A slouchy, stretchy cocoon cardigan is just the thing to throw on when it’s a little bit chilly. Now that I’m becoming more comfortable with knit fabrics, I decided to make a sewing pattern for this simple, shawl style cardigan.
The tutorial is on my new Sew in Love YouTube channel. I’d love to know what you think of video tutorials vs traditional blog post tutorials.
Fabric
After searching online for organic cotton jersey, I settled on a bamboo knit jersey from Wazoodle. It has the right weight (light to medium) and drape for my project, and the brand also recommends the fabric for baby slings.
Video Tutorial
The tutorial is on YouTube, separated into 2 parts. Please TURN ON annotations, as there’s a correction in the sewing pattern measurements.
The collar should measure 5.5″ x 45″ (14cm x 114cm).
How to wear cocoon cardigans
I’m very much a jeans person, so I just throw my cardigan on my usual ensembles. I like how it’s long enough to cover my bum.
It also works as a great cover-up over sleeveless tops and dresses; so handy for a day out in the sun. The grey lace overlay skirt on the right (below) will be my next sewing tutorial, so stay tuned!
63 comments
love the videos!! very clear ! love this project!
Thanks Sophie, so glad you are liking the videos. I’m making more!
I like how you sewd, and I am having classes to how to sew it’s hard but then it will get easier.
Hi Rin,
I made your cardigan today and I love it! Only one question, are the dimensions you have listed for the collar correct? If so, I have done something really wrong! When I went to attach the 2 pieces they were about 68cm short so needed to add an additional piece. Easily fixed anyhow. Can’t wait to wear my new cardi out tomorrow! Thanks!
Hi Victoria,
So glad you were able to make the cardigan.
I think you’re right, the neck band is supposed to be 14cm x 114cm, not 14 x 81cm. Thanks so much for picking this up, I’ll correct the video today.
So sorry about that.
Rin x
Hi! I love this cardigan & I’m a new sewer so this looks like a great tutorial for me to learn! I’m just having a bit of a difficult time understanding how you attached the cuffs… From my view it looks live you’ve sewn it shut & I’m trying to understand how it works! LOL, forgive me! I’m very eager to try this it looks like something I would wear daily!
Hi Rachel 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
The cuff is really easy, we’re not sewing it shut, it’s being folded in half (to make it nice and thick) and then we’re sewing the edge closed to make a tube. Basically, the folded part of the cuff becomes the opening. Perhaps the best way to understand is to watch the video again. I hope you can try making the cardigan soon!
x Rin
This is LOVELY. Thank you.
You’re welcome Susan, thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
Great job on the tutorial! I’m going to sew this today!
Thanks Pam, let me know how the cardigan turns out!
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I had a cardigan exactly like this, same color and all, a few years back that I absolutely adored. I have no idea what happened to it and couldn’t find another…this is truly a gift, thank you Rin!!!
That’s so wonderful to hear, Paige! It’s always so nice to hear from readers because it takes many hours to put together tutorials like these, and I’m not always sure if they are well received or not. Thanks so much for leaving a comment 🙂
Hi Rin – thank you for the tutorial. I’ve made 2 cardigans the first one was too small and I needed to add 1/2 yard to be the draping effect I wanted. I’m going to post the finished product on my next blog post and will point to your blog. Thanks for sharing
Venita
That’s wonderful Venita! Looking forward to seeing your cardigans 🙂
Hi Rin… When you attach the cuffs, do you turn them rightside out first? I have a patterned fabric.
Hi Mary. I think I understand what you mean…
When you make the cuff, you should already be sewing it with rightside out.
Which means when you attach the cuffs, which means it doesn’t matter what side of the cuff you attach, as only the rightside is visible.
Does that make sense?
I’m wanting to make this. When I cut the rectangle, is the width the smaller measurement?
Which rectangle Bonnie? There’s two in the sewing pattern 🙂
This is amazing. Would a yard be enough fabric to make this?
Yes, I used just one yard of http://www.ebay.com/itm/ProECO-Bamboo-Jersey-Fabric-Made-in-USA-/271392341726?var=570263615139
However it would depend on your size. I’m about US 4.
Hi Rin,
Great tutorial. I am always looking for good sewing ideas and was already searching some time for a cardigan like this. Thank you so much! For sure this is going to be one of my next projects…
just a quick question how much would you add on the body size, if large lady i am size 20uk size
Hi Karen,
I would get a bed sheet and play around with it first. It’s the only way to guarantee a good fit.
That’s how I came up with my measurements.
hola
el enlace de descarga esta roto. hay otra forma de descargarla?
gracias
Hola
There’s no download for this pattern. You have to draft it yourself using the instructions in the video. I hope that makes sense!
No hay patron para esta cardigan. Necessita dibujar.
Gracias,
Rin
Hola fin
Sabes no puedo descargar el patrón, ¿es gratuito verdad?
