Andromeda Cowl Neck Sweater Pattern

This oversized sweater is almost too elegant for words!

The Andromeda Cowl Neck Sweater Pattern is truly a diamond among the rough. Free cowl neck knitting patterns are hard enough to come by, as it is, and ones this simple and classic-looking are even harder. Knit with super bulky yarn, this sweater takes no time at all to complete, and it's so basic that it would look beautiful in whatever color you choose to make it. The half-fisherman's rib stitch used keeps the pattern interesting, and the lengthy sleeve design makes for a cozy layering piece for a chilly office or a go-to wintertime staple.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size13 or 9 mm, Circular Knitting Needles

Yarn Weight(5) Bulky/Chunky (12-15 stitches for 4 inches)

Gauge8 sts x 16 rows = 4” in Half Fisherman’s RibSave time, check your gauge.

Finished SizeX-Small (Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XXL)

Materials List

Premier® Yarns Bamboo Chunky (80% Anti-pilling Acrylic, 20% Rayon from Bamboo; 3.5oz/100g, 131yds/120m): #1085-14 Plum Sorbet – 9 (11, 12, 14, 15, 16) balls/skeins
US Size 13 (9 mm) 24” and 16” circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge.
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers

Instructions

Notes

Sweater is knit in pieces from the bottom up and seamed.
Finished Measurements:

Bust: 34 (38, 42, 48, 52, 56)”
Length: 26½ (27, 27, 27½, 28, 28½)”
Stitch Guide

Half Fisherman’s Rib (multiple of 2 sts + 1)
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2 (RS): *P1, knit the next stitch in the stitch below the one on the needle (let the stitch on the needle slide off); rep from * to last st, p1.

Rep Rows 1-2 for patt.

Sweater

Back

With 24” circular needle, cast on 35 (39, 43, 49, 53, 57) sts.

Setup Row (WS): *P1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.

Work in Half Fisherman’s Rib until piece measures 17 (17, 17, 17½, 17½, 18)”, ending with a WS row.
Shape Armholes

At the beginning of the next 2 rows bind off 3 (4, 5, 7, 8, 9) sts – 29 (31, 33, 35, 37, 39) sts remain.

Continue in Half Fisherman’s Rib until piece measures 25¼ (25¾, 25¾, 26¼, 26¾, 27¼)”, ending with a WS row.
Shape Neck

Row 1 (RS): Work across 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts, join 2nd ball of yarn and bind off next 13 sts, work across remaining sts – 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts on each side of neck. Work 1 WS row, working each side of the neck with its own ball of yarn.
Shape Shoulders

Note: Work both sides of the Back at the same time, using separate balls of yarn. A row counts as working across both shoulders, so binding off at the beginning of the row would be binding off on only 1 shoulder, so you always are working your bind off starting at the armhole edge.

At the beginning of the next 2 rows bind off 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7) sts. At the beginning of the next 2 rows bind off remaining 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts.
Front

Work as for Back until armholes measure approximately 8¼ (8¾, 8¾, 8¾, 9¼, 9¼)” and piece measures 20 ( 20 1/2, 20 1/2, 21, 21 1/2, 22)”, ending with a WS row.
Shape Neck

Note: Work both sides of the Back at the same time, using separate balls of yarn. A row counts as working across both fronts. When working Rows 3-6 you’ll be binding off on the group of stitches after the neck opening each row, binding off on the right front on RS rows and left front on WS rows.

Row 1 (RS): Work across 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17) sts in pattern, join a 2nd ball of yarn and bind off next 5 sts, work across to end of row in pattern – 12 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17) sts for each front.
Row 2 (WS): Work across both fronts in pattern. Rows 3-6: Work across both fronts in pattern, binding off 1 st at each neck edge – 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts on each side of neck.

Continue in Half Fisherman’s Rib until piece measures 25¼ (25¾, 25¾, 26¼, 26¾, 27¼)”, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders as for Back.
Sleeves

With 24” circular needle, cast on 19 (19, 19, 19, 21, 21) sts.

Row 1 (WS): *P1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 2 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.

Repeat last 2 rows until cuff measures 2”, ending with a WS row. Change to Half Fisherman’s Rib and work 4 rows.
Begin Sleeve Shaping

Note: As you increase stitches work them into the stitch pattern when possible, always working the first and last st of WS rows as a purl.

Increase Row (RS): K1, m1, work in pattern to last st, m1, k1 – 2 sts inc’d. Repeat Increase Row every 8 (8, 6, 6, 6, 6) rows a total of 8 (8, 9, 9, 9, 9) times – 35 (35, 37, 37, 39, 39) sts.

Continue to work in Half Fisherman’s Rib until sleeve measures 21½ (21½, 21, 20¾, 20½, 20½)”. Bind off.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams.
Sew sleeves into armholes.
Sew sleeve seams.
Starting 5” from the cast-on edge on each side, sew side seam to armholes.

Cowl Neck

Note: Switch to 24” circular needle when work no longer fits on 16” circular.

With 16” circular needle and WS facing, pick up and knit around neck opening as follows: Starting at the back neck, pick up and knit 1 st in each bind-off st across, working down side of neck pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows to bind off section at front, pick up and knit 1 st in each bind-off st across center front, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows across next side of neck to back, adjust sts so you end with an even number. Place a marker and join to work in the round.

Purl every round for 1”.

Next Round: *P1, m1; rep from * around – you will have twice as many sts after this round.

Begin Pattern
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnd 2: *P1, knit the next stitch in the stitch below the one on the needle (let the stitch on the needle slid off); rep from * around.

Repeat Rnds 1-2 until Cowl measures 11”. Bind off loosely in pattern. Weave in ends.

Abbreviations

inc('d): increase(d)

k: kni

m1: insert left needle from front to back under horizontal strand of yarn lying between st just worked and next st, knit or purl st through the back loop (1 st inc'd)