Crochet Bomber Jacket – Beautiful Free Cardigan Pattern

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This crochet bomber jacket was one of the designs that has been lingering in my head for a while! I am so excited to be finally sharing it with you!

CROCHET BOMBER JACKET DESIGN PROCESS

It was beginning of 2020 when I was browsing through Instagram admiring everyone’s makes! I caught the knitting bug, so I was eyeing up some gorgeous knitted garments.

As a very inexperienced knitter (I have knitted 2 beanies ?) I was sat there dreaming of a chunky knitted cardigan.

You know, one of those cool looking knitted jackets that will look good whatever you paired it up with. Unfortunately, I am far far away from being able to knit a garment.

So, as I sat there drooling (sorry phone) over these gorgeous pieces, I reverted back to what I know the best- crochet!

And that is when the idea for a crochet bomber jacket was born.

PIN IT FOR LATER

It has a lovely oversized feel with 10 cm positive ease at chest. I have made it cropped length as a classic bomber style jacket would be.

But you can easily adjust the length in the size adjustments section of the pattern. The sleeves are not tapered at all, they are worked straight in round and finished off with a cuff.

It gives the sleeves slightly balloon look.

My favourite part about this crochet bomber jacket is the collar!

That big oversized crochet collar that just wraps around your neck and gives you a big woolly hug!

Grab the ad free, printer friendly version of this pattern in my shops below.

YARN USED FOR MY CROCHET BOMBER JACKET

I used Drops Snow (previously known as Drops Eskimo) which is a super chunky yarn. It is lovely to work with and at 100% wool it is super warm too!

The only downside of this yarn is that it doesn’t like to be frogged. It can be very stubborn and sticky to pull any work out, so you have to concentrate not to make many mistakes!

I used 10 mm crochet hook so the crochet bomber jacket is a fast make you can be wearing in a few days.

SINGLE CROCHET PURL STITCH

This is a new crochet stitch that changes the position of the working yarn.

By changing the position you will achieve a brand new look to your single crochet stitch. If you place the working yarn to the front of you work, it creates a little loop on your stitch.

The written description of the stitch is-

purl sc- place the working yarn to the front of your work, insert hook into the stitch with working yarn underneath, bring the working yarn back and yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

I have also made a quick video demonstration of the written instructions.

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MATERIALS

• Drops Eskimo (super chunky; 50 m per 50 g ball; 100% wool) x 15 (17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30) balls in Olive (06)
• 10 mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors 

CROCHET BOMBER JACKET FINISHED SIZE

Sizes	Chest circumference	Total length
XS	86 cm	48 cm
S	96 cm	50 cm
M	106 cm	50 cm
L	116cm	52 cm
XL	127 cm	52 cm
2XL	137 cm	53 cm
3XL	147 cm	53 cm
4XL	157 cm	55 cm
5XL	168 cm	55 cm

The cardigan has been designed as an oversized bomber style jacket with cropped length and 10 cm positive ease.

TENSION 

9.5 st x 7 rows measures 10 x 10 cm measured over single crochet purl stitch

STITCHES AND ABBREVIATIONS (US CROCHET TERMS)

ch- chain stitch

sc- single crochet

sc blo- single crochet through back loop only

sc2tog- work the following 2 sts together using single crochet

purl sc- purl single crochet- place the working yarn to the front of your work, insert hook into the stitch with working yarn underneath, bring the working yarn back and yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on hook, to watch a video tutorial CLICK HERE

sl st- slip stitch

beg- beginning

prev- previous

For abbreviations master list as set out by Craft Yarn Council, please CLICK HERE.

PATTERN NOTES

• The crochet bomber jacket cardigan is worked sideways vertically  from waist to neck direction
• Back and two front panels are worked in one piece with both armholes created as you go
• The bottom hem is worked at the same time as the body as part of the row
• Sleeves are worked straight onto the main body around the armhole openings
• They are not tapered, they are worked straight giving them slight balloon look
• The sleeve cuff is worked afterwards at 90 degree angle in sc blog rows
• The collar is worked onto the main body in short rows using sc blo stitch
• It is increased around the neck giving the cardigan a large collar
• I recommend quickly reading through the pattern and highlighting instructions for your chosen size for ease of following the patterns

CROCHET BOMBER JACKET SIZE ADJUSTMENTS

• The starting chain determines the length of the crochet bomber jacket
• For a longer cardigan add extra stitches to starting chain
• The number of rows determines the chest circumference or the width of cardigan
• To adjust the width you will need to add or take away number of rows to the main body
• Make sure you add even number of rows to the back panel, then split this number in half and add or take away the same number of rows to/from each front half
• As the sleeves are not tapered, you can easily add or take away rounds to adjust the length

CROCHET BOMBER JACKET MAIN PATTERN

CROCHET BOMBER JACKET MAIN BODY 

FIRST FRONT PANEL

Chain 47 (49, 49, 51, 51, 52, 52, 54, 54).

