Free Knitting Men's Sweater Pattern
Measurements
To fit chest sizes 91-97 (102) (107) (112-117) (122) cm/36-38 (40) (42) (44-46) (48) in.
Actual measurements 103 (109) (115.5) (122) (128) cm/40 1/2 (43) (45 1/2) (48) (50 1/2) in.
Side seam 41 (41) (41.5) (42) (42.5) cm/16 (16) (16 1/4) (16 1/2) (16 3/4) in.
Length to shoulder 63 (64) (65) (66) (67) cm/24 3/4 (25 1/4) (25 1/2) (26) (26 1/4) in.
Sleeve seam All sizes 48cm/19in.
Materials
13 (14) (16) (17) (19) 50g (85m) balls of Rico Design Creative Cotton Aran (100% cotton) in Cherry (65).
Pair 4mm (No. 8) and 4 1/2mm (No. 7) knitting needles.
Tension
19 stitches and 28 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over pattern, using 4 1/2mm needles.
Abbreviations
K, knit; p, purl; st, stitch; tog, together; dec, decrease (by working 2 sts tog); inc, increase (by working twice into same st).
Note
Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate. Instructions are given for small size. Where they vary, work figures in round brackets for larger sizes. Instructions in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd bracket.
Back
Using 4mm needles, cast on 99 (105) (111) (117) (123) sts.
P 3 rows.
Next row (right side): K1, [p1, k1] to end.
Next row: P to end.
Repeat last 2 rows, 6 times more, then work 1st row again.
K 3 rows.
Change to 4 1/2mm needles.
1st row: K1, [p1, k1] to end.
2nd row: K to end.
These 2 rows form pattern.
Continue in pattern until back measures 62.5 (63.5) (64.5) (65.5) (66.5) cm from beginning, ending with a wrong side row.
Shape neck and shoulder:
Next row: Pattern 34 (36) (38) (40) (42) sts, turn and work on these sts for right side.
Right side:
Next row: Dec, pattern to end.
Next row: Cast off 10 sts, pattern to last 2 sts, dec.
Repeat the last 2 rows, once more - 10 (12) (14) (16) (18) sts. Work 1 row. Cast off.
Left side: With right side facing, slip centre 31 (33) (35) (37) (39) sts onto a st holder, rejoin yarn to remaining sts and pattern to end - 34 (36) (38) (40) (42) sts.
Next row: Pattern to last 2 sts, dec.
Next row: Dec, pattern to end.
Next row: Cast off 10 sts, pattern to last 2 sts, dec.
Next row: Dec, pattern to end.
Next row: Cast off 10 sts, pattern to end - 10 (12) (14) (16) (18) sts. Work 1 row.
Cast off.
Front
Work as given for back until front is 18 rows less than back to shoulder shaping, ending with a wrong side row.
Shape neck:
Next row: Pattern 40 (42) (44) (46) (48) sts, turn and work on these sts for left side.
Left side: Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 10 rows - 30 (32) (34) (36) (38) sts.
Pattern another 7 rows.
Shape shoulder: Cast off 10 sts at beginning of next row and following alternate row - 10 (12) (14) (16) (18) sts. Work 1 row.
Cast off.
Right side: With right side facing, slip centre 19 (21) (23) (25) (27) sts onto a st holder, rejoin yarn to remaining sts and pattern to end - 40 (42) (44) (46) (48) sts. Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 10 rows - 30 (32) (34) (36) (38) sts. Pattern another 8 rows.
Shape shoulder: Cast off 10 sts at beginning of next row and following alternate row - 10 (12) (14) (16) (18) sts. Work 1 row. Cast off.
Sleeves
(both alike)
Using 4mm needles, cast on 49 (53) (57) (61) (65) sts.
P 3 rows.
Next row (right side): K1, [p1, k1] to end.
Next row: P to end.
Repeat last 2 rows, 6 times more, then work 1st row again.
K 3 rows.
Change to 4 1/2mm needles.
1st row: K1, [p1, k1] to end.
2nd row: K to end.
These 2 rows form pattern.
Pattern another 4 rows.
Taking extra sts into pattern as they occur, inc 1 st at each end of next row and 16 (16) (15) (14) (13) following 6th rows - 83 (87) (89) (91) (93) sts.
Continue straight until sleeve measures 48cm from beginning, ending with a wrong side row.
Cast off.
Neckband
Join right shoulder seam. With right side facing and using 4mm needles, pick up and k14 sts down left front neck, kl9 (21) (23) (25) (27) sts at centre front, pick up and k14 sts up right front neck, 6 sts down right back neck, k31 (33) (35) (37) (39) sts at centre back, dec 1 st, then pick up and k6 sts up left back neck - 89 (93) (97) (101) (105) sts.
K 3 rows.
Next row: K1, [p1, k1] to end.
Next row: P to end.
Repeat the last 2 rows, 3 times more, then work 1st row again. K2 rows. Cast off kwise.
To make up
Join left shoulder and neckband seam. Mark 22 (23) (23.5) (24) (24.5) cm down from shoulders at side edge on back and front. Sew cast-off edge of sleeves to row- ends above markers on back and front. Join sleeve seams, then taking half a stitch in from each side, join side seams.