If you’re looking for the perfect cosy sweater to carry you through Autumn and Winter…let me introduce the beautiful Bandia crochet sweater. Designed by the lovely Ami from Hook of Love, this crochet jumper is a deceptively simple make. Not only that, it’s seamless so there’s no tricky sewing afterwards! Inspired by a national park in Senegal, there’s a playful splash of animal print on the bottom of this sporty-shaped sweater. I can’t wait to make a pastel-coloured version!
Ami herself says, “The sweater is named after Bandia reserve in my home country of Senegal. Here’s what I love about it:
- Making it seamless was important to me (I dislike sewing crochet pieces!)
- The raglan construction with v-neck opening and the fpdc between sleeves and body of sweater give the sweater a sporty vibe.
- The animal print on hem and cuff”
As this is a guest post, Bella Coco Crochet is unable to answer any queries. If you have a question, please contact the designer directly and they will be happy to help you.
MATERIALS & TOOLS NEEDED
Yarn: Any worsted weight yarn. If you’re struggling to find worsted, you can use Aran and a smaller hook size – be sure to swatch! I love Caron Simply Soft.
Colour 1: 1100 to 1250 yards
Colour 2: 20 yards
Hook: 5.5mm
Scissors
Darning Needle
GAUGE
8 Rows of 14 dc = 4” x 4”
Gauge swatch
Ch 16
Row 1: 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each ch, ch 2 turn (ch 2 turn does not count as a stitch) (14 dc)
Row 2: 1 dc in each st, ch 2 turn
Row 3 – 8: As row 2. Fasten off
SIZING
Size: S (M, L , XL)
Finished bust measurement: 36.5 (38, 42, 46) inches
PIN FOR LATER
PATTERN NOTES
The pattern is written in US terminology
CONSTRUCTION OF BANDIA CROCHET SWEATER
- Work the sweater top down, back and forth, making increases where indicated until the v-neck is formed.
- Switch to working in the round with increases where indicated
- Separate for sleeves and continue working the body of the sweater to the print design section
- Use tapestry technique to work the print design
- Finish the hem with ribbing
- Work 1 sc round around the neckline
- Work the sleeves in the round making decreases where indicated
- End sleeves with the print design
CROCHET TERMS
Chain (ch): Yarn over, pull through one loop on hook.
Single Crochet (s): sc (s): Insert into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, you will have two loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through two loops.
Double Crochet (s): dc (s): Yarn over, insert into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, you will have three loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.
Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yarn over, insert hook behind the post of the indicated stitch (from front to back, then back to front, so the post is in front of the hook), yarn over, pull up a loop around the post of the stitch, *yarn over, pull through two loops* twice.
Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc): Yarn over, working from the back of the fabric, insert hook in front of the post of the stitch from the row below (from back to front, then front to back, so the post is at the back of the hook), yarn over, pull up a loop around the post of the stitch, *yarn over, pull through two loops* twice.
Sp: Space
Sk: Skip
RS: Right side
WS: Wrong side
st(s) Stitch(s)
Unsure of the differences between UK and US terms? Need a refresher on how to do your stitches? In my ‘How to crochet: A handy reference guide’ EBook I help you with all of these terms and you can always have them to hand! You will also get exclusive access to free video instructions. Learn more about the eBook here.
BANDIA CROCHET SWEATER PATTERN
Yoke Section
Ch 56
Row 1 (RS): 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in each ch, ch 2 turn (54 dc) (the turning ch 2 does not count as a stitch, here and throughout this pattern)
The sts will be distributed this way:
3 sts for 1st front panel
2 sts for 1st corner
9 sts for 1st sleeve
2 sts for 2nd corner
22 sts for the back
2 sts for the 3rd corner
9 st for the 2nd sleeve
2 sts for the 4th corner
3 sts for the 2nd front panel
Increases are made this way:
When working flat (back and forth), Increase 1 dc at the beg of the row, 1 dc at the end of the row, and 1 dc increase before and after the two corner stitches.
