Miles of texture and thoughtful design elements come together to make the ultimate cozy Tunisian crochet sweater, the December Cardigan.
When December hits, I finally get to focus on creating holiday cheer, indulging in Christmas treats, and planning cute but cozy outfits. If you’re looking for the perfect sweater for office parties, family dinners, and happy hour with friends, look no further than the December Cardigan, available now as a FREE Tunisian crochet pattern.
**UPDATE: The December Cardigan is available as an all-in-one kit from Lion Brand. Customize your kit to include all of the yarn, tools, and supplies you need to make your December Cardigan, start to finish. SHOP HERE!
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PIN IT NOW, CROCHET IT LATER
Get the December Cardigan
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the December Cardigan.
- PRINTABLE PDF: Pick up the beautifully formatted, ad-free verision of the December Cardigan from Ravelry or TLYarnCrafts.com.
- CROCHET KIT: Get everything you need to make the December Cardigan in a convenient kit from Lion Brand. Customize your kit now!
Tunisian Crochet Sweater
Every handmade wardrobe deserves a beautiful, cozy cardigan. I love to keep one handy to slip over my shoulders if I get chilly while working from home, or to jazz up a classic tee-shirt and jeans combo for an impromptu visitor. Thankfully, crocheting your own Tunisian crochet sweater is easier than you might think. And tackling a slightly more complicated pattern can teach you new skills you didn’t know before.
The December Cardigan was designed to be that next-level project once you’ve mastered the basics of Tunisian crochet. The pattern introduces new shaping techniques and stitches to elevate your understanding of this exciting craft. The resulting sweater is flattering, stylish, and is the ideal finishing touch to any outfit.
Styling a Handmade Cardigan
The December Cardigan is an open-front Tunisian crochet sweater designed to hit mid-hip. The full sleeves are crocheted slightly longer than your natural arm to create a bunched look. And the sleeves are finished with folded cuffs, adding another comfortable design element to this cardigan. When so much “going on”, what’s the best way to style a piece like this?
With so much fabric in the body of the cardigan, try to create lines in the outfit you wear underneath. Fully tuck or French tuck a top into jeans or a full-length skirt to show your waist. You can achieve this look no matter what size you are, and tucking your top changes not only your whole look, but how you might feel about wearing cardigans.
Since you are making your own Tunisian crochet sweater, remember that you can make any size you want. The original December Cardigan is designed with 4-8″ of positive ease, meaning the bust of this cardigan will be 4-8″ larger than your natural bust measurement. If you prefer a slimmer fit, size down your cardigan. For something roomier, go up a size. You can also adjust the length for a cropped sweater or a duster.
Crocheting with Wool-Blend Yarn
Yarn fibers come in 3 main categories – animal fibers, synthetic fibers, and plant fibers [learn more about yarn fibers in this blog post]. Blending fibers within categories allows makers to have the best features from yarns in these categories. The December Cardigan uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease, which is a blend of acrylic and wool. Acrylic keeps the price low, adds strength to the yarn, and makes the finished cardigan easy to care for. The wool adds softness, warmth, and visual interest to the piece.
Lion Brand’s Wool-Ease is a favorite here at TL Yarn Crafts. I’ve used it for other wearables like the Sweater Weather Cardi and the Mellow Tunic. It’s also great for accessories, as seen in my Marlo Hat + Scarf. Consider keeping a yarn like this in your stash – you can use it for any type of project and it’s available in over 50 timeless colors.
Want to make the December Cardigan? Customize your kit by choosing your favorite shade of Lion Brand Wool-Ease. START HERE!
Get the December Cardigan
- FREE PATTERN: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the December Cardigan.
- PRINTABLE PDF: Pick up the beautifully formatted, ad-free verision of the December Cardigan from my shop HERE.
- CROCHET KIT: Get everything you need to make the December Cardigan in a convenient kit from Lion Brand. Customize your kit now!
December Cardigan Details
DESCRIPTION
When the weather dips, it’s time to layer up! The December Cardigan was designed as the perfect piece to dress up your comfy holiday gathering outfits. This sweater is a cozy final layer, featuring three distinct textures and beautiful lines of Tunisian knit stitches to draw the eye. If you’re heading out, slip the December Cardigan over a dress or tucked shirt. Staying in? Reach for this hug with sleeves to stay warm while binging that new series.
MATERIALS
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease (category 4) worsted weight yarn. You’ll need 7 (8, 9, 10) skeins to make your cardigan. The original sample is made in the color “Canyon Sunset”. Find Wool-Ease here!
