 sts | 318 sts | 336 sts | 354 sts | 390 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 2
Ch 1, turn, *(FPhdc, sc), repeat from * to end of row
[84 sts | 102 sts – Baby Sizes]
[120 sts | 138 sts | 156 sts | 174 sts | 192 sts | 210 sts – Kids Sizes]
[228 sts | 246 sts | 264 sts | 282 sts | 318 sts | 336 sts | 354 sts | 390 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 3
Ch 1, turn, sc to end of row
[84 sts | 102 sts – Baby Sizes]
[120 sts | 138 sts | 156 sts | 174 sts | 192 sts | 210 sts – Kids Sizes]
[228 sts | 246 sts | 264 sts | 282 sts | 318 sts | 336 sts | 354 sts | 390 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 4
Ch 1, turn, *(FPdc around FP stitch from Row 2, sc), repeat from * to end of row
[84 sts | 102 sts – Baby Sizes]
[120 sts | 138 sts | 156 sts | 174 sts | 192 sts | 210 sts – Kids Sizes]
[228 sts | 246 sts | 264 sts | 282 sts | 318 sts | 336 sts | 354 sts | 390 sts – Adult Sizes]
Row 5 & up
Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until you finish:
● 6 rows – Baby sizes
● 8 rows – Kids sizes
● 10 rows – Adult sizes
Finish off
Weave in ends
I really hope you enjoyed this pattern and found the video tutorial helpful! I can’t wait to you and your loved ones in this cardigan so please don’t forget to tag @LakesideLoops in all your pictures!
