Make This Cozy Knitted V‑Neck Sweater — Full Pattern, Materials & Tips

The knitted V-neck sweater is a versatile, cozy wardrobe staple. Below is a complete pattern for a classic V-neck pullover worked in Rowan Wool Cotton (50% merino wool, 50% cotton). The pattern includes finished measurements for multiple bust sizes, materials, gauge, step-by-step directions for body, front, back and sleeves, and finishing notes.

This design is worked in the round to the armholes and then split for the front and back. It uses elastic held with the yarn at the hem to help stabilize the ribbing. Follow the directions for your selected size: 32 [34, 36, 38, 40] inch bust (specifications and stitch counts are given throughout).

SIZE 32 [34, 36, 38, 40] inch bust — FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 33.5 [35, 37, 39, 41.5] inches
Length: 22.5 [23, 24, 24.5, 25] inches

MATERIALS

Rowan Wool Cotton (50% merino wool, 50% cotton; 123 yd / 113 m per 50 g skein); color: Rich #911; 9 [10, 10, 11, 11] skeins

1 24-inch US #5 / 3.75 mm circular needle
1 24-inch US #6 / 4 mm circular needle
Stitch markers
Rainbow elastic color #24 (if substituting yarn color, choose a color very close to or slightly darker than yarn color)

GAUGE

22 sts / 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st with larger needle

DIRECTIONS

Body (Knit in one piece to the armholes.)

With smaller needles, CO 200 [212, 224, 236, 248] sts. Join, pm, K 100 [106, 112, 118, 124] sts, pm, K to end of round. Work even in St st until 1 inch from beg. Change to larger needles and work even in St st until 3 inches from beg.

Next round: K1, K2tog, K to 3 sts before marker, SSK, K1, slip marker, K1, K2tog, K to 3 sts before marker, SSK, K1, slip marker.

*K 5 rounds even.*

K1, K2tog, K to 3 sts before marker, SSK, K1, slip marker, K1, K2tog, K to 3 sts before marker, SSK, K1, slip marker.

Rep from * to * 7 times more. (164 [176, 188, 200, 212] sts).

Work even in St st until work measures 9 [9, 9.5, 9.5, 9.5] inches from beg.

Holding elastic thread tog with yarn, (work 16 [17, 18, 19, 20] sts in 2x2 rib, work 2 tog maintaining rib patt) 4 times, rib to first marker. Rep decs the same way across second half of round. (156 [168, 180, 192, 204] sts).

Cont even in rib patt for five more rounds. Cut elastic, leaving 8 inch tail to weave in later.

Change to st st.

Next round: (K16 [17, 18, 19, 20], M1) 4 times, knit to marker. Rep incs the same way across second half of round. (164 [176, 188, 200, 212] sts).

Work 3 rounds even.

Next round: K1, M1L, K to last st before marker, M1R, K1, slip marker, K1, M1L, K to last st before marker, M1R, K1, slip marker. Rep inc round every 4th round 3 more times. (180 [192, 204, 216, 228] sts).

Cont even in st st until work measures 14.5 [14.5, 15, 15, 15.5] inches from beg.

Shape armholes:

BO 4 sts at beg of next round, K to first marker, turn. Front and back will now be worked separately. (86 [92, 98, 104, 110] sts for back, 90 [96, 102, 108, 114] sts for front). Place front sts on a holder.

Back

Next Row (WS): BO 4 sts, P to end.

Row 1 (RS): K2, K2tog, K to 4 sts from end, SSK, K2.

Row 2 (WS): P2, slip 2 knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and p2tog tbl, P to 4 sts from end, slip 2 knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and p2tog, P2.

Rep rows 1 and 2 1 [1, 2, 2, 2] times more.

Rep row 1 on next then EOR 0 [2, 1, 3, 4] times. (72 [74, 78, 80, 84] sts).

Work even until armhole measures 7.25 [7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.75] inches.

Shape shoulders:

Row 1 (RS): BO 6 [6, 6, 7, 7] sts, K to end.

Row 2 (WS): BO 6 [6, 6, 7, 7] sts, P 14 [15, 16, 16, 18], BO center 32 [32, 34, 34, 34] sts, P to end. Place first 14 [15, 16, 16, 18] sts on a holder.

