Bulky Cowl Neck Sweater - Free Pattern

Bulky Silk Cowl Neck Sweater

This sweater was designed to be a comfy sweatshirt fit with a bit more style. I found the yarn at an incredible price, and wanted a plain stitch to show off the color and texture of the silk. The big sloppy neck was added for fun (I also made one in denim blue, same yarn with just a crew neck).

Yarn: Lang ASIA (70% silk, 30% polymid), 10 balls 50 gm and 68 meters. Substitute with a bulky yarn that knits to gauge.
Needles: 7 mm straight, and 7 mm circular 16 inches
Gauge: 13 sts, 20 rows = 4 inches.
Finished measurements: 37 inches around the chest, 21 inches in length of body.

BACK: Cast on 62 stitches.
Seed stitch for 4 rows (Row 1: K1, p1 repeat, Row 2: P1, k1 repeat) repeat these rows for seed stitch.
Set pattern: Stocking stitch 4 / seed stitch 2 / Stocking stitch 50 / seed stitch 2 / Stocking stitch last 4. (use markers until pattern is clearly established.)
Work in this pattern until 14 inches from start (or desired length to underarm)
Cast off 6 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows.
Continue in stocking stitch until 21 inches from beginning, and cast off all.
FRONT: Work the same as back until 2.5 inches short of shoulder.
Knit 20 – put these 20 sts on a holder for later - cast off center 10 and Knit last 20. Working on these last sts only, p across. Bind off 2 sts at beg of next row (neck edge) work to end. Purl next row. Repeat these last 2 rows once more. K2 tog at beg of next row. Continue in stocking stitch on these 15 sts, until same length as back and bind off.
Other side, put back on needles, and bind off 2 sts at neck edge, p to end of row. Next row K across. Repeat these 2 rows, then p2 together at start of row, and work the remaining 15 sts in stocking stitch until same length as other side. Bind off.

SLEEVE: Cast on 26, work 4 rows of seed stitch, then change to stocking stitch, work sleeve, increasing one stitch each side , every 6 rows until there are 48 stitches. Work even until 20 inches (or desired length to underarm).
Cap of sleeve: Bind off 3 sts at start of next 2 rows.
Bind off 2 at start of next 2 rows, then one at start of next 2 rows.
Then 3 at start of next 2 rows, then 4 at start of next 2 rows. Now cast of remaining sts.

FINISHING: Sew shoulder seams. Sew in sleeve cap. Then sew sleeve and side closed.
With circular needles, pick up 62 stitches around neck opening, and work in reverse stocking stitch in the round (right side of sweater shows purl stitches- this will be folded over to show knit stitches again when worn). Continue around in purl stitches until 8 inches are done, then work 4 rows of seed stitch to finish, and cast off all stitches.
Sew in all ends, fold neck in half to outside, and enjoy!