Friday, January 11, 2008

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!

29 comments:

Nicole said...

Love it!!! What a great design...just what I was looking for. I'm going to start mine out of recycled sari silk from my little store DarnGoodYarn.com! Happy turkey day

chris said...

It should look fabulous in recycled sari silk. Those colours are so great! Email me a photo when you are done.
Chris

lolaforpresident said...

Ooooh, I love the simple design. I am starting this on acrylic. :) Wish me luck.

Retro Jordan Shoes said...

I have been reading the posts avidly so just wanted to express my thanks for providing me with some very good reading material. I look forward to more, and taking a more active part in the discussions here.

Lyz1411 said...

I do love the neckline as it is suitable for all age groups. I am wondering if the pattern comes in bigger sizes or could I use another pattern that would take the neckline when the stitches are picked up?

Lyz1411 said...

I love the neckline as it is suitable for all age groups. I am wondering if there is a bigger size pattern for this one?

chris said...

if you want it bigger add approx 2 sts to the front AND back pieces(across width) for ever inch larger across the chest... check gauge first to make sure you match mine. make the sleeve a stitch or two wider as well, but the neck shaping should be similar.... hope that helps.

Anonymous said...

What was the original size of the seater? I would love to make this!!

chris said...

the pattern has... 37 around the body, and 21 shoulder to hem. After washing it relaxed even further and now fits a comfy loose 40 ".

I do not use sizes, only inch measurements, as these patterns are used all over the world and a size 10 local could be an 8, 12, or 38 around the world.

Hope that helps everyone.
chris

God's Grace and Good Cookin said...

I am a new knitter and I am sooo inspired by you!!!! I have been looking for so long for an easy sweater pattern style that I like for my first sweater and yours is it! Perfect! I just need to make it bigger and not sure how to do that. Do you have this pattern in a bigger size or can you tell me how to make it larger? I need the bust to be at least 40inches. I like it because it is loose, so I would need to make it bigger than 40inches to achieve this. Please let me know and thanks ever so much! I so appreciate your knitting pattern!

chris said...

Hi GG & GC, I would add 8 sts to the back and front, and make the center panels 8 sts larger in the pattern. This should add about 6 inches to the total width, and should fit you fine. The sleeves are wide, and should be fine at the same number.
Cheers, Chris

Unknown said...

love this design! Hopefully, this will be the first of many sweaters made by me! I have but one question - how do I make it slightly smaller? I'm 34" around the bust

chris said...

To make it a bit smaller, adjust your gauge swatch to make it 14 sts = 4inches. This way you knit the exact same number of stitches, but you will end up with about 3 inches smaller!
It's all about the gauge... KNIT YOUR SWATCH FIRST!

Unknown said...

Awesome! Thanks for the quick reply, now I have to go get some yarn!

Anonymous said...

I love this pattern. I was wondering if you could change it to a crew neck pattern instead of the cowl? thank you

chris said...

to omit the cowl neck, finish the same way and pick up the neck stitches, but just knit 3 rows then cast off loosely. Easy!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to make this sweater in a size large enough to fit a woman's 2X or 3X. How many additional stitches do I need to cast on in order to get this sizing?

chris said...

For larger sizes:
For each 4 inches OVER 40" finished garment (measure one that fits you perfectly), you need to add about 12 sts, so add 6 more to the front, and 6 more to the back:
ie: you need finished size 48, cast on 74 for the front and 74 for the back....
This only works if your gauge is the same as my gauge...
Hope the math helps!
Chris

Anonymous said...

Can you please clarify the pattern row(s)

knit 4/k1p1/knit 50/k1p1/knit 4
then
purl 4/p1k1/purl 50/p1k1/purl 4

is this correct?

Thanks so much,
Cathy

chris said...

Hi Cathy.... If you want it written in two row format , you would work it like this...

Knit 4, place marker, K1, P1, place marker, knit 50, place marker, K1, P1, place marker, knit 4

Row 2: Purl 4, slip marker, K1, P1, slip marker, purl 50, slip marker, K1, P1, slip marker, purl 4

Yours had the seed stitches as rib stitch, otherwise fine.
Hope that helps, Chris

Faragor said...

I have not long started knitting and decided I would make my mother in law a jumper for Christmas.
I chose this design as it seemed simple and the sizes were correct for what I wanted.
I have just finished it and it looks really good.
Thanks for the pattern. ☺

chris said...

Thanks for this comment Faragor. It is the best comment ever! I love to hear that my pattern has been used to knit something as special as a sweater for your mother in law. You are a wonderful daughter, and you have made my day. Merry Christmas

Patsy said...

Would this pattern be suitable knitted in Sublime Chunky Merino Tweed - gauge is the same but no silk content? Thank you.

chris said...

Patsy, that sounds like it would work. Silk is not the key, gauge is, so go ahead, and send a photo when done!
Chris

myknittedcat said...

I'm just a little confused as to which needles I shoud be using when, could you clarify for me?

chris said...

Straight needles for the flat body pieces. The circular needles are required for the cowl neck.
Hope that helps.
Chris

Unknown said...

hi chris. id love to knit this jumper but how would i adjust the pattern to 8 ply thick navy wool??

chris said...

Hi Cydnea. I could possibly help you if you can knit a swatch then nock it then measure it to get the actual gauge of the yarn you want to use. No other way to assist with a yarn substitution.
Chris

Kim said...

Sweater looks cozy very attractive neck line with some great feed back hoping to create thank you so much for sharing