Mountain Peaks – Crochet Pattern for a Beginner-Friendly Color-Blocked Cardigan (from my book: Modern Crochet Sweaters)

Hi all!

This post includes everything you need to know about the Mountain Peaks Cardigan, a beginner-friendly size-inclusive crochet pattern for a colour-blocked cardigan using just the HDC stitch!

A special thing about this pattern is that it also supports another small business! This pattern uses “The Small Stuff” yarn from Jessica of the Hook Nook! Jessica is from Salem, OR, and has her own yarn line and retail store. Find this yarn and read more on thehooknooklife.com.

The Mountain Peaks Cardigan is from my book Modern Crochet Sweaters: 20 Chic Designs for Everyday Wear. This book includes 20 size-inclusive sweater patterns using a variety of techniques and construction methods to ensure there is something of value for every skill level. Each pattern is written in 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and each size has been thoroughly tested! We had over 500+ crochet pattern testers for this book to make sure that each size fits its intended wearer in a way that makes them feel beautiful. You can buy this book with confidence, knowing that each pattern was written for you and your unique body measurements.

Before we begin, here are some quick links for you:

Find the PDF version on Ravelry here, on Etsy here, and on my website here.
- Add your finished project and view other completed projects on Ravelry here.
Use the pattern hashtag #MountainPeaksCardigan on Instagram to show off your makes! Be sure to check out the book hashtag, #ModernCrochetSweaters, too!
Shop the recommended yarn, The Small Stuff, here! (Be sure to scroll down to see other great yarn substitutes!)
Shop my book on Amazon (US) here.
Shop my book on Amazon (CA) here.
Shop my book on other platforms outside of North America here.
Read about my experience getting a book deal here!
For any questions about this pattern, please email knitsnknotswpg@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you asap!

Order my book – Modern Crochet Sweaters: 20 Chic Designs for Everyday Wear – here!

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About: Mountain Peaks

Ease your way into making your own clothes with this truly beginner-friendly pattern. Beginners and seasoned crocheters alike are sure to be pleasantly surprised by this polished finished piece, created using just the half double crochet stitch and minimal shaping.

The color combinations for this color-block cardigan are endless—feel free to make up your own striping pattern or opt for one solid color for a wearable cardigan that speaks to your personal style. Whether you’re lounging at home or out-and-about, this chic layering piece is destined to become a part of your regular outfit rotation. With its easygoing fit, this refined, can-be-worn-with-anything cardigan is the ultimate grab-and-go piece.

Getting Started: Knowing Your Measurements

This book uses the Craft Yarn Council (CYC) to determine sizing. The CYC is the industry standard when it comes to knit and crochet sizing. While you will be able to produce a beautiful sweater by following the written patterns, I also like to include customization tips throughout each pattern so that you can adjust based on your unique body measurements; for example, shortening or lengthening a sleeve, or adjusting for a larger upper arm than written for your size. This way, you can modify the pattern with confidence, if needed. When making garments for myself, I usually need to shorten tops or sweaters because I have a short torso. My hips also fall under a different size than my bust. Not everyone fits perfectly into these sizing standards; they are simply averages, not set-in-stone numbers.

Understanding how your body deviates from the CYC standard measurements gives you the ability to tailor a sweater to perfectly fit you, rather than feel disappointed that your body doesn’t fit into the sizing standards. I recommend that you measure the largest part of your bust and then refer to the CYC website (click here) to find out which size you would fall under. Then, look at the other measurements that are included for your size, and see which of these measurements deviate from your actual body measurements. Knowledge is power, and once you understand how your body deviates from the CYC standards, you will be able to anticipate this deviation and assume it translates through most patterns. For example, if your upper arm circumference is slightly larger than the CYC sizing chart reads, then you can expect you may have to ignore a few decrease rows when working the sleeves of your next sweater, or even follow the sleeve instructions for the next size up, if possible.

Getting Started: the Mountain Peaks Cardigan

Yarn: DK—The Hook Nook Small Stuff in Blue Steel, Minimalist, Foggy Morning

100% acrylic
273 yds [250 m] per 3.5-oz [100-g] skein
Find this yarn on thehooknooklife.com.

Substitute Small Stuff with any similar DK weight, category #3 yarn that matches gauge. Any fiber content should produce a beautiful cardigan!

Some testers matched gauge with sport weight (category #2) and fingering weight (category #1) yarn as well.

Yardage for 3-color cardigan like sample shown:

Color A—Blue Steel (Bottom Color):
2 (2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 3, 3) skeins or 445 (480, 515, 545, 585) (615, 650, 700, 745) yds [407 (439, 471, 499, 535) (563, 595, 641, 682) m]
Color B—Minimalist (Middle Color):
3 (3, 3, 3, 3) (4, 4, 4, 4) skeins or 550 (580, 635, 675, 750) (800, 850, 920, 925) yds [503 (531, 581, 618, 686) (732, 778, 842, 846) m]
Color C—Foggy Morning (Top Color):
2 (2, 2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3, 3) skeins or 420 (445, 480, 510, 525) (535, 580, 615, 660) yds [385 (407, 439, 467, 481) (490, 531, 563, 604) m]

Yardage for 1-color cardigan:

6 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 9, 9) skeins or 1400 (1500, 1625, 1725, 1850) (1950, 2075, 2225, 2325) yds [1281 (1372, 1486, 1578, 1692) (1784, 1898, 2035, 2126) m]

Hook: Size U.S. G/7 (4.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Tapestry needle, several locking stitch markers to help with seaming

