Easy crochet sweater pattern for beginners: four rectangles

This sweater is four rectangles: a front, a back and two sleeves. The shoulders "drop" over the top of your arms, so there's no armhole shaping, no increases and no decreases. All the fit comes from choosing the right width.

Use a 6 mm hook with worsted weight yarn. It's a little bigger than the label suggests, which makes the fabric soft and drapey instead of stiff.

#Materials

• Worsted weight (#4) yarn: 1,100 (1,250, 1,400, 1,600) yd
• 6 mm (J-10) hook
• Yarn needle, stitch markers, measuring tape

#Gauge

12 hdc and 9 rows = 4 in (10 cm). Make a swatch at least 6 in square and measure the middle. Matching gauge is what makes the size table work.

#Sizes

#Front and back (make 2)

Foundation: Ch 59 (65, 71, 77).

Row 1: Hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (57, 63, 69, 75)

Row 2: Ch 1 (doesn't count), turn. Hdc in each st across.

Repeat Row 2 until the panel measures 20 (21, 22, 23) in. The hem band adds the last 2 in.

#Sleeves (make 2)

Foundation: Ch 50 (52, 56, 58).

Row 1: Hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (48, 50, 54, 56)

Repeat Row 2 of the body until the sleeve measures 16 (16½, 17, 17) in. The cuff adds 2½ in.

#Ribbed bands

The hem and cuffs are strips of half double crochet through the back loop, worked sideways.

Hem bands (make 2): Ch 8. Hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook and across (6). Work rows of hdc in the back loop only until the band is as wide as the body panel, slightly stretched.

Cuffs (make 2): Same as the hem band, but stop at 8 in (8, 8½, 9) relaxed. They'll gather the sleeve slightly at the wrist.

#Assembly

1. Shoulders: place front and back right sides together. Seam 4½ (5½, 6, 7) in in from each outer edge, leaving a 10 (10, 11, 11) in opening in the centre for the neck.
2. Sleeves: fold each sleeve in half to find the centre of its top edge, pin it to the shoulder seam, and sew the sleeve to the body.
3. Sides: sew each sleeve seam and side seam in one long line, from cuff to hem.
4. Bands: sew the hem bands to the bottom edges and join their short ends at the side seams. Sew the cuffs into rings and attach them, easing the sleeve in evenly.
5. Neckline: work 2 rounds of sc around the neck opening.

Weave in the ends and block the sweater flat to measurements. For a front-opening version, see our granny square cardigan.