Time: 1-2 weeks project

Skill Level: Intermediate

SIZES:

2 (4, 6, 8) (10, 12): Finished Chest Size 24 (26, 28, 30) (32, 34)” to fit chest 21 (23, 25, 26) (28, 30)”

3-4” positive ease recommended.

Shown in size 6.

Gauge: 12 sts and 11 rows = 4” [10 cm] in esc, with 5.5 mm hook

16 sts and 15 rows = 4” [10 cm] in sc-blo, with 4,5 mm hook

Materials

Yarn: Ganga Acrowools Desire Yarn (100% Acrylic; 219 yards [200 meters] / 3.53 ounces [100 grams]): DSR032 Azure Blue (MC 2 (2, 2, 2) (3, 3) skeins), DSR007 White (CC 1 (2, 2, 2) (2, 2) skeins) plus small amount of worsted weight yarn in red color and DK weight yarn in white and black color for crab applique.

Hook: US size H/8, 5.5 mm, US size G/6, 4.5 mm and US size E/4, 3.5 mm

Notions: Tapestry needle, measuring tape, 4 stitch markers, fabric glue

Abbreviations

Esc: Extended single crochet

Esc2tog: Extended single crochet two together

Special Stitches

Esc: Insert hook in indicated st, pull up a loop (2 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through 1 loop (2 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through all 2 loops.

Esc2tog: Insert hook in the next st, pull up a loop (2 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through 1 loop, insert hook in the next st and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through 1 loop, yarn over, pull through all the 3 loops on the hook.

Pattern Notes

1. This pattern is worked from top down, in raglan style.
2. Ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
3. Pullover has alternate blue and white stripes. 2 rows are worked with each color. For wider stripes, change the colors every 4 rows, instead of every 2 rows.
4. Do NOT fasten off the yarn, unless stated. To change the color, pull the last loop of last stitch with new color. Carry unused yarn neatly along the side, picking it up again as needed.
5. Pullover body and sleeves are worked in rows, and then sewn. When sewing, make sure that the yarn carried along the side should be on wrong side and not visible from right side.
6. Crab applique can be sewn onto pullover or can also be fastened with fabric glue.

Pattern

Yoke

With 4.5 mm hook and MC, ch 7

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch. (6 sts)

Row 2-60 (66, 68, 70) (72, 72): Ch 1, turn. sc in first st, sc-blo to last st, sc in last st.

Change to CC.

With 5.5 mm hook,

Row 1 (WS): Turn the ribbing, ch 1, add 68 (74, 76, 78) (80, 80) esc evenly across the ribbing. (Add 1 esc across each row, while increasing 1 esc every 8^th row i.e. add 9 esc across 8 ribbing rows. For sizes 10 and 12, do NOT increase across last ribbing row, just add single stitch.)

From now onward, pm in center st of each 3 esc raglan corner. Move the markers up to center st of corner as you work next rows.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), turn, esc in 8 (8, 9, 9) (10, 10) sts, 3 esc in next st, pm in center st, esc in 16 (18, 18, 18) (18, 18) sts, 3 esc in next st, pm in center st, esc  in 16 (17, 18, 19) (20, 20) sts, 3 esc in next st, pm in center st, esc  in 16 (18, 18, 18) (18, 18) sts, 3 esc in next st, pm in center st, esc in (8 (9, 9, 10) (10, 10) sts. (76 (82, 84, 86) (88, 88) sts)

St count will increase by 8 every row. Here onwards, alternate MC and CC every 2 rows.

Change to MC.

Row 3-8 (8, 9, 10) (10, 12): Ch 1, turn, *work esc in each st to marked st, 3 esc in marked st, rep from * 3 more times, esc in rem sts to end. (124 (130, 140, 150) (152, 168) sts)

Divide for front, back and sleeves

When working next row, do NOT pm in the sts. Instead, pm around the indicated st, (worked in marked st of prev row).

Body Row 1: Ch 1, turn, *work esc in each st to marked st, esc in marked st, pm around this st, ch 4 (6, 6, 6) (8, 8) skip all sts to next marked st, esc in marked st, pm around this st; repeat instructions from * one more time, esc in rem sts to end. (72 (78, 84, 90) (96, 104) sts including underarm chs)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, esc in each st to end.

Rep last row to row 16 (20, 23, 26) (30, 28) or until cardigan measures 12 (13, 15, 16) (18, 18)” or 2” shorter than desired length, ending on white stripe and WS row.

Fasten off CC. Do NOT fasten off MC. Continue to hem ribbing with MC.

Hem ribbing:

With 4.5 mm hook, ch 9

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch, slip stitch to first stitch on hem, sl st to next st on hem. (8 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, skip 2 sl sts, sc-blo to last st, sc in last st.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in first st, sc-blo in remaining sts, sl st into next 2 sts on hem.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 all around, ending on row 2. Total 72 (78, 84, 90) (96, 104) ribbing rows

Fasten off MC.

Sleeves:

Sleeves are worked in rows, turning after each row, and then sewn after adding the ribbing.

Using 5.5 mm hook and WS (WS, RS, WS) (WS, WS) facing, attach CC (CC, CC, MC) (MC, CC) yarn at left side ch of 2 center underarm chs.

