When choosing the pattern for your first cardigan, keep it simple and look for simple shapes that are easy to crochet. Focus on understanding how to make a cardigan that fits and leave mastering more advanced fit adjustments and pattern tweaks for later.
Being excited about making and wearing something is great motivation to keep crocheting. Choose a cardigan, jumper, sweater or any garment pattern that you (or someone else) would love to wear.
A boxy shaped cardigan is comfy to wear and is made up of flat rectangles and triangles that are easy to crochet and understand how they go together.
As an example, throughout this course we’ll be focusing on the Celsea Button Up Cardigan by Jennifer Renaud (there are no crocheting video tutorials for how to make the Celsea Button Up Cardigan in this course). At the time of putting this course together it is a free online pattern with the option to purchase the pdf pattern with photo tutorials and cardigan schematic. If your budget allows, I strongly recommend purchasing this comprehensive and well-designed pattern.
If the Celsea Button up Cardigan isn’t your cup of tea, here are some other patterns that should be a gentle introduction to garment crocheting (I haven’t made all of them but they look suitable as a first garment):