Crochet Two-Hexagon Open-Front Baby Cardigan – Free Pattern

This original crochet hexagon baby cardigan pattern explains how to make crochet two-hexagon open-front 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.

Two solid-stitch hexagons supply the front, back and upper sleeve of each half. Intentional corner fullness settles into an L when folded. A separate sc strip adjusts the back width without enlarging the sleeve, plain sleeve extensions reach the wrist, and one thin alternating shoulder seam adds a woven-look line. This is a full-length baby cardigan, not the existing open-granny adult shrug, and it has no ribbed body band, hood or ties.

Pattern Details

• Hook Size: 4 mm for hexagons, sc bridge and hdc sleeve extensions; adjust each washed gauge
• Finished Size: 12–18-month measured fit plan: 20-inch fabric chest, approximately12-inch length, 9-inch initial upper-sleeve opening tapering to7 inches; age is guidance only
• Gauge: Solid dc planning target16 stitches and8 rounds of radial depth per4 inches; sc strip16 stitches/16 rows per4 inches; hdc16 stitches/12 rows per4 inches
• Estimated Time: 16–20 hours plus folded-fit checks
• Construction: Two solid hexagons, five growth rounds, folded L halves, one separate8-sc-wide back strip,12 initial sleeve-extension rounds and a narrow open-front edge
• Skill level: Intermediate

Why You’ll Love This Project

The decorative shoulder area reads clearly in a flat-lay photograph while the lower body stays soft and practical. Every change in circumference has a stated stitch count, so the garment can be checked before a sleeve is separated.

Materials

• Approximately650 yards oatmeal and25 yards slate washable DK cotton-wool blend, including fitting/swatches; estimates are not sample-measured
• 4 mm hook, six corner markers per piece, basting yarn, blunt needle, tape and scissors
• No buttons, neck ties, detachable appliques or long exposed contrast floats

Gauge, Measurements, and Planning

A ruffled hexagon is not blocked into a flat regular geometric hexagon. Make the five-round test piece, fold it and measure the relaxed garment edges. The worked dc edge between successive corner centers has18 dc after Round5, nominally4.5 inches at four dc per inch; the actual fold determines half-body width and sleeve depth. Initial fit targets are9 inches around the sleeve opening and18 inches of total chest fabric from both folded halves before adding the2-inch back strip. Baste and measure before cutting yarn. If both halves do not give those targets within half an inch, change hook/yarn and remake the five-round test piece rather than asserting the round count fixes fit. The back strip adds a measured2 inches, not two strips of2 inches. Gauge, folding and final sleeve clearance all need physical confirmation.

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
• FPdc: front-post double crochet
• BPdc: back-post double crochet

Special stitch guidance: Each marked corner is(2 dc,ch2,2 dc) into the old corner space; all ordinary old dc receive one dc. Individual corner chains are excluded from dc counts and do not receive ordinary dc on the next round. Travel sl sts and beginning ch2 do not count. The six oversized corners intentionally make the piece ruffle so it can fold into an L. Hdc2tog: yarn over, draw up loops from two successive old stitches, yarn over and draw through all loops, reducing one. The woven-look shoulder line alternates short left/right passes through full edge loops, not a loose surface cord.

Important Notes

• This is an original, arithmetically checked design; no physical sample has been made. The photographs are illustrative, not stitch-count references.
• Measure a washed swatch and compare the finished chest, length and armhole with a comfortable garment for the intended child. Age ranges are guidance, not a substitute for measurements.
• A starting chain and a joining slip stitch do not count unless a row explicitly says that an interior chain counts. Mark the first counted stitch and all shaping boundaries.
• Use smooth washable yarn, avoid buttons and dangling ties, and inspect seams and ends before supervised wear. Remove outerwear for sleep; never leave an infant unattended in it.
• The dc audit excludes corner chains: (12 sts), (36 sts), (60 sts), (84 sts), (108 sts). Cuff (36 sts); back strip (8 sts); initial hem (80 sts); sleeve steps (36 sts), (32 sts), (28 sts).

Complete Instructions for Crochet Two-Hexagon Open-Front Baby Cardigan

Make Two Solid Six-Corner Hexagons

Work joined rounds without turning. Mark the first real dc and all six ch2 corner spaces. Oatmeal is used throughout; there are no granny clusters or stripe repeats.