When working in the round, 1 dc increase before and after the two corner stitches.
The two corner stitches are worked in Fpdc or bpdc
Row 2 (WS) (increase 10 sts): 2 dc in 1st st, 1 dc, 2 dc in next st, 2 bpdc, 2 dc in next st, 7 dc, 2 dc in next st, 2 bpdc, 2 dc in next st, 20 dc, 2 dc in next st, 2 bpdc, 2 dc in next st, 7 dc, 2 dc in next st, 2 bpdc, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc, 2 dc in last st ch 2 turn (64 sts)
Row 3 (RS) (increase 10 sts): 2 dc in 1st st, *1 dc in each st to last st before the next bpdc of previous row, 2 dc in that st, 2 fpdc, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * 3 times, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st, ch 2 turn (74 sts)
Row 4 (WS) (increase 10 sts): 2 dc in 1st st, *1 dc in each st to last st before the next fpdc of previous row, 2 dc in that st, 2 bpdc, 2 dc in next st, repeat from* 3 times, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in last st, ch 2 turn (84 sts)
Row 5, 7, 9: as row 3
Row 6, 8: as row 4
End of row 9 (134 sts)
Start working in the round
Round 10 (increase 8 sts): *1 dc in each st to last st before the next bpdc of previous row, 2 dc in that st, 2 fpdc, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * 3 times, 1 dc in each st to end, sl.st to beg dc (142 sts).
Fasten off.
To hide the round joining, fasten off and reattach the yarn to the 1st fpdc at the left of the front panel
Round 1 (increase 8 sts): ch 3, 1 fpdc, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in each st to last st before next fpdc, 2 dc in that st, 2 fpdc, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * twice, 1 dc in each st to last st, 2 dc in that st, sl.st. to 3rd ch (150 sts)
Tip: before the ch 3 at the beg of a round, sl.st. around the ch3 of the previous round then ch 3. This will make it look like a fpdc instead of a ch 3
Size Small: work Round 2-19 as round 1 (214 sts at end of round 10)
Size Medium: work Round 2-20 as round 1 (222 sts at end of round 11)
Size Large: work round 2-21 as round 1 (230 sts at end of round 12)
Size XL: work round 2-22 as round 1 (238 sts at end of round 13)
Separate for sleeves and work body of sweater
Round 1: ch 3, 1 fpdc, ch 0 (0, 6, 10), sk 45 (47, 49, 51) dc, 2 fpdc, 2 dc in next st, 56 (58,60,62) dc, 2 dc, 2 fpdc, ch 0 (0,6,10), sk 45 (47,49,51) dc, 2 fpdc, 2 dc in next st, 56 (58, 60,62) dc, 2 dc in last st, sl st to 3rd ch – [128 (132,136,140) sts]; 0 (0, 6, 10 ) ch
Round 2: ch 3, 1 dc in each st and in each ch, 128 (132, 148, 160) sts
Round 3-16: as round 1
Sweater Hem (shaded squares = color B)
Tip: use 2 stitch markers one at the beg and one at the end of the 16 sts repeat
The print design calls for a multiple of 16 sts
Setting up for the print design
Size Small and XL: ch 1, 1 sc in each st all around, sl.st to the 1st sc (128, 160 )sts
Size Medium and Large (decrease 4 sts to get to a multiple of 16 sts): ch 1, 1 sc in each st, decrease 1 st by the middle front, 1 st on each side of the sweater, 1st by the middle of the sweater (decrease by making sc2tog) (128,144) sts
Print design
This section is worked using the tapestry technique. The color not in use is carried in the back of the work. And when changing color finish the last stitch with the new color to be used
Round 1 to round 8: follow the chart
Example of how to read the chart.
