How to knit a Sweater with straight needles
Today, I’m sharing how to knit a Sweater with straight needles, (round neck or crew neck), and I’ll show you how to do it, step by step.
Last week, I showed you how to knit a sweater tailored to your measurements, today I wanted to post something different, no maths included!
This pattern comes in five sizes: From XS up to XXL.
There’s no need to calculate anything, it’s easy to knit and you’ll be in love with the result 😉
It’s a 4 pieces bottom-up construction, knitted with straight needles, and the neckband will be worked in the round… it’s easy, I’ll show you how 😉
I’ve chosen a stitch pattern we learned a while ago, the infamous Mock Rib stitch…
But, after knitting my swatch, I took a look at the “wrong side”, and then, decided to use it as the right side.
The Mock Rib is a two-row repeat pattern, perfect for beginners; a great knit + purl stitch.
In addition, we’ll be working the Twisted Rib stitch for the cuffs, the hem, and the neckline; not only because it looks elegant, but because it matches perfectly with the main pattern.
This pattern comes with a detailed step-by-step video tutorial, watch it, it will help 😉
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Materials
Needles:
2 x US 10 / 6 mm and 2 x US 11 / 8 mm straight needles #ad
(or size needed to obtain gauge)
And for the neckline ribbing:
US 10 / 6 mm circular knitting needle (16 in) #ad
Yarn:
I used 100% Merino wool yarn, nº 5 or bulky (12- 14 st/ 4 in). 100 gr = 140 m / 153 yd
Yarn needed for each size Size
XS/S: 600 gr 840 m 919 yd
M: 650 gr 910 m 995 yd
L: 700 gr 980 m 1072 yd
XL: 800 gr 1120 m 1225 yd
XXL: 900 gr 1260 m 1378 yd
Tools:
Sizes Chest measurement:
XS/S: 34 in 86.5 cm
M: 38 in 96.5 cm
L: 42 in 106.5 cm
XL: 46 in 117 cm
XXL: 48 in 122 cm
Finished chest measurement:
XS/S: 38 in 96.5 cm
M: 44 in 112 cm
L: 48 in 122 cm
XL: 52 in 132 cm
XXL: 58 in 147 cm
Gauge
A 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm) square knitted in Mock Rib stitch, using the larger needles equals 12
stitches and 16 rows
If you’re getting more stitches per inch, go up a needle size; if you have fewer stitches per inch, go down a needle size.
Abbreviations
CO: Cast on
RS: Right side of the work
st: Stitch
K: Knit
P: Purl
ktbl: Knit one stitch through the back loop
WS: Wrong side of the work
BO: Bind off
N.B.:
The Round Neck Sweater shown in the pictures is size L.
The instructions are written for the smallest size; the rest of the sizes are shown in parentheses, from the smallest to the largest.
The even rows form the right side of the work.
The front and the back are the same until the armholes have been finished.
How to knit a Sweater (round neck)
How to knit the Front
With smaller needles CO 61 (65, 71, 77, 89) st.
Work 15 rows in 1 x 1 Twisted Rib stitch, as follows:
Row 1: (WS) *P1, K1*. Repeat from * to * to last st, P1.
Row 2: (RS) *ktbl, P1*. Repeat from * to * to last st, ktbl.
The Mock Rib stitch pattern
Row 16: With larger needles, P across
Row 17: *P1, K1*. Repeat from * to * to last st, ending with P1.
Repeat rows 16 and 17 until the piece measures 17 1/4 (18, 18 3/4, 18 3/4, 18 3/4) in / 44 (46, 48, 48, 48) cm from the cast-on edge.
Armholes:
Maintaining the stitch pattern, BO 4 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 53 (57, 63, 69, 81) st remain.
Work until the armholes measure 5 (6, 6 1/2, 7, 7) / 12.5 (15, 16.5, 18, 18) cm, ending with a WS row.
Left side of the Neckline:
RS: Maintaining the stitch pattern, work 18 (20, 22, 25, 31) st (this is the neckline edge).
