A toasty and autumnal top-down crochet sweater pattern, worked in one piece with no seaming required, and is a free pattern!
If you’re looking to crochet a top-down seamless sweater for the fall and winter season that looks beautiful with or without ruffles, then you need to make this Gingerbread color sweater. Plus, we have the free pattern available below in size XS/S and we also have a video tutorial that you can view at the bottom!
Without the ruffles, it looks like a comfortable and elegant sweater to wear for brunches and family gatherings. Add ruffles to it, and it takes on a festive touch, transforming the entire look!
It’s perfect to make as a Christmas gift for a loved one, or make it for yourself to wear during the fall and winter season.
Another great advantage about this top-down sweater is that no seaming is required. I know many crocheters will appreciate hearing this as properly securing the ends of a seam can be challenging, especially with bulky yarn (which is what we used for this project).
Although this is an intermediate level pattern, if you’re a beginner who’s been crocheting for a few months, then you can give this pattern a go! We also have a video tutorial (stay tuned for this!) for crocheting this pattern and will it easier for you to follow.
However, as a beginner, crocheting the ruffles will be more challenging as it requires more technique to it. I suggest practicing how to crochet ruffles separately first before proceeding with this pattern. You can check out our blog post that teaches you how to crochet it.
Prefer the PDF Version in All Sizes?
Grab the ad-free, printable PDF pattern with optional ruffle pattern included.
Includes sizes XS to XL.
You can view it on your computer, phone or tablet or download and print it at home.
About This Project
The Gingerbread crochet sweater can be done in two way: With or without ruffles. The main stitch that’s being used for this project is the double crochet stitch, hence the classic look to it.
When you get to the ruffle section of this project, you’ll need to be familiar with surface crocheting in order to add the ruffles on the top half of the sweater.
If you’re a beginner to crocheting sweaters or cardigans, the most important part is making sure you size the sweater right and get your gauge correct. So be sure to follow the pattern directions correctly as we do offer this sweater in sizes Extra Small to 4XL.
If this is your first sweater to crochet, I would recommend trying your sweater on often and take your time crocheting it. It can be very discouraging to spend a lot of time on your sweater and be disappointed, so give yourself plenty of time for trial and error and assume that you’ll re-do sections multiple times your first time around.
However, your first sweater pays the way for a lifetime of custom sweaters, so don’t let your first sweater be your last even if it has some mistakes!
Key points to Note About The Gingerbread Seamless Sweater With or Without Ruffles
Before we get started, I’d like to point out the key parts of this project that can be challenging and worth paying attention to when crocheting this seamless sweater:
- You’ll need to be comfortable with making increases and decreases.
- You’ll need to be familiar with crocheting ribbing, which you can learn how to do it in this post.
- If you decide to add the optional ruffles to the sweater, you’ll need to be familiar with surface crocheting (see the link in the above section for more information).
Skill Level
As mentioned above, this pattern is considered to be intermediate level as you’ll have to be familiar with increases, working in rounds and know how to crochet ribbing.
Materials Needed
- 569-868 yards of bulky yarn (Two of Wands yarn in Toast is shown). Refer to the chart below for your approximate yardage for sizes XS and Small.
- K/10.5mm hook
- Scissors
- Stitch Markers
Gauge
The gauge for this project is 9sts and 5 rows of dc per 4” square.
Yards of Yarn for Size XS/S for Crochet Gingerbread Sweater
Abbreviation Used
- BPdc-Back post double crochet
- Ch-chain
- Dc-double crochet
- Dec/Decrease-double crochet decrease (starting a dc, then starting a second dc and finishing them together into one stitch).
- FPdc-front post double crochet
- Inc-double crochet increase (putting two dc into the top of the same stitch).
- Ss-slip stitch
- Sts-stitches
Notes
- Written in US terms
- Repeats are shown inside of asterisks (**)
- Turning Chain at the beginning of the round does not count as a stitch.
- Where directions differ, the format is shown as XS/S.
- The pictured sweater is a size M/L.
- Once finished with the main sweater, you can adjust the exact placement of the ruffle(if adding one) but that will affect how much yarn is used.
