There is a special kind of magic in watching two flat hexagons fold up into a cardigan, and once you have tried it you will understand why the humble hexi cardi has taken over crochet feeds everywhere. This collection gathers twenty of my favourite crochet hexagon cardigan ideas, every one of them a genuinely free pattern from its designer, covering soft DK layers, chunky weekend makes, rainbow stripes, solid stitches, hooded versions and one gloriously cosy velvet number. Sizes run from XS right up to 5XL across the list, and because most of these are made to measure, you can try each one on as you go and shape it to your own body.
One honest note before we start: all twenty patterns below are written patterns, so there are no video-only tutorials in this list. Most follow the classic two-hexagon fold-and-seam construction, and where a design wanders from that path I say so plainly — one is a patchwork of small hexagon motifs seamed like tiles, one adds back panels to its hexagons, one comes with a hood, one uses a spike stitch for a less holey fabric, and one is an adaptable recipe rather than a fixed size chart. Everything else is the real two-hexagon deal, and every pattern is free to use.
1. Sweet Dreams Hexagon Cardigan
If you love a cardigan that feels like a soft dream in yarn form, this is the one to start with, because its gentle colour changes and classic granny hexagons make the whole project feel calm and unhurried. The pattern is written for sizes S through 5XL, so it covers a wide range of bodies without any guesswork, and the full instructions are free to read on the designer's blog. A printable PDF is also available for sale if you prefer an ad-free copy to take to your favourite chair, but you do not need it to make the cardigan. Pair it with a simple camisole and jeans and you have an everyday layer that looks far more complicated than it actually is.
Pattern: Sweet Dreams Hexagon Cardigan by Selina Veronique — Get the free pattern
2. Brunch Cardigan
This is the hexagon cardigan for women who want their handmade layers to look properly finished, because its fitted sleeves are shaped with neat decreases instead of hanging loose and shapeless. The pattern covers sizes from S and M all the way to XXL and XXXL, with bust measurements from 28 to 58 inches, so you can pick your size with confidence. The full written pattern is free on the designer's blog, with a video tutorial to walk you through the trickier folds, and an ad-free PDF is sold separately. Wear it over a slip dress for a weekend brunch or with a tee and trousers for an easy work-from-home layer.
Pattern: Brunch Cardigan by Jess Coppom at Make and Do Crew — Get the free pattern
3. Day Date Cardigan
With its roomy bishop sleeves and genuinely useful pockets, this cardigan is the one you will reach for on a cool morning when you want to feel put together without trying too hard. The size range is wonderfully generous, running from XS all the way to 7X with bust measurements from 30 to 66 inches, and the pattern encourages you to try it on as you crochet so the fit is exactly right. The full instructions are free on the blog, a video tutorial accompanies them, and a printable PDF is available to buy if you want a tidy copy. Style it with a midi skirt and boots for a day-date look, or throw it over leggings and a long tee for errands.
Pattern: Day Date Cardigan by Jess Coppom at Make and Do Crew — Get the free pattern
4. Super Chunky Hexagon Cardigan
When you want a cardigan in days rather than weeks, super bulky yarn is your best friend, and this pattern proves it with a hexagon cardi that works up astonishingly fast. It uses roughly 440 yards of super bulky weight yarn with a 15 mm hook, and because the construction is so adjustable you can shape it to a chest of 46 inches and beyond simply by adding rounds. The full written pattern is free on the designer's blog and comes with a video tutorial, so even a first-time garment maker can follow along. Throw it over a turtleneck and jeans on a cold evening and you will look like you spent a month on it.
Pattern: Super Chunky Hexagon Cardigan by Michelle at The Snugglery — Get the free pattern
5. Easy Solid Hexagon Cardigan
Not every hexagon cardigan has to be full of holes, and this solid version is the answer for anyone who wants a warmer, more solid fabric without giving up the clever fold-and-seam construction. The hexagons here are worked in solid stitches rather than open granny clusters, which gives the finished cardigan a cosier, more substantial feel and makes it a better choice for cold weather. Sizes run from XS and S through M and L up to XL, 2X, 3X and 4X, with extra sleeve notes for the largest sizes, and the full pattern is free on the blog. Layer it over a long-sleeved tee with wide-leg trousers for a clean, modern silhouette.
Pattern: Easy Solid Hexagon Cardigan by Okie Girl Bling N Things — Get the free pattern
6. Rainbow Hexagon Cardigan
This is the happiest cardigan on the list, worked in rainbow stripes of cotton yarn held double so the colours stay bright and the fabric stays light. The pattern is made to measure rather than graded to fixed sizes, which means you simply keep growing your hexagons until they fit you, and a 5.5 mm hook with doubled cotton 8/4 yarn gives a lovely drape. The full instructions are free on the blog, and because no personal designer name appears on the page, the pattern is credited here to the blog itself. Wear it open over a white sundress in summer or over a black roll-neck when the rainbow needs a quiet background.