Row 3: BO 5 [6, 6, 6, 7] sts, K to end.

Row 4: BO 2 [2, 2, 2, 3] sts, P to end.

Row 5: BO 5 [5, 6, 6, 6] sts, K to end.

Row 6: BO 2 rem sts.

Return holder sts to working needle and, with RS facing, join yarn to left back neck.

Row 1 (RS): BO 2 [2, 2, 2, 3] sts, K to end.

Row 2: BO 5 [6, 6, 6, 7] sts, P to end.

Row 3: BO 2 sts, K to end.

Row 4: BO 5 [5, 6, 6, 6] rem sts.

Front

Return front sts to working needle and, with RS facing, join yarn.

BO 4 sts, K to end, turn. 86 [92, 98, 104, 110] sts.

Work as for back from the earlier section. (72 [74, 78, 80, 84] sts).

Purl 1 row.

Shape Neck:

Next row (RS): K 32 [33, 35, 36, 38], SSK, K2, turn. Place rem sts on holder and cont working Left side of neck only.

Row 1 (WS): P2, slip next 2 sts knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and purl tog tbl, P to end.

Row 2 (RS): K to 4 sts from neck, SSK, K2.

Rep dec Rows 1 and 2 once more. Work dec Row 2 EOR 8 [8, 9, 9, 9] times then every foll 4th row 4 [4, 4, 4, 5] times. (16 [17, 18, 19, 20] sts).

Work even in st st until armhole measures 7.25 [7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.75] inches, ending with RS facing.

Shape shoulder:

BO 6 [6, 6, 7, 7] sts, k to end. Purl 1 row. BO 5 [6, 6, 6, 7] sts, k to end. Purl 1 row. BO rem 5 [5, 6, 6, 6] sts.

Return holder sts to working needle and, with RS facing, join yarn to Right side of front neck.

Row 1 (RS): K2, K2tog, K to end.

Row 2 (WS): P to 4 sts from end, slip next 2 sts knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and purl tog, P2.

Rep dec rows 1 and 2 once more. Work dec Row 2 EOR 8 [8, 9, 9, 9] times then every foll 4th row, 4 [4, 4, 4, 5] times. (16 [17, 18, 19, 20] sts).

Work even in st st until armhole measures 7.25 [7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.75] inches, ending with WS facing.

Shape shoulder:

BO 6 [6, 6, 7, 7] sts, p to end. Knit 1 row. BO 5 [6, 6, 6, 7] sts, p to end. Knit 1 row. BO rem 5 [5, 6, 6, 6] sts.

Sleeves (Worked flat. Make two.)

With smaller needles, CO 76 [76, 80, 80, 84] sts. Work even in st st until 1 inch from beg.

Change to larger needles. Work even until 2 inches from beg, ending with RS facing.

Next row: K1, K2tog, K to 3 sts from end, SSK, K1.

Rep this dec row every foll 8th row 3 more times. (68 [68, 72, 72, 76] sts).

Work even until 9 inches from beg, ending with RS facing.

Holding elastic thread tog with yarn, work even in 2x2 ribbing for 6 rows. Cut elastic, leaving 8 inch tail to weave in later.

Work even for 3 rows.

Next row: K1, M1R, K to last st, M1L, K1.

Rep this inc row every foll 10th row twice more. 74 [74, 78, 78, 82] sts.

Work even until sleeve measures 14.5 [14.5, 14.5, 15, 15] inches from beg.

Shape cap:

BO 4 sts at beg of next two rows.

Row 1 (RS): K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K1.

Row 2 (WS): P1, slip next 2 sts knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and purl tog tbl, P to last 3 sts, slip next 2 sts knitwise, place slipped sts back on left needle and purl tog, P1.

Rep dec Rows 1 and 2 twice more. Work dec Row 1 on next then EOR 4 [3, 4, 4, 5] times then on every foll 4th row 5 [6, 6, 7, 7] times and then EOR 2 [2, 3, 2, 3] times. Rep dec Rows 1 and 2 once more. Work dec Row 1 once. BO rem 24 sts.

FINISHING

Sew shoulder seams. Set in sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. Work a row of single crochet across back neck. Weave in ends.

Feel like a woman!