Simple Knit Sweater

Check out the free pattern for my Simple Knit Sweater! It’s the perfect beginner level pattern for all those new knitters out there.

Have you been thinking to yourself “Hey, I would love to knit myself a sweater but I can’t knit and that’s wayyyyy too hard.”

Well fear not my friend – this simple knit sweater pattern and tutorial is the answer to all of your knit sweater fears. It’s easy, it’s fun, and you’ll be super cuddly before you know it. Promise!

I made this simple knit sweater with one event in mind: my trip to visit New York City with Lion Brand Yarn! I’m going to be talking yarn with a clan of other yarn-y bloggers in the big apple and I’ll need some warm clothes. Enter: the simple knit sweater. It’s a necessary piece for staying warm this winter.

The video embedded below will be a huge help to anyone new to knitting or new to making garments. The seaming can be especially tricky but I have some helpful hints toward the end of the video that will make your seams look professional and polished. Yay!

 

PATTERNS I LOVE (& you should too)

1. Crochet Homemaker Gingham Throw / 2. Crochet Everyday Cardigan / 3. Crochet Le Nuage Wrap/Triangle Scarf

 

This easy simple knit sweater pattern has been made into a kit from Lion Brand themselves and you can make this pattern with all the yarn you need and a printed copy of the pattern. Yay! Grab that kit for 20% off in a whole range of colors this week only HERE.

The video below is a complete step-by-step walkthrough of the simple knit sweater pattern in size Medium. Be sure to watch it if you’re having trouble in any areas of the pattern!

PATTERN

• Get the ad-free, large print, printable PDF pattern HERE.
• Grab the Ultimate Pattern Bundle that includes 150+ patterns just like this one on sale for $20 today HERE.
• PIN this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later HERE.
• Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.

 

Materials:

-Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Fisherman (XS-S: 5 skeins, M-L: 6 skeins, XL-2XL: 7 skeins, 3XL: 8 skeins)

Grab the kit with everything you need from Lion Brand HERE!

-Size 17/12mm knitting needles (I love using the Takumi Bamboo circular needles with a 24″ cord from Clover USA)

-Large eye tapestry needle

-Stitch markers

Gauge:

8 sts in garter stitch = 4 in.

16 rows = 4 in.

Measurements:

Bust: 30″ (XS) 34″ (S) 38″ (M) 42 ” (L) 46″ (XL) 50″ (XXL) 54″ (XXXL)
Width across back: 17″ (XS) 18″ (S) 19″ (M) 20″ (L) 21″ (XL) 22″ (XXL) 23″ (XXXL)
Length: 21″ (XS) 22″ (S) 23″ (M) 23.5″ (L) 24″ (XL) 24.5″ (XXL) 24.5″ (XXXL)
Armhole: 6″ (XS) 6.5″ (S) 6.5″ (M) 7″ (L) 7″ (XL) 7.5″ (XXL) 8″ (XXXL)
Sleeve Length: 16.5″ (XS) 17″ (S) 17″ (M) 17.5″ (L) 17.5″ (XL) 18″ (XXL) 18″ (XXXL)

Abbreviations:

co – cast on

k – knit

k2tog – knit 2 stitches together

p – purl

rep – repeat

rs – right side

st(s) – stitch(es)

ws – wrong side

Pattern Notes:

Difficulty level: 1/Beginner

-For reference, model is 5’5” tall, and wearing the Simple Knit Sweater in a size Medium. Fit is oversized, for a more fitted sweater size down.

-Sizing listed in the pattern will be in X-Small with Small, Medium, Large, Xl, 2X, and 3X listed in parenthesis such as 36 “(41, 46, 51, 56, 61, 66)” whereas co 36 for size XS, 41 for size S, 46 for size M, 51 for size L, 56 for size XL, 61 for size 2X and 66 for size 3X. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle/highlight all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

-This pullover sweater is worked in 5 pieces, the front and back panels, 2 sleeve panels then seamed together. The neckline ribbing is stitched on last by picking up stitches.

 

-All sizing is a bit oversized and based on the CYC sizing regulations.

Simple Knit Sweater

Back Panel

Co 30 (38, 46, 54, 62, 70, 78) sts

Ribbing

Rows 1 – 6: K1, P1, rep across

Body

Rows 7 – 58 (62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82): K all sts (garter st)

Bind off all sts

Front Panel

Co 30 (38, 46, 54, 62, 70, 78) sts

Ribbing

Rows 1 – 6: K1, P1, rep across

Body

Rows 7 – 52 (56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76): K all sts (gater st)

Shoulder shaping

Row 1: K 9 (12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27) sts, bind off 12 (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) sts for the neckline, K remaining 9 (12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27) sts for the other shoulder

Row 2: K all sts on one shoulder side (first 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 sts), leave remaining sts on the needle unworked (finish one shoulder at a time)

Row 3: K2tog, K all remaining sts on that shoulder side

Row 4: K all sts

Row 5: Repeat Row 3

Bind off all sts on that shoulder side

Join yarn to other shoulder side (close to neckline) and K all sts

Row 2: K all sts

Row 3: K2tog, K remaining sts

Row 4: K all sts

Row 5: Repeat Row 3

Bind off all sts

Weave ends.

Sleeves

*make 2

Co 26 (28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 40) sts

Rows 1 – 32: K all sts (garter st)

Row 33: K 3, K2tog, rep across

Rows 34 – 54 (56, 56, 58, 58, 60, 60): K all sts

Ribbing

Rows 1-6: K1, P1, rep across

Bind off all sts

Seaming

Shoulder seams: Sew front shoulder shaping with a mattress stitch to back panel with WS facing you.

Sleeve: Open your sweater with seamed shoulders to lie flat with RS facing up. Lie sleeves flat with RS facing up. Count to center of sleeve Co sts, match up with shoulder seam and place a stitch marker to hold centered in place. Sew sleeve’s Co edge to sweater bodice with a whip stitch. Repeat on other side.

Side seams: Fold sweater to match the side seams and sleeve underarm seam. Sew with an invisible vertical seam beginning with sleeve ribbing, along underarm, and continuing along the front and back panel body and finish with bodice ribbing. Repeat on other side

Weave all ends.

 

Neckline

Pick up stitches all along the neckline of the sweater (working into the shoulder seams themselves and all cast off stitches).

# of neckline stitches will vary depending on your size, just make sure you’ve picked up an even number of stitches.

Rows 1-2: K 1, P 1, rep around

Bind off all sts

Weave all ends.

 

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