Crochet Linked-Stitch Batwing Baby Cardigan – Free Pattern

This original crochet dolman baby cardigan pattern explains how to make crochet linked-stitch batwing baby cardigan from the first counted stitch through final assembly. The design is a practical free tutorial in US terms, with measurements and stitch checkpoints that you can verify as you work.

This design uses one cuff-to-cuff linked-double-crochet piece with a counted center-front interruption, a shallow back-neck notch and matched underarm seams. Work the named components in their stated direction, verify each count, and baste every shaped join before finishing.

Pattern Details

• Hook Size: 4 mm, adjusted to washed linked fabric
• Finished Size: 12–24-month planning size:22-inch open fabric chest plus approximately2-inch front gap,10-inch shoulder-to-hem length; sleeves6.5 inches from body side with8-inch upper arm and5-inch cuff; verify roomy dolman fit
• Gauge: 16 LDC stitches and8 turned rows =4 inches;16 sc stitches =4 inches for edges
• Estimated Time: 14–22 hours plus swatching and basting
• Construction: Left sleeve20→32 over13 rows; add24 positions at each end to80; body24 rows including a four-row34-stitch back-neck interval; restore80, remove24 each end and taper right sleeve32→20
• Skill level: Intermediate

Why You’ll Love This Project

The shape comes from counted stitches rather than an unexplained diagram. You can inspect each stage against the measurements, and the finished object has a clear purpose and a distinct silhouette in photographs.

Materials

• Approximately600 yards ivory washable DK, including edge and swatch allowance; estimated rather than sample-measured
• 4 mm hook, six distinct marker colors, basting yarn, yarn needle, measuring tape and scissors

Gauge, Measurements, and Planning

Wash a24-stitch by12-row LDC swatch and measure the central16 stitches and8 rows. A linked stitch is relatively dense; do not replace it with ordinary dc without rechecking both gauges. The20-stitch cuff spans5 inches and the32-stitch upper sleeve8. Body sections are40 stitches each from shoulder fold to hem,10 inches. The24 full body-row positions across the back span12 inches. Each front has ten rows,5 inches, separated by a four-row2-inch center gap. Thus the back plus two fronts contains22 inches of fabric, while wrapping with the planned2-inch gap yields approximately24 inches. This is intentionally roomy outerwear; compare the measured child/reference garment before starting and remake at a revised checked size if this fabric is too large. It is not a snug newborn cardigan.

Make and wash a gauge swatch before beginning. Measure only after the swatch is completely dry. If the stitch width differs, change hook size rather than pulling the working yarn tighter. Keep a written count at the end of every section so the finished edges remain balanced and the assembly points line up.

Abbreviations and Special Stitches

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd: round
• inc: 2 sc in one stitch
• sc2tog: single crochet two stitches together
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• hdc2tog: half double crochet two together
• dc2tog: double crochet two together
• RS/WS: right side/wrong side
• LDC: linked double crochet
• LDC2tog: linked double crochet two together

Special stitch guidance: First foundation LDC: draw a loop from the second chain from the hook, then a loop from the third chain; yarn over through two, then through two. That uses the second chain as a linking bar but counts the third as the first base position. Later LDC: draw one loop through the middle horizontal bar of the stitch just finished, then one through the next base top; close in two normal dc pull-throughs. At each new row, ch2 and use its second chain as the first linking bar, without counting the lift. An increase puts two complete linked stitches into one base top, using the first new stitch’s bar for the second. LDC2tog: draw the bar loop, then one loop from each of two adjacent base tops; four loops remain, yarn over through three and then two. For the first decrease use the second turning chain as the bar. All rows turn; no joined LDC rounds are used.

Important Notes

• AI-generated pictures illustrate the intended design; they are not photographs of a physically tested sample. Follow written counts rather than counting stitches in an image.
• The stitch arithmetic has been checked, but gauge, yardage and fit are planning targets until a physical sample is made. Wash a swatch and check measurements before gifting or wearing.
• A beginning ch 1 and a joining sl st never count as a stitch in this pattern. Mark the first counted stitch of each row or round.
• If a row count is wrong, return to that row. Adding an unplanned stitch later changes the shaping and the assembly alignment.
• Age labels are planning guidance only. Compare washed chest, arm openings, sleeve length and neckline to a comfortable garment for the intended child. Use as supervised awake outerwear, never for sleep.
• Arithmetic reference, not a size chart: (20 sts); (22 sts); (24 sts); (26 sts); (28 sts); (30 sts); (32 sts); (34 sts); (80 sts). Counts refer to the component named in the corresponding row.

Complete Instructions for Crochet Linked-Stitch Batwing Baby Cardigan

Begin at the First Cuff and Expand into the Body

This garment is one flat piece running from one wrist to the other, not two folded hexagons or three sideways rib panels. Label the two stitch-row ends FRONT and BACK. Row1 travels FRONT to BACK; odd-numbered rows continue in that direction, even rows BACK to FRONT.