Pass the remaining st onto a stitch holder or a piece of scrap yarn.
Turn and decrease 6 st, as follows:
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): K1, k2tog, and maintaining the pattern, work to the end of the row
Rows 2 and 4: P to last 3 st, p2tog, P1
Rows 5 and 7: Work in pattern without decreasing
Row 6 and 8: P to last 3 st, p2tog, P1
12 (14, 16, 19, 25) st remain.
Work in pattern until the armhole measures 8, (9, 9 1/2, 10, 10) in / 20 (23, 23,5, 25.5) cm, ending with a WS row.
Left Shoulder:
Facing the RS, BO 6 (7–8–9–13) st purlwise, P to end.
Next row: Work in pattern
Next row: BO 6 (7–8–10–12) st purlwise.
Right side of the Neckline:
Facing the WS, pass 17 (17, 19 19, 19) st from the stitch holder (or the scrap yarn) onto your needle.
Turn the work.
Join a new ball of yarn and decrease 6 st, as follows:
Rows 1 and 3 (RS): P1, p2tog, P to end
Rows 2 and 4: Work in pattern to last 3 st, k2tog, K1
Rows 5 and 7: P1, p2tog, P to end
Row 6 and 8: Work in pattern without decreasing
12 (14, 16, 19, 25) st remain.
Work in pattern until the armhole measures 8, (9, 9 1/2, 10, 10) in / 20 (23, 23,5, 25.5) cm, ending with a RS row.
Right Shoulder:
Facing the WS, BO 6 (7–8–9–13) st working each st as it presents.
Next row: P across
Next row: BO 6 (7–8–10–12) st working each st as it presents.
How to knit the Back
Repeat the Front instructions until the armholes are completed.
Then, continue working in pattern until the armhole measures 8, (9, 9 1/2, 10, 10) in / 20 (23, 23,5, 25.5) cm, ending with a WS row.
Shoulders
Working in pattern, BO 6 (7–8–9–13) st at the beginning of the next 2 rows, and then, 6 (7–8–10–12) st at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Pass the remaining 29 (29, 31, 31, 31) st onto a stitch holder or piece of scrap yarn.
How to knit the Sleeves
With the smaller needles, CO 33 (33–33–35–37) st.
Work 15 rows in Twisted Rib stitch, as follows:
Row 1: (RS) *P1, K1*. Repeat from * to * to last st, P1
Row 2: *ktbl, P1*. Repeat from * to * to last st, ktbl.
The Mock Rib stitch
Row 16: With the larger needles, P across
Row 17: *P1, K1*. Repeat from * to * to last st, P1.
Repeat rows 16 and 17 once more.
Maintaining the pattern, increase 1 st on each side every 6 (6, 6, 4, 4) rows, until there are 49 (45, 45, 61, 61) st in total.
Sizes M (and L only):
Increase 1 st on each side every 4 rows, until there are 55 (57) st in total.
Work until the sleeve measures 20 (21, 22, 22, 19) in / 51 (53.5, 56, 56, 48) cm, ending with a WS row.
A quick note before binding off:
Please check the length of your sleeve. Although the measurements in this pattern are average, everybody’s arm length is different. I always keep checking while I’m knitting (I put on the front and the back, and measure from the shoulder to my wrist).
BO purlwise.
Neckline Ribbing
Facing the RS, join the right shoulder, and then, the left shoulder.
Using the circular needles, pick up and knit 14 st starting at the left shoulder. Knit the st on hold from the front, and pick up and knit 14 st from the neckline’s right side. Knit the st on hold from the back.
Work 7 rows in Twisted Rib stitch.
Next row: BO working each st as it presents.
Seaming
Firstly, sew the sleeves to the front and back. Sew the sleeves from the cuff to the armhole, and then the sides of the sweater.
And your new sweater is finished! Wear it with pride 😉
Enjoy the video tutorial:
How to knit a Sweater (round neck)
Don’t forget to share the love!
Happy knitting,
Carolina – So Woolly
