Beginner-friendly crochet sweater pattern
Are you terrified of making your first sweater? This beginner-friendly crochet sweater pattern would help you make your own fitting sweater in no time.
I get it, because I have been there! It is sometimes challenging and can be intimidating to make a crochet sweater. This is exactly why this post is written to help guide you into making your own version of this beginner friendly crochet sweater.
Permit me to introduce you to my newest crochet sweater pattern – the tranquility sweater. This one is so easy and the details are simply bespoke.
I love that I can poke my thumb out through the sleeves. I mean, there are days that I truly want my long sleeves to remain long sleeve without pulling down.
This beginner-friendly crochet sweater pattern is made from top-down. That is from the yoke (neckline) downwards. This is a no-sew pattern. The beauty of this design is that you get to check the fit as you proceed. I love when I can check how fitted my garments are even before I complete them.
Tips to help you crochet your own very first sweater
1. Be confident that you can crochet a sweater/garment.
2. Get your material ready. These include – Yarn, hook, stitch markers, and measuring tape.
3. Start by checking your gauge. This is usually provided in almost all crochet garment patterns. You have to make the required number of stitches recommended by the designer.
For example, gauge usually comes in this format – 12 stitches over 10 rounds or rows, made in half double crochet, measuring 4″ square. This means that you should have 12 hdc over 10 rounds/rows measuring 4″ by 4″. Sometimes, you might have more stitches than indicated by the designer.
4. Make sure to follow the provided instructions. Most time, this simple point seems so difficult to follow!
5. The designer is your friend you can send questions to the designer when in doubt.
What to do when you have more stitches than recommended by the gauge includes
A. Go up one or two hook sizes.
B. Change your yarn to a thicker one
What you can do when you have fewer stitches than recommended
A. Go down by one or two hook sizes.
B. Change your yarn to a thinner one
This beginner-friendly crochet sweater pattern is free, read on for the details, or use the buttons above for the print-friendly copy.
Since you love this pattern, check out this free one-piece crochet cardigan on my blog
Materials needed for this beginner-friendly sweater
Yarn – Any lightweight – DK, (#3) yarn can be used for this pattern
Lion brand Coboo – DK, #3 lightweight (51% Cotton, 49% Rayon from Bamboo, 232 yards/212m per 3.5 oz/100g skein)
5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9) Skeins
Estimated Yardage
980 (1080, 1160, 1280, 1380, 1500, 1620, 1800, 2000) yards
Hook and other materials for this beginners crochet sweater
Gauge – One of the most important things to do begore making your sweater is to check your gauge. This means, making a small sample of 15 hdc over 15 rows and measuring it. If it is bigger, go down a hook size. If it is smaller, go up a hook size.
15 sts over 15 Rows = 4 x 4” made in hdc, before blocking.
Adjust hook size if necessary, to obtain gauge.
Pattern Notes
1. Please kindly read through the pattern before starting.
2. Similar #3 weight yarn can be substituted, please check the gauge.
3. Chains at the beginning of the rounds do not count as a stitch.
4. Stitch count is written after each row/round with the smallest XS written first and the other in the ().
5. Stitch count written in black is for all sizes but at some points, the stitch counts are color-coded for clarity, i.e. XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
Difficulty Level – Intermediate
Terms – US Terminology
Stitches Abbreviations
Chain(s) – ch(s)
Single Crochet – sc
Half double crochet – hdc
Double crochet – dc
Special stitch
Bobble stitch = 7dctog – *Yarn over hook, insert hook into
indicated st, yarn over, draw yarn through, yarn over, and pull through 2 loops, repeat from * 6 more times, “You should have 8 loops around your hook”, yarn over, pull through all the loops at once, lock with a chain.
Crossed hdc – skip next st, hdc in next st, crocheting over the hdc just made, work hdc into the skipped st,
Finished Measurement
Size(s) and color codes – XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
Bust Measurement: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62)”
Length of Sweater: 21 (21, 21, 21, 23, 23, 23, 25, 25)”
Armhole Measurement: 15.5 (16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5)”
The modeled garment is shown in Medium, with 1” of Positive Ease.
Construction Notes
1. This sweater is worked in rounds.
2. Pattern is worked from Top-down as such you can easily customize yours to fit as you go.
3. No sewing is required.
Adjustments/fittings
Length: increase or decrease the repeats for part of the Body.
Armpit:
Too tight? Increase the number of repeats when splitting for sleeves before joining to work in one piece.
Too loose: Go back a few rounds before splitting for sleeves.
Bust/fitting: Once you join in section 2, check to fit. If too tight, frog back to reduce your increase at the split for sleeves.
I hope to see your makes from this beginner-friendly crochet sweater, when you do, kindly tag me with your photos.
