Dusty Rose Cable Crop Sweater Free Crochet Pattern

I set out to crochet a sweater that looks like it came straight from a boutique, and this dusty rose beauty is the one that made me grin at the dress form! We will work a bold braided cable panel down the centre front, with open honeycomb mesh on either side.

The body is worked flat in two panels and seamed, the balloon sleeves taper to snug ribbed cuffs, and a cosy folded turtleneck is worked in the round at the very end. The silhouette is cropped and boxy, perfect with high-waisted jeans.

This pattern is rated advanced intermediate, for a US women’s size Small to Medium with a 34 to 38 inch (86 to 97 cm) bust. You will want to be comfortable with front and back post double crochets before we begin, and I will walk you through every cable cross.

Materials

• Approximately 1,100 to 1,300 yards bulky weight yarn (CYCA 5) in dusty rose or antique mauve
• US Size N-13 / 9 mm crochet hook, for body and sleeves
• US Size L-11 / 8 mm crochet hook, for ribbing sections
• At least 8 stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Locking stitch markers or scrap yarn for cable markers
• Measuring tape
• Cable needle or spare hook for working cable crossings

Abbreviations

• beg: beginning
• BPdc: back post double crochet
• ch: chain
• ch-sp: chain space
• dc: double crochet
• dec: decrease
• FPdc: front post double crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• inc: increase
• PM: place marker
• rep: repeat
• RS: right side
• sc: single crochet
• sk: skip
• sl st: slip stitch
• sp: space
• st/sts: stitch / stitches
• t-ch: turning chain
• tog: together
• WS: wrong side
• yo: yarn over
• sc2tog: single crochet two together
• dc2tog: double crochet two together

Special Stitches

• Honeycomb Mesh Stitch: worked over a multiple of 2 stitches plus 1. Row 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st) across to last st, dc in last st. Turn. Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first dc, (sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) across. Turn. Row 3 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st) across to last st, dc in last st. Turn. Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for pattern. The ch-1 spaces on right side rows create the open mesh cells, and on wrong side rows every chain space and dc post receives a single crochet, filling the mesh back to a solid stitch count.
• Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc): yarn over, insert your hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated stitch below, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook twice. This stitch sits raised on the surface of the fabric facing you.
• Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc): yarn over, insert your hook from back to front to back around the post of the indicated stitch below, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook twice. This stitch recedes behind the fabric.
• 2-Over-2 Front Cable Cross (2/2 FC): worked over 4 stitches. Place the 2 right-side stitches onto a cable needle and hold to the front. Work FPdc around each of the next 2 left-side posts. Then work FPdc around each of the 2 posts held on the cable needle. This crosses the cable to the left.
• 2-Over-2 Back Cable Cross (2/2 BC): worked over 4 stitches. Place the 2 right-side stitches onto a cable needle and hold to the back. Work FPdc around each of the next 2 left-side posts. Then work FPdc around each of the 2 posts held on the cable needle. This crosses the cable to the right.
• Cable Panel: 12 stitches total: 2 BPdc border, 4 FPdc cable group, 4 FPdc cable group, 2 BPdc border. The cable cross is worked on right side rows only, every 4th row in the stitch guide and every 6th RS row in the front panel body (Rows 2, 8, 14, 20 and so on). Cable Row Setup (RS): (2 BPdc, 4 FPdc, 4 FPdc, 2 BPdc) over the 12 cable sts with no cross yet. Cable Row 1 (RS): 2 BPdc, 2/2 FC over next 4 sts, 2/2 BC over next 4 sts, 2 BPdc. Cable Rows 2 to 4: work each stitch as it presents (FPdc over FPdc, BPdc over BPdc) with no cable cross. Repeat Cable Rows 1 to 4 for the full panel height to produce the mirrored braid appearance.
• Ribbing Row: Ch 2 (does not count as stitch), (FPdc around next st, BPdc around next st) across. Turn.

