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# Boho Beach Cardigan — Easy Lace Shell Stitch
### A Closed-Front Crochet Kimono Cardigan (Beginner-Friendly)

A relaxed, boxy cardigan worked in airy shell-stitch lace — perfect for the beach or over a summer dress. It's built from simple rectangles (no tricky shaping!), seamed kimono-style, then closed with a button band and topped with a pretty shell border.

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## 🌿 Skill Level
**Beginner** — only chains, single crochet, and double crochet shells.

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## 🧶 Materials

| Item | Details |
|------|---------|
| **Yarn** | Worsted weight (#4) 100% cotton (e.g., Lily Sugar'n Cream, Paintbox Cotton Aran) |
| **Hook** | US H/8 (5.0 mm) main hook; US G/6 (4.0 mm) for border |
| **Notions** | Tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, 4–5 buttons (¾"–1") |
| **Optional** | Sewing needle + thread for buttons |

### Yarn Amounts (approximate total yardage)

| Size | Yards | Meters |
|------|-------|--------|
| XS/S | 1,000 | 915 |
| M | 1,150 | 1,050 |
| L | 1,300 | 1,190 |
| XL | 1,450 | 1,325 |
| 2XL | 1,600 | 1,465 |

*Buy 1 extra skein to be safe — lace uses more yarn than it appears.*

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## 📏 Gauge

Worked in **Shell Stitch** pattern with H/5.0 mm hook:
- **2 shells + edge stitches (about 13 sts) = 4" (10 cm) wide**
- **9 rows = 4" (10 cm) tall**

➡️ **Quick check:** 1 shell repeat ≈ 1.75" wide. Make a swatch of 3 shells (19 ch) and 10 rows; block it, then measure. *Gauge is forgiving on this oversized fit, but matching it keeps sizing accurate.*

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## 🔤 Abbreviations (US Terms)

| Abbr. | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| ch | chain |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| sc | single crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| sk | skip |
| sp | space |
| rep | repeat |
| RS / WS | right side / wrong side |
| beg | beginning |
| sl st | slip stitch |

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## 📐 Finished Measurements (Closed, with ease)

| Size | Bust (closed) | Body Length | Sleeve Length | Sleeve Width |
|------|---------------|-------------|---------------|--------------|
| XS/S | 38" | 24" | 17" | 14" |
| M | 42" | 24" | 17" | 14" |
| L | 46" | 25" | 18" | 15" |
| XL | 50" | 25" | 18" | 15" |
| 2XL | 54" | 26" | 18" | 15" |

*Designed with 6–10" of positive ease for a relaxed boho fit.*

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## ✨ The Shell Stitch Pattern (Practice First!)

Worked over a **multiple of 6 + 1** chains.

**Foundation:** Chain a multiple of 6, plus 1.

**Row 1 (RS):** Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *sk 2 ch, 5 dc in next ch (shell made), sk 2 ch, sc in next ch; rep from * across. Turn.

**Row 2:** Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc in first sc, *sc in center (3rd) dc of next shell, 5 dc in next sc; rep from *, ending sc in last sc — wait, on Row 2 the pattern alternates. Use this simplified beginner version below:

**Beginner Shell Pattern (2-row repeat):**

**Row 1 (RS):** Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *sk 2, 5 dc in next st, sk 2, sc in next st; rep from * across. Turn.

**Row 2:** Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc, *sc in center dc of next shell, 5 dc in next sc; rep from * to last shell, sc in center dc of last shell, 3 dc in last sc. Turn.

**Row 3:** Ch 1, sc in first dc, *5 dc in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * across, ending sc in top of turning ch. Turn.

**Rep Rows 2 and 3** for pattern. (Row 1 is a set-up row, worked once.)

💡 *The "center dc" is the 3rd dc of each 5-dc shell. Mark it with a stitch marker until you're comfortable.*

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## 🧵 PATTERN

> All pieces are simple rectangles — no armhole or shoulder shaping (true kimono style).

### Chain Counts by Size

| Size | BACK (ch) | EACH FRONT (ch) | Shells in Back |
|------|-----------|------------------|----------------|
| XS/S | 67 | 37 | 11 |
| M | 73 | 37 | 12 |
| L | 79 | 43 | 13 |
| XL | 85 | 43 | 14 |
| 2XL | 91 | 49 | 15 |

✅ *Math check: All counts = (6 × shells) + 1. Each Front ≈ half the Back width so the two fronts meet at center front.*

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### 1️⃣ BACK Panel (make 1)

Ch [67, 73, 79, 85, 91] (per your size).

Work **Row 1** of Shell Pattern, then repeat **Rows 2–3** until piece measures **24" (24, 25, 25, 26")** from beginning, ending after a Row 3.