Row 1: Ch 1, add 36 (40, 42, 44) (46, 50) esc along armhole. Start working in left side center underarm ch and in each ch to marked st, esc2tog across marked st, work esc in each st to next marked st, esc2tog across marked st, esc in rem underarm ch.

[There are total 30 (32, 34, 36) (36, 40) unworked armhole sts (including 1 st of each of the 2 raglan corners) plus 4 (6, 6, 6) (8, 8) underarm ch. Also add 1 esc2tog across each marked st i.e. total 2 esc2tog]

Row 2 (decrease row): Ch 1, turn, esc2tog, esc in each st to last 2 sts, esc2tog. (34 (38, 40, 42) (44, 48) sts)

Row 3-4 (no decrease row): Ch 1, turn, esc in each st.

Row 5: Rep row 2. (32 (36, 38, 40) (42, 46) sts)

Rep last 3 rows 4 (5, 6, 6) (7, 8) more times. Add 5 (6, 6, 9) (10, 9) more esc rows without any decrease. (24 (26, 26, 28) (28, 30) sts and total 22 (26, 29, 32) (36, 38) sleeve rows)

Fasten off CC. Do NOT fasten off MC. Continue to sleeve ribbing.

Sleeve ribbing:

With MC and 4.5 mm hook, ch 9

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch, slip stitch to first stitch on sleeve, sl st to next st on sleeve. (8 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, skip 2 sl sts, sc-blo to last st, sc in last st.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in first st, sc-blo in remaining sts, sl st into next 2 sts on sleeve.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 all around, ending on row 2. (Total 24 (26, 26, 28) (28, 30) ribbing rows)

Fasten off MC, leaving a long tail to sew the sleeves. Thread the yarn tail onto tapestry needle, with right sides together, join the sleeves using whip stitch, making sure that the yarn carried along the side is on wrong side and not visible from right side.

Repeat for another sleeve.

Crab Applique

With red yarn and 3.5 mm hook,

Body: 

Rnd 1: Ch 5, 2 dc in 2^nd ch from the hook, dc in next 2 ch, 6 dc in last ch, working on the opposite side of ch, 2 in next 2 ch, 4 dc in last ch, join with sl st to first st. 16 sts

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in each of next 6 sts, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in each of next 4 sts, join with sl st to first st. 28 sts

 Rnd 3: Ch 1, [dc in next st, 2 dc in next st] twice, dc in next 2 sts, rep instructions in brackets 6 times, dc in next 2 sts, rep instructions in brackets 4 times, join with sl st to first st. 40 sts

 Rnd 4: Sl st into next st i.e. 2^nd st.

Claw/Pincer 1:

ch 15, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch, sc2tog over next 2 ch, dc3tog over next 3 ch, ch 5, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch, 2 sc in next ch, sc2tog across dc3tog and the base ch in which last dc of dc3tog was worked, sc in rem ch of beg ch-15 to end, sl st into next 3 sts.

Eye bases:

[ch 7, sc in each ch, starting in 2^nd ch from the hook], sl st into next 4 sts, rep instructions in brackets one more time, sl st into next 3 sts.

Claw/Pincer 2:

ch 13, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch, sc3tog over next 3 ch, ch 5, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch, 2 sc and 2 dc all in next ch, sc in rem ch of beg ch-13 to end, sl st into next 4 sts.

Small leg 1:

ch 6, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next ch, sc2tog over next 2 ch, sc in next ch, sl st into next 2 sts.

Large leg 1:

ch 8, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch, sc2tog over next 2 ch, sc in next 2 ch, sl st into next 2 sts.

Rep instruction for large leg 1 and then for small leg 1 one more time. After second small leg 1, instead of sl stitching in 2 sts, sl st into 11 sts.

Small leg 2:

ch 5, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next ch, 2 sc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st into next 2 sts.

Large leg 2:

ch 7, sl st into 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch, 2 sc in next ch, sc in next 2 ch, sl st into next 2 sts.

Rep instruction for large leg 2 and then for small leg 2 one more time. After second small leg 2, sl st into all rem sts of round 3. Join with first st with invisible join, fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the applique onto the pullover.

Eyes:

Iris:

Make 2.

With black color yarn and 3.5 mm hook,

Rnd 1: In magic circle, ch 1, 6 sc, join with invisible join.

Thread 2 strands of white yarn onto tapestry needle and make a highlight on top left side of the iris. Tie a knot at back side to secure. Fasten of extra yarn.

White portion of the eyes:

Make 2.

With white color yarn and 3.5 mm hook,

Rnd 1: In magic circle, ch 1, 14 dc, join with invisible join.

Using fabric glue, attach the iris on the white portion of the eyes. Allow to dry completely. Attach the eyes to the eye bases with fabric glue and allow to dry completely. Instead of fabric glue, you can sew the eyes.

With black color yarn, and using back stitches, make a mouth shape along the bottom half portion of rnd 1 of crab body.

Finishing

The applique should be in between yoke and body portion. Using a needle, sew the crab applique neatly onto the pullover. Sew along the rnd 3 of body. Pincers and eye bases can be attached with fabric glue. Do NOT sew/fasten the crab legs onto pullover.

To attach the applique, you can also use fabric glue instead of sewing or both for extra secure fastening.

Weave in the ends.