Gauge & Size

• Gauge with larger hook (N-13 / 9 mm) in Honeycomb Mesh Stitch: 10 stitches = 4 in / 10 cm and 8 rows = 4 in / 10 cm
• Gauge with smaller hook (L-11 / 8 mm) in ribbing: 12 stitches = 4 in / 10 cm and 10 rows = 4 in / 10 cm
• Finished size: US women’s Small to Medium, bust 34 to 38 inches (86 to 97 cm), with generous positive ease
• Bust: 42 in / 107 cm (21 in / 53 cm per panel)
• Body length from underarm to hem: 10 in / 25 cm
• Total length including collar: approximately 22 in / 56 cm
• Sleeve length from underarm to cuff: 20 in / 51 cm
• Upper sleeve width: 18 in / 46 cm
• Cuff width: 8 in / 20 cm
• Collar height: 5 in / 13 cm
• Construction: front and back panels worked flat and seamed, sleeves worked flat, seamed and set in, turtleneck collar worked in the round after seaming; all pieces blocked before seaming
• Skill level: Advanced Intermediate

Working notes: the front panel includes the cable section at the centre, with 52 stitches in total, the cable occupying stitches 21 through 32 and 20 mesh stitches on each side. The 12 cable stitches are always worked as post stitches and never include ch-1 spaces. In honeycomb mesh rows, ch 3 counts as a dc on RS rows and ch 1 does not count as a stitch on WS rows; in ribbing sections, ch 2 never counts as a stitch. When working a cable cross, the 4 posts being crossed are the FPdc posts of the row below: insert your hook around the post of the dc stitch two rows below on the setup row, and around the FPdc posts on subsequent cable rows.

Front Panel Pattern

Hem rib: with the smaller hook (L-11 / 8 mm), chain 13.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (12 sc)

Row 2: Ch 2, (FPdc in next st, BPdc in next st) 6 times. Turn. (12 sts)

Repeat Row 2 until the piece measures 52 rib columns wide. This rib is worked sideways, so work 52 rows total of the 12-stitch wide strip. The 12 sc foundation becomes the height of the rib (approximately 4 in / 10 cm), and the 52 rows become the width of the front panel. After 52 rows, do not fasten off.

Rotate the work 90 degrees. With the larger hook (N-13 / 9 mm), pick up and sc evenly along the long edge of the rib strip, 1 sc per rib row end. (52 sc)

This row of 52 sc becomes the foundation row for the front body mesh and cable panel. Checkpoint: the hem rib should measure approximately 21 in / 53 cm wide and 4 in / 10 cm tall.

Setup Row, cable panel establishment (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1, dc in next st) 9 times for stitches 1 to 20 in mesh. Then, without chaining, work directly into the posts of stitches 21 to 32: (BPdc in next st, BPdc in next st, FPdc in next st, FPdc in next st, FPdc in next st, FPdc in next st, FPdc in next st, FPdc in next st, BPdc in next st, BPdc in next st), creating 12 post stitches total. Then (dc in next st, ch 1, sk 1) 9 times, dc in last st for the right mesh, stitches 33 to 52. Turn. (52 sts)

Row 1 (WS, mesh fill and cable hold): Ch 1 (does not count as st), sc in first dc, (sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) 9 times for the left mesh (20 sc total). Then work (BPdc in next BPdc, BPdc in next BPdc, FPdc in next FPdc, FPdc in next FPdc, FPdc in next FPdc, FPdc in next FPdc, FPdc in next FPdc, FPdc in next FPdc, BPdc in next BPdc, BPdc in next BPdc) for the cable section (12 post sts). Then sc in next dc, (sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) 9 times for the right mesh (20 sc). Turn. (52 sts)

On WS rows the cable is maintained by working the post stitches as they present, which keeps the cable raised on the RS.

Row 2 (RS, cable cross row 1): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next sc, (ch 1, sk 1, dc in next sc) 8 times, dc in next sc for the left mesh (20 sts). Then BPdc in next BPdc, BPdc in next BPdc, work 2/2 FC over next 4 FPdc sts, work 2/2 BC over next 4 FPdc sts, BPdc in next BPdc, BPdc in next BPdc for the cable (12 sts). Then dc in next sc, (ch 1, sk 1, dc in next sc) 8 times, ch 1, sk 1, dc in last sc for the right mesh (20 sts). Turn. (52 sts)

Row 3 (WS): Same as Row 1. (52 sts)

Row 4 (RS, plain cable row): Ch 3, dc in next sc, (ch 1, sk 1, dc) 8 times, dc for the left mesh (20 sts). BPdc, BPdc, FPdc, FPdc, FPdc, FPdc, FPdc, FPdc, BPdc, BPdc for the cable (12 sts, no cross). Dc, (ch 1, sk 1, dc) 9 times, dc for the right mesh (20 sts). Turn. (52 sts)

