Easy Top-Down Knit Sweater Pattern

Velvety Soft Knit Sweater Pattern

This easy top-down knit sweater pattern is perfect for your first garment!

Velvety Soft Knit Sweater Pattern

When you see velvety yarn, you probably think that the only thing you can knit with it is a blanket, but that's not true! Patterns like this Velvety Soft Knit Sweater Pattern are fantastic for fuzzy, soft yarn. The best part about this pattern is just how easy it is; by following this simple top-down yoke sweater knitting pattern, you'll learn quickly and painlessly how to knit your first ever garment. It also makes an excellent gift for a teen, since textured fabric is so in-fashion right now.

Easy

Knitting Needle Size10 or 6 mm, 8 or 5 mm, 9 or 5.5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

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

Gauge12 sts and 17 rows = 4" [10 cm] in stocking st with larger needles.

Materials List

Bernat® Velvet™ (10.5 oz/300 g; 315 yds/288 m) Terracotta Rose (32017) - 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4) balls
Sizes U.S. 8 (5 mm) and U.S. 10 (6 mm) circular knitting needle 24" [61 cm] long.
et of 4 sizes U.S. 9 (5.5 mm) and U.S. 10 (6 mm) double-pointed knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Stitch marker.

Instructions

Notes

SIZES

To fit bust measurement:

XS/S: 28-34" [71-86.5 cm]
M: 36-38" [91.5-96.5 cm]
L: 40-42" [101.5-106.5 cm]
XL: 44-46" [112-117 cm]
2/3XL: 48-54" [122-137 cm]
4/5XL: 56-62" [142-157.5 cm]

Finished bust:

XS/S: 40" [101.5 cm]
M: 42 ½" [108 cm]
L: 46 ½" [118 cm]
XL: 52" [132 cm]
2/3XL: 58 ½" [148.5 cm]
4/5XL: 66" [167.5 cm]
Sweater is worked in one piece, from neck edge down.
Neck shaping is worked in rows. After center front sts are cast on, work is joined and completed in the round.

Instructions

The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

With larger circular needle, cast on 36 (38-38-40-44-46) sts.

1st row: (RS). K1. PM. K2. PM. K4 (4-4-4-6-6). PM. K2. PM. K18 (20-20-22-22-24). PM. K2. PM. K4 (4-4-4-6-6). PM. K2. PM. K1.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.
3rd row: K1. *M1. SM. K2. SM. M1. K4 (4-4-4-6-6). M1. SM. K2. SM. M1.* Knit to next marker. Rep from * to * once more. K1. 44 (46-46-48-52-54) sts.
5th row: Knit to first marker. *M1. SM. K2. SM. M1. Knit to next marker. M1. SM. K2. SM. M1.* Knit to next marker. Rep from * to * once more. Knit to end of row. 52 (54-54-56-60-62) sts.
6th row: Purl.
7th row: As 5th row. 60 (62-62-64-68-70) sts.
Next row: (WS). Cast on 16 (18-18-20-20-22) sts (center front).

Join to beg working in rnds. 76 (80-80-84-88-92) sts.

Proceed in rnds as follows:

1st rnd: Knit.
2nd rnd: Knit to next marker. *M1. SM. K2. SM. M1.** Knit to next marker. Rep from * twice more, then from * to ** once. Knit to end of rnd. 84 (88-88-92-96-100) sts.

Rep last 2 rnds, inc 8 sts every alt rnd 15 (16-19-20-20-21) times more. 204 (216-240-252-256-268) sts.

Sizes XL, 2/3XL and 4/5XL only:

1st rnd: Knit.
2nd rnd: (Knit to next marker. M1. SM. K2. SM. Knit to next marker. SM. K2. SM. M1) twice. Knit to end of rnd. (256-260-272) sts. Rep last 2 rnds, inc 4 sts every alt rnd (1-6-10) time(s) more. (260-284-312) sts.

All sizes:

Knit even in rnds on 204 (216-240-260-284-312) sts until work from front neck measures 8½ (9-10-11-12-13)" [21.5 (23-25.5-28-30.5-33) cm].
Divide for Sleeves and Body:

Next rnd: Knit to next marker. Remove marker. K1. Slip next 44 (46-52-52-56-58) sts onto scrap yarn (removing marker).

Cast on 2 sts. K58 (62-68-78-86-98).

Slip next 44 (46-52-52-56-58) sts onto scrap yarn (removing marker).

