Crochet Ribbed Button Cardigan – free pattern + video

Learn how to crochet a ribbed cardigan with buttons! The Pompeii Cardigan is oversized, slouchy and cosy with a modern knit-like look! Scroll down for free crochet sweater pattern is accompanied by a step-by-step video tutorial.

half unbuttoned grey alpaca yarn crochet cardigan with knit look ribbing and large black buttons

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Thank you to WeCrochet for providing the yarn for this free crochet tank top pattern! As always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own ?

The Pompeii Cardigan is the sister sweater to the Amalfi Pullover! It features the same knit-look stitches with wide ribbing, loose wide sleeves and a boxy oversized silhouette. This ribbed crochet cardigan is finished off with a round neck and large buttons for a casual, relaxed look.

woman wearing ribbed grey crochet cardigan with large oversized sleeves, sunglasses and black handbag

The entire Pompeii cardigan is worked up in double crochets and slip stitches – that’s it! We’ll combine these easy crochet stitches together in a very simple 4 row repeat. To make it even easier the 4 row repeat only consists of 2 different ‘base’ rows and once you’ve crocheted it a few times it will become mindless ?

The signature knit-look ribbing is created by working into the back loops of a stitch. Whenever I’m looking for the back loops I rotate the stitches towards me so that the top of the ‘V’ is facing me. The back loop will be the strand of the ‘V’ that’s furthest away from you.

It’s super important to insert your crochet hook into the back loops because that’s what creates the thick ribbing texture. If you don’t work in the back loops the front of your sweater will be flat with no ribbing!

Another tip for crocheting the Pompeii Cardigan is to keep you slip stitches loose and roughly the same width as the double crochets. This will help you maintain even gauge so your sweater will drape nicely when worn and being able to easily insert your crochet hook into the slip stitches helps you to crochet so much faster!

back view of oversized crochet cardigan with thick ribbing and long sleeves

This crochet cardigan is made up of 5 main pieces – back panel, 2 front panels and 2 sleeves. All of these pieces are worked from side to side and that means your foundation chain runs the length of your piece, not the width. You can easily alter the length of your cardigan by simply adding more chains to make your cardi longer or remove chains to make your cardi shorter.

All the pieces are whip stitched together and then the ribbing is crocheted separately and sewn onto the cardigan. The hemline ribbing is completely optional and if you prefer you can leave it off for a raw edge. I think this gives a more modern look (You can see what the raw edge looks like on the Amalfi Sweater) but keep in mind that it will make your cardigan a little bit shorter.

Since I really wanted this cardigan to look as ‘knit-like’ as possible the button holes are crocheted into the back loop slip stitch ribbing and then sewn onto the cardigan. If you’ve never crocheted button holes before, don’t worry the video tutorial goes through all the steps in detail and it’s so satisfying when you finish the project! Button Down cardigans are my favourite type of sweater ?

close up on gray round neck crochet cardigan with ribbed stitches and black buttons

Design Inspiration

When the Amalfi Sweater pattern was released a few months ago, so many of you asked for a cardigan version. I wasn’t quite sure if I should make a cardigan with just straight panels or a button-down version but you all overwhelmingly voted for a button-down version on Instagram! (If you’d like to send in pattern suggestions you can follow me on Instagram! :))

So I set out to design a button down cardigan … but then I had so many more questions haha. Should I make a V-neck or a round neck? Should I use big buttons or small buttons? Should the cardigan have knit look ribbing or crochet a simpler version?

With a lot of help from all of you (thank you so much for all of your comments!) we settled on a round-neck cardigan with slip stitch ribbing and large buttons. I think this combination of stitches really create a modern looking sweater that you can wear with anything (you all know I love versatile garments that you can wear year after year!) and the chunky buttons add to the casual, cosy vibes ?

