Crochet a women’s short-sleeve sweater
Step-by-step crochet instructions
Step 1
Make a foundation chain of 100 chain stitches. Do not hide the other tail of the yarn; it will be your marker for the starting point.
Step 2
Crochet in the round - connect both ends of the chain together.
First, make sure that your foundation chain is not twisted and straighten it up if necessary before connecting the ends. To do so, you need to insert the hook into the first stitch, grab the yarn, and pull it through first and last stitches.
Step 3
1st round – single crochet* to end.
*Single crochet (SC) – insert the hook into the second chain from your hook, yarn over (wrap the yarn over a hook), and pull it through the stitch. You should have two stitches on your hook then do yarn over again and pull it through those two stitches.
2nd round – front loop single crochet to end.
3rd round = 2nd round.
4th round – [reverse decrease* and work one chain] to end.
*Reverse decrease – insert the hook from the wrong side of your work into the second chain from your hook, grab the yarn, and pull it through the stitch. You should have two stitches on your crochet hook. After that insert the hook from the wrong side again into the third stitch, yarn over, and pull the yarn through the chain. Now you have 3 sts on your hook. Lastly, wrap the yarn over the hook and crochet those 3 sts together.
5 and 6 rounds = 2nd round.
7th round = 4th round.
8 – 43 rounds = 2nd round.
Step 4
44th round – add one stitch, [reverse decrease and work one chain] to half of the round. Repeat that twice.
You should have 102 stitches total.
45 and 46 rounds = 2nd round.
47th round = 4th round.
48 and 49 round = 2nd round.
Step 5
Work one left front piece
1st row on 50th round (right side) – front loop single crochet for 26 chain sts then do one returning chain and turn your work.
2nd row (wrong side) – reverse back loop SC for 22 chain stitches and one returning chain.
3rd row – front loop SC to end. Do not do one returning chain, you will have decrease on the left side.
4th row – reverse back loop SC to end then one returning chain.
5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 rows = 3rd row.
6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 rows = 4th row.
16th row – reverse back loop SC to end. Do not do 1 returning chain. Then cut the yarn and secure it.
Step 6
Work the right front piece
1st row on 50th round (right side) – skip 2 sts, front loop SC for 22 sts and 1 returning chain.
2nd row (wrong side) – reverse back loop SC to end.
3rd row – front loop SC to end and one returning chain.
4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 rows = 2th row.
5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 rows = 3rd row.
16th row – reverse back loop SC to end. After that cut the yarn and secure it.
Step 7
Work one back piece
Attach the yarn right after the right front piece.
1st row on 50th round (right side) – front loop SC to last 2 chain stitches (or last 6 sts to the left front piece), work one returning chain and turn.
2nd row (wrong side) – reverse back loop SC to last 6 sts, 1 returning chain.
3rd row – front loop SC to end and one returning stitch.
4th row – reverse back loop SC to end plus 1 returning st.
5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 rows = 3rd row.
6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 rows = 4th row.
15th row (right side) – reverse back loop SC to last 13 chain sts.
Step 8
Connect two shoulder pieces together.
Count again remaining stitches on the left front shoulder piece to make sure that there are 14 sts. Then continue crocheting the last back row connecting it to the front piece stitches. If the seam is not desired, you can connect the two pieces from the wrong side.
Step 9
Sleeve
Pick up about 38 or more chain stitches.
Work front loop SC for 8 rounds.
Cut the yarn and secure it.
Step 10
Attach the yarn, connect other two shoulder pieces, and repeat Step 9 for the other sleeve.
Step 11
Attach the yarn to the neck line and pick up as many stitches as you can while working SC.
Cut the yarn and secure it.
Step 12 (optional)
Attach the yarn at the bottom of the short sleeve sweater and work SC to make the edge look nicer.
Cut the yarn and secure it.