Row 1: starting in 2nd chain from hook, 1 purl sc in each ch across until last 8 ch, sc to end. 46 (48, 48, 50, 50, 51, 51, 53, 53) sts

Row 2: 1 ch (doesn’t count as a st here and throughout the pattern), 8 sc blo, purl st to end, turn. 46 (48, 48, 50, 50, 51, 51, 53, 53) sts

Row 3: 1 ch, 1 purl sc in each st across until last 8 sts, 8 sc blo, turn. 46 (48, 48, 50, 50, 51, 51, 53, 53) sts

Repeat Row 2 – Row 3 until you have 8 (10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 23, 26, 29) rows in total.

XS, S, L, XL, 4XL SIZES ONLY FIRST ARMHOLE 

Row 9 (11, 17, 19, 27): chain 18 (19, 22, 23, 27), counting the stitch at the bottom of the chain just made miss 18 (19, 22, 23, 27) sts, 1 purl sc in next, purl sc across until last 8 sts, 8 sc blo, turn. 46 (48, 50, 50, 53) sts

Row 10 (12, 18, 20, 28): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl sc to end working across ch sts from prev row, turn. 46 (48, 50, 50, 53) sts

XS, S, L, XL, 4XL SIZES ONLY BACK PANEL

Row 11 (13, 19, 21, 29) : 1 ch, 1 purl sc in each st across until last 8 sts, 8 sc blo, turn. 46 (48, 50, 50, 53) sts

Row 12 (14, 20, 22, 30): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl st to end, turn. 46 (48, 50, 50, 53) sts

Repeat last two rows until you have 23 (30, 44, 52, 73) rows of the back panel in total counting from the armhole opening.

M, 2XL, 3XL, 5XL SIZES ONLY FIRST ARMHOLE

Row 14 (22, 24, 30): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl sc across until last 20 (24, 25, 28) sts, chain 20 (24, 25, 28), sl st to last st, turn. 48 (51, 51, 53) sts

Row 15 (23, 25, 31): 1 ch, 1 purl sc in each st across working across ch sts from prev row until last 8 sts, sc blo to end, turn. 48 (51, 51, 53) sts

M, 2XL, 3XL, 5XL SIZES ONLY BACK PANEL

Row 16 (24, 26, 32): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl st to end, turn. 48 (51, 51, 53) sts

Row 17 (25, 27, 33) : 1 ch, 1 purl sc in each st across until last 8 sts, 8 sc blo, turn. 48 (51, 51, 53) sts

Repeat last two rows until you have 37 (59, 65, 81) rows of the back panel in total counting from the armhole opening. 

XS, 4XL SIZES ONLY SECOND ARMHOLE

Row 32 (100): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl sc across until last 18 (27) sts, chain 18 (27), sl st to last st, turn. 46 (53) sts

Row 33 (101): 1 ch, 1 purl sc in each st across working across ch sts from prev row until last 8 sts, sc blo to end, turn. 46 (53) sts

XS, 4XL SIZES ONLY SECOND FRONT PANEL

Row 34 (102): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl st to end, turn. 46 (53) sts

Row 35 (103) : 1 ch, 1 purl sc in each st across until last 8 sts, 8 sc blo, turn. 46 (53) sts

Repeat last two rows until you have 8 (26) rows of the second front panel in total counting from the second armhole opening. Fasten off.

S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 5XL SIZES ONLY SECOND ARMHOLE

Row 41 (51, 61, 71, 81, 89, 111): chain 19 (20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28), counting the stitch at the bottom of the chain miss 19 (20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28) sts, 1 purl sc in next, purl sc across until last 8 sts, 8 sc blo, turn. 48 (48, 50, 50, 51, 51, 53) sts

Row 42 (52, 62, 72, 82, 90, 112): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl sc to end working across ch sts from prev row, turn. 48 (48, 50, 50, 51, 51, 53) sts

S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 5XL SIZES ONLY SECOND FRONT PANEL

Row 43 (53, 63, 73, 83, 91, 113) : 1 ch, 1 purl sc in each st across until last 8 sts, 8 sc blo, turn. 48 (48, 50, 50, 51, 51, 53) sts

Row 44 (54, 64, 74, 84, 92, 114): 1 ch, 8 sc blo, purl st to end, turn. 48 (48, 50, 50, 51, 51, 53) sts

Repeat last two rows until you have 10 (13, 16, 18, 21, 23, 29) rows of the second front panel in total counting from the second armhole opening. Fasten off.

Fold the front panels over along the armhole openings, line up the front and back panels and sew together at the shoulder seams. Turn right side out and carry on with the sleeves.

CROCHET BOMBER JACKET SLEEVES (repeat on both sides)

Join yarn in the first stitch of the armhole opening in the underarm.

Rnd 1: 1 ch (doesn’t count as a st), 1 purl sc in each st of the armhole opening, sl st to first st. 36 (38, 40, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56) sts 

Rnd 2: 1 ch, 1 purl sc around, sl st to first st. 36 (38, 40, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56) sts 

Repeat Rnd 2 until sleeve measures 42 (43, 43, 44.5, 44.5, 45.5, 45.5, 47, 47) cm. 