(P.s. Lots of you were also hoping for a v-neck cardigan version … which I might make one day … but in the mean time you can check out the Aria Cardigan for a v-neck button cardigan pattern ? )

Looking for more free crochet patterns?

emerald slouchy crochet sweater, white textured crochet cardigan and oversized cardigan with pockets

1. Weekend Snuggle Sweater / 2. In The Clouds Cardigan / 3. Briar Pocket Cardigan

Yarn

The Pompeii Cardigan uses WeCrochet’s Andean Treasure in the shade Fog Heather. It’s a lovely true medium grey – not a light grey, not a dark grey, it’s right in between so sometimes it can look light or dark depending on the lightning. Andean Treasure is a 100% Baby Alpaca yarn and it’s soooooo soft and squishy.

Baby Alpaca is one of my favourite fibres because it tends to be very loose and drapey. This yarn has an almost ‘hollow’ feel to it and it doesn’t really have ‘memory’ which is how well the yarn holds a stitch after its been frogged but all of these attributes make Andean Treasure the perfect yarn for an oversized garment!

Andean Treasure is classified as a sport weight yarn but in my opinion it’s really quite thick and if you want to substitute I’d suggest choosing a thick DK/Light (3) or very thin worsted / Medium (4) yarn. As always don’t forget to crochet a gauge swatch to make sure your cardigan will turn out the correct size!

Pin me for later!

pinterest graphic with oversized grey cardigan crocheted with large black buttons and ribbed textured

Video Tutorial

Add the Pompeii Cardigan to your Ravelry queue!

Pompeii Cardigan – Ad-free, printable version!

NOTES:

*Sample is a size small shown on a 5’3” model with a 32” bust.

*The sizing guide follows size XS(S, M, L, XL)(2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). E.g. “68(72, 72, 76, 76)(80, 80, 84, 84) means Ch 68 for XS, Ch 72 for Small, Ch 72 for Medium, Ch 76 for Large, Ch 76 for XL, Ch 80 for 2XL, Ch 80 for 3XL, Ch 84 for 4XL and Ch 84 for 5XL.”

If there is only one number, it applies to all sizes.

*”DC 10” means DC into the next 10 stitches.

*The turning chains, ch 1 and ch 2 do NOT count as a stitch.

*Total stitches are indicated between < >.

*This pattern uses US crochet terms.

*The sample sweater uses WeCrochet Andean Treasure which is classified as a Sport/Fine(2) yarn. However, if you want to substitute this yarn, it’s closer to a thick DK/Light(3) or a very thin Worsted/Medium(4).

*The majority of this crochet sweater follows a 4-row repeat comprising of 2 different types of rows which are referred to as BASE DC row and BASE SL ST row.

*The sleeves, back and front panels are worked from side to side, so the foundation chain runs the length of the sleeve/sweater. To make your sweater shorter/longer, remove/add chains.

*Add 1 extra button for every additional 10cm / 4” of length.

*All pieces are sewn together with the RS on the inside and the WS facing outwards.

*The hemline ribbing is optional and you can leave it off if you prefer the look of the raw edge. Just keep in mind that this will make your cardigan 5 cm / 2” shorter in length.

Crochet Ribbed Button Cardigan - free pattern + video

LEVEL: Easy+

Materials

Yarn – WeCrochet Andean Treasure – Sport / Fine (2), 100m/50g, 110yds/1.75oz, 100% Baby Alpaca, Fog Heather
approx. 495(560, 590, 665, 705)(785, 830, 915, 965)g

5mm (US H) Crochet Hook

Darning Needle

Scissors

Stitch markers/Safety pins

4(4, 5, 5, 5)(5, 5, 5, 5) buttons – 3cm / 1.25” diameter
*The sample cardigan is a size small and is pictured with 4 buttons. I just managed to get away with 4 buttons but for a more secure opening, I’d recommend 5 buttons for size small.

Stitches & Abbreviations

Ch = Chain

Sl st = Slip Stitch

DC = Double Crochet

BLO = Back Loop

St(s) = Stitch(es)

Rep = Repeat

RS = Right Side

WS = Wrong Side

*Measurements taken from the garment lying flat. This cardigan is oversized and VERY stretchy. Choose your normal t-shirt size for an oversized fit (as pictured). If you are in between sizes, size down.