Pattern: Hexagon Cardigan by Wild We Remain — Get the free pattern
7. Cozy and Colorful Granny Hexagon Cardigan
If your yarn stash is full of cheerful oddments, this is the pattern that will turn them into something wonderful, because its colourful granny hexagons are made to show off as many colours as you like. The hexagons are worked for thirteen rounds in medium weight yarn with a 5.5 mm hook, and the cuffs and edges are finished in front-post and back-post ribbing that gives the whole cardigan a polished, shop-bought look. A video is embedded on the page alongside the full free written instructions, and the pattern is credited to the blog since no personal designer name is given. Style it with a plain tee and denim skirt and let the colours do all the talking.
Pattern: Cozy and Colorful Crochet Granny Hexagon Cardigan by CrochetEverything — Get the free pattern
8. Hooded Hexagon Sweater
Here is a cousin with a twist: this hexagon design comes with a hood, so it wears more like a cosy sweater than an open cardigan, and it is perfect for women who love a hood but want a handmade one. The pattern is written for sizes XS and S plus M and L, uses a worsted weight yarn you probably already know, and the full instructions are free on the designer's blog with a printable PDF sold separately. Please note this is a different pattern from the designer's later hooded hexagon cardigan, which is already featured elsewhere, so follow the 2024 pattern linked here for this exact hooded version. Pair it with leggings and ankle boots for a snug autumn walk, hood up against the wind.
Pattern: Hexagon Sweater by Gina Michele — Get the free pattern
9. Hexagon Blanket Cardigan
Imagine wrapping yourself in a velvet blanket that happens to be shaped like a cardigan, and you have exactly what this pattern delivers. It is worked in super bulky velvet yarn with a 6.0 mm hook, comes in sizes from XS and S up to 3X and 4X, and finishes with a collar and buttons so you can close it against the cold. A video tutorial accompanies the full free written instructions on the blog, and a printable PDF is sold separately for those who like a clean copy. Wear it over pyjamas for a slow morning at home or over a simple dress when you want maximum cosiness with minimum effort.
Pattern: Hexagon Blanket Cardigan by Svetlana Gibadullina at VETKA — Get the free pattern
10. Hexagon Patchwork Cardigan
This one is honestly labelled as a cousin rather than a classic two-hexagon cardigan, because instead of two giant hexagons it joins lots of small solid hexagon motifs together like tiles into a cardigan shape. The result is a hip-length, drop-shoulder layer with a wonderfully scrappy, patchwork look that is perfect for using up leftover worsted weight yarn, and the full instructions are free on the studio's blog. If you love the hexagon idea but fancy a more pieced, quilt-like finish, this is the pattern to try, and it still teaches you the same fold-and-seam thinking in miniature. Style it with a cream top and corduroy skirt for a crafty, collected-over-time look.
Pattern: Hexagon Patchwork Cardigan by Yarn Nest Studio — Get the free pattern
11. Granny Hexagon Cardigan Jacket
With its striped rounds and playful pom-pom ties, this jacket-style hexagon cardigan is the most fun-loving design in the collection, and it is sized generously from XS all the way to 5XL with bust measurements from 30 to 58 inches. The full instructions are free on the blog and come with a video tutorial, and the pattern is credited to the blog itself since no personal designer name appears on the page. The striped rounds make it a brilliant stash-buster, because you can change colour every round or two and never worry about matching dye lots. Wear it open over a striped breton top and jeans for a cheerful weekend outfit, ties swinging.
Pattern: Granny Hexagon Sweater Top by Crosia — Get the free pattern
12. Both Sides Now Hexi-Cardi
This colour-block beauty from a big yarn brand is one of the most polished hexagon cardigans you can make for free, with a stitch chart and step-by-step photos alongside the written instructions. The pattern is a free download with no sign-up required, covers sizes from XS to 5XL in a soft worsted yarn, and its oversized, comfortable fit makes it the cardigan you will live in all winter. Because it comes from a yarn library rather than a single designer blog, it is credited here to the brand, and the construction is the classic two-hexagon fold you already know. Layer it over a turtleneck dress with tights and boots for a cosy, colour-blocked winter outfit.
Pattern: Both Sides Now Hexi-Cardi by Bernat at Yarnspirations — Get the free pattern
13. Retro Stripe Hexagon Cardigan
Worked in solid double crochet hexagons rather than open granny clusters, this retro striped cardigan has a denser, warmer fabric and a cheerful vintage feel that suits its self-striping yarn perfectly. The original pattern is free on the designer's blog for an adult small that you can customise by adding rounds, and the same pattern is also available as a free downloadable PDF with extra sizes from small to 2XL, so you can choose whichever version suits you. A video tutorial walks you through the construction, and only three skeins of the striped yarn are needed for the main fourteen rounds. Wear it with flared jeans and a plain tee for a proper retro moment.
Pattern: Retro Stripe Hexagon Cardigan by Sarah Zimmerman at Repeat Crafter Me — Get the free pattern
14. Feminine Hexagon Cardigan
Soft, pretty and beautifully simple, this feminine hexagon cardigan is the second design from the same designer as our opening pattern, and it earns its place with a lighter, more delicate take on the classic shape. Sizes run from S all the way to XXXL, and the full instructions are free to read on the designer's blog with a printable PDF sold separately. The open granny stitch keeps it breathable, so it works as a spring layer over a floral dress just as well as a winter layer over a long-sleeved top. Style it with a midi dress and ballet flats for a soft, romantic outfit that still has that handmade soul.
