Spring Breeze Sweater
UPDATE: This pattern has been updated with extended grading for 8 sizes.
I've been swimming in a sea of garter stitch lately with my three most recent knit designs all using this basic but classic stitch. The other two patterns have yet to be released, but I'm so excited to reveal the Spring Breeze Sweater, worked up in Lion Brand Yarn Comfy Cotton Blend. This year Lion Brand has put together a collection of 12 must-have cotton kits for spring, and this beauty was selected as one of them! Scroll down for the free pattern, purchase the ad-free, printer-friendly PDF here, or head over to Lion Brand to grab the kit here.
Summer knits can be tricky as it's not exactly the kind of weather you associate with knitwear. Cotton and cotton blend yarns, though, can be your best friend during these warm months. Even merino wool, known for its sweat-wicking properties, can be summer-friendly. The Spring Breeze Sweater is knit loosely on larger needles to create an airy, cool fabric that still has some of the squish that knitters know and love. The result is a light layering sweater that is perfect to wear with cut-offs, jeans, white pants, or even over a sundress.
Using simple stitches and big needles, this sweater works up in no time and looks all at once casual and sophisticated due to the drape of the loose knit fabric. With otherwise beginner friendly techniques, some short rows are added to the bottom of the back panel to extend it a bit longer than the front. I love a French tuck (tucking in the very front of your top) and this is the ultimate sweater for the look. My favorite kind of garments are those with simple, elegant silhouettes with little details like a high-low hem to set them apart.
There are so many other beautiful designs included in Lion Brand's Cotton Summer Must-Have roundup, I highly urge you to check it out here. I've included some of my faves from the list below (click each one to shop or get more details!).
Ready to get started on the Spring Breeze Sweater? This is an easy level knitting pattern, and the techniques involved are the knit stitch, purl stitch, ssk and k2tog decreases, and short rows.
MATERIALS:
2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins Lion Brand Yarn Comfy Cotton Blend in Mochaccino or approx. 784yds/716m (1176yds/ 1074m, 1176yds/ 1074m, 1176yds/1074m, 1176yds/1074m, 1176yds/1074m, 1568yds/1432m, 1568yds/1432m) of another light/dk weight cat. 3 yarn
Size US 10.5 (6.5mm) knitting needles
Size US 10.5 (6.5mm) circular needles, 16”/40cm long
Size US 11 (8mm) knitting needles
Stitch holder or scrap yarn
Stitch marker or scrap yarn
Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
Suggested positive ease: 12-14”/30.5-35.5cm
Pictured in size S on model with 34”/86cm bust
GAUGE:
12 sts + 20 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch on US 11 (8mm) needles
ABBREVIATIONS:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms
CO – cast on
K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 together
P – purl
Rep – repeat
SSK – slip, slip, knit
St(s) – stitch(es)
W&t – wrap and turn
STITCH EXPLANATION:
Wrap and turn (w&t) – Bring working yarn to front of work, slip next stitch purlwise with yarn in front, bring working yarn to back of work, slip the wrapped stitch back to the left needle purlwise with yarn in back, bring working yarn to front of work once more, and turn the work.
Notes: Sweater is worked flat in separate pieces from the bottom up for the body and top down for the sleeves. Neckline is picked up and knit in the round. Short rows are used to lengthen back of sweater. Pattern is written for eight sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL).
Back:
With size US 10.5 (6.5mm) needles, CO 65 (71, 77, 83, 89, 95, 101, 107) sts.
Row 1: K 1, *P 1, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 2: P 1, *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Rows 3-6: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Change to size US 11 (8mm) needles.
Rows 7 and 8: K.
Begin short row shaping to curve back hem:
Row 9: K 38 (42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78), w&t.
Row 10: K 11 (13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49), w&t.
Row 11: K 15 (17, 23, 29, 35, 41, 47, 53), w&t.
Row 12: K 19 (21, 27, 33, 39, 45, 51, 57), w&t.
Row 13: K 23 (25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61), w&t.
Row 14: K 27 (29, 35, 41, 47, 53, 59, 65), w&t.
Row 15: K 31 (33, 39, 45, 51, 57, 63, 69), w&t.
Row 16: K 35 (37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73), w&t.
Row 17: K 39 (41, 47, 53, 59, 65, 71, 77), w&t.
Row 18: K 43 (45, 51, 57, 63, 69, 75, 81), w&t.
Row 19: K 45 (47, 53, 59, 65, 71, 77, 83), w&t.
Row 20: K 47 (49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85), w&t.
Row 21: K 49 (51, 57, 63, 69, 75, 81, 87), w&t.
Row 22: K 51 (53, 59, 65, 71, 77, 83, 89), w&t.
Row 23: K 53 (55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85, 91), w&t.
Row 24: K 55 (57, 63, 69, 75, 81, 87, 93), w&t.
Rows 25 and 26: K to end of full row.
Row 27: K.
Rep row 27 until work measures 19”/48cm (19.5”/49.5cm, 20”/51cm, 20.5”/52cm, 21”/53.5cm, 21.5”/54.5cm, 22”/56cm, 22.5”/57cm) along the sides (it will be longer in the middle due to the short row shaping).
