Dusty Rose Drape Cardigan: Free crochet pattern

Meet your new favorite layering piece. The Dusty Rose Drape Cardigan is designed for those who love a relaxed fit with a touch of whimsical texture. Its drop-shoulder silhouette and cropped length make it perfect for pairing over dresses or high-waisted jeans.

We’ve used our signature WithMe palette to create a beautiful color-blocked effect. The warm cream back and sage green fronts are grounded by blush sleeves and framed by a soft dusty rose collar.

Finished with a delicate scalloped shell stitch border at the hem and cuffs, this cardigan is a love letter to cozy, handmade details. It’s an approachable project for confident beginners, offering a rewarding make that feels as lovely to give as it is to wear.

What you need

• Warm cream worsted cotton, 350 yds / 320 m
• Sage green worsted cotton, 200 yds / 180 m
• Blush worsted cotton, 180 yds / 165 m
• Dusty rose worsted cotton, 100 yds / 90 m
• 5.0 mm (US H/8) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle for weaving ends

Gauge

14 hdc and 16 rows = 4 x 4 in / 10 x 10 cm

Abbreviations

• ch — chain
• sk — skip the next stitch
• hdc — half double crochet
• shell — 5 dc in the same stitch
• sc — single crochet
• tr — treble crochet
• dc — double crochet

Pattern notes

• Turning chains do not count as stitches in this pattern.
• Change colors at the end of the last row of each section to keep edges clean.
• The shell stitch border is worked on the right side of the fabric.

1. Back Panel

Worked flat from the bottom up in warm cream, finished with a decorative shell stitch border.

• Row 1: 42 ch [42]
• Row 2: 2 sk, 40 hdc [40]
• Rows 3–30: hdc in each stitch across [40]
• Row 31: (sk, shell, 2 sk) × 10 [50]

1. Fasten off and weave in ends.

2. Front Panels

Make two identical panels in sage green, mirroring the back panel's construction and shell border.

• Row 1: 22 ch [22]
• Row 2: 2 sk, 20 hdc [20]
• Rows 3–30: hdc in each stitch across [20]
• Row 31: (sk, shell, 2 sk) × 5 [25]

1. Fasten off and weave in ends.

3. Sleeves

Make two sleeves in blush, worked flat and seamed later, ending in a shell stitch cuff.

• Row 1: 34 ch [34]
• Row 2: 2 sk, 32 hdc [32]
• Rows 3–20: hdc in each stitch across [32]
• Row 21: (sk, shell, 2 sk) × 8 [40]

1. Fasten off and weave in ends.

4. Collar and Edging

Pick up stitches around the front edges and neck in dusty rose for a soft, finished frame.

• Row 1: 90 sc picked up evenly [90]
• Rows 2–4: sc in each stitch across [90]

1. Fasten off and weave in ends.

5. WithMe signature heart

The same little heart sits on every WithMe original — our way of signing it with love. Use any contrast colour from the project.

• Round 1: 3 tr, 3 dc, ch, tr, ch, 3 dc, 3 tr in a magic ring [15] — Ch 3 first (it doesn't count as a stitch). After the last stitch, ch 3 and sl st into the ring, then pull the ring tight — the dip at the top of the heart forms as you pull.

1. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing the heart in place.

Finishing

1. Lay the back panel flat with the right side facing up.
2. Place the front panels on top, right sides down, aligning the bottom shell borders and side edges.
3. Sew the shoulder seams using a whip stitch or mattress stitch.
4. Fold each sleeve in half lengthwise and sew the underarm seam.
5. Pin the sleeves to the armholes, matching the shoulder seam to the center of the sleeve, and sew them in place.
6. Sew the side seams of the body and the underarm seams in one continuous motion.
7. Weave in all remaining yarn ends securely.
8. Sew the standard signature heart onto the bottom right front panel, centered just above the shell stitch border.

Tips from the WithMe studio

• Use stitch markers to mark the center of the armholes and sleeves when seaming to ensure even distribution.
• If your tension is tight, the shell stitch border may curl; gently block the edges with a damp cloth and an iron on a low setting.
• When picking up stitches for the collar, place a marker every 10 stitches to keep your count even.

Share your make with #withmelove — we would love to see it.