Row 5 (WS): Same as Row 1. (52 sts)

Row 6 (RS, plain cable row): Same as Row 4. (52 sts)

Row 7 (WS): Same as Row 1. (52 sts)

Row 8 (RS, cable cross row 2): Same as Row 2, working the cable crosses again. (52 sts)

Continue in the established pattern, working cable crosses every 6th RS row (Rows 2, 8, 14, 20, etc.) until the front body measures approximately 10 in / 25 cm from the top of the hem rib. End with a WS row and do not fasten off. Checkpoint: the front panel body (not including rib) should measure approximately 10 in / 25 cm tall and 21 in / 53 cm wide, at approximately 20 body rows total.

Front Armhole & Neck Pattern

Continue in the established mesh and cable pattern for the armhole shaping.

Armhole Shaping Row 1 (RS): Sl st across first 4 sts, ch 3 (counts as dc), continue in pattern across to last 4 sts, leave last 4 sts unworked. Turn. (44 sts)

Armhole Shaping Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog over next 2 sts, sc across mesh, post sts across cable, sc across mesh to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (42 sts)

Armhole Shaping Row 3 (RS): Ch 3, sk first ch-sp opportunity at edge, work in pattern to last 2 sts, dc2tog. Turn. (40 sts)

Armhole Shaping Row 4 (WS): Sc2tog at beg, work in pattern to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (38 sts)

Work even in the established pattern with no shaping until the armhole measures approximately 8 in / 20 cm from the first shaping row. End with a WS row. (38 sts)

Checkpoint: the front panel with armhole shaping should now measure approximately 18 in / 46 cm tall total, and the armhole opening is approximately 8 in / 20 cm deep.

Left shoulder, Row 1 (RS): Work in pattern across first 12 sts. Turn, leaving the remaining 26 sts unworked. (12 sts)

Left shoulder, Row 2 (WS): Work in pattern to last 2 sts, sc2tog at the neck edge. Turn. (11 sts)

Left shoulder, Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog at neck edge, work in pattern to end. Turn. (10 sts)

Left shoulder, Row 4 (WS): Work in pattern even. Turn. (10 sts)

Fasten off. Each shoulder tab should measure approximately 4 in / 10 cm wide and 2 in / 5 cm tall.

Right shoulder: skip the centre 14 sts (these become the front neck opening) and rejoin yarn to the 27th stitch from the armhole edge on the last armhole row.

Right shoulder, Row 1 (RS): Work in pattern across last 12 sts. Turn. (12 sts)

Right shoulder, Row 2 (WS): Sc2tog at neck edge, work in pattern to end. Turn. (11 sts)

Right shoulder, Row 3 (RS): Work in pattern to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (10 sts)

Right shoulder, Row 4 (WS): Work in pattern even. Turn. (10 sts)

Fasten off.

Back Panel Pattern

Hem rib: with the smaller hook, chain 13. Work the sideways rib exactly as for the front panel hem rib for 52 rows. Rotate, and pick up 52 sc along the long edge with the larger hook. (52 sc)

The back is worked entirely in Honeycomb Mesh Stitch with no cable panel.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), (ch 1, sk 1, dc in next st) 25 times, dc in last st. Turn. (52 sts)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first dc, (sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) 25 times, sc in top of t-ch. Turn. (52 sc)

Row 3 (RS): Ch 3, (ch 1, sk 1, dc in next sc) 25 times, dc in last sc. Turn. (52 sts)

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until the back body measures approximately 10 in / 25 cm from the top of the hem rib. End with a WS row.

Armhole Shaping Row 1 (RS): Sl st 4, ch 3, work in pattern to last 4 sts, leave unworked. Turn. (44 sts)

Armhole Shaping Row 2 (WS): Sc2tog at each end. Turn. (42 sts)

Armhole Shaping Row 3 (RS): Work a decrease at each end. Turn. (40 sts)

Armhole Shaping Row 4 (WS): Sc2tog at each end. Turn. (38 sts)

Work even until the armhole measures 8 in / 20 cm from shaping. End with a WS row. (38 sts)

Back neck, left shoulder (RS): Work in pattern across first 10 sts. Turn. Work 3 more rows even. Fasten off. (10 sts)

Skip the centre 18 sts (the back neck opening is slightly wider than the front for comfortable turtleneck pickup).