Si es así me gustaría recibirlo a mi gmail
Just made one with some stretchy sweatshirt fabric. So comfy and cute. Thanks for the tutorial!!
What a great idea to use sweatshirt fabric. Must be very cozy!
Hi,
I was really excited to make this cardigan and I followed the measurements given on the video exactlybut the collar is too short to attach to the body of the garment. After sewing to this point, I realise your measuements are incorrect and the collar piece should be 114 x 14cm (2 pieces). I now do not have enough material to cut more pieces. An afternoon wasted!
Hi Fiona. Yes another reader picked that up as soon as the video went up at the beginning of April. You didn’t see the correction? It pops up at the same time as the old measurements (around 27 seconds into the video) https://youtu.be/QhXuPPg6cXU?t=27s. It’s been fixed as 114x14cm since April, so I’m sorry you didn’t see the correction!
Unfortunatelly it still says 14×81 on the collar on your video 🙂 See no corrections though..
Oh no! I keep checking it and it looks to be fixed, but I shall look at it again. Thanks for letting me know and soooo sorry for the confusion!
Rin, how tall are you? I’m on the tall side so I am trying to gauge what length I want the cardigan to be for me.
Hi Ash – I’m about 5’5.
Okay, thanks.
I forgot to add you did an excellent tutorial.
Halfway through this and it’s so easy to follow! Using a warm knitted material with white and silver stripes. This will be so cozy for our Canadian winter when I’m done. Thank you!
So glad you like the tutorial Madeleine! Thanks so much for leaving a comment 🙂
Totally new to sewing and love the look of this. Don’t suppose you could include a diagram of how you’ve cut out the fabric please?
That is a very good suggestion Karen, thank you! I’ll add it to my to do list.
I love this cardigan and want to try it….but I must also ask, what jeans are you wearing? I LOVE them! 🙂
Hi Lilly!
Haha thanks – the jeans are just from American Eagle. I bought them a while ago, but it was called the “biker jean” or something like that I think.
Hi Rin, thanks for the great tutorial. It was very clear and easy to understand. I used it to re-fashion a too large scarf I had, and now I have a lovely cardigan I made myself!
Thanks again,
Krista
You’re welcome Krista 🙂
What a fab idea to turn a scarf into a cardi!
Is there an actual PDF of the pattern or do I just follow the given measurements you provided?
Hi Pascale, there’s not PDF pattern. Please follow the video instructions and measurements. You can test it out first with an old sheet to make sure it fits you correctly.
Hi Rin,
This looks amazing! I’m interested in making it (and I have tried other of your patterns and they’ve come out beautifully). My only question is: I’m quite tall and I’d like to make the cardigan significantly longer. Would I just use more fabric? Is there anything I need to be aware of? Or is there a different way to make it longer? Thanks!
Hi Chelsea,
So glad you like the cardi 🙂
To make it drop longer, I’d just make the body a bit longer. So this means instead of 81cm, extend this side a bit and it should fall longer towards the floor. I hope that makes sense!
xx Rin
Hi,how much fabric did you needed total? Thanks
Hi Krisztina,
It depends on your height / size but I used about 2 metres (2 yards) in the end I think.
Rin
Wow – great tutorial! Just made my first attempt and in under two hours – voila! Love it. Thanks for sharing your talent.
You’re welcome Callie 🙂
I am an old great grandmother and have been sewing for 60 years. My greatest joy was to spend an afternoon perusing the pattern books dreaming about how they would work up then would have to choose just one due to cost. I have never been tempted to draft my own patterns until I found your blog-you are such an inspiration and I am drawn to your minalistic style and your fashion sense. Bless you and your family-Umi is a beautiful name and matches her beauty as well. Thank you for inspiring me in my 70th decade to take my love of sewing in a new direction.
Dear Mary Kelly,
Thank you so much for your kind words – it’s made my day!
My grandmother is in her late 80’s and is still enjoying sewing. It’s a wonderful hobby and I hope to keep going well past my 70th decade too.
Best,
Rin
I’m so excited to make this. Is it 32″ w by 45″ length? I thinks but just want to be certain
Hi Sarah,
Yes that’s correct. It’s just the collar measurements which are wrong in the video.
Made my shrug tonight! I’m so happy, i love it. I was a little confused at first because I was using fabric that had a pattern. I ended up making a “practice” one first and that’s was a big help. I will being making lots more of these!
[…] FREE Cocoon Cardigan Pattern on Youtube https://www.sewinlove.com.au/2014/04/01/cocoon-cardigan-free-sewing-pattern-tutorial/ […]
Thanks Rin for this amazing tutorial! I’ve have just dusted off my sewing machine after many years sitting in its box and sewn your cardi in merino, just in time for the winter blast that’s hitting New Zealand.
Oh what a wonderful cardi it would be in merino!
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