The West Cardigan: A Light Crochet Topper for Women Over 55

The West Cardigan is an easy cropped crochet cardigan you can finish in a weekend, and it might be the most wearable piece of crochet for women over 55 that you make all year.

If you have wanted a simple layer that pulls an outfit together without any fuss, this is the one.

You make three flat rectangles, two for the fronts and one for the back, in soft bulky weight 5 yarn using one easy repeating stitch called the Y stitch. Then you seam the shoulders and the sides, leave gaps for the arms, and you are done. No shaping, no sleeves to set in, no reason to be nervous.

Here is the honest truth about this piece: it is light and open and airy, not a heavy winter layer. Think of it as a styling topper. You throw it over a plain tee and suddenly the whole look feels finished.

I designed West while I was watching Yellowstone one evening. The golden Montana light, that big open sky, the dusty blue of the old work shirts, all of it somehow ended up in my hands.

That is where the golden mustard and the soft blue came from, and that is why I called it West, for the wide open American West.

The free pattern is just below, and an ad free printable PDF is waiting for you on Ravelry.

• Facebook
• Instagram
• https://www.pinterest.com/sandrastitchesil/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyChmoXp18VqqXQAX4swqzQ

There are 2  ways to get this pattern:

Option 1: You can purchase the individual pattern as an easy-to-read, ad-free, print-friendly PDF  from Ravelry

Option 2: Scroll down to get the written instructions for this pattern for free

Why This Cropped Crochet Cardigan Works for Women Over 55

If you have ever opened a garment pattern and felt your shoulders tense up, this one is for you. The West is built from three simple rectangles, so there is no complicated shaping to follow and no fiddly sleeves to attach. You are really just making three flat panels and joining them.

It is also genuinely quick. The bulky weight 5 yarn and the open Y stitch mean the fabric grows fast, so you see real progress in an evening or two. That matters when you are rebuilding your confidence with hooks and yarn. Finishing something keeps you going.

And because the weave is open and light, the West is a layer you will actually reach for. It is the topper you pull on over a tee when you want to feel a little more put together, in spring, on cooler summer evenings, and through the milder days of autumn.

What You Will Need

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I earn a small referral fee at no added cost to you. Those small fees help me keep the blog running and the free patterns coming. Thank you.

Yarn and supplies:

• Kartopu Melange Wool, 100 gr, 80% Acrylic, 20% wool, 170 m, Color K1854 (pumpkin), 2 skeins
• Kartopu Melange Wool, 100 gr, 80% Acrylic, 20% wool, 170 m, Color light blue, a small amount for the accents
• Or any weight #5 yarn you love
• Hook: US Size H/8 (5 mm)
• Yarn needle, scissors, measuring tape

Before you get started, check out my Favorite Crochet Tools (affiliate)

Yarn Winder – a perfect crochet accessories

Neck Stretcher – to keep you without neck and back pain

Gauge Ruler – so you always get the right size

Pattern Designed By: Sandra Stitches This pattern is copyright protected; it is unlawful to distribute this pattern in any form (free, sale or trade).

▶️ Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.

How to Make the West Cardigan

Difficulty

Materials

• Kartopu, Melange Wool 100 gr, 80 % Acrylic,20% wool, 170 m, Color K1854 (pumpkin) ( 2 Skeins)
• Kartopu, Melange Wool 100 gr, 80 % Acrylic,20% wool, 170 m, Color light blue (a small amount)
• or any weight #5 yarn of your choice
• Hook: US Size H-8(5 mm) 
• Yarn Needle, Scissors, Measuring Tape

Gauge

• 13 st X 3.5 rows

Sizes

• Can be modified as you wish this sample is 18” in height X 20” in width, Size M/L

Stitch Key

• Ch = Chain
•  St = Stitch
• Dc = Double Crochet
• Tr = Treble Crochet 
• Hdc = Half Double Crochet
• SlSt = Slip stitch

Specialty Stitch & Technique Key

Y st: Tr in next st, Ch1, Dc in center of last Tr

Notes

• The pattern is worked in rows
• Ch 4 does count as st at beginning of each row
• This pattern uses pattern repeats.
• This pattern is worked in 3 panels joined together- two front panels and one back panel
• You can work this pattern with one color or multiple as you wish- I used one color for the cardigan and an accent color for the buttons and stripes
• You can decide on the width and length of the Cardigan by adding chains and rows
• This pattern calls for multiples of 3+2

Instructions

Front Panel, make two identical– Chain 62

Row 1: Yst in 6th Ch from hook, *[skip next 2 Ch, Y st in next Ch]* repeat from *to * across to last 2 Ch, skip next Ch, Tr in last Ch, turn 

Row 2:  Ch 4 (counts as 1st Tr), Y st in each Ch1  space of each Yst across to last Ch1 space, Tr 1 on top of turning Ch, Turn

Row 3-8: repeat row 2

Fasten off, cut yarn, and weave in ends.