Round 1 (attach color B)
*With Color B: 3 sc
With Color A: 2 sc
With Color B: 3 sc
With Color A: 1 sc
With Color B: 2 sc
With Color A: 2 sc
With Color B: 2sc
With Color A: 1 sc
Repeat from * 8 (8, 9, 10) times, slst. to beg sc, then continue to Row 2 with color A
Work all 8 rows of the chart
Finishing Hem
With color A
Round 1: Ch 3 (count as a stitch), 1 dc in each st all around, sl.st. to 3rd ch 128(128, 144, 160) dc
Round 2-3: as round 1
Round 4-6: ch 3, 1 bpdc, *1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, repeat from * all around, sl.st. to 3rd ch
Fasten off
Neckline finishing
Attach yarn A to middle back of neckline. Work a sc round this way:
22 sc in back of sweater, 1 sc in each fpdc, 9 sc in each sleeve section. In each side of the v neck, work 1 sc in each of the starting 3 dc, 1 8 sc in the 9 vneck rows (2 sc per row)
Work a second sc round. Fasten off
Short sleeve version
Sleeves
1st sleeve
Attach yarn by middle of armpit
Size Small & Medium
Work the previously skipped sts in round 1 of the Separate for Sleeves Section
Round 1: ch 3, 1 dc in each previously skipped stiches, sl.st. to 3rd ch (45,47)sts
Round 2- 30: ch 3, 1 dc in each st, all around , sl.st. to 3rd chain
In the next round we will adjust the st count to bring it to a multiple of 16 for the print design
Size Small only: increase 3 sts while working a sc round (increase 3 sts by putting 2 sc in one stitch, and repeat that 3 times) (48 sts)
Size Medium only: increase 1 st while working a sc round (increase by putting 2 sc in one stitch)
Print Design
Size Small & Medium
Work row 1-4 of the chart. Fasten off
Make 2nd sleeve as first.
Weave in all ends
Size Large only
Attach yarn A by middle of armpit
Round 1: Evenly work 57 dc around sleeve.
Tip: Work 1 sc in each of the previously skipped 49 sts in round 1 of the Separate for Sleeves Section, 1 sc in each of the added 6 ch, and 2dctog in each corner between the added chain and the post of the sweater body
Round 2: ch 3, 1 dc in each st, all around , sl.st. to 3rd chain (57 sts)
Round 3: (decrease 2 sts): dc round, decrease 2 sts by making a dc2tog twice (55 sts)
Round 4 – 6: as round 2 (55 sts)
Round 7: as round 3 (53 sts)
Round 8-10: as round 2 (53 sts)
Round 11: as round 3 (51 sts)
Round 12-14: as round 2 (51 sts)
Round 15: as round 3 (49 sts)
Round 16-31: as round 2 (49 sts)
Round 32: make a sc round with 1 st decrease (1sc2tog) to bring the total stitch count to 48
Print design on sleeve
Work row 1-4 of the chart.
Work 2nd sleeve as first
Fasten off
Size XL only
Attach yarn A by middle of armpit
Round 1: Evenly work 63 dc around sleeve.
Tip: Work 1 sc in each of the previously skipped 51 sts in round 1 of the Separate for Sleeves Section, 1 sc in each of the added 10 ch, and 2dctog in each corner between the added chain and the post of the sweater body
Round 2: ch 3, 1 dc in each st, all around , sl.st. to 3rd chain (63 sts)
Round 3: dc round, decrease 2 sts by making a dc2tog twice (61 sts)
Round 4 – 6: as round 2 (61 sts)
Round 7: as round 3 (59 sts)
Round 8-10: as round 2 (59 sts)
Round 11: as round 3 (57 sts)
Round 12-14: as round 2 (57 sts)
Round 15: as round 3 (55 sts)
Round 16-18: as round 2 (55 sts)
Round 19: as round 3 (53 sts)
Round 20-22: as round 2 (53 sts)
Round 23: as round 3 (51 sts)
Round 24 – 26: as round 2 (51 sts)
Round 27: as round 3 (49 sts)
Round 28- 31: as round 2 (49 sts)
Round 32: make a sc round with 1 st decrease (1sc2tog) to bring the total stitch count to 48
Print design on sleeve
Work row 1-4 of the chart. Work 2nd sleeve as first. Fasten off.
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