1. Row1: Ch22; form the first LDC with chain2 as its linking bar and chain3 as its counted base; continue across all20 usable chains, turn. (20 sts) Row2: ch2, LDC20, turn.
2. Rows3,5,7,9,11 and13: two LDC in the first stitch, one in each middle stitch, two in the last, turn. Counts22,24,26,28,30 and32. Every intervening even row works one LDC per stitch at the preceding count. The first sleeve is13 rows long,6.5 inches at row gauge. Both edges widen symmetrically.
3. Row13 ends at BACK. For Row14, ch26 and turn; the final two chains are the lift. Work24 LDC into its24 usable chains, moving from the new back-hem end toward the sleeve. Continue LDC in all32 sleeve stitches, then ch24 from its FRONT end to make the new front-hem extension. The row contains56 LDC plus24 unworked foundation chains,80 counted future positions; do not add another body increase.
4. Row15: ch2 and turn from the new front hem; LDC in each of24 front-extension chains, then each of the existing56 tops. (80 sts) Rows16–23: ch2, LDC across80 and turn. Mark the shoulder-fold gap BETWEEN global positions40 and41, with positions1–40 representing FRONT shoulder-to-hem fabric and41–80 BACK shoulder-to-hem fabric. Renumber in the same physical FRONT-to-BACK direction after every turned row.
5. At either body edge, positions1–24 and57–80 are the new lower body extensions. The original sleeve/upper-body zone is positions25–56. Verify these boundaries before the front-opening interruption; cutting the piece or seaming across the future center-front opening is not part of the construction.

Create the Open Front and Back-Neck Notch

The center interruption omits the whole40-stitch FRONT half PLUS six upper BACK stitches. A neck slit alone would make a pullover, so the explicit40-stitch front interruption is essential. Back fabric stays continuous below its shallow six-stitch neck notch.

1. Row24 begins at BACK position80 and moves toward FRONT. Work ONLY34 LDC through positions80 down to47 inclusive, leaving positions1–46 unworked. Those held positions comprise front40 and upper-back6. Turn at the notch; do not chain across the opening. (34 sts)
2. Rows25–27: ch2 and LDC across the same34 back stitches, turning each row. Row25 moves from notch to back hem, Row26 back hem to notch, Row27 notch to back hem. The four-row34-stitch interval makes a2-inch back-neck width and keeps the entire front gap open.
3. Row28: from the BACK hem, LDC across34 to the notch edge, then ch46 outward toward the new right-front hem. The first six new chains replace the held upper-back positions and the remaining forty establish the second FRONT half. This row has34 LDC plus46 new chains,80 future positions. The chains are attached only at the notch; never sew them to the held left-front edge.
4. Row29: ch2 and turn from the new FRONT hem. LDC in46 chain bases followed by34 existing back tops. (80 sts) Rows30–37: work80 LDC, turning every row. The body now has ten full rows on each side of the central four-row interruption: Rows14–23 and28–37, with24 row positions across the back altogether.
5. Lay the piece unfolded. The two forty-position FRONT edges remain separate from hem to shoulder, with two six-position back-neck ledges joined only by the four-row back segment below the notch. Confirm this open-front topology before completing the second sleeve. If the front is bridged, undo the erroneous row; do not cut a slit into the fabric.

Taper the Second Sleeve and Fold the One Piece

The second sleeve reverses the first sleeve’s shaping. Both lower-body extensions are left outside its active32 stitches. Follow global positions rather than assuming the first32 stitches form the sleeve.

1. After Row37, fasten off and rejoin at BACK-side global position56. Row38: LDC through positions56 down to25, leaving24 body positions at each hem end unworked, turn. (32 sts) Row39: LDC32, turn.
2. Rows40,42,44,46,48 and50: make LDC2tog over the first two stitches, LDC through the middle, LDC2tog over the final two; turn except after the final row. End counts30,28,26,24,22 and20. Odd Rows41,43,45,47 and49 work even at the preceding count. The second sleeve has thirteen rows38–50, matching the first thirteen rows1–13.
3. Fold at the marked gap40/41 with the public fabric outside. The first sleeve’s FRONT edge meets its BACK edge row-for-row; the same is true of the second sleeve. Baste each cuff-to-underarm seam through its thirteen paired row-end bars. The symmetric increases/decreases put sixteen sleeve stitches on each half at the upper arm and ten each at the wrist.
4. At each side of the body, pair its24 FRONT lower-extension positions with its24 BACK lower-extension positions. Sew those complete underarm-to-hem side seams without pulling the upper sleeve fold downward. Leave both40-position center-front edges, both six-position neck ledges and the four-row back-neck edge completely open.
5. After basting, compare both sleeve lengths, the back’s12-inch width, both5-inch front widths and10-inch body length. The shallow dolman underarm should allow free arm movement; it must not form a tight hanging loop. If the actual folded fit differs from the planning geometry, stop and revise gauge/size before making permanent seams.

Count the Open-Front Edge and Hem

Use single crochet only for the narrow flexible edges. Picking up into a vertical LDC row end requires two sc here because two LDC rows span an inch while four sc stitches span an inch. Keep the garment open without a fastener.