Next row: K 22 (25, 27, 29, 32, 34, 37, 39) bind off 21 (21, 23, 25, 25, 27, 27, 29) sts, K to end of row.
Place sts worked BEFORE the bind off of previous row onto a holder, and begin working only the sts worked AFTER the bind off to form the left shoulder.
Next 3 rows: K.
Bind off.
Place sts on holder back onto needles and rejoin yarn at neckline edge to begin the right shoulder.
Next 3 rows: K.
Bind off.
Front:
With size US 10.5 (6.5mm) needles, CO 65 (71, 77, 83, 89, 95, 101, 107) sts.
Row 1: K 1, *P 1, K 1, rep from * to end of row.
Row 2: P 1, *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Rows 3-6: Rep rows 1 and 2.
Change to size US 11 (8mm) needles.
Row 7: K.
Rep row 7 until work measures 17.5”/44.5cm (18”/46cm, 18.5”/47cm, 19”/48cm, 19.5”/49.5cm, 20”/51cm, 20.5”/52cm, 21”/53.5cm).
Begin neck shaping:
Next row: K 29 (32, 35, 37, 40, 43, 46, 48), bind off 7 (7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 11) sts, K to end of row.
Place sts worked BEFORE the bind off of previous row onto a holder, and begin working only the sts worked AFTER the bind off to form the right shoulder.
Next row: K. (29 (32, 35, 37, 40, 43, 46, 48) sts)
Next row: Bind off 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6) sts, K to end of row. (25 (28, 30, 32, 35, 37, 40, 42 sts)
Next row: K.
Next row: K 2, SSK, K to end of row. (24 (27, 29, 31, 34, 36, 39, 41 sts)
Rep last 2 rows twice more. (22 (25, 27, 29, 32, 34, 37, 39 sts)
Bind off.
Place sts on holder back onto needles and rejoin yarn at neckline edge to begin the left shoulder.
Next row: Bind off 4 sts, K to end of row. (25 (28, 30, 32, 35, 37, 40, 42 sts)
Next row: K to last 4 sts, K2tog, K 2. (24 (27, 29, 31, 34, 36, 39, 41 sts)
Next row: K.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. (22 (25, 27, 29, 32, 34, 37, 39 sts)
Bind off.
Sleeves (make 2):
With size US 11 (8mm) knitting needles, CO 42 (44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56, 60) sts.
Rows 1-7: K.
Row 8: K 2, K2tog, K to last 4 sts, SSK, K 2. (40 (42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 54, 58) sts.
Sizes XS (S) only:
Rep rows 1-8 eight more times. (24 (26) sts)
Sizes M (L, XL) only:
Rep rows 1-8, six more times. (32 (34, 36) sts)
Next 5 rows: K.
Next row: K 2, K2tog, K to last 4 sts, SSK, K 2. (30 (32, 34) sts)
Rep last 6 rows, two more times. (26 (28, 30) sts)
Sizes 2XL (3XL) only:
Rep rows 1-8, two more times. (48 (50) sts)
Next 5 rows: K.
Next row: K 2, K2tog, K to last 4 sts, SSK, K 2. (46 (48) sts)
Rep last 6 rows, six more times. (34 (36) sts)
Next 3 rows: K.
Next row: K 2, K2tog, K to last 4 sts, SSK, K 2. (32 (34) sts)
Rep last 4 rows, one more time. (30 (32) sts)
Size 4XL only:
Next 5 rows: K.
Next row: K 2, K2tog, K to last 4 sts, SSK, K 2. (56 sts)
Rep last 6 rows, six more times. (44 sts)
Next 3 rows: K.
Next row: K 2, K2tog, K to last 4 sts, SSK, K 2. (42 sts)
Rep last 4 rows, five more times. (32 sts)
All sizes: 24 (26, 26, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32) sts
If necessary, K each row until work measures 17.5”/44cm (17.5”/44cm, 17.5”/44cm, 18”/46cm, 18”/46cm, 18”/46cm, 18.5”/47cm, 18.5”/47cm).
Change to size US 10.5 (6.5mm) needles.
Next 6 rows: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Bind off.
Construction:
Seam shoulders.
Place markers 6.5”/16.5cm (7”/18cm, 7.5”/19cm, 8”/20cm, 8.5”/21.5cm, 9”/23cm, 9.5”/24cm, 10”/25.5cm) down from shoulders on either side and on both front and back pieces. Seam tops of sleeves between markers on both sides.
Fold at shoulders and seam sides from the bottom edge up to the underarm and then down underside of sleeves.
Neckband:
With size US 10.5 (6.5mm) circular needles and with the right side of the fabric facing up, pick up and knit 21 (21, 23, 25, 25, 27, 27, 29) sts along bind off edge of back neckline, 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts to left shoulder seam, 27 (27, 29, 31, 31, 33, 33, 36) sts around front neckline to right shoulder seam, and 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts to back neckline bind off for a total of 54 (54, 58, 62, 62, 66, 66, 68) sts. Join in the round and place marker for beginning of round.
Next 6 rounds: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of round.
Bind off.
Secure and weave in all ends.
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