Last rnd: 1 ch, 1 dc2tog around, sl st to first st. 18 (19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28) sts

Do not fasten off, continue with sleeve cuff.

SLEEVE CUFF (repeat on both sleeves)

With yarn still attached, chain 9.

Row 1: starting in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each ch of the foundation chain just made, sl st to same st on the sleeve, sl st into next st on sleeve, turn. 8 sc

Row 2: 1 ch, 7 sc in blo, 1 sc in last, turn. 8 sc

Row 3: 1 ch, 1 sc, 7 sc blo, (sl st to next st on sleeve) twice, turn. 8 sc

Repeat Row 2 – 3 around the sleeve. Fasten off leaving longer tail. Using tail end sew the cuff of each sleeve together.

CROCHET BOMBER JACKET COLLAR

Join yarn in first st at the bottom of front half to work around the cardigan front opening. You will work 1 st into each st of the front panels and increase across the stitches of the back panel around the neck to make a big collar.

Row 1 (set up row): 1 ch (doesn’t  count as a st), 1 sc across first front half, increase across back panel stitches (see instructions below), 1 sc across second half. Do not fasten off.

Increase across back panel as follows

XS size only- 1 sc, (2 sc in next st, 1 sc) 3 times. 10 sts

S size only – (1 sc, 2 sc in next) 5 times. 15 sts

M size only – 1 sc, (2 sc in next, 1 sc) 5 times. 16 sts

L size only- (1 sc, 2 sc in next) 6 times. 18 sts

XL size only- (1 sc, 2 sc in next) 8 times. 24 sts

2XL size only- (1 sc, 2 sc in next) 8 times. 25 sts

3XL size only- (1 sc, 2 sc in next) 10 times. 30 sts

4XL size only- (1 sc, 2 sc in next) 10 times. 31 sts

5XL size only- (1 sc, 2 sc in next) 11 times. 34 sts

102 (111, 112, 118, 124, 127, 132, 137, 140) sc

With yarn still attached, chain 9.

Row 2: starting in 2nd chain from hook, 1 sc in each ch of the foundation chain just made, sl st to same st on the main body, sl st into next st on main body, turn. 8 sc

Row 3: 1 ch, 7 sc in blo, 1 sc in last, turn. 8 sc

Row 4: 1 ch, 1 sc, 7 sc blo, (sl st to next st on main body) twice, turn. 8 sc

Repeat Row 3 – 4 until you have 26 (28, 28, 30, 30, 30, 30, 32, 32) rows in total counting from first row.

Next row (increase): 1 ch, 2 sc in first st, 1 sc blo across, (sl st to next st on main body) twice, turn. 9 sc

Next row: 1 ch, 1 sc blo across to last st, 1 sc in last st, turn. 9 sc

Repeat last two rows another 10 times for all sizes. 18 sc

SIZES 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL ONLY– repeat increase row once more. 19 sc

Continue working across the stitches of the back panel, repeating Row 3 & Row 4 of collar pattern but across 18 (18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19, 19) stitches instead.

XS, M, L, XL, 3XL, 5XL SIZES ONLY

Starting with first row of the second front panel.

Row 1: 1 ch, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc blo to end, (sl st to next st on main body) twice, turn. 17 (17, 17, 17, 18, 18) sc

Row 2: 1 ch, 1 sc blo to last st, 1 sc in last st, turn. 

Repeat Row 1 – 2 another 9 (9, 9, 9, 10, 10) times. 8 sc

S, 2XL, 4XL SIZES ONLY

Row 1: 1 ch, 1 sc blo until last 2 sts, 1 sc2tog, turn. 17 (18, 18) sc

Row 2: 1 ch, 1 sc, 1 sc blo to end, (sl st to next st on main body) twice, turn.

Repeat Row 1 – 2 another 9 (10, 10) times. 8 sc

Fasten off.

FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS

Sew in all ends.

Did you know you can make this jacket with thinner yarn held double? Check out How to crochet with two strands from one skein? on my blog to learn how to double up yarn from the same skein.

If super chunky yarn and crochet bomber jacket aren’t your jam, I have something quite different for you. 

Check out my other crochet cardigan patterns! Working Girl Cardigan is a beginner friendly cardigan pattern using DK yarn and has 2 alternatives for sleeves and neckline finishes. 

Light and airy, open front cardigan- The Gap Year Cardigan is a lightly textured cotton cardigan with cropped length and 3/4 sleeves. 

Final thoughts…

Firstly, I hope you love this crochet bomber jacket pattern. If you think your crafty friends will like it too, why not share it with them?

You can share a direct link to this pattern on your social media. 

Secondly, if you like this pattern, check out these other crochet patterns:

1. Chunky Crochet Shawl Free Pattern -Zoya Shawl
2. Free Chunky Crochet Necklace Pattern For Beginners
3. Chunky Crochet Hat Pattern – A Shade of Grey
4. Quick and Easy Chunky Crochet Slipper Socks- free pattern

Do not forget to pin this tutorial to your favorite Pinterest Board so you can easily find it later too.

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