Beginner Crochet Sweater

It’s finally here, the free pattern you’ve been waiting for… The easy beginner crochet sweater! (clapping hands enthusiastically!) 🙂 It’s still winter and you feel like you are ready for a bigger project that you can show off to the world. Well, look no further! This Beginner-friendly Sweater Crochet pattern is made for you!

I worked long and hard hours trying to perfect this pattern and it finally came to life at the end of January! This pattern is beginner-friendly because you only need to know the basics of crochet and you also get to test yourself by using one of my favorite stitches – the back crossed half double crochet. Super fun and enjoyable crocheting at you fingertips!

Let’s dive into the deeds:

Before you start with this Easy Sweater Crochet Pattern, here are some important things to know and some background around this pattern.

The Detail of the Beginner Sweater Crochet Pattern

I really wanted to create a sweater crochet pattern that was easy enough for beginners but still beautiful and textured. If you’ve made some of my other patterns, you would know that I absolutely adore texture in all of my patterns!

And what better stitch to provide the much needed texture than that of the Back Crossed Half Double Crochet! (click on the link for the video tutorial!) This stitch is made out of half double crochets so it’s the perfect texture stitch for the beginner to play around with.

The rest of the easy sweater is made out of only Half Double Crochets! Neat!! 🙂 So definitely a must try pattern for the beginner that wants to test their skills and crochet a bigger project. And of course as an extra bonus you get to show off your completed sweater at the end!

While your here :), be sure to have a look at some of my other easy crochet patterns like:

• The Stylish Messy Bun Hat
• Oh-so-easy Beanie
• The Granny Square Bag
• Easy Shell Stitch Twisted Headband

All patterns on my blog are absolutely FREE of course!! 🙂

The pattern level:

This Sweater crochet pattern is an easy crochet pattern. Totally beginner-friendly! You need to know the following:

• How to read a pattern
• Half Double Crochet (Hdc)
• Back Crossed Half Double Crochet (BcrHdc)
• Sewing pieces together

If you are new to crochet and not familiar with any of the above mentioned, please click on the links and follow the easy tutorials! You will be able to make your Textured Sweater in no time!!!

Some FAQ and answers:

Can I adjust the size of the Crochet Sweater?

Yes you can! Sizing is stated in the pattern below – however please be mindful of the fact that this is an oversized sweater and you should choose the size that fits to your bust size measurements. If you would like a tighter fit – I’d choose the measurement that fits the actual size of the sweater that is closest to your measurement.

The body of the Sweater is worked in one piece which minimizes the sewing for this easy crochet pattern! You then only need to crochet the sleeves and sew them to the sweater. How easy is that?!

What Yarn Should I use?

I found that using a medium weight yarn is best for this crochet sweater pattern. You can use any yarn blend from any brand, as long as it’s #4 medium weight yarn. Also keep in mind to make a Gauge swatch before you start your project to know if you are using the correct size hook.

I used Elite Yarn Snowball Batik 100% Acrylic in color SN002 (100g /3.5oz ; 200m / 219yd) per ball. But if you don’t reside in South Africa you can use something like Red heart super saver 100% Acrylic or Caron Simply Soft.

Let me know if you have any other questions by leaving a comment down below!! 🙂

The materials needed for the Crochet Sweater?

You will need the following materials:

• #4 Worsted/Medium Weight Yarn – You can use any Worsted weight like Caron Simply Soft, Bernat Super Value or Red Heart Super Saver . See how much below for sizes..
• Size 6mm Hook (US J/10)
• Size 5mm Hook (US H-8 )
• Measuring Tape
• Stitch Markers
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

Let’s get started!

Now that you know all that is need to be known, I will not keep you any longer from crocheting this Easy Beginner Crochet Sweater.

Remember to follow me on Facebook and Instagram and share your creations with me on all my social platforms. Also pin this on your Pinterest boards if you want to make it again. And also remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for easy Crochet Tutorials and also easy to follow videos on my free crochet patterns!

Happy Crocheting!!! 🙂

~Nadine

 Hdc Sweater Crochet Pattern

This pattern is written in US Terms

Patten Level:

Skilled Beginner

Materials:

• #4 Worsted Weight Yarn – You can use any Worsted weight like Caron Simply Soft, Bernat Super Value or Red Heart Super Saver . See how much below for sizes..
• Size 6mm Hook (US J/10)
• Size 5mm Hook (US H-8 )
• Measuring Tape
• Stitch Markers
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

Yarn:

I used Elite Yarn Snowball Batik in color SN002 (100g /3.5oz ; 200m / 219yd) per ball.

If you are using a different kind of yarn than I did, please use the amount of yards needed and not the amount of balls.