How to crochet a beginner-friendly sweater
Section 1: Yoke
For XS (S, M, L, XL) alone
Chain 102 join with a sl st to the beginning chain.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 102 sc
Round 2: Ch 2, crossed hdc in remaining sts, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 102 hdc
Round 3: Ch 3, bobble in first st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, *Bobble st in next, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 34 bobbles/ch sps
Round 4: Ch 2, 3 hdc in first ch-2 sp, 4 hdc in each ch 2 sp across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 135 hdc
Rounds 5 – 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 135 hdc
Round 8: Ch 3, bobble in first st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, *Bobble st in next, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 45 bobbles/ch sps
Round 9: Ch 2, 4 hdc in each ch 2 sp across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 180 hdc
Rounds 10 – 11: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 180 hdc
Round 12: Ch 3, bobble in first st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, *Bobble st in next, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 60 bobbles/ch sps
Round 13: Ch 2, 4 hdc in each ch 2 sp across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 240 hdc
Rounds 14 – 15: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 240 hdc
XS = Skip to body
Round 16: Ch 2, *hdc in next 14 sts, 2 hdc in next, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 256 hdc
S = Skip to body
Round 17: Ch 2, hdc in next 15 sts, 2 hdc in next, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 272 hdc
M = Skip to body
Round 18: Ch 2, hdc in next 16 sts, 2 hdc in next, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 288 hdc
L = Skip to body
Round 19: Ch 2, hdc in next 17 sts, 2 hdc in next, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 304 hdc
Yoke for 2XL (3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
Chain 102 join with a sl st to the beginning chain.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 102 sc
Round 2: Ch 2, crossed hdc in remaining sts, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 102 hdc
Round 3: Ch 3, bobble in first st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, *Bobble st in next, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 34 bobbles/ch sps
Round 4: Ch 2, 3 hdc in first ch-2 sp, 5 hdc in each of the remaining ch 2 sp across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 168 hdc
Rounds 5 – 7: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 168 hdc
Round 8: Ch 3, bobble in first st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, *Bobble st in next, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, rep from * to the end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 56 bobbles/ch sps
Round 9: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first ch-2 sp, 4 hdc in each of the remaining ch 2 sp across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 222 hdc
Rounds 10 – 14: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 222 hdc
Round 15: Ch 3, bobble in first st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, *Bobble st in next, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, rep from * to the end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 74 bobbles/ch sps
Round 16: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first ch-sp, 4 hdc in each of the remaining ch 2 sp across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 294 hdc
Rounds 17 – 18: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 294 hdc
2XL = Round 19: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first st, *hdc in next 7 sts, 2 hdc in next st, rep from * until last 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in last 2 sts, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 328 hdc
3XL = Round 19: Ch 2, 3 hdc in first st, *hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st, rep from * to the end, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 344 hdc
4XL = Round 19: Ch 2, hdc in first 7 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts, rep from * until last 7 sts, hdc in remaining sts, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 364 hdc
5XL = Round 19: Ch 2, *hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st, rep from * to the end, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 343 hdc
5XL = Round 20: Ch 2, hdc in first 20 sts, *2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, rep from * to the end, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 448 hdc
Section 2: All sizes
Split for sleeves/Body
Rounds 1 – 8 (8,8,10,10,10,10,12,12): Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 240 (256, 272, 288, 304, 328, 344, 364, 448) hdc
Kindly try it on to make sure you have a comfortable fit.
Kindly note the number of rounds and let me know if you’ve added or removed from the above.
Round 9 (9, 9, 11, 11, 11, 11, 13, 13): Ch 2, hdc in next 56 (64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) sts, skip next 64 (64, 64, 64, 64, 68 68, 70, 70) sts, hdc in next 56 (64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) sts, leave the remaining sts unworked. Join with a sl st to the beginning ch. 112 (128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208, 224, 240) hdc
- Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the stitch and move after every round without joining.
- For a better fit around your waist, go down 1 – 2 hook sizes after round 10.
- You can increase or decrease the repeats.
Rounds 10 – 28 (30, 34, 34, 34, 36, 38, 40, 40): Hdc in each st around. 112 (128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208, 224, 240) hdc
Sweater brim
Round 1: Ch 3, *skip next 2 sts, bobble in next st, ch 2, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 37 (42, 48, 53, 59, 64, 69, 74, 80) Bobbles
Round 2: Ch 1, 3 sc in each ch-2 sp, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning chain.
Fasten off.
Section 3 : Sleeves
Join yarn with a sl st to the base of armpit
Round 1: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, join with a sl st to the beginning of the ch sp. 64 (64, 64, 64, 64, 68 68, 70, 70) hdc
Round 2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each of the st around until last 2 sts, hdc2tog, join with a sl st to the beginning of the ch sp. 62 (62, 62, 62, 62, 66 66, 68, 68) hdc
Rounds 3 – 5: Ch 2, hdc in each of the st around, join with a sl st to the beginning of the ch sp. 62 (62, 62, 62, 62, 66 66, 68, 68) hdc
Round 6: Rep round 2
Rounds 7 – 34 (34, 34, 34, 34, 34, 34, 42, 42): Rep Rounds 3 – 6. 48 (48, 48, 48, 48, 52, 52, 52, 52) hdc
Rounds 35 – 45: Ch 2, hdc in each st across, join with a sl st to the beginning of the ch sp.
48 (48, 48, 48, 48, 52, 52, 52, 52) hdc
Sleeve cuff
Round 1: Ch 3, bobble in first st, ch 2, skip next 3 sts, *Bobble st in next, ch 2, skip next 3 sts, rep from * to end, join with a sl st to the top of beginning ch. 12 (12, 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 13) bobbles/ch-sps
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, join with a sl st to the top of the beginning chain. 24 (24, 24, 24, 24, 26, 26, 26, 26) sc
Fasten off.
Any of the chain spaces can be used for the thumb.
Weave in ends.
Block to measurements.
Thank you for making this sweater. I would love to see your beautiful versions made using this easy beginner-friendly crochet sweater.
