If you have been dreaming of a sweater you can practically live in, this chunky crochet hoodie pattern is the one to make. It has a relaxed oversized fit, a cozy drawstring hood, and a pretty two-tone finish — warm cream on the top and hood, dusty mauve through the lower body and sleeves. The construction is wonderfully simple: the whole hoodie is made from flat panels, so if you can work a half double crochet, you can make this sweater. Sizes S, M and L are included.
New to crochet garments? Warm up with our crochet beanie pattern first.
Materials
- Bulky weight yarn (size 6) in dusty mauve (main color) and cream: approx. 5 (6, 7) × 100 g balls of mauve and 4 (5, 5) × 100 g balls of cream — check the Craft Yarn Council yarn weight system if you swap yarns
- Crochet hook, 8.0 mm
- Yarn needle with a large eye (for seaming chunky yarn)
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Tape measure
Gauge: 8 half double crochet × 6 rows = 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in). Do check your gauge — on a garment this size, small differences add up to a very different fit.
Finished measurements: bust 100 (112, 125) cm / 39.5 (44, 49) in, with 12–20 cm of positive ease. Length: 60 (63, 67) cm / 23.5 (25, 26.5) in.
Step 1: Check Your Gauge and Start the Back Panel
Every chunky crochet hoodie pattern lives or dies by its gauge, so begin with a swatch: chain 12, work 10 rows of half double crochet, and measure the middle 10 cm — it should hold 8 stitches and 6 rows (adjust your hook size if it does not). Then start the back panel in dusty mauve. Chain 41 (46, 51). Row 1: half double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook and in each chain across — 40 (45, 50) stitches, counting the turning chain as a stitch. Work rows 1–4 in the back loop only for the ribbed hem, then continue in regular half double crochet. Both body panels are identical rectangles — no armhole shaping, no neckline decreases — which makes this pattern so beginner-friendly.
Step 2: Finish the Front Panel with the Cream Color Block
Continue straight in dusty mauve until you have 20 (21, 22) rows in total. Change to cream on the last stitch of that row, pulling the new color through the final two loops for a clean, level join. Work 16 (17, 18) more rows in cream, for 36 (38, 40) rows in total; the panel should measure about 50 (56, 62.5) cm wide and 60 (63, 67) cm long. Fasten off with a long tail, then make a second identical panel for the front.
Step 3: Crochet the Two Sleeves
Each sleeve starts at the cuff. Chain 17 (19, 21) and work the first row as before — 16 (18, 20) stitches. Work 5 rows in the back loop only for a snug ribbed cuff, all in dusty mauve. Then increase at both ends of every row — 2 half double crochet in the first stitch and 2 in the last — for 6 (7, 8) rows, bringing you to 28 (32, 36) stitches. Work 7 rows even in mauve, change to cream, and work 9 rows even; the sleeve should measure about 45 (47, 48) cm. Fasten off with a long tail and make the second sleeve the same.
Step 4: Make the Hood
The hood is one cream rectangle, folded and seamed. Chain 41 (44, 47) and work 40 (43, 46) stitches across. Continue in half double crochet for 19 (20, 22) rows, until the piece measures about 50 (54, 57.5) cm wide and 32 (33, 37) cm tall. Fasten off, fold the rectangle in half widthwise, and whipstitch the top edges together — that seam becomes the back of the hood. Leave the bottom edge open for the neckline.
Step 5: Assemble and Seam the Hoodie
Lay the front panel on the back panel and pin the shoulders with stitch markers, leaving the center 25 (27, 29) cm open for the neck. Whipstitch each shoulder closed. Pin the center of each sleeve’s top edge to a shoulder seam, align the sleeve along the side of the body, and seam it in place; then stitch down the sleeve seam and the body side in one long seam. Repeat on the other side. Finally, pin the hood around the neck opening, matching its center-back seam to the middle of the back panel, and sew it on.
Step 6: Add the Drawstring and Finish
For the drawstring channel, join cream yarn at one front corner of the hood’s face opening and work an eyelet row around it: half double crochet, chain 1, skip 1 stitch, repeated all the way around. For the drawstring, chain about 100 — roughly 125 cm — then fasten off, or slip stitch back along the chain for a sturdier cord. Thread it through the eyelets, knot the ends, weave in all remaining ends, and steam block gently.
Tips for a Perfect Fit
- Count your rows with markers. Mark every 10 rows on each panel — chunky stitches are easy to miscount, and this keeps color blocks and sleeve lengths matched.
- Change color cleanly. Always swap yarn on the final yarn-over of the last stitch in the old color, for a crisp, straight color line.
- Adjust the length as you go. Add or remove a few rows before the color change for a longer or more cropped hoodie — just note the change so both panels match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this chunky crochet hoodie pattern good for beginners?
Yes — it was designed for confident beginners. The hoodie is built from flat rectangles in one stitch (half double crochet), with no armhole shaping, no neckline decreases and no sleeves worked in the round. If you have made a scarf or blanket, you are ready.
How much yarn does the hoodie take?
About 900 (1,100, 1,200) grams of bulky yarn in total: roughly 500 (600, 700) g of dusty mauve and 400 (500, 500) g of cream. Keep your receipt — one extra ball of each color is cheap insurance against dye-lot problems.
Can I make the hoodie in one color?
Absolutely — ignore the color change in Step 2 and work everything in one shade, using the full yardage in that single color.
How do I wash a chunky crochet hoodie?
Check your yarn label first: most bulky yarns wash best cold on a gentle cycle and dried flat, never hung — a wet chunky hoodie is heavy and will stretch.
Conclusion
Two rectangles, two sleeves, one simple hood and a drawstring — that is all it takes for a cozy sweater you will reach for all season. Grab the free printable PDF of this chunky crochet hoodie pattern linked at the top of the tutorial, with full row-by-row instructions for every size. Happy crocheting!