Cast on 2 sts. K58 (62-68-78-86-98). 120 (128-140-156-176-200) sts.
BODY

Knit even in rnds on these 120 (128-140-156-176-200) sts until Body from Sleeve divide measures 12 (12-12-13-13-13)" [30.5 (30.5-30.5-33-33-33) cm].

Change to smaller circular needle and proceed as follows:

Next rnd: *K1tbl. P1. Rep from * around.Rep last rnd (K1tbl. P1) ribbing for 2" [5 cm]. Cast off loosely in pat.
SLEEVES

Slip 44 (46-52-52-56-58) sts from scrap yarn onto larger double-pointed needles. Pick up and knit 2 sts along armhole divide.

PM between last 2 picked up sts.

Divide sts among 3 needles to beg working in rnds. 46 (48-54-54-58-60) sts.

Knit even in rnds until work from sleeve divide measures 3 (3-2½-2½-1-1)" [7.5 (7.5-6.5-6.5-2.5-2.5) cm].

Next rnd: K2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. ssk. 44 (46-52-52-56-58) sts.

Knit 5 (5-5-5-5-3) rnds even.

Rep last 6 (6-6-6-6-4) rnds 8 (8-2-2-0-10) times more. 28 (28-46-48-56-38) sts.

Sizes L, XL, 2/3XL and 4/5XL only:

Next rnd: K2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. ssk. (46-46-52-38) sts.

Knit (3-3-3-1) rnd(s) even.

Rep last (4-4-4-2) rnds (8-8-12-4) times more. 30 sts.

All sizes: Cont even until Sleeve measures 14" [35.5 cm] from armhole divide.

Change to smaller double-pointed needles and proceed as follows:

Next rnd: *K1tbl. P1. Rep from * around.

Rep last rnd of (K1tbl. P1) ribbing for 2" [5 cm]. Cast off in pat.
Neckband:

With RS facing and smaller circular needle, pick up and knit 36 (38-38-40-44-46) sts along back neck edge. Pick up and knit 8 sts down left front neck edge. Pick up and knit 16 (18-18-20-20-22) sts along front neck edge. Pick up and knit 8 sts up right front neck edge. PM. Join to beg working in rnds. 68 (72-72-76-80-84) sts.

1st rnd: *K1tbl. P1. Rep from * around.

Rep last rnd (K1tbl. P1) ribbing 6 times more. Cast off in pat.
See diagram for finished measurements.

Abbreviations

K: Knit

K1tbl: Knit next stitch through back loop

K2tog: Knit next 2 stitches together

M1: Make 2 stitch by picking up horizontal loop lying before next stitch and knitting into back of loop

P: Purl

Pat: Pattern

St(s): Stitch(es)

RS/WS: Right Side/Wrong Side

PM: Place Marker

SM: Slip Marker

Up Next:

More Top Down Sweater Patterns

Your Recently Viewed Projects

Rate

I have not made this yet so I cannot rate it.

We are adding your Comments.

Thank you! Your comment has been added.

We are sorry. There was an error tyring to post your rating and review.

Your comment will appear after our editors have had a chance to review it.

Cancel Reply to Comment

Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!

tomsuekaty 5269969

May 16, 2020

I am knitting the silver moon shrug but do not understand what chain the 5 made means

Lisa

May 09, 2023

Not sure why you would leave your comment on an entirely different pattern but anyway, the pattern actually specifies and gives step by step instructions on what the chain 5 is- (Bring st back to left-hand needle. K1) 5 times Chain 5 made. Bring st back to left-hand needle. K4tog. Rep from to last 2 (3-1) st(s). Chain 5. Bring st back to left-hand needle. K3 (4-2) tog. Fasten off.

shoshi

May 03, 2020

I am a brand new knitter, and I want to knit this sweater. However, when I tried knitting a sample to check my gauge, 12 stitches on size 11 needles were only 3.5 inches. I didn't finish knitting the sample, because I had knitted 9 rows and it was already 3 inches. (the pattern says 17 rows.) It also had holes in it from using such large needles. Is anyone able to help me? I have no clue what to do.

Lisa

May 05, 2020

You have used the wrong needle size to knit your swatch, there is no way it can turn out with that needles size, the gauge needs to be done on a size 10 US needle, the 11 is too big, redo your gauge swatch with the recommended needle, as a new knitter you need to keep in mind that you disregard the recommended needle on a ball band and use the needles recommended in the pattern.

shoshi

May 07, 2020

Thank you for your advice. I forgot to mention that this was after I had already tried it with a size 10 needle, and it was too small.