Crocheted Brio Cardigan Made with Variegated Yarn

What works best with variegated yarns? Cardigans crocheted in a simple stitch pattern that lets the colour changes shine beautifully.

For this crochet project, I used DMC Brio yarn, which is made of 80% acrylic and 20% wool. Each ball weighs 100 g and contains 345 metres of yarn. It is pleasantly soft, lightweight, warm and very easy to work with. It is suitable not only for scarves, but also for spring cardigans, hats, shawls and blankets.

We have already crocheted a beautiful narrow scarf, known as a Skinny Scarf, from one ball of yarn. You can find the video tutorial here. For the button-up cardigan, I used four balls in total. Thanks to the variegated colour effect, I was able to combine two different Brio colourways.

We also featured DMC Brio yarn in the Yarn Talk podcast, episode #125. You can read the article here. DMC Brio is available from Textilni-galanterie.cz or at the Filium shop in the Palladium shopping centre in Prague.

VIDEO TUTORIAL PREMIERE – PART I. You can slow down the video directly on YouTube. English subtitles are included.

VIDEO TUTORIAL PREMIERE – PART II. You can slow down the video directly on YouTube. English subtitles are included.

I used a 6.5 mm crochet hook and chose a stitch pattern known as the “almost moss stitch”. It consists of two chain stitches and a single crochet worked into the chain space from the previous row. The pattern is simple and regular, allowing the variegated colours and colour transitions to stand out beautifully. I recommend using stitch markers to mark the beginning of each row and checking your stitch count from time to time.

First, we crochet the back panel and shape the neckline. Then we make two front panels and shape them into a V-neck. After joining the cardigan pieces, we crochet the sleeves directly onto the body and gradually decrease them. In the final step, we crochet an edging around the entire neckline and along the bottom edge. You can add a button for fastening or crochet a tie cord.

I hope you enjoy making the Brio Cardigan and wearing your handmade piece with pride. I would also be delighted to see your photos if you would like to inspire others or share your experience with crocheting or styling the cardigan. You can share your photos in the Krampolinka Facebook group. On Instagram, please use the hashtag #svetrikbrio so others can easily find your projects.  If you tag me in your creations made using my patterns, I can reshare them in my Instagram Stories to inspire others.

BRIO CARDIGAN

Yarn: DMC Brio from Textilni-Galanterie.cz
Yarn usage: 1 ball in colour 405 for the sleeves and 3 balls in colour 400
Crochet hook: 6.5 mm
Measurements: 55 cm front length, 59 cm width, 46 cm sleeve length
Size: 42–44
Other materials: Yarn needle, decorative label and wooden button
Time required: Approximately 16 hours
Skill level: Beginner-friendly

Abbreviations

ch – chain stitch
sc – single crochet
hsc – herringbone single crochet; I recommend watching the video tutorial
hdc – herringbone double crochet; I recommend watching the video tutorial
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
BLO sc – single crochet worked in the back loop only

Back Panel – 6.5 mm Crochet Hook

Row 1: Chain 76. Turn.

Row 2: Chain 2 in place of the first single crochet. Insert the hook into the third chain from the hook and work 1 single crochet. Continue with 1 single crochet in each chain across. (77 stitches)

Row 3: Chain 1 in place of the first single crochet and place a stitch marker in it. Work 1 single crochet into the turning chain stitch, chain 2 and skip 1 stitch. Continue working 1 single crochet, chain 2, skip 1 stitch across. At the end of the row, work 1 single crochet into the turning chain stitch. You should have 37 chain spaces. Turn.

Row 4: Chain 1 in place of the first single crochet and place a stitch marker in it. Work 1 single crochet into the chain space, then chain 2. Continue working 1 single crochet into the next chain space, chain 2 across. At the end of the row, work 1 single crochet into the marked turning chain stitch. You should have 37 chain spaces. Turn.

Rows 5–71: Repeat Row 4. Check the number of chain spaces from time to time.

Note: Crochet the panel until it measures a maximum of 62 cm in width and 49 cm in height. The back neckline is not shaped.

Front Panel – 6.5 mm Crochet Hook

Make 2

Row 1: Chain 38. Turn.

Row 2: Chain 2 in place of the first single crochet. Insert the hook into the third chain from the hook and work 1 single crochet. Continue with 1 single crochet in each chain across. (39 stitches)

Row 3: Chain 1 in place of the first single crochet and place a stitch marker in it. Work 1 single crochet into the turning chain stitch, chain 2 and skip 1 stitch. Continue working 1 single crochet, chain 2, skip 1 stitch across. At the end of the row, work 1 single crochet into the turning chain stitch. You should have 19 chain spaces. Turn.

Row 4: Chain 1 in place of the first single crochet and place a stitch marker in it. Work 1 single crochet into the first chain space, then chain 2. Continue working 1 single crochet into the next chain space, chain 2 across. At the end of the row, work 1 single crochet into the marked turning chain stitch. You should have 19 chain spaces. Turn.

Rows 5–52: Repeat Row 4. Check the number of chain spaces from time to time.

Shaping the Front Panel – 6.5 mm Crochet Hook

Row 53: Repeat Row 4. At the neckline edge, replace the final chain space with chain 1 and 1 half double crochet. This finishes the row in the centre of the chain space and decreases the number of chain spaces by one for the following row. Turn.

Row 54: Chain 1 in place of the first single crochet. Work 1 single crochet into the chain space formed by the chain stitch and half double crochet, then chain 2. Continue working 1 single crochet into each chain space, chain 2 across. At the end of the row, work 1 single crochet into the marked turning chain stitch. You should have 18 chain spaces. Turn.

Rows 55–67: Repeat Rows 53 and 54, continuing to decrease at the neckline edge. In the final row, you should have 10 chain spaces.

Rows 68–71: Work as for Row 4, keeping 10 chain spaces.

Note: For the second front panel, unwind the yarn until you reach a suitable point in the colour sequence so that the colour transitions match. Begin the neckline decreases one row earlier so that both front panels are mirror images of each other.

Sleeve Cuff – 6.5 mm Crochet Hook

Round 1: Chain 1 in place of the first single crochet. Pick up the strand from the previous stitch, insert the hook under the chain space, yarn over and pull the yarn through the stitch, then yarn over and complete the single crochet. Continue working herringbone single crochet stitches, alternating 1 herringbone single crochet into the chain space and 1 herringbone single crochet into the single crochet. Join the round with a slip stitch.

Rounds 2–3: Chain 1 in place of the first single crochet. Work herringbone single crochet stitches in the back loop only. Join each round with a slip stitch.

Decorative Cardigan Edging – 6.5 mm Crochet Hook

Round 1: Join the yarn with chain 1 in the bottom corner of the front panel. Work 1 herringbone single crochet into the same place: pick up the strand from the previous stitch, yarn over and pull the yarn through the stitch, then yarn over and complete the single crochet.

Finishing