How much yarn needed for your size:

Sizes	S	M	L	XL
Yards / Balls	1310 / 6	1528 / 7	1749 / 8	2185 / 10

Gauge:

Using the 6mm hook for the body:

10cm x 10cm / 4in x 4in = 12hdc and 10 rows

Using the 5mm hook for the brim:

10cm / 4in  = 13hdc

Sweater Sizes:

Please make sure of your burst measurements.

To fit bust:

• Small: 32 – 34” (81 – 86cm)
• Medium: 36 – 38” (91.5 – 96.5cm)
• Large: 40 – 42” (101.5 – 106.5cm)
• X – Large: 44 – 46” (111.5 –117cm)

This is an Oversized Sweater – meaning it has a positive ease of 23cm. Positive ease means that the finished garment measures larger than the body in a specific area.

Actual / Finished chest (before blocking):

• Small:  42” (106cm)
• Medium: 46” (116.5cm)
• Large:  50” (127cm)
• X – Large:  54” (137cm)

Abbreviations:

• Ch = Chain
• Hdc = Half Double Crochet
• Bcrhdc = Back cross half double crochet
• Inc = Increase – To work a stitch increase, you will crochet two stitches into a single stitch, increasing the number of stitches available to work into for the next row.
• Hdc2tog = Half double crochet 2 stitches together (Decrease stitch). To work a Hdc2tog = Yarn over (YO), insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook.  YO, insert hook into next st, pull up a loop, 5 loops on hook. YO, pull through all 5 loops on hook.
• Alt = Alternating
• Rep = Repeat
• Nxt = Next
• Sk = Skip
• St (s) = Stitch (s)
• Beg = Beginning
• R = Row
• Ws = Wrong Side of row/work
• Rs = Right Side of row/work

Notes:

• Sizing is stated above – please be mindful of the fact that this is an oversized sweater and you should choose the size that fits to your bust size measurements. If you would like a tighter fit – I’d choose the measurement that fits the actual size of the sweater that is closest to your measurement.
• Foundation chain is worked in multiple of 2 + 2.
• Figures in brackets applies to larger sizes. Only one set of figures applies to all sizes. S(M,L,XL)
• The Sweater body is worked in one piece. You will start with the back ribbing, then crochet the back, then shape the shoulders and neck line, then crochet the front body and then lastly the ribbing.
• After crocheting the sleeves, move on to the sewing section.
• For the last step, crochet the collar and then weave in all loose ends.
• Wet block sweater after finished if preferred.
• IMPORTANT: ch2 at the beginning of every row counts as a hdc.
• Work every last stitch into top of beginning ch2.
• Place a stitch marker at the top of the ch2 of each row to mark where last stitch will go into.
• A video of how to crochet this pattern will be released shortly.

Sweater Pattern Crochet Pattern:

**Ribbing:

Using the smaller hook (5mm)

Figures in brackets applies to larger sizes S(M,L,XL). Only one set of figures applies to all sizes.

Foundation ch: ch 60(66,72,76)

R1 (RS): hdc in 3^rd ch from hook (ch2 counts as hdc, place stitch marker in top of this stitch), hdc in each ch until end of row, turn. 58(64,70,74)

R2 (WS): ch2(counts as hdc), bcrhdc across entire row until you reach last st, hdc in last st, turn.  58(64,70,74)

R3 (RS): ch2, hdc in next st and in each st across, turn. 58(64,70,74)

Repeat row 2 and 3 until ribbing measures 4”/10cm ending in a RS row.

Back Panel:

Using the Larger hook (6mm)

R1 (WS): ch2, inc in nxt st, hdc in each st and inc in each of the next 7(8,8,9)sts, at the end of last increase hdc in each of rem sts, turn. 66(72,78,82)

R2 (RS): ch2, hdc in nxt st and in each st across until end, turn. 66(72,78,82)

R3 – 9 Rep row 2 until you reach row 9.

R10 (WS): ch2, bcrhdc across entire row until you reach the last st, hdc in last st, turn. 66(72,78,82)

Repeat row 2-10 until piece measures 24(24.8,25,26)inch or 61(63,66,67)cm from beginning, ending in WS row.

Shoulders and Neckline:

Place stitch markers in the following sts, start counting from working yarn and remember the ch2 counts as hdc.
Small:             16, 50

Medium:         19, 53

Large:              22, 56

X-Large:         24, 58

Left Shoulder:

R1 (RS): ch2 (counts as hdc), hdc in nxt 15(18,21,23) sts (until you reach your st marker), turn. 16(19,22,24)

R2 (WS): ch2, hdc in nxt st and in each st across until end, turn. 16(19,22,24)

R3-8: Repeat row 2 until you reach row 8(WS). 16(19,22,24)

R9 (RS): ch2, hdc in each st across until 2^nd to last st, inc in 2^nd to last st, hdc in last st, turn. 18(21,24,26)

R10 (WS): ch2, inc in nxt st, hdc in each st across until end, turn. 17(20,23,25)

Repeat row 9 and 10 alt until you reach row 20. 28(31,34,36) Making sure to end on WS.

