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How to knit a sweater: Slouchy style sweater pattern for all levels

I read so many comments online from people that love knitted sweaters, but are totally against knitting. Maybe they tried it and struggled, or it just seems daunting. Either way , I’m going to show everyone they can learn to knit by showing them how to knit a sweater.

It’s a slouchy/relaxed fit style sweater that I recently designed, and I’m super happy with it. It looks amazing and it’s super chill, relaxed and stylish. It’s also a great project to learn how to knit a sweater if it’s your first knitted garment.

I learned how to knit a sweater by trial and error and lots of tears, and I know many of you all had the same experience, so I’m here to offer a much easier introduction to knitting and knitted garments especially.

If you’d like to own this or any of my patterns in an ad free, downloadable and printable PDF format, you can find them in my shops below.

Etsy

Raverlry

Lovecrafts

Ribblr *NEW*

If you already know how to knit a sweater, or you just want to see more of my free patterns, you might like some of these below.

1 Knitted Tank Top / 2 Knitted Sweater Dress / 3 Lacy Knitted Sweater

Materials

*These materials contain affiliate links, for which I make a small commission. It’s no extra cost to you, makes shopping easier and helps to keep the lights on.

Stitches Used & Code (US Term)

  • CO = Cast on
  • BO = Bind off
  • K = Knit
  • P = Purl
  • ST = Stitch(es)
  • M1R = Make 1 right leaning increase 
  • M1L = Make 1 left leaning increase
  • TBL = Through back loop
  • REP = Repeat
  • RS = Right side
  • WS = Wrong side
  • ” = Inches

Skill: easy

Notes:

  • The pattern is written in English US terminology 
  • The pattern is made as US women’s sizes XS(S, M, L, XL, XXL)
  • In this picture I have demonstrated with size Small
  • For the upper back and upper front, we’re going to work back and forth in the row. Then we’re going to join in the round and work on the body.

Gauge blocked: 13 ST X 17 Rows = 4″

Yarn needed: 740(780, 830, 870, 920, 960) Yards

Measurements (After blocked)

  • XS = 40″ Body Circumference X 20.94″ Length
  • S = 42.46″ Body Circumference X 21.41″ Length
  • M = 44.92″ Body Circumference X 22.82″ Length
  • L = 47.38″ Body Circumference X 23.29″ Length
  • XL = 49.84″ Body Circumference X 24.70″ Length
  • XXL = 52.30″ Body Circumference X 25.17″ Length

Okay, let’s learn how to knit a sweater!

Upper Back

CO 64(68, 72, 76, 80, 84) ST

Row 1 (WS): P across. Total of 64(68, 72, 76, 80, 84) ST

Row 2 (RS): K across. Total of 64(68, 72, 76, 80, 84) ST

Row 3: P across. Total of 64(68, 72, 76, 80, 84) ST

REP Row 2 and Row 3: 15(16, 17, 18, 19, 20) more times. You’ll have a total of 33(35, 37, 39, 41, 43) rows. Cut the yarn and place all ST on hold. Check picture below

How to knit a sweater starting your cast on

Upper Right Front (When you’re wearing it)

We’re going to pick up the stitches at the upper back CO edge for the upper right front. With your upper back RS facing up, then pick up 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST on the right hand side corner of the upper back CO edge. Check picture below

Row 1 (WS): P across. Total of 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST

Row 2 (RS): K across. Total of 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST

Row 3: P across. Total of 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST

Row 4: K until you have 1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 5: P across. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 6: K across. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 7: P across. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 8: K until you have 1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 9: P across. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 10: K across. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 11: P across. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 12: K until you have 1 ST left, M1L, K the last ST. Total of 22(24, 25, 27, 28, 30) ST. Cut the yarn and place all ST on hold. Check picture below

Upper Left Front (When you’re wearing it)

We’re going to pick up the stitches at the upper back CO edge for the upper left front. With your work RS facing up, then pick up the last 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST on the left hand side corner of the upper back CO edge. Check picture below

Row 1 (WS): P across. Total of 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST

Row 2 (RS): K across. Total of 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST

Row 3: P across. Total of 19(21, 22, 24, 25, 27) ST

Row 4: K 1, M1R, K across. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 5: P across. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 6: K across. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 7: P across. Total of 20(22, 23, 25, 26, 28) ST