- 9mm Tunisian crochet hook with 40″ cable (like this one)
- 7mm crochet hook
- 5mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Tape measure
- Locking stitch markers
MEASUREMENTS
This pattern includes sizes XS/S (M/L, XL/2XL, 3XL/4XL). All sizes intended to have 4-8″ positive ease. Measurements taken after light steam blocking.
- Length: 24 (25, 27, 28)”
- Finished Bust: 36 (44, 52, 60)”
- To Fit Bust: 28-34″ (36-42″, 44-50″, 52-58″)
GAUGE
4″ = 12 stitches x 14 rows in Tunisian knit stitch, unblocked
ABBREVIATIONS
Ch = chain
Esc = extended single crochet
EscFLO = extended single crochet front loop only
Lts = Last Tunisian Stitch (see Special Stitches)
PM = place marker
Rep = repeat
RetP = Return Pass (see Special Stitches)
RI = Raglan Increase (see Special Stitches)
Sc2tog = single crochet 2 together
ScBLO = single crochet back loop only
Sk = skip
Sl St = slip stitch
SlStBLO = slip stitch back loop only
Sp = space
St(s) = stitch(es)
Tks = Tunisian knit stitch
Trs = Tunisian reverse stitch
Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
Ttks = twisted Tunisian knit stitch (tutorial)
Ttss = twisted Tunisian simple stitch (tutorial)
Yo = yarn over
SPECIAL STITCHES
- Raglan Increase (RI): In specified stitch, work (Tks 1, Tss 1), in next stitch work (Ttss 1, Ttks 1).
- Last Tunisian Stitch (Lts): Insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tss.
- Return Pass (RetP): Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through next 2 loops on hook) until 1 loops remains on the hook.
PATTERN NOTES
- Portions of the pattern are written in crochet shorthand. For example – “2Sc” means to place 2 sc in the next st (increase made) and “Sc 2” means to sc in each of the next 2 sts.
- This pattern uses stitch markers to mark where the raglan increase is made. Move the stitch markers up to opposite sides of the raglan as the pattern progresses.
- The pattern is written for size Xs/Sm, other sizes are in parentheses. Ex: Xs/Sm (Med/Lg, Xl/2Xl, 3Xl/4Xl)
- Turning chains do not count as stitches throughout pattern.
December Cardigan Pattern
YOKE
FOUNDATION ROW: With 9mm corded Tunisian crochet hook, ch 48 (54, 60, 66), pull up a loop in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and each ch across, ch 1, (yo, pull through 2 loops) until 1 loop remains on hook.
ROW 1: (Ttss, Ttks) next st, Tks 2, PM, RI, Tks 7 (9, 11, 13), PM, RI, Tks 18 (20, 22, 24), PM, RI, Tks 7 (9, 11, 13), PM, RI, Tks 2, (Tks 1, Tss 1) next st, Lts, RetP.
ROW 2: *(Tks each st to next marker, Tss 1, Ttss 1*, rep * to * 3 times, Tks to last st, Lts, RetP.
ROW 3: (Ttss, Ttks) next st, *Tks to marker, RI*, rep * to * 3 times, Tks to last 2 sts, (Tks, Tss) next st, Lts, RetP.
ROW 4: *Tks to marker, Tss, Ttss*, rep * to * 3 times, Tks to last st, Lts, RetP.
ROWS 5-15 (17, 19, 21): Rep Rows 3 and 4, ending with a Row 3 repeat.
ROWS 16 (18, 20, 22) – 32 (36, 39, 43): *Tks to marker, RI*, rep * to * 3 times, Tks to last st, Lts, RetP.
SPLIT FOR SLEEVES
ROW 33 (37, 40, 44): *Tks to marker, remove marker, (Tks, Tss) next st, sk next st, remove marker, sk all sts to next marker, remove marker, sk next st, (Ttss, Ttks) next st, remove marker*, repeat * to * 1 time, Tks to last st, Lts, RetP.
ROWS 34 (38, 41, 45) – 55 (59, 64, 67): Tks across to last st, Lts, RetP.
ROWS 56 (60, 65, 68) – 74 (78, 83, 86): Trs across to last st, Lts, RetP. Sl st bind off in Trs pattern after last row. Fasten off.
SLEEVES – complete for both sleeves
Place sweater right side facing out.
ROW 1: With corded TC hook, join yarn with a sl st in the sp before the 1st st of sleeve, Tks in each sleeve st around, 2Tks in 2 sts evenly spaced on row, RetP.
ROWS 2-41 (44, 47, 50): Tks across to last st, Lts, RetP.