1. Round1: Close a magic ring securely. Ch2, repeat [2 dc,ch2] six times into the ring; join first real dc. (12 sts in the dc audit, plus twelve corner chains) There are six two-dc sides and six corner spaces.
2. Round2: Ch2, dc in every one of the12 old dc. At each corner space, work(2 dc,ch2,2 dc); skip working into the two individual old chains. Join first real dc. (36 sts plus twelve new corner chains) Each side between corner centers has two old dc plus two corner dc at either end, six dc.
3. Round3: Repeat the same rule: one dc in each ordinary old dc and the four-dc/ch2 corner at each marked space, join. (60 sts) Each side now has10 dc. Round4 uses the same rule. (84 sts,14 dc per side) Round5 repeats again. (108 sts,18 dc per side)
4. A new round adds24 dc in total, four at each of six corner spaces, without changing the number of corners. The corner chains remain six pairs. Let the fabric ruffle; a flat six-sided coaster is not this garment component. Make the second piece to the same five rounds and washed dimensions before folding.

Fold, Baste and Mark the Garment Halves

This is a measured assembly checkpoint. No permanent seam is made until the L-shaped folds, upper-arm openings and chest target have been verified on a comfortable reference garment.

1. Number six outer corner markers1–6. Bring opposite corners3 and6 together with public side outside, allowing the excess sectors to settle into an L, with the center ring at its inside underarm bend. One leg is the upper sleeve and one the body. Smooth the doubled layers until their outer edge loops match; never pull the piece into a stretched half-circle.
2. Identify and mark four separate boundaries: TOP along the open upper sleeve/shoulder, CUFF around the sleeve tip, FRONT at one vertical body edge and BACK at the other vertical body edge. The body hem is the lower L boundary. Baste only the TOP edge, leaving the cuff, both vertical edges and hem open. Mirror the second folded piece so the sleeves point away from each other and the BACK edges face inward.
3. For the five-round version, each single side between corner centers has18 dc. Around the doubled sleeve opening, pick36 dc positions:18 on each layer, excluding corner chains. The two corner-space junctions are secured with sewing tails, not extra hdc. Measure the opening: the initial target is9 inches, and it must clear the child’s clothed upper arm with comfortable ease.
4. Lay both folded halves with their back edges2 inches apart and parallel. Check the total relaxed fabric chest target of20 inches, excluding the front gap, and the sleeve/shoulder position against a suitable garment. If the target fails, reswatch/remake before joining. Do not force an incorrect fold by sewing across an opening or adding a negative-width bridge.
5. Mark one18-dc BACK side between its neck and hem corners on each half. Its nominal length is4.5 inches, plus the corner turns. These will attach to the separate back strip. Record the actual folded shoulder-to-hem length H; the final body extension is sized from H after the strip is attached.

Join the Separate Back Strip and Shoulder Edges

The center-back strip is a single rectangle, not a pair of bridge-row extensions. Its length is matched to the measured back edge, while its width is fixed by a counted eight-sc row.

1. In oatmeal ch9. Strip Row1: sc in the second chain and every remaining chain, turn. (8 sts) Rows2–20: ch1, sc across8 and turn. At the target washed sc gauge this strip is2 inches wide by5 inches tall. Lay it beside the marked back edges; if their actual neck-to-hem length differs, add or remove complete strip rows until the two long row-end edges match without stretching, recording the final row count K.
2. Divide each strip long edge into quarters and mark matching quarter points on each back edge, including the corner turns. With public sides facing outward, sew one long strip edge to the first BACK edge and the other long edge to the second BACK edge. Distribute the K row-end bars across the18 dc tops and the two corner-space turns; every old edge loop and corner space must be securely caught. Do not join the FRONT edges to the strip.
3. Replace each TOP baste with a narrow slate seam: join slate at its sleeve tip, then alternate one short horizontal pass through the next full left edge loop and one through the matching right edge loop, progressing toward the shoulder/neck. Pull just enough to close the seam, so the alternating passes resemble a tiny woven zigzag. Make a second reverse pass at both endpoints and secure tails inside. Keep every contrast pass shorter than a quarter inch; no loose chain is laid over the sleeve.
4. Check both halves remain mirror images and that the back strip lies flat. Recheck20-inch fabric chest and9-inch upper-sleeve clearance. Remove baste, then measure H from shoulder to the connected hem; do not include an extended sleeve in this body-length measurement.

Extend the Body and Taper Both Sleeves

The folded core establishes upper-arm fit; extensions are plain oatmeal and do not add more hexagon rounds. Body length is measured independently, avoiding sleeves that become too wide when the hem is lengthened.