Row 8: K 1, M1R, K across. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 9: P across. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 10: K across. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 11: P across. Total of 21(23, 24, 26, 27, 29) ST

Row 12: K 1, M1R, K across. Total of 22(24, 25, 27, 28, 30) ST

Now we’re going to join the upper left and right front together

*Pattern continue 

Row 13: With the working yarn on the upper left front. P across the upper left, CO 20(20, 22, 22, 24, 24) ST, P across the upper right. Total of 64(68, 72, 76, 80, 84) ST. Check picture below

joining the upper corners of this how to knw a sweater tutorial

Row 14: K across. Total of 64(68, 72, 76, 80, 84) ST

Row 15: P across. Total of 64(68, 72, 76, 80, 84) ST

REP Row 14 and Row 15: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) more times. You’ll have a total of 33(35, 37, 39, 41, 43) rows. Next we’re going work on the body part

Body

Now we’re going to join the upper front and back together. We’re going to work in the round on the right side for the body, using the long circular needles. Make sure to place the marker at the beginning of each round except round 1. 

Round 1: With the working yarn on the upper front, then K across the upper front, CO 1(1, 1, 1, 1, 1) ST for the underarm, K across the upper back, CO 1(1, 1, 1, 1, 1) ST for the underarm. Total of 130(138, 146, 154, 162, 170) ST. We’re not joining in the round yet but as soon as we’re knitting the first ST on round 2 then we’ll start working in the round. Check picture below

Round 2 – Round 46(46, 50, 50, 54, 54): K around. Total of 130(138, 146, 154, 162, 170) ST

Round 47(47, 51, 51, 55, 55): *K 1 TBL, P 1 TBL* REP from *TO* around. Total of 130(138, 146, 154, 162, 170) ST

Round 48(48, 52, 52, 56, 56) – Round 56(56, 60, 60, 64, 64): REP Round 47(47, 51, 51, 55, 55). Then BO all stitches, I use BO in pattern.

Sleeves

Using 22″ circular needles, we’re going to work in the round on the right side. Make sure to place the marker at the beginning of each round.

With your work RS facing out. Pickup stitches around the arm hole edge. Start from the underarm, *Pickup each of next 2 ST, SK next ST* REP from *TO* around, make sure that the underarm doesn’t have a big hole, if so you can pickup more stitches to avoid it. Total of 46(50, 52, 54, 58, 60) ST. If you have a couple more or less stitches it’s ok but be sure that you have an even number of stitches.

Round 1 – Round 58: K around. Total of 46(50, 52, 54, 58, 60) ST

Round 59: *K 1 TBL, P 1 TBL* REP from *TO* around. Total of 46(50, 52, 54, 58, 60) ST

Round 60 – Round 66: REP Round 59 (All sizes are have the same amount of rounds). Then BO all stitches, I use a BO in pattern.

Neckline Ribbing

Use 22″ circular needles, we’re going to work in the round on the right side. Make sure to place the marker at the beginning of each round.

With your work RS facing out, start pickup stitches anyway you prefer. I’m starting at the middle part of the back neckline, picking up every stitch until you reach the shoulder, pickup 1 ST at the shoulder. Next we’re going to pickup the stitches around the stockinette edge on the upper left front, *Pickup each of next 2 ST, SK next ST* REP from *TO* until you reach the corner front neckline, pickup 1 ST at the corner, pickup every stitch until you reach the other corner front neckline, pickup 1 ST at the corner. Next we’re going to pickup the stitches around the stockinette edge on the upper right front, *Pickup each of next 2 ST, SK next ST* REP from *TO* until you reach the shoulder, pickup 1 ST at the shoulder, pickup every stitch until the end. Total of 66(66, 70, 70, 74, 74) ST around the neckline, If you have a couple more or less stitches it’s ok but be sure that you have an even number of stitches.

Round 1: *K 1 TBL, P 1 TBL* REP from *TO* around. Total of  66(66, 70, 70, 74, 74) ST

Round 2 – Round 4: REP Round 1 (All sizes are have the same amount of rounds). Then BO all stitches, I use a BO in pattern.

Be sure to follow along with the full video tutorial below.

HERE’S THE VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR THIS KNITTED SWEATR

That’s it for this knitted sweater tutorial! If you made it this far, congratulations! Keep up the great work, till next rime.

Happy knitting!

✌💖🧶

Wan