With its delicate texture and lightweight feel, the Cascading Waterfall Cardigan is the ultimate versatile wardrobe staple. Drape it over a summer dress for a breezy, feminine look, or pair it with a cozy top and jeans for an elegant fall ensemble. Worked in a simple yet stunning lace pattern, this cardigan is perfect for crocheters of all skill levels, from confident beginners to experienced stitchers. The open, flowing design features no waist shaping, allowing the fabric to cascade beautifully around your waist, mimicking the gentle flow of a waterfall. The rich magenta hue adds a vibrant pop of color, but this pattern can easily be customized in any shade to suit your personal style.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: Width = 46 (50, 54, 58, 62, 66)”
Gauge: 26 dc = 4”
Materials
Yarn:
Plymouth Yarn Perlina (100% extrafine merino; 250 yards [229 meters]/50 grams): #14 Magenta (9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) balls)
Hook: US size D/3 (3.25 mm) hook
Notions: Markers, removable markers, stitch holders, waste yarn for provisional cast-on, cable needle, tapestry needle, five 1” buttons
Special Stitches
Shell: (Dc, ch 5, dc) in next sp.
Pattern Notes
Edging is worked in round. Sleeves are worked in round and from armhole to cuff.
Pattern
Beginning at Left Front edge, ch 191.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 2 ch, *ch 1, skip next ch-sp, dc in next 3 ch; rep from * across row, ending with dc in last ch. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, *sc in first dc, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * across row, ending with ch 3, sc in the 3rd ch. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, *3 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1; rep from * across row, ending with 3 dc in last ch-3 sp, dc in last sc. Turn.
Rep Rows 2-3 until piece measures 14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)”
Left Armhole
Next Row: Ch 1, sc in first dc, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) 10 times, ch 60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80), sk next 15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) ch-1 sp, sc in next ch-sp, work as Row 2 to end. Turn.
Next Row: Work as Row 3 to ch-60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80) sp, work as Row 1 on next 60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80) ch, work as Row 3 to end.
Work Rows 2-3 until piece measures 18 (20, 22, 24, 26, 28)” from Left Armhole, ending with Row 3.
Right Armhole
Next Row: Ch 1, sc in first dc, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) 10 times, ch 60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80), sk next 15 (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) ch-1 sp, sc in next ch-sp, work as Row 2 to end. Turn.
Next Row: Work as Row 3 to ch-60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80) sp, work as row 1 on next 60 (64, 68, 72, 76, 80) ch, work as Row 3 to end.
Work Rows 2-3 until 14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)” from Right Armhole, ending with a Row 3. Do not fasten off.
Edging
Rnd 1: Working on the sides, ch 3, sc in the side sts of Row 2 repeats, sc in the corner dc or ch-1. At the top and bottom edges, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp. Work as instructed around.
Rnd 2: Sl st into the next 2 ch, *ch 3, Shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around.
Rnd 3: Sk next ch-3 sp, *7 dc in next Shell; rep from * around, ending with sl st into the first ch-3 sp. Fasten off.
Sleeve (Make Two)
Attach yarn to the underarm.
Rnd 1: *Ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep around, ending with sc in first ch. (30 (32, 34, 36, 40) ch-3 sp)
Rnd 2: Sl st into next ch-3 sp, ch 3 (count as dc), 2 dc in same ch-3 sp, *ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around, ending with ch 1, sl st into the 3rd ch.
Rnds 3-10: Rep Rows 1-2, 4 more times.
Rnd 11: *Ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * around, ending with sc in first ch.
Rnd 12 (Decrease Rnd): Ch 3 (count as dc), dc in next ch-3 sp, *ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around to last ch-3 sp, ending with dc in last ch-3 sp, sl st into the 3rd ch, sl st into each of next 2 sts. (29 (31, 33, 35, 39) ch-3 sp)
Rep Rnds 1-12, 3 more times, decreasing 3 dc, 3 times.
Rep Rnds 1-2, 5 more times.
Sleeve Edging
Rnd 1: *Ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * around.
Rnd 2: Sl st into the next 2 ch, *ch 3, Shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around.
Rnd 3: Sk next ch-3 sp, *7 dc in next Shell; rep from * around, ending with sl st into the first ch-3 sp. Fasten off.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Block cardigan to size.
Hi I love this waterfall cardigan but the short back length is rather unflattering to a larger shape! Is there any way of adding length to the back, please?
Sure! Make a swatch and measure it. You can then figure out how many chains are necessary to have the length you have in mind. Chain that many stitches and work the pattern on those chains. Considering that there are minimal shaping, it is easy to make changes to the pattern.
The model is clutching the front closed, so we don’t see what the cardigan looks like when left open. Can you help…
Hi Elizabeth, I have added another photo of the front of the cardigan, hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor
Well, would have like to do this pattern but there doesn’t seem able to to print out. Unfortunately my PC is not where I knit or crochet.
Hello Kat! You are welcome to save this pattern by copying and pasting into a word document or by printing the pattern via the printer icon on the left hand side of your screen. Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor
The cardigan is worked side-to-side. Therefore, all sizes have the same number of chains for the front edge, but worked longer to get to the right width for the desired size.
How many chains would be required for a size 3X cardigan?
Hi Yvonne! We’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola
Where is the width measurement taken from? What width matches what bust size? Please …
Hi there! I’ve reached out to the designer for clarification. Stay tuned!
Hi Alisson! Just heard back from the designer and I’ve added a schematic (underneath the last photo on the right hand side):
“The measurements 46 (50, 54, 58, 62, 66)” are of the width
of the cardigan. Since the cardigan is a waterfall the measurements are
much larger than the bust size. The actual bust size for the cardigan is
double the width of shoulder to shoulder which are 18 (20, 22, 24, 26,
28)”. So the bust size will be 36 (40, 44, 48,52,56)”.”
Hope that helps!
I’m so frustrated right now. I’m so interested in the pattern Crocheted Waterfall Cardigan but there are no photos of it but for the one in my email. From the bosom up. It clearly states that the waterfall stitches are at the waist. Why can’t I be allowed to see the whole enchilada and not just a small bite of it???
Hi Carolyn, I’m sorry that I didn’t see this comment until now! Hopefully you can see the photos? They are on the right hand side of the page. The site might have had a slight glitch when you looked at it the first time. Let me know if I can help in any way!
Hi. I hope this helps…. I enlarge the picture as much as I need to. It helps me. Sometimes you just click on the picture and another tab will open with the enlarged picture. Sometimes click on the picture and with your glide pad, glide apart with your fingers and it enlarges. Hope it helps.