Free Knitting Pattern for a Ladies Easy Stripe Sweater. Two-Tone Bottom-Up Sweater
Skill Level: Easy
Sizes: S (M, L)
This Two-Tone Bottom-Up Sweater is an excellent project for knitters who love the rhythm of worsted weight yarn and enjoy subtle texture. The combination of stockinette, seed stitch, and ribbing, along with the two-color design, creates visual interest without being overly complicated. The bottom-up construction, combined with picking up stitches for the sleeves, makes for a satisfying and engaging knit. While the original pattern calls for Vasto by Laines du Nord, any worsted weight yarn that meets the gauge will work beautifully. This design offers a great balance of simplicity and detail, making it perfect for an intermediate knitter or an adventurous beginner looking to expand their skills. The speed of worsted weight means you’ll have a beautiful, wearable sweater in a reasonable amount of time.
This sweater is worked in a combination of stockinette stitch, seed stitch, and 1×1 rib, creating a subtle textured design with two colors. The construction begins at the bottom hem, worked in the round. The body is then divided at the underarms, and the front and back are worked flat separately. Sleeves are picked up around the armholes and worked in the round. The pattern uses Vasto by Laines du Nord, a worsted-weight yarn.
Finished Measurements:
- Width: 37 (41, 45) inches / 94 (104, 114) cm
- Length: 21 (21½, 22) inches / 53 (54, 55) cm
- Sleeve Length: 16 (16, 16) inches / 41 (41, 41) cm
Materials Used:
- Vasto by Laines du Nord
- Color 14 (C1): 5 (6, 7) balls
- Color 13 (C2): 2 (3, 4) balls
- US 9 / 5.5 mm Circular needles (100 cm long for the body, 60 cm long for the sleeves)
Notions:
- Stitch Markers
Gauge: 15 sts x 25 rows = 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm) in stockinette stitch using US 9 / 5.5 mm needles.
Stitches Used:
- Stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS)
- K1, P1 rib (worked in the round)
- Seed stitch (worked in the round)
Pattern Notes:
- Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is worked from the bottom hem upwards.
- In the Round/Flat: The body is worked in the round until the underarms, then divided and worked flat. Sleeves are worked in the round.
- Color Changes: The pattern alternates between two colors (C1 and C2) to create stripes and texture.
- Shoulder Shaping: Shoulders are shaped by working short rows, leaving stitches on holders.
- Neck Shaping: The front neck is shaped with decreases.
- Sleeves: Stitches are picked up around the armhole and worked in the round, with decreases to shape the sleeves.
Pattern Pieces (though worked seamlessly):
- Body: Lower hem is worked in ribbing, then body is worked in a combination of stockinette and seed stitch stripes to the underarms.
- Back: Worked flat after dividing for armholes, with shoulder shaping.
- Front: Worked flat after dividing for armholes, with neck and shoulder shaping.
- Sleeves: Picked up around armholes and worked in the round, with decreases.
- Neckband Stitches are picked up and knit in the round.
Finishing:
- Shoulder seams are joined.
- Neckband stitches are picked up and worked in ribbing.
- Loose ends are woven in.
Abbreviations: Standard knitting abbreviations are used (st(s), SM, K, P, RS, WS, K2tog, rep, dec, skpo). A glossary is provided for skpo.
