Odette Cardigan: Free Tunisian Crochet Pattern

The Odette cardigan is the perfect oversized cardigan for throwing on over a tank and with a pair of jeans. Dress it up for date night or wear with leggings for running around town in style. Make your own Odette Cardigan with this free Tunisian crochet pattern!

Odette Cardigan

The Odette is roomy and comfortable, and great for hanging around the house or running errands. This Tunisian crochet pattern comes in three sizes: Petite, One Size, and Plus Size. It is meant to have a LOT of positive ease, meaning that the garment should be very roomy for all sizes.

The actual garment measurements are listed under the “materials” section below. The “One Size” pattern is intended to be just wide enough that the cuffs start at the elbow and run all the way to the wrist. Of course, you can continue the cuffs for a longer length if desired or as needed.

odette cardigan crochet pattern

The Odette was the original version of the new Bernadette Boucle Cardi. That cardi uses the same yarn, but is a more fitted cardigan with NINE total sizes ranging from XS – 5XL. If you are looking for a more sleek, a little longer, and more simple design you’ll want to head over and check out the Bernadette and see if that’s more up your alley.

The Bubbly Boucle yarn is fun to work with when using Tunisian crochet. Because the yarn is so textured and the Tunisian stitches lay more open and flat, it is much easier to see what you’re doing than if you were to make the cardigan using traditional crochet stitches. Even better, use a light pad or a white piece of paper underneath the fabric to make the stitches easier to see and to count. See more tips for working with Boucle yarn.

Since this yarn is so textured we don’t need to use a fancy stitch to make things interesting. We are using the most basic of Tunisian Crochet stitches: the Tunisian Simple Stitch. In fact, if you start with the chain length for the size you’re making in the free pattern below, you can follow along with this video (or here on YouTube) to make the majority of the body.

All we’re making is one large rectangle with armholes. You can do this!

Grab the ad-free, printable version of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, or right here in the Heart Hook Home Blog Shop. Thank you!

Don’t forget! Use code BOUCLE for 25% off the Tunisian crochet hooks needed to make the cardi AND 25% off the Bubble Boucle yarn! This code ends on March 23rd, 2024.

Materials:

Bubbly Boucle Yarn (“Popping Candy” colorway pictured)
-approx. (1100, 1340, 1568) yards

Tunisian Crochet hook in size 5mm with cable (see a full review of this set)

Regular crochet hook in size 7mm

Gauge: 11.5 stitches x 9 rows in 4” square using TSS (Tunisian Simple Stitch)

Pattern Notes:

Pattern written using US terms.

Pattern uses TSS stitch.

ES = Edge Stitch (aka Outside Stitch)

Backward Pass as normal: Ch-1, * YO pull through two loops * to end.

Edging is made with traditional crochet using Front Post/Back Post stitches. (tutorial here)

Sizing: (Petite, One Size, Plus) = actual bust measurement (51.5”, 65”, 76.5”)

Pattern:

Using the cabled 5mm hook…

Row 1: Ch-(147, 185, 219), pull up a loop in 2nd ch from hook and in each to end. Backward Pass.

Rows 2 through (40, 40, 38): TSS in each st across, ES. Backward Pass. (147, 185, 219)

Do not fasten off.

Right:

Row (41, 41, 39): TSS in next (33, 41, 49) sts only (the final st counts as ES). Backward Pass. (34, 42, 50)

Rows (42, 42, 40) through (54, 54, 54): repeat row 2 (34, 42, 50)

Tslst across. Fasten off leaving a long enough tail for sewing shoulders.

Center:

Attach in the next open stitch on “body” (that loop counts as stitch #1)…

Row (41, 41, 39): TSS in next (78, 100, 118) sts only (the final st counts as ES). Backward Pass. (79, 101, 119)

Rows (42, 42, 40) through (54, 54, 54): repeat row 2 (79, 101, 119)

Tslst across. Fasten off leaving a long enough tail for sewing shoulders.

Left:

Attach in the next open stitch on “body” (that loop counts as stitch #1)…

Row (41, 41, 39): TSS in remaining (32, 40, 48) sts, ES. Backward Pass. (34, 42, 50)

Rows (42, 42, 40) through (54, 54, 54): repeat row 2 (34, 42, 50)

Tslst across. Fasten off.

Construction:

Fold “left” and “right” sides in and seam shoulders stitch for stitch using the Mattress Stitch. You should have (11, 17, 19) sts for the neck opening.

Bottom Edging:

Looking at RS, and using the regular 7mm crochet hook, attach at bottom corner to work across bottom edge…

Row 1: Ch-2, dc in each st to end. (147, 185, 219)

Row 2: Ch-2, turn, dc in first st, * Bpdc around next, Fpdc around next * repeat between * * until two sts remain, Bpdc around second to last, dc in final st. (147, 185, 219)

Row 3: Ch-2, turn, dc in first st, * Fpdc around next, Bpdc around next * repeat between * * until two sts remain, Fpdc around second to last, dc in final st. (147, 185, 219)

Rows 4 – 7: alternate previous two rows (147, 185, 219) Do not fasten off.

Inner Edging:

Where still attached and looking at RS with the top to the left, ch-2 and rotate to work up inner edge…

Row 1: Ch-2, dc in each row end and neck stitch around. (133, 139, 141)

Row 2: Ch-2, turn, dc in first st, * Bpdc around next, Fpdc around next * repeat between * * until two sts remain, Bpdc around second to last, dc in final st. (133, 139, 141)

Row 3: Ch-2, turn, dc in first st, * Fpdc around next, Bpdc around next * repeat between * * until two sts remain, Fpdc around second to last, dc in final st. (133, 139, 141)

Rows 4 – 7: alternate previous two rows

Rotate (still looking at RS), and place a st marker. Sc in each st across bottom edge. 3sc in corner most st, rotate and sc in each st around inner edging. 2sc in same as marked st. Fasten off using Invisible Join.

Cuffs/Sleeves:

Attach at underarm using the regular 7mm hook…

Round 1: Ch-2, dc in each row end around. Join to top of first dc. (29, 29, 33)

Round 2: Ch-2, turn, Fpdc around first st, * Bpdc around next st, Fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (29, 29, 33)

Round 3: Ch-1, turn, Bpdc around first st, * Fpdc around next st, Bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Join to first st. (29, 29, 33)

Rounds 4 – 27: alternate previous two rows

Round 28: Ch-1, do not turn, sc in each st around. Fasten off using Invisible Join. Repeat on the other side.

That’s it! The Odette Cardigan is much easier than it looks, and it works up just beautifully! I love that the Bubbly Boucle yarn is forgiving with its texture, too. I hope you love this cardigan as much as I do!

Odette Cardi