Gauge: 4 x 4″ [10 x 10 cm] = 17 sts and 12 rows in half double crochet

Customization Ideas + Tips When Crocheting This Cardigan

Tips

Sizing: This sweater is written in nine sizes as follows: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X). Make sure to follow the numbers for your size only.
Stitch Counts: Stitch counts are listed after each row/rnd. If no stitch count is given, there has been no change since the previous row/rnd. If only one number is provided, it applies to all sizes.
Reversible: There is no right side or wrong side; both sides are identical. You choose which side to wear as the “right side.”
Seaming: When seaming your garment, make sure to keep all seams loose and do not pull tight in order to maintain some stretch, otherwise this seam will pucker during wear.
Turning Chain: The turning chain does not count as a stitch.
Right-handed vs Left-handed Crocheters: The pattern is written with right-handed crocheters in mind (those who hold their hook in their right hand and crochet each row toward the left). If you are a left-handed crocheter, any instructions referring to the “right-hand side” or “left-hand side” should be reversed.
Construction: The Mountain Peaks Cardigan is worked from the bottom up in five separate pieces: one back panel, two identical front panels, and two sleeves. The body panels begin with the bottom hem and the sleeves begin with the cuff. The sleeves are worked seamlessly in joined rounds and then seamed onto the body.

Customization Ideas

To change the length of your cardigan: For a shorter (or longer) cardigan than the length provided in the measurement chart, work fewer (or additional) rows than instructed. To keep the color-block proportions consistent, eliminate (or add) rows in multiples of three; one from each color-block section. Note that adding length requires more yardage than listed in the Materials section.
Follow Any Sleeve Size: If you think the sleeve measurements of a different size would better suit your arm measurements, you can follow the instructions for any sleeve size; you don’t necessarily have to stick with the same size you have been working up to this point if you think another size will give you a better fit.
Adjusting Sleeve Tightness + Length: For tighter (or looser) sleeves, work fewer (or additional) increase rounds than instructed for your size. For longer (or shorter) sleeve, work additional (fewer) non-increase rounds wherever you see fit. Make note of any modifications so that you can create a second identical sleeve.
To add a pocket: Work a foundation chain with an odd number of stitches that equals the height at which you would like your pocket to measure. Place a marker in the 6th stitch from the end to help you remember where the top ribbing will be placed. (After working into a marked st, move the marker up to the new st each row.) Work the pocket the same way you worked the main body panels until reaching your desired pocket width. Seam to cardigan using seaming method of your choice, being mindful that your cardigan may stretch over time. Place your pocket a few inches higher than you think is necessary to accommodate for any stretching that may occur.
To add pockets, follow these instructions or use them as a guideline:
- Top Border
  Ch 7.
  Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. [6 hdc]
  Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn.
  Rep Row 2 until desired pocket width, finishing on an even-numbered row.
  Turn your work to begin working across the ends of the rows you just completed.
- Main Pocket
  Row 1: Ch 1, *work 3 hdc for every 2 row-ends; rep from * across the entire length of your border, turn.
  Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn.
  Rep Row 2 until you have reached your desired pocket depth.
  Fasten off, block if desired, and seam to your cardigan with a tapestry needle in your desired placement.
To add belt loops and a waist tie, follow these instructions or use them as a guideline:
- Waist Tie
  Work a short chain that equals 1 chain longer than your desired waist-tie width, turn.
  Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn.
  Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn.
  Rep Row 2 until you reach your desired waist-tie length.
- Belt Loops
  With new yarn, work a ch slightly longer than your tie is thick. (For example, if your tie is 3″ [8 cm] wide, then your chain needs to be slightly longer than 3″ [8 cm].)
  Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn.
  Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st across, turn.
  Fasten off, leaving tail for seaming belt loop onto cardigan.
  Use a tapestry needle and the two tail ends of the belt loop to seam in place on the sides of the cardigan or in your desired placement.
  Rep for 1 belt loop on each side, or as many times as desired.

Yarn Substitutions

The yarn used in my sample is a 100% acrylic, however you are free to use any fiber content that you like for your own cardigan! The main factor to consider is the drape of your crocheted fabric. Testers used everything from DK to sport to fingering weight for their cardigans, so feel free to play around with your swatch! Always swatch before beginning so you can be sure your chosen yarn creates a fabric you love! Listed below you will see a variety of yarns that will work just fine in place of Small Stuff, so long as you match gauge!

Substitute Small Stuff with any similar DK weight, category #3 yarn that matches gauge. Any fiber content should produce a beautiful cardigan! Some testers also matched gauge with sport weight (category #2) and fingering weight (category #1) yarn.

The following yarns can be used in this pattern and will produce a lovely finished cardigan:

Lion Brand Yarns:

Knit Picks/WeCrochet Yarns:

Alpaca Cloud DK
Capra DK
City Tweed DK
Gloss DK
CotLin
Swish DK
Or any of their Sport weight yarns, or Fingering weight yarns!

LoveCraft Yarns:

Other Yarns:

4 Seasons Naturals 8 Ply 100% Wool
Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 Ply Cotton (Australia)
Estelle Eco Tweed DK
Caron Cotton Ripple Cakes
Deramores Studio Anti-Pilling DK
Ella Rae Denim DK
Explorer Knits & Fibers Cashmere DK
Gazzal RocknRoll
Patons Beehive Baby (DK)
King Cole Smarty DK
Lincraft
Sewrella DK or Fingering base
Hobby Lobby Yarn Bee Bamboo-tiful
Hobby Lobby Yarn Bee Soft and Sleek (DK)
Hobby Lobby Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton Solids
Hobby Lobby 44th St
Hobby Lobby Baby Bee Sweet Delight
Hobby Lobby Must Be Merino

Pattern Tester Photos

There were 500+ pattern testers for this book because I wanted to ensure all sizes are satisfied with the pattern and fit! Below you can see photos from the testing process to see how the sweater looks on different bodies with different modifications made using a variety of yarns.