*Cardigan width and length will stretch out by 3-5cm / 1-2” after being worn a few times.

Measurements cm:

To fit Bust: 71(81, 91, 101, 112)(122, 132, 142, 152)
Back Width: 46(50, 55, 59, 64)(68, 73, 77, 81)
Armhole: 15(16, 16, 18, 19)(20, 21, 23, 24)
Sleeve length: 36(37, 37, 39, 39)(40, 40, 41, 41)
Length: 45(47, 47, 50, 50)(53, 53, 55, 55)

Measurements inches:
To fit Bust: 28(32, 36, 40, 44)(48, 52, 56, 60)
Back Width: 18(19.5, 21.5, 23, 25)(26.5, 28.5, 30, 32)
Armhole: 6(6.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5)(8, 8.5, 9, 9.5)
Sleeve length: 15(15.5, 15.5, 16, 16)(16.5, 16.5, 17, 17)
Length: 17.5(18.5, 18.5, 19.5, 19.5)(21, 21, 22, 22)

GAUGE: 10cm/4” square = 16.5 stitches wide x 21 rows tall (5 DC rows + 16 sl sts rows) in Knit-Look Rib Stitch pattern

Knit-Look Rib Crochet Stitch Pattern.

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch any number of stitches.

ROW 1(RS): DC into 3^rd ch from hook, DC in each st until end, turn.

ROWS 2 – 4 (BASE SL ST ROW): Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, turn.

ROW 5 (BASE DC ROW): Ch 2, BLO DC across, DC in last st, turn.

Repeat ROWS 2 – 5 until you reach your desired length.

Pompeii Cardigan Pattern

Back Panel

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 68(72, 72, 76, 76)(80, 80, 84, 84).

ROW 1 (RS): DC into 3^rd ch from hook, DC in each st until end, turn.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

ROWS 2 – 4 (BASE SL ST ROW): Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

ROW 5 (BASE DC ROW): Ch 2, BLO DC across, DC in last st, turn.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

Repeat ROWS 2 – 5 until ROW 81(89, 97, 105, 113)(121, 129, 137, 145).
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

back panel of crochet cardigan using back loop slip stitch ribbing

Fasten off.

right side of ribbed crochet knit look stitch

wrong side of ribbed crochet knit like stitch

First Front Panel

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 68(72, 72, 76, 76)(80, 80, 84, 84).

ROW 1 (RS): DC into 3^rd ch from hook, DC in each st until end, turn.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

ROWS 2 – 4: As BASE SL ST row.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

ROW 5: As BASE DC row.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

Repeat ROWS 2 – 5 until ROW 26(30, 34, 38, 42)(46, 50, 54, 58).
*Final row should be a BASE SL ST ROW.

Don’t fasten off! Proceed directly to ‘FIRST FRONT PANEL DECREASE’.

FIRST FRONT PANEL DECREASE

*Decreasing and increasing the neckline will create ‘corners/steps’ along the edge of the sweater. The corners will be hidden once we sew on the neckline ribbing.

ROW 1: Ch 1, BLO sl st until you have 10 sts left, turn.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72)>

ribbed crochet cardigan first front panel decrease row

ROW 2: As BASE SL ST row.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72)>

ribbed crochet cardigan close up on row 32

ribbed crochet cardigan back loop slip stitches

ROW 3: As BASE DC row.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72)>

ribbed crochet cardigan front panel back loop double crochets

ROW 4: As BASE SL ST row.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72)>

ROW 5: Ch 1, BLO sl st until you have 3 sts left, turn.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69)>

ROW 6: As BASE SL ST row.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69)>

ROW 7: As BASE DC row.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69)>

ROW 8: As BASE SL ST row.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69)>

ROW 9: Ch 1, BLO sl st until you have 2 sts left, turn.
<51(55, 55, 59, 59)(63, 63, 67, 67)>

ROW 10: As BASE SL ST row.
<51(55, 55, 59, 59)(63, 63, 67, 67)>

ROW 11: As BASE DC row.
<51(55, 55, 59, 59)(63, 63, 67, 67)>

Fasten off.

finished first front panel of ribbed crochet cardigan

Second Front Panel

SECOND FRONT PANEL INCREASE

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69).