Back neck, right shoulder: Rejoin, work across the remaining 10 sts. Work 3 more rows even. Fasten off. (10 sts)

Sleeve Pattern

Make 2 sleeves. Each sleeve is worked flat, beginning wide at the upper arm look from the cuff rib up, with a balloon shape in the upper two-thirds.

Sleeve hem rib: with the smaller hook, chain 13.

Rib Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (12 sc)

Rib Row 2: Ch 2, (FPdc, BPdc) 6 times. Turn. (12 sts)

Repeat Rib Row 2 for 22 rows total. After Row 22, rotate and pick up 22 sc with the larger hook along the long edge. (22 sc)

Foundation Row (WS): Ch 1, sc across 22 sts. Turn. (22 sc)

Increase Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (24 sc)

Increase Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (26 sc)

Increase Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (28 sc)

Increase Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (30 sc)

Increase Row 5 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (32 sc)

Increase Row 6 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (34 sc)

Increase Row 7 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (36 sc)

Increase Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (38 sc)

Increase Row 9 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (40 sc)

Increase Row 10 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (42 sc)

Increase Row 11 (RS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (44 sc)

Increase Row 12 (WS): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (46 sc)

Switch to Honeycomb Mesh Stitch with the larger hook.

Mesh Row 1 (RS): Ch 3, (ch 1, sk 1, dc) 22 times, dc in last st. Turn. (46 sts)

Mesh Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first dc, (sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) 22 times, sc in top of t-ch. Turn. (46 sc)

Work even in Honeycomb Mesh for 6 more rows (Mesh Rows 3 to 8). (46 sts each row)

Increase Mesh Row (RS): Ch 3, dc in first st (increase at beg), work mesh across to last st, 2 dc in last st (increase at end). Turn. (48 sts)

Mesh Row (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st and ch-sp across. Turn. (48 sc)

Increase Mesh Row (RS): Increase 1 at each end. Turn. (50 sts)

Mesh Row (WS): Sc across. Turn. (50 sc)

Work even in Honeycomb Mesh until the sleeve measures approximately 14 in / 36 cm from the top of the cuff rib. Checkpoint: the sleeve should measure approximately 14 in / 36 cm long and approximately 50 sts wide (20 in / 51 cm wide).

Cap Row 1 (RS): Sl st across first 4 sts, ch 1, sc across to last 4 sts, leave unworked. Turn. (42 sc)

Cap Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (40 sc)

Cap Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (38 sc)

Cap Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc across to last 2 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (36 sc)

Continue decreasing 2 sts per row until the cap measures approximately 4 in / 10 cm tall. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming.

Finishing & Assembly

Blocking: before seaming, block all pieces to the finished measurements. Lay them flat on a blocking mat, pin to size, mist with water, and allow to dry completely.

Shoulder seams: with RS together, whipstitch or mattress stitch the front and back shoulder pieces together.

Side seams: starting at the hem rib, seam the front and back panels together along the sides, stopping at the armhole shaping.

Sleeve seams: fold each sleeve with RS together and seam from the cuff rib to the underarm.

Set in sleeves: with RS together, pin the sleeve cap into the armhole opening, matching the sleeve seam to the side seam. Ease the cap into the armhole and seam in place.

Turtleneck collar: with the smaller hook, join yarn at one shoulder seam. Work evenly around the neckline, picking up approximately 50 to 54 stitches total.

Collar Round 1: Join with sl st to form a round. Ch 2, (FPdc, BPdc) around. Join.

Repeat Collar Round 1 until the collar measures 5 in / 13 cm tall. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Tips

If cables are new to you, practice the 2/2 FC and 2/2 BC crossings on a small swatch first. Once you find the rhythm, they become second nature.

Place markers at the beginning and end of your cable panel on the front. It makes it so much easier to see where the mesh ends and the cable begins.

Count your stitches after each row. Catching a mistake early saves hours of undoing later, especially across the shaped sections.

Blocking makes magic here: the mesh opens up, the cables pop, and everything evens out beautifully. Plan for approximately 30 to 45 hours of work in total, in comfortable sessions rather than one long push.