Fasten off.

➡️ *Width check: Back ch [67] ÷ 6 = 11 shells × 1.75" ≈ 19" wide for XS/S. ✓*

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### 2️⃣ FRONT Panels (make 2 — they are identical/mirror)

Ch [37, 37, 43, 43, 49].

Work **Row 1**, then rep **Rows 2–3** until the Front measures the **same length as the Back** (24"/25"/26"), ending after a Row 3.

Fasten off.

➡️ *Two Fronts together = back width, so the cardigan closes at center front.*

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### 3️⃣ SLEEVES (make 2) — Simple Wide Rectangles

For a boho dropped-shoulder look, sleeves are wide rectangles, gently snug at the cuff.

Ch **31** (5 shells) for all sizes — *a multiple of 6 + 1.*

Work **Row 1**, then rep **Rows 2–3** until the sleeve measures **17" (17, 18, 18, 18")**, ending after a Row 3.

Fasten off.

➡️ *Sleeve width check: 31 ch ÷ 6 = 5 shells × 1.75" ≈ 14" wide. The top (14") attaches to the body; the rectangle stays the same width top to bottom — no tapering.*

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## 🪡 ASSEMBLY

Lay all pieces flat and **block lightly** before seaming (spray with water, pat to shape, let dry). This opens the lace beautifully.

1. **Shoulder Seams:** Lay Back flat (RS up). Place a Front on each side (RS together with Back at the top). Seam each shoulder straight across for about **5" (5, 5.5, 5.5, 6")** from the outer edge inward, using whip stitch or sl st. Leave the center open for the neck.

2. **Mark Sleeve Placement:** From each shoulder seam, measure down **7" along the body side edge** on both Front and Back — this is the underarm point. The sleeve top (14"–15" edge) attaches here.

3. **Attach Sleeves:** Center the top edge of each sleeve at the shoulder seam (perpendicular to the body) and seam it to the body between the underarm marks. Sleeves sit at a **right angle** to the body — classic kimono drop shoulder.

4. **Side & Sleeve Seams:** Fold the cardigan at the shoulders (RS together). Seam each side from the **hem up to the underarm**, then continue **down the sleeve underside to the cuff** in one continuous line. Repeat on the other side.

5. Weave in all loose ends with the tapestry needle.

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## 🌊 BORDER PATTERN

Switch to **G/4.0 mm hook** for neat edges.

### Round 1 — Foundation Round (sc)
With RS facing, join yarn at the bottom right Front corner. Work **sc evenly** up the Right Front, around the back neck, down the Left Front, and across the bottom hem — placing **about 3 sc per shell** and 1 sc in each row-end. Work **3 sc in each corner**. Join with sl st to first sc.

*Tip: Keep edges flat — if it ruffles, use fewer sc; if it puckers, add a few.*

### Round 2 — Shell Edging (decorative)
Ch 1. *Sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * around the entire edge, adjusting evenly at corners so they lie flat. Join and fasten off.

💡 *For a true boho touch, work one row of **reverse single crochet (crab stitch)** instead of shells along just the bottom hem.*

### Sleeve Cuffs
With G hook, join at a sleeve cuff seam and work **1 round of sc** around the opening, then **1 round of shell edging** (as Round 2) if desired. Join, fasten off.

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## 🔘 CLOSING THE CARDIGAN (Button Band)

This makes it a **closed-front cardigan**.

1. **Button Loops (Right Front for women's):** After the Round 1 sc foundation but before the shell edging, mark **4–5 evenly spaced points** along the Right Front edge (about 4"–5" apart, starting just below the neckline).

2. At each marked point during the sc round, work a **ch-4 loop**: skip the next 2 sc and sc into the following st (the ch-4 spans the gap, forming a button loop).

3. **Sew Buttons** on the **Left Front**, lining each up with a loop. Use sewing thread or yarn.

➡️ *Alternative closures:* Add a single button + loop at the bust only for a "worn-open with a touch" look, or attach two yarn ties at the waist for a wrap effect.

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## 🧼 FINISHING

Give the finished cardigan a final **gentle block**: dampen, smooth into shape, and let dry flat. This evens out the shells and gives the lace its lovely beachy drape.

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### ✅ Final Math Recap
- All chains = (6 × shells) + 1 → pattern repeats line up perfectly.
- Back = 2 × Front width → cardigan closes at center front.
- Sleeve = 5 shells (14") wide, attached over a 14" body opening (7" each side of shoulder seam) → seams match.
- Gauge: 1 shell ≈ 1.75" wide × 9 rows = 4" tall.

**Enjoy your breezy boho beach cardigan! 🌴**