ROW 1 (RS): DC into 3^rd ch from hook, DC in each st until end, turn.
<51(55, 55, 59, 59)(63, 63, 67, 67)>

ROW 2: As BASE SL ST row.
<51(55, 55, 59, 59)(63, 63, 67, 67)>

ROW 3: Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, ch 3, turn.
<51(55, 55, 59, 59)(63, 63, 67, 67) + 3 chs>

row 3 of ribbed crochet cardigan pattern round neck increase

ROW 4: Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in next ch, BLO sl st in each st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69)>

crochet knit look ribbing cardigan second front panel row 4

ribbed cardigan crochet second front panel row 4

ROW 5: As BASE DC row.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69)>

end of back loop double crochet stitch row on ribbed cardigan front panel

ROW 6: As BASE SL ST row.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69)>

ROW 7: Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, ch 4, turn.
<53(57, 57, 61, 61)(65, 65, 69, 69) + 4 chs>

ROW 8: Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in each ch, BLO sl st in each st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72)>

ROW 9: As BASE DC row.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72)>

ROW 10: As BASE SL ST row.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72)>

ROW 11: Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, ch 11, turn.
<56(60, 60, 64, 64)(68, 68, 72, 72) + 11 chs>

increase with chain 11 on ribbed crochet cardigan second front panel

ROW 12: Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in each ch, BLO sl st in each st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

crochet cardigan pattern with knit look ribbing slip stitches in chains

ROW 13: As BASE DC row.
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

Don’t fasten off!

Repeat FIRST FRONT PANEL ROWS 2 – 5 until ROW 37(41, 45, 49, 53)(57, 61, 65, 69).
<66(70, 70, 74, 74)(78, 78, 82, 82)>

Fasten off.

flat lay of second front panel of ribbed crochet cardigan

Sleeves

*Make 2

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 63(65, 65, 67, 67)(69, 69, 71, 71).
*The foundation chain runs the length of the sleeve, not the width.

ROW 1 (RS): Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st 11, DC in each ch until end, turn.
<62(64, 64, 66, 66)(68, 68, 70, 70)>

ROWS 2 – 4: As BASE SL ST row.
<62(64, 64, 66, 66)(68, 68, 70, 70)>

ROW 5: Ch 1, BLO sl st 12, BLO DC across, DC in last st, turn.
<62(64, 64, 66, 66)(68, 68, 70, 70)>

Repeat ROWS 2 – 5 until ROW 53(57, 57, 61, 65)(69, 73, 77, 81).
<62(64, 64, 66, 66)(68, 68, 70, 70)>

Fasten off.

flat lay of ribbed oversized sleeve on crochet cardigan

Fold sleeve in half lengthways. Whip stitch the edges of the sleeve together.

ribbed oversized crochet sleeve folded in half to sew edges of sleeve together

Assembly

Lay the front panels on top of the back panel.

assembling ribbed cardigan back panel, 2 front panels and sleeves to be sewn together with a whip stitch

Whip stitch the shoulder seams together.
*For a neat finish and smooth seams, make sure that the ribbing matches on the RS of the sweater and place whip stitches into the centre of the DCs, rather than wrapping around the entire stitch.

Whip stitch up the sides of body panels together, leaving a gap for the sleeves.
*When sewing along the body portion, I find that picking up the back loops of the stitches give a more ‘seamless’ look.

Whip stitch top of sleeves to arm holes.

Turn the cardigan inside out so that the RS is facing you.

Ribbing

HEMLINE RIBBING

*Optional

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 9.

ROW 1: Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in each ch until end, turn.
<8>

ROW 2: Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<8>

Repeat ROW 2 until ribbing equals the width of the back and front panels.

hemline back loop slip stitch ribbing crochet with knit look

Fasten off.

Whip stitch Hemline Ribbing to hem of Cardigan Body.

hemline ribbing sewn onto crochet oversized cardigan

SECOND FRONT PANEL RIBBING
*When you are wearing the cardigan, the Second Front Panel is the left panel.

