Free preview · full pattern in the Mid-Century Crochet Fashion
Pick-a-Length Long Crochet Sleeveless Cardigan: vintage crochet pattern
A long sleeveless cardigan worked in rows of double crochet V-shells, with a lower border of rice-stitch rows, shell-row armhole and neck shaping, and a rice-stitch picot edging around the fronts and neck. Originally published as "Pick-a-Length — Long Crochet Sleeveless Cardigan" in In Fashions: for Him, for Her, in Knits, in Crochets (Star Book No. 230) by.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed · Editorial policy
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Reviewed September 14, 2026 under our editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Medium (#4) |
| Yardage | 104–115 yd (95–105 m) |
| Hook | 5.5 mm |
| Gauge | 1 shell = 1 in (2.5 cm). |
| Finished size | Small (Medium, Large). Width across back at underarm 17 (18, 19) in [43 (45.5, 48.5) cm]; width across each front at underarm 8½ (9, 9½) in [21.5 (23, 24) cm]. Length to underarm 23 in (58.5 cm) for all sizes. |
| Time | about 8 hours |
Materials
- Medium (CYC #4) worsted-weight yarn — the original was a knitting worsted size yarn: 6 (7, 8) skeins of 2 oz (57 g). Assumption: a 2 oz (57 g) skein of worsted-weight yarn holds about 100–115 yd (91–105 m) — check your label.
- Crochet hook (original: plastic crochet hook size I)
- Hook: Start with 5.5 mm (US I-9) and change size to match the gauge
Abbreviations (US terms)
Notes before you start
- Source: "Pick-a-Length — Long Crochet Sleeveless Cardigan", In Fashions: for Him, for Her, in Knits, in Crochets (Star Book No. 230), American Thread Company. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: AMERICAN THREAD; DAWN “WINTUK” KNITTING WORSTED; SIZE; 6 (7, 8)—2 oz. skeins Citrus Spice; Plastic Crochet Hook Size I OR ANY SIZE HOOK WHICH WILL RESULT IN STITCH GAUGE BELOW.. Gauge: 1 Shell = 1 inch.
- Modernisation note: Original is written in US crochet terms; kept as US terms (sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet).
- Modernisation note: Spaced abbreviations (s c, d c, sl st, y o) written as sc, dc, sl st, yo; "trc" written as tr and "d trc" as dtr; "1st" written as "first"; "st of ch" written as "ch" where the stitch is a chain.
- Modernisation note: "Cut yarn" written as "fasten off"; "attach" (yarn) written as "join".
- Modernisation note: Long printed paragraphs split into one row, round or step per line; stitch order unchanged.
- Modernisation note: Vintage sizing and ease differ from today's — compare the printed finished measurements with your own before choosing a size.
- Modernisation note: Row numbers added for the unnumbered repeats (Rows 4–7, 9–11, 14–15), following the printed 8th, 12th, 13th and 16th ROW labels.
- Modernisation note: The rice stitch definition (printed inside Row 2) is kept in place; it includes a ch 1, and the row also prints a ch 1 after the rice st — both kept as printed.
- Modernisation note: Check: the left front starts with 8 (9, 10) shells, and the printed shaping removes 5 shells in each size, but 3 (3, 3) shells are printed as remaining for the shoulder. Left as printed; count your shells against the back shoulder.
- Modernisation note: The booklet title "Pick-a-Length" covers this cardigan and a knitted jacket on the same page; only the crochet cardigan is transcribed.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions added.
Back
- Row 1: Ch 71 (75, 79), 1 dc in 7th ch from hook, *sk next 3 ch, (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc) (shell) in next ch; rep from * across row — 17 (18, 19) shells.
- Row 2: Ch 6, rice st in 3rd ch from hook (rice st: keeping last loop of each st on hook, 3 dc in same space, yo and pull through all loops at one time, ch 1), *sc in ch-3 loop of next shell, ch 4, rice st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 1, sc in next shell; rep from * across row, ending with sc in 3rd ch of turning ch, ch 6, turn.
- Row 3: Dc in same space, *shell in next sc between rice sts; rep from * across row, ending with dc in 3rd ch of turning ch.
- Rows 4–7: Rep last 2 rows twice.
- Row 8: Ch 6, dc in same space, *shell between next 2 shells; rep from * across row, ending with dc in 3rd ch of ch, ch 6, turn.
- Rows 9–11: Rep last row 3 times, but do not ch 6 at end of last row.
- Row 12: Rep Row 2.
- Row 13: Rep Row 3.
- Rows 14 and 15: Rep last 2 rows once. (This completes border.)
- Row 16: Ch 6, dc in same space, *shell between next 2 shells; rep from * across row, ending with dc in 3rd ch of ch, turn.
- Rep last row for pattern until work measures 23 in (58.5 cm) from beg.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Pick-a-Length Long Crochet Sleeveless Cardigan pattern is in the Mid-Century Crochet Fashion
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Back — Armholes and Shoulders
- Left Front
- Right Front
- Finishing
Included with 12 patterns for $15 — $1.25 per pattern.
Errata
No corrections have been published for this pattern. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will log the fix here with a date.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Pick-a-Length — Long Crochet Sleeveless Cardigan pattern from?
It was published as "Pick-a-Length — Long Crochet Sleeveless Cardigan" in In Fashions: for Him, for Her, in Knits, in Crochets (Star Book No. 230) by American Thread Company. The publication is in the public domain in the United States; this version is transcribed and modernised by crochetpatterns.io.
What yarn or thread do I need for the Pick-a-Length — Long Crochet Sleeveless Cardigan?
medium (worsted) (#4) yarn. Not printed — 6 (7, 8) skeins of 2 oz (57 g). Assumption: a 2 oz (57 g) skein of worsted-weight yarn holds about 100–115 yd (91–105 m) — check your label.
What hook should I use?
Start with 5.5 mm (US I-9) and change size to match the gauge Gauge: 1 shell = 1 in (2.5 cm).