DO NOT FINISH OFF.

Right Shoulder:

Attach new ball of yarn where you placed your stitch marker in the beginning 50(53,56,58)

R1 (RS): ch2 (counts as hdc), hdc in nxt 15(18,21,23) sts, turn. 16(19,22,24)

R2 (WS): ch2, hdc in nxt st and in each st across until end, turn. 16(19,22,24)

R3-8: Repeat row 2 until you reach row 8(WS). 16(19,22,24)

R9 (RS): ch2, inc in nxt st, hdc in each st across until end, turn. 17(20,23,25)

R10 (WS): ch2, hdc in each st across until 2^nd to last st, inc in 2^nd to last st, hdc in last st, turn. 18(21,24,26)

Repeat row 9 and 10 alt until you reach row 20. 28(31,34,36) making sure to end on WS.

Attach Shoulders:

Continue with yarn attached to Left shoulder.

1^st row (rs): ch2, hdc in nxt 28(31,34,36), now crochet 10 x fhdc or ch10, hdc in nxt 28(31,34,36) and into last st, turn. 66(72,78,82)

Continue to Front panel.

Front Panel:

R1 (WS): ch2, hdc in nxt st and in each st across until end, turn. 66(72,78,82)

Rep R1 until your reach R6 ending on a RS row. 66(72,78,82)

R7 (WS): ch2, bcrhdc across entire row until last st, hdc in last st, turn. 66(72,78,82)

R8 -R15: ch2, hdc in nxt st and in each st across until end, turn. End on RS row. 66(72,78,82)

R16 (WS): ch2, bcrhdc across entire row until last st, hdc in last st, turn. 66(72,78,82)

Repeat row 8 to 16 until piece measures 14,7”/36cm (making sure the front lines up with back piece before ribbing on back) Ending the front piece on 8 x hdc rows and on a WS row.

Next row (RS): (1 x dec row) ch2, hdc2tog in nxt st, hdc in each st and hdc2tog in each of the next 7(8,8,9)sts, at the end of last decrease hdc in each of rem sts, turn.58(64,70,74)

Front Ribbing:

Follow ** Ribbing as indicated for the back, but start with row 3 and then follow with row 2.

Rep row 3 and row 2 until ribbing measures 4”/10cm ending in hdc row or until ribbing measures the same as back

Finish off and weave in all loose ends. Continue to Sewing section of pattern.

Sleeves: Make 2

Ribbing/cuff:

With 5mm hook, ch35.

Follow **Ribbing pattern until ribbing measures 2.3” / 6cm ending in WS row, turn. (34hdc)

Switch to larger hook (6mm)

1st row (RS): ch2, hdc in nxt st to end of row, turn.

Following rows: work in hdc, increasing 1^st and last st of each and of next and alt rows 6(7,7,8) times. 46(48,48,50)

After increase rows: Work following pattern to finish.

Work 2 rows of hdc evenly without increasing and end on RS row. 46(48,48,50)

Bcrhdc row (WS): ch2, bcrhdc across entire row until last st, hdc in last st, turn. 46(48,48,50)

Next row (RS): ch2, hdc in nxt st and each st across until end, tun. 46(48,48,50)

Rep Bcrhdc row and next row alt until you have 5 bcrhdc rows.

Following rows: Work hdc rows evenly until sleeve measures 16”/43cm or as long as your arm from wrist to shoulder.

Finish off leaving a long tail and sew the sleeve lengthwise until the end of ribbing/cuff. 

Sewing:

Sew front to back leaving 8”/20cm unworked at the shoulders for the sleeves. Sew sleeves to sweater. Continue to Neckband.

Neckband:

1^st row (RS): with smaller hook (5mm)

Join yarn at back of neck with a sl st. ch2, work hdc row evenly spaced around neckline. Join in round with sl st to top of ch2. Turn.

2^nd row (WS): ch2, bcrhdc evenly across the round, if you end with uneven sts at end, that’s fine. Just put hdc in rem sts. You won’t notice this as it is and back of neckline. At the end, sl st to top of ch2, turn.

Following rows: Work 1^st and 2^nd row evenly around neckline until neckline measures 2.3”/6cm or you have 3 x bcrhdc rows, ending on a normal hdc row.

Finish off.

Weave in all loose end and wet block if you prefer. No need to, but doing the wet block helps your sweater keep its shape.

I hope you enjoyed making your very first crochet sweater!