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 9.

ROW 1: Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in each ch until end, turn.
<8>

ROW 2: Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<8>

Repeat ROW 2 until ribbing equals the length of the inside edge of the Second Front Panel / opening of the cardigan.

opening ribbing to be whip stitches onto ribbed crochet cardigan

Fasten off.

Whip stitch Second Front Panel Ribbing to edge of Second Front Panel.

back loop slip stitch ribbing sewn to crochet cardigan opening

Buttonholes

Place 1 button to the left of the top edge of the second front panel ribbing.
*This button will be sewn onto the round neckline ribbing.

large black buttons placed on top of crochet cardigan opening

Place 1 button on bottom edge of the second front panel ribbing. Space out your remaining buttons evenly in between the top and bottom buttons.

Line up a SM with the centre of each button and place SM in corresponding row along Second Front Panel ribbing.

stitch markers inserted into cardigan ribbing to mark button placement

FIRST FRONT PANEL RIBBING

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 9.

ROW 1: Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in each ch until end, turn.
<8>

ROW 2: Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<8>

Repeat ROW 2 until ribbing is long enough to reach the 1st SM.

ribbing length reaches first SM along cardigan opening

BUTTONHOLE ROW: Ch 1, sl st 2, ch 4, skip 4 stitches, sl st 2, turn.
*Make sure your buttons fit very snugly in the button holes as the button holes will stretch out. If the button hole is too loose, the buttons will slip out. To make the button holes smaller, *ch 1, sl st 3, ch 3, skip 3 stitches, sl st 2, turn.

finished crochet button hole for large button cardigan

black button inserted into crochet button hole in knit-like ribbing

Continue with *Repeat ROW 2 until the ribbing reaches the next SM, crochet a BUTTONHOLE ROW; until you have crocheted all the button holes and then repeat ROW 2 until the First Front Panel Ribbing is the same length as the Second Front Panel Ribbing.

work slip stitches into back loops of chains

crochet ribbed cardigan front panel ribbing with button holes

button holes lined up with stitch markers

finished buttonhole ribbing for ribbed button down crochet cardigan

Whip stitch First Front Panel Ribbing to edge of First Front Panel.
*Make sure that the button holes correspond to the SMs on the Second Front Panel Ribbing.

flat lay of ribbed crochet cardigan with buttonholes

NECKLINE RIBBING

FOUNDATION CHAIN: Ch 9.

ROW 1: Sl st into 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in each ch until end, turn.
<8>

ROW 2: Ch 1, BLO sl st across, sl st in last st, turn.
<8>

Repeat ROW 2 until ribbing is 3cm / 1.25” shorter than the head opening (approx. 59cm / 23.25”).
*Last row of the neckline ribbing should line up with the centre of the button holes on the First Front Panel Ribbing.

close up on neckline ribbing on round neck ribbed cardigan crochet pattern

Repeat the BUTTONHOLE ROW, and then repeat ROW 2 until the ribbing can fit around the head opening (approx. 62 cm / 24.25”).

finished crochet round neck cardigan ribbing with buttonhole

With the RS of the cardigan facing you, pin neckline ribbing to neckline opening, focusing on creating a smooth curve / round neckline.
*The corners of the ‘steps’ will protrude from the edge of the ribbing, this is ok as we’ll sew over them.

corners of front panels increase and decreases peeking out behind the neckline ribbing

Whip stitch neckline ribbing to head opening, taking care to sew over the ‘corners’.
*After you’ve sewn over the corners they should resemble small ‘bumps’.
*The bumps will not be visible when wearing the cardigan nor should you be able to feel them.

back loop slip stitch crochet ribbing sewn onto round neck oversized cardigan

Sew buttons on the Neckline and Second Front Panel Ribbing, taking care to match the buttons to the button holes.
*You can use the SMs to mark the button placement.
*If the neckline is ruffling – you’ve placed the buttons too close together and if the neckline is pulling/puckering – you’ve placed your buttons too far apart.