Pattern: Feminine Hexagon Cardigan by Selina Veronique — Get the free pattern
15. Puff and Lace Hexagon Cardigan
If plain granny clusters feel a little too simple for you, this design adds puff stitches and lace sections to the hexagons, plus a pretty scallop border and gentle neckline shaping for a much more decorative finish. It is sized from XS to 5XL with bust measurements from 34 to 66 inches, uses a light DK yarn with a 3.5 mm hook, and the full instructions are free on the designer's blog alongside a video tutorial. The puff texture gives the fabric a lovely softness while the lace keeps it airy, so it works beautifully as a three-season layer. Wear it over a camisole and linen trousers for an elegant, textured outfit with real handmade detail.
Pattern: Hexagon Cardigan by Derya at Handmade by Derya — Get the free pattern
16. 6-Day Hexagon Cardigan
This clever design is less a fixed pattern and more a recipe, because it adapts the famous six-day blanket stitches into two three-dimensional hexagons that you fold and sew into a cardigan in any yarn and any size. Yardage runs from roughly 700 yards for a baby-sized version up to 3000 yards for an adult one, and the pattern offers options for width, length, cuffs, ribbing, a button band, a collar, pockets and even a hood, so you can build exactly the cardigan you want. The full instructions are free on the designer's own page, and you may spot the same pattern resold elsewhere online, but the designer's page linked here is the free original. Make it in a soft neutral with jeans and a tee for a cardigan that is entirely, satisfyingly yours.
Pattern: 6-Day Hexagon Cardigan by Betty McKnit — Get the free pattern
17. Horizon Cardigan
Made to measure from your own body measurements, this cardigan is the one to choose when you are tired of guessing sizes, because you build it to your exact chest, length and arm measurements. It comes in sizes from XS to 5XL with chest measurements from 30 to 62 inches, uses a colour-changing DK yarn so there are far fewer ends to weave in, and closes with eight buttons for a neat, classic finish. The pattern is a free printable PDF from the yarn brand, credited here to its designer, and the construction is the true two-hexagon fold with sleeves, extra body length and a collar worked straight from the body. Wear it buttoned over a shirt dress with boots for a smart, handmade look.
Pattern: Horizon Cardigan by Crafty Maz Designs at Hobbii — Get the free pattern
18. Elowen Hexagon Cardigan
Named Elowen, this beginner-friendly hexagon cardigan looks far more complex than it really is, thanks to its graded sizes, front and back extensions that widen the body without widening the sleeves, and a neat back-loop border that finishes the whole garment. It is worked in a DK cotton and wool blend with two hook sizes, and the full written pattern is free on the designer's blog with a video tutorial to crochet along with, while an ad-free PDF is sold in her shop. The eco-friendly yarn choice and the careful sizing make it a thoughtful, slow-fashion project you will be proud to wear. Style it with a simple knit dress and ankle boots for a polished everyday layer.
Pattern: Elowen Hexagon Cardigan by Lindsey Roe at Off the Beaten Hook — Get the free pattern
19. Cosy Hexi Cardi
This design swaps ordinary granny stitch for a granny spike stitch, where the middle stitch reaches down two rows below, and the result is a less holey, cosier fabric with a lovely subtle texture. It is made to measure in any weight yarn and hook, with a size chart covering everything from baby to adult sizes, so adult makers simply follow the chart for their own measurements rather than the small example shown in the photos. The full instructions are free on the blog, a video tutorial accompanies them, and the pattern is credited to the blog since no personal designer name appears on the page, with an ad-free PDF sold separately. Finish it with its rib edging and button band, then wear it over a long-sleeved top with a pleated skirt for a snug, textured outfit.
Pattern: Cosy Hexi Cardi by Baby Crochet Designs — Get the free pattern
20. Hexaparty Cardigan
Our final pattern is another honestly labelled cousin, because alongside its two granny hexagons it adds lower sleeves and back panels, giving a more structured, tailored fit than a pure two-hexagon fold. It comes in nine sizes with full measurements for back width, front width, sleeve length, neck width and body length, so you can check every number before you start, and the official pattern is a free PDF from the yarn brand. If you love hexagon construction but want a cardigan with a bit more shape and structure, this is the perfect pattern to end on. Wear it open over a fitted top and tailored trousers for a smart layer with real geometry.
Pattern: Hexaparty by Berroco — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
Twenty free hexagon cardigans, twenty different ways to fold two simple shapes into something you will actually want to wear, from soft DK layers to super bulky weekend makes and from rainbow stripes to tailored panels. The beauty of the hexagon cardigan is that it grows with you: add a round for length, try it on, seam it up, and suddenly a pile of hexagons is your favourite layer. Start with the one that made you smile first, pick a yarn you love, and enjoy the moment the fold clicks into place. Which of these twenty hexagon cardigans will you make first, and what colours are you dreaming of for it?