1. Starting at the lower left opening edge, work40 sc into the forty FRONT edge tops left at Row23, then six into the held BACK-neck tops. Work two sc into each of four back-neck row-end bars, eight sc. Work six into the free underside loops of the replacement BACK-neck chains and forty into the free underside loops of the new FRONT chains. The continuous opening edge is40+6+8+6+40=100 sc.
2. At the body hem, work two sc into each of ten left-front row ends, each of24 back row ends and each of ten right-front row ends. This gives2×(10+24+10)=88 sc across22 inches of fabric. Exclude the two new front-band ends from this88; smooth each small band end with one sc into its single row-end bar. Do not bridge the2-inch gap with a chain.
3. Work20 sc around each cuff’s twenty foundation/top positions. The5-inch hand opening must be comfortably passable. Remove basting after all permanent seams are secure, reverse and weave yarn tails, then wash and dry flat without stretching the center opening.
4. Inspect the notch corners and both chain-to-stitch transition rows for loose ends, tight bars or gaps. The center-front split is structural, not an unfinished seam. No button, tie, hood or extra motif should be added to complete this design. Wear as supervised awake outerwear only and remove for sleep.

Assembly and Shaping

One piece traverses both sleeves and back; the front is interrupted over four body-row positions. First sleeve20+6×2=32; body32+24+24=80; neck80−40−6=34; restoration34+46=80; second sleeve80−48=32 then32−6×2=20. The back has24 rows and each front ten, so at row gauge back12 inches, fronts5 each and gap2. Body half40 stitches supplies10-inch length. No unrelated top-down raglan recipe or folded hexagon has been substituted.

Lay every component on a flat surface before joining. Match the marked centers first, then divide each remaining edge into equal sections. Work through both layers with consistent tension and pause after each section to check that the fabric lies flat. This measured approach prevents twisting and keeps decorative details facing the intended direction.

Finishing

1. Weave each tail along three different paths on the wrong side; reverse direction before trimming.
2. Wash or damp-block according to the yarn label and allow the work to dry at its measured shape.
3. Inspect every seam, edge and attachment from both faces before first use, then inspect again after laundering.

For a polished result, weave each tail through several same-color stitches, reverse direction once, and trim only after the fabric has been gently stretched. Block to the listed dimensions without flattening textured stitches. Inspect joins, borders, straps, and decorative pieces before the project is used or gifted.

Helpful Tips

• Use contrasting locking markers at shaping points and record the count after every change row.
• Change hook size when the washed swatch differs from the stated gauge; do not compensate with uneven hand tension.
• Photograph the flat components before joining so it is easy to identify an inverted or twisted piece.

Good lighting and a contrasting stitch marker make counting much easier. If a section looks uneven, compare the current count with the previous checkpoint before continuing. Fixing one missed stitch early is faster than compensating later, and it preserves the measurements used by the assembly instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has this design been physically sample-tested?

No. The arithmetic and assembly plan are checked, but gauge, yarn amount, fit and seam geometry remain planning targets. The AI illustrations are not a stitch-count chart.

How do I select the size?

Use the listed fabric dimensions and a washed swatch, not the age alone. If the swatch or measured garment does not fit these targets, stop before assembly and revise the size with checked counts.

Conclusion

Counted shaping and measured joins make this an independent cardigan construction rather than a renamed raglan recipe. Wash, check fit and inspect every seam before supervised wear. No physically crocheted sample is claimed.

BabyYarnie Printable Crochet Pattern Card

BabyYarnie — easy-to-follow crochet for everyday makers.

Project: Crochet Linked-Stitch Batwing Baby Cardigan

Skill level: Intermediate   Hook: 4 mm, adjusted to washed linked fabric   Yarn: Smooth washable DK cotton-wool blend

Finished size: 12–24-month planning size:22-inch open fabric chest plus approximately2-inch front gap,10-inch shoulder-to-hem length; sleeves6.5 inches from body side with8-inch upper arm and5-inch cuff; verify roomy dolman fit

Card Materials

• Approximately600 yards ivory washable DK, including edge and swatch allowance; estimated rather than sample-measured
• 4 mm hook, six distinct marker colors, basting yarn, yarn needle, measuring tape and scissors

Card Instructions

1. Begin at the First Cuff and Expand into the Body: Cuff20, increase both ends on six odd rows to32; Row14 adds24 positions at each end for80; Row15 converts front chains and work even through23. Mark front40/back40.
2. Create the Open Front and Back-Neck Notch: Row24 retains back34 and holds front40+back6; Rows25–27 stay34. Row28 makes34 plus46 chains; Row29 converts them to80, then even through37.
3. Taper the Second Sleeve and Fold the One Piece: Row38 retains central32 of80; six two-stitch decrease rows return32→20 by50. Both sleeves13 rows. Fold at40/41 and seam13 row-end pairs plus24 body positions on each side.
4. Count the Open-Front Edge and Hem: Opening edge100 sc; body hem88 sc; cuffs20 each. Inspect the unbridged front split, four-row neck interval and both underarm seams.

Finish: Check every count, weave in all ends, block to measurement, and inspect each join.