ROWS 42 (45, 48, 51) – 51 (54, 57, 60): Trs across to last st, Lts, RetP. Sl st bind off in Trs pattern after the last row. Whip stitch seam the sleeve together.
CUFFS
DECREASE ROUND: With 5mm crochet hook, join yarn with a sl st at sleeve seam, Sc 1, Sc2tog, Sc 2 (2, 1, 0), (Sc2tog, Sc 1) 11 (13, 15, 18) times, Sc2tog, Sc 2 (2, 2, 0), Sc2tog, sl st join to first sc.
The cuff uses the Applied Ribbing Technique, which creates the cuff perpendicular to the sleeve. Find a video tutorial of this technique HERE.
ROW 1: Ch 16, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, sl st in next 2 sts of last round, turn.
ROW 2: Do not ch, sk sl sts, ScBLO in each sc across, turn.
ROW 3: Ch 1, ScBLO in each sc across, sl st in next 2 sts of last round, turn.
Rep Rows 2 and 3 around sleeve opening. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. With leftover tail, whip stitch the last row of ribbing to the first row.
FRONT OPENING
Place sweater right side facing out.
ROW 1: With 7mm hook, join yarn with a sl st in the bottom left corner of the front opening, ch 1, esc in each row end to the neck, across the starting chs, and down to the right bottom corner, turn.
ROW 2: Ch 1, EscFLO in each st across, turn.
ROW 3: Ch 1, SlStBLO in each st across. Fasten off.
FINISHING
- Weave in all ends.
- Steam block lightly. I recommend laying the cardigan flat on foam blocking boards and steam first the front, then flip and steam the back. Use t-pins to coax fabric into preferred shape.
Prefer an ad-free, printable version of the December Cardigan? Get it HERE!
Now that you’ve finished your December Cardigan, how do you plan to style it? I think I’ll layer it over my a-line dress with snowflakes on it. I’m so excited to wear my new sweater all holiday season long.
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Find even more free Tunisian crochet patterns here:
Toni, you have outdone yourself again!! This is gorgeous! I hope I’ll get to make one. I have followed & loved your designs a good while now. So much so, I figured to show appreciation for you generous shares, I contributed to buy you coffee! Can’t always buy patterns, books, yarn, tools, etc… but, that’s my way to say thank you! Pray you keep up the great work love!!
Hi Lu! How generous – thank you so much. Every little bit goes right back into TLYC so thank you for keeping this party going 🙂
Awww Toni you have done it again. As soon as I saw this beautiful December Sweater I knew I had to make it. It looks like something my best friend should have. Congratulations on your book I was able to purchase from Center of the Yarniverse. Your inspiring work is much appreciated.
Hi Toni!
I really love your creations. I like to call yarn art, “Twisted Creations”. It’s so relaxing when you can unwind your day or what ever your situation may be into a beautiful creation.
I have a question about the stitch count on the sleeves- I’m making the xl/xxl size and my count after row 1 of the sleeve is 75, not 55. Looking back at the increases before the sleeve split in the yoke, the only way to have a count of 55 would be if rows 20-39 only increased on the body side of the raglan line, not the sleeve sides. Which is correct?
Hi! Please send pattern support questions to [email protected].
Hi Toni and everyone!
Thank you Toni for this incredible pattern–I’m making a sweater for my sister rn, and I know she’s going to love it 🙂
I’m pretty new to tunisian crochet, so I had difficulty learning how to do the Raglan Increase. After a little searching, I found this tutorial.
https://rachelhenri.com/en/double-increase-simple-and-twisted-in-tunisian-crochet/
It was very helpful, and thought I’d share it in case anyone else was struggling!
(The video tutorial is especially helpful. It’s in French and I speak French, but I think anyone could benefit from seeing the hook in motion)
I’m very new to Tunisian crochet and I also was having trouble with the raglan increase. The video posted above was a great help, albeit in French, I got the hang of making the combined stitches for the increase. I had to restart the cardigan 3 times, I hope I’m getting it done right this time! ❤️🧶
Would this pattern be available in Knit as I am totally a knitter and so want to make this for me… it’s a great sweater..
Hi – I only offer croche patterns 🙂
This is stunning! I’ve been trying to decide which of your sweater patterns to make during Crochet Academy and really like this stitch work on this one.
Do you have any suggestions for adding buttons or a closure of some type? Thank you!!
This pattern is so beautiful! But I am so confused on where to move the raglan markers as I go along. Can anyone help?
Please send any pattern questions to [email protected]