Back Panel – Chain 62

Row 1: Yst in 6th Ch from hook, *[skip next 2 Ch, Y st in next Ch]* repeat from *to * across to last 2 Ch, skip next Ch, Tr in last Ch, turn 

Row 2:  Ch 4 (counts as 1st Tr), Y st in each Ch1  space of each Yst across to last Ch1 space, Tr 1 on top of turning Ch, Turn

Row 3-19: repeat row 2

Fasten off, cut yarn and weave in ends.

Construction

Lay the back panel right side facing up, lay the front panels on top wrong side facing up, and align to the sides.

You should have a space of 5 rows in the middle.

Sew both front panels on the shoulders to the back panel.

Skip 7 rows from shoulders down to form the sleeves and sew panels to the bottom on both sides.

Finishing

Sc1 in every st of the neck hole, Sc2 when you reach the V on the front and back.

Cut your yarn and weave in the ends.

You can add tassels, fringe, or beads.

Fasten off, cut yarn and weave in ends.

I recommend blocking the finished Cardigan before wearing it!

Enjoy!

How to Adjust the Fit

There are lots of easy ways to make this pattern fit your body and your taste:

• Make it more cropped: start with fewer chains, since we work the rectangles horizontally.
• Make it longer: add more chains in the starting chain until you are happy with the length.
• Make it wider or narrower: add or remove rows on each panel.

Sandra’s tip: Please do not skip the blocking. With an open Y stitch like this one, a gentle block is what opens the fabric up, evens out the mesh, and turns a nice make into one that drapes beautifully over a tee. It takes a few minutes and it is the difference maker.

Want the Ad Free PDF?

If you would rather crochet from a clean, ad free, print friendly page that you can pop in a folder and take to your chair, the PDF lives on Ravelry. Add it to your favorites there so it is always easy to find.

Keep Your Rows Straight on the West

Mesh patterns are forgiving, but it is still easy to lose your place mid row when life interrupts. Grab my free Crochet Project Row Tracker and never wonder which row you are on again. It is my gift to you when you join my email list, and it is the same printable I use myself.

Get your free Row Tracker here

A Quieter Place to Crochet With Friends

If you find that crochet is becoming your little pocket of calm in the day, you might love the V-Stitch Club. It is a warm, slower corner of the internet for women who crochet for the joy and the wellbeing of it, with members only patterns and a gentle community that cheers you on. No pressure, just good company and good stitches.

Peek inside the V-Stitch Club

More Easy Crochet Toppers to Try

Grey Day Poncho

Crochet Bolero Vest, Indigo Canyon

Sweet Pink Poncho Wrap

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the West Cardigan warm enough for winter?

No. The West Cardigan is a light, open weave topper, not a heavy winter layer. It is made to throw over a tee in spring, on cooler summer evenings, and through milder autumn days, when you want a little something on your shoulders that finishes the look.

What yarn does this cropped crochet cardigan use?

It uses bulky weight 5 yarn. The sample is made in Kartopu Melange Wool, a soft acrylic and wool blend, in a golden mustard with a small amount of soft blue for the accents. Any weight 5 yarn you love will work, as long as you check your gauge first.

Is this crochet cardigan good for beginners?

Yes. It is rated easy. You make three flat rectangles using one repeating stitch, then seam the shoulders and sides. There is no shaping and no sleeve setting, which makes it a friendly first garment.

Can I make the West as a crochet vest instead?

You already can. The West is worked sleeveless with open armholes, so it wears like a soft crochet vest. If you want more coverage you can add chains or rows to make the panels longer or wider.

How much yarn do I need?

About two skeins of your main color, plus a small amount of an accent color for the trim and ties. The exact amount depends on the size you make and your gauge.

What size is the pattern and can I change it?

The sample is a size M/L, about 18 inches tall and 20 inches wide. You can make it more cropped by starting with fewer chains, longer by adding chains, and you can adjust the width with more or fewer rows.