Pattern Direction for Sizes XS/S
Yoke
Setup: Ch40 sts, then ss into the first ch, being careful to keep the loop of chains untwisted. Ss into the next chain as well for a very secure join.
Round 1: ch2, dc2, inc. *dc3, inc* rep for the remainder of the round, then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 50 sts
Pictured: a double crochet increase
Round 2: ch2, dc in every st, then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round 50 sts
Round 3: ch2, dc3, inc. *dc4, inc* rep for the remainder of the round, then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 60 sts
Round 4: repeat round 2. 60 sts
Round 5: ch2, dc4, inc. *dc5, inc* rep for the remainder of the round, then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 70 sts
Round 6: repeat round 2. 70 sts
Round 7: ch2, dc5, inc. *dc6, inc* rep for the remainder of the round, then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 80 sts
Rounds 8: repeat round 2. 80 sts
Round 9: ch2, dc6, inc. *dc7, inc* rep for the remainder of the round, then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 90 sts
For the next 2 rounds: ch2, dc in every stitch, then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 90 sts.
Transition Rounds
Ch2, dc15 ch11 and skip the next 15 dc. Dc30, ch11 and skip the next 15 dc. dc15 and ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 82 sts.
Pictured: One armhole completed from the chains and skipped stitches of the transition round
Sweater Body
For the next 10 rounds: ch2, dc in every stitch (including the chains), then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 82 sts.
Pictured: Sweater body in this stage, folded.
Body Ribbing
For the last 3 rounds: ch2 *FPdc, BPdc* repeat for the entire round and then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 82 sts
Bind off.
Pictured: The start of a front post double crochet stitch
Neckline Ribbing
Join the yarn at the neckline and ch2 *FPdc, BPdc* repeat for the entire round and then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round.
Sleeves
Round 1: join the yarn to the arm opening and ch2. Dc around the arm opening in every stitch, putting 2dc in each “corners” where the dc from the transition round are. Ss into the top of the ch2 to close the round. 30 sts
For Rounds 2-9: ch2, dc in every stitch, and ss to close the round. 30 sts
Round 10: ch2. Work the round in dc, spacing 6 decreases as evenly as you can. ss to close the round. 24 sts
Pictured: a dc decrease
Rounds 11-15: ch2, dc in every stitch, and ss to close the round. 26 sts.
Round 16: ch2, Work the round in dc, spacing 6 decreases as evenly as you can. ss to close the round. 18 sts
Rounds 17-21: ch2, dc in every stitch, and ss to close the round. 18 sts
Cuffs
Rounds 22-24: ch2 *FPdc, BPdc* repeat for the entire round and then ss in the top of the ch2 to close the round. 18 sts
Bind off.
Repeat for the second sleeve.
Optional Ruffle for Gingerbread Sweater
Setup: In round 8 of the yoke (not including the neck ribbing), join the yarn from inside the sweater (create a slip knot and pull the slip knot through to the right side of the sweater), and surface crochet(ss) around the round, finishing as seamlessly as possible when done. Bind off.
Row 1: On the right side of the sweater, join the yarn on a ss and ch2. Dc3 in every ss stitch around the yoke of the sweater and ss to close the round.
Rows 2-3: ch2, dc into every st, ss to close the round.
Bind off.
Enjoy your finished sweater!
Crochet Gingerbread Sweater Video Tutorial
Final Thoughts
Thank you so much for spending your precious time with me! I hope you enjoyed making this beautiful sweater for yourself or as a gift to a loved one.
If you enjoyed this pattern, make sure to sign up for the list of updates that we give every week which includes new crochet patterns, tutorials and much more.
Plus, as a bonus for signing up, you’ll immediately get three free patterns straight to your inbox! You can grab it here:
Want a few popular patterns as free PDFs?
What’s Next?
- Share on Facebook or Instagram: I always love seeing fellow crocheters make my patterns! Tag me when you’ve completed it @ameliamakesblog
- Pin the post: Save this post on your Pinterest board, and get back to it later.
Join my Facebook Group
Share your ideas and pictures on my Facebook Group! This is a small private group of crochet enthusiasts that would love to hear from you!