1. Hem pickup: Mark the TWO lower18-dc sides on each folded half: one across its front hem and one across its back hem. Sc once in every one of these36 dc tops per half, excluding old corner chains. Sc once in each of the back strip’s lower eight stitches. (80 sts) Secure corner-space junction gaps with a sewing tail instead of adding an extra stitch. The route covers both layers’ lower edges, not just the front.
2. For the body extension, ch1, sc across all80 and turn on every row. At4 sc rows per inch, choose B=max(1,round((12−H)×4)) rows TOTAL including pickup. Example H=5 inches: B=28 adds7 inches; H=6 gives B=24. Measure relaxed length to approximately12 inches shoulder to hem. Record B, which depends on the actual fold, not the age label. If H already exceeds12 inches, stop and remake to fit rather than adding negative rows.
3. Sleeve extension Round1: Join oatmeal at a sleeve junction, ch2, hdc once in each of the36 marked dc positions around the cuff, join first hdc. (36 sts) Do not count old corner chains as extra stitches; close their small gap with an anchored tail afterward. Rounds2–3: hdc across36, join, do not turn.
4. Round4: repeat [hdc in next seven,hdc2tog] four times, join. (32 sts) Rounds5–8:32 hdc. Round9: repeat [hdc in next six,hdc2tog] four times, join. (28 sts) Rounds10–12:28 hdc each, join. This initial extension is about4 inches. Measure TOTAL sleeve length including the folded core, targeting8.5 inches or the reference garment’s measured sleeve. Add or remove final plain rounds equally without going below Round9; if nine extension rounds are already too long, remake the core to fit. Finish with one28-sc cuff round included in the final measurement.
5. Work one proportional sc front/neck border: one per exposed dc top, two per dc row-end bar, one per sc row-end bar and one in each strip neckline stitch. Use two sc in a convex corner-space turn; use one at a concave neck turn. Keep both sides equal and the front entirely open. This is a narrow edge, not a separate ribbed band. Secure every fold-junction tail, wash, dry flat and recheck all fit targets before supervised wear.

Assembly and Shaping

Each round adds24 dc across six corners; five rounds give six18-dc sides,108 dc plus twelve corner chains. Doubled cuffs have36 dc. A separate eight-sc-wide strip adds2 inches only at the back. Each half’s hem has TWO18-dc sides, front and back; both halves plus the strip give2×36+8=80 positions. Fold and seam lengths must be measured before joining; no physically tested sample is claimed. Sleeve decreases consume4×9=36 then4×8=32 and produce32 then28.

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 in three directions on the wrong side, reversing once, then trim after gentle stretching.
2. Wash by the yarn label, dry flat to the measured dimensions and check the neckline, armholes and sleeve openings again.
3. Inspect every underarm join and edge for gaps or loose yarn. This garment is for supervised wear only and should not be used during sleep.

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 a different marker color at the front edges and each sleeve boundary; move markers upward after every shaping row.
• Count the whole row before turning. If a count is wrong, return to that row instead of hiding an extra stitch in the next one.
• Make both sleeves to the same counted round and compare their measured lengths before weaving ends.

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

How should I choose the size?

Use the listed finished chest and a washed gauge swatch. Compare with a comfortable garment; if the gauge or desired ease differs, do not rely on the age label alone.

Can I change the sleeve length?

Work the same additional plain rounds on each sleeve before edging. Recheck yarn quantity and measure the child or reference garment after washing.

Conclusion

The finished cardigan has its own counted shoulder construction, smooth body and matched sleeves. Check the final measurements and all joins before using it as supervised outerwear.

BabyYarnie Printable Crochet Pattern Card

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

Project: Crochet Two-Hexagon Open-Front Baby Cardigan

Skill level: Intermediate   Hook: 4 mm for hexagons, sc bridge and hdc sleeve extensions; adjust each washed gauge   Yarn: Soft washable DK cotton-wool blend

Finished size: 12–18-month measured fit plan: 20-inch fabric chest, approximately12-inch length, 9-inch initial upper-sleeve opening tapering to7 inches; age is guidance only

Card Materials

• Approximately650 yards oatmeal and25 yards slate washable DK cotton-wool blend, including fitting/swatches; estimates are not sample-measured
• 4 mm hook, six corner markers per piece, basting yarn, blunt needle, tape and scissors
• No buttons, neck ties, detachable appliques or long exposed contrast floats

Card Instructions

1. Make Two Solid Six-Corner Hexagons: Two solid hexagons:12→36→60→84→108 dc, six ch2 spaces throughout; Round5 gives18 dc per side. Do not flatten the intentional fullness.
2. Fold, Baste and Mark the Garment Halves: Fold opposite corners to L halves, baste TOP only, mark18-dc back edges and36-position cuff openings. Verify9-inch sleeve and20-inch chest with a2-inch back gap before sewing.
3. Join the Separate Back Strip and Shoulder Edges: Separate strip8 sc wide×20 initial rows, match actual back-edge length and sew to both backs. Replace TOP baste with a short-pass slate woven-look seam.
4. Extend the Body and Taper Both Sleeves: Initial hem80 sc, measured B rows to12-inch body. Sleeves36→32 onRound4→28 onRound9; twelve initial extension rounds adjusted to actual sleeve length, then cuff. Add one narrow open-front edge.

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