Cotton knitting sweater pattern

We will learn together how to make a cotton knitting sweater, which will be one of the highlights of your wardrobe.

So, if you too love handmade sweaters, both in wool and cotton, this is the post for you!

It is a women’s openwork cotton knitting sweater, made with our Prato Cotton yarn, in recycled cotton. It can be worn over a pair of jeans and sneakers and is the perfect Spring wardrobe item.

The color we have chosen is a very delicate tone of yellow, but it will be beautiful if made in other shades too, just choose from the beautiful shades available in our shop.

women's cotton knitting sweaters

First steps to knit a cotton sweater

If you know the basics of knitting, knitting a cotton jumper will be easier than you think!

Knitted cotton jumpers with explanations, necessary materials:

TO KNIT A COTTON SWEATER, YOU MAY NEED

Stitches and Techniques

  1. Casting on: You can use any cast-on method you prefer. We use the Long Tail method.
  2. 1/1 Rib Stitch: knit one stitch, purl one stitch. At the following rows, work the stitches as they are.
  3. Stocking Stitch: knit one row, purl one row.
  4. Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch:
    • Row#1: knit 4 stitches, yarn over, 1 skpo (slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over);
    • Rows#2 and #4: purl stitches;
    • Row#3: knit 4 stitches, 1 k2tog (knit 2 stitches together), yarn over.
  5. Decreasing (right leaning and left leaning)
  6. Increasing: we suggest you use the technique of the invisible increase (aka Make one); then, pick up the bar between the stitches from front to back, and knit this bar through the back loop.
  7. Casting off.
  8. Picking Up Stitches.
  9. Vertical and Horizontal invisible Seaming.

For an overview of these techniques, look at the appropriate section dedicated to the Video Tutorials on our site.

Size:

  • Small (40/42 IT – 36/38 EU)

Finished garment measurements:

  • Width: 49 cm/19,3” – Length: 52 cm/20,5”

Tension:

  • 10 cm x 10 cm are about 13 stitches x 16 rows, working in Stocking Stitch with 6 mm/10 US knitting needles

Yes, we know, knitting the tension swatch is quite boring, but it is essential to verify if the number of stitches and rows is right for your tension.

Level of Difficulty:

  • Intermediate

Method to knit a women’s cotton knitting sweater 

This sweater is worked in separate parts, that will be then sewn together once finished:

  1. Back,
  2. Front,
  3. Sleeves.

How to knit the back of a cotton sweater

 Cast on 66 stitches and work 10 rows in 1/1 Rib Stitch.

We will now set up the pattern of the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch, knitting the first and last stitch as selvedge. it will be helpful to get a more uniform seam.

  • Row #11: knit 1 selvedge stitch, *knit 4 stitches, yarn over (move the thread towards yourself, between two knitting needles, pass it over the right knitting needle and then move it again in right position for knitting next stitch), 1 skpo (ie. slip one stitch knit-wise, knit next stitch, pass slipped stitch over)*. Repeat from * to * 10 times, knit 4 stitches, knit 1 selvedge stitch.
  • Row #12 and following even rows: purl rows.
  • Row #13: knit 1 selvedge stitch, *knit 4 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over*. Repeat from * to * 10 times, knit 4 stitches, knit 1 selvedge stitch.

Repeat these steps (from Row #11 up to Row #14) a further 10 times, until you reach Row #54, (counting from casting on).

Now we work the decreases for sleeves armhole shaping. The decreases will be made on right side of work, on both sides, within 2 stitches, every 2 rows (that means at all knit-wise rows), keeping pattern on the central stitches.

  • Row #55: cast off the first 4 stitches, then continue according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch until the end of row. 62 stitches are left.
  • Row #56: cast off the first 4 stitches, then continue purling until the end of row. 58 stitches are left.
  • Row #57: knit 2 stitches, 1 left-leaning decrease, continue according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch until 4 stitches are left, then 1 right-leaning decrease, knit 2 stitches. 56 stitches are left.
  • Row #58 and following even rows: purl row.

Repeat decraesing as on Row #57 a further 7 times (that is up to Row #71). 42 stitches will be left.

Now that the decreases are over, continue working on the remaining stitches for another 15 rows, then cast off the stitches.

The back is finished: we will have to knit the front of the sweater now.

back of a cotton knitted sweater

How to knit the front of a cotton sweater

Repeat the same instructions given for the back up to Row # 69: you will have 44 stitches.

Now, start to decrease to shape the neckline. At the same time, keep the side decreases for the armhole of the sleeve, as for the back.

  • Row#71: knit 2 stitches, 1 left-leaning decrease, work the following 11 stitches according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch. Move the central 14 stitches on a stitch-holder. With a new ball of yarn, work the following 11 stitches according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch, then 1 right-leaning decrease, knit 2 stitches. 14 stitches per side are left.

The decreases for armhole are now complete. We will continue to work the two sides separately, using two different balls and decreasing 1 stitch within 2 stitches on the sides of the neckline, 4 times.

  • Row #73: for the first part, knit according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch until 4 stitches before the stitch-holder, then 1 right-leaning decrease, knit 2 stitches. For the second part, knit 2 stitches, 1 left-leaning decrease, continue according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch until the end of row. 13 stitches per side are left.

Repeat decreases as on Row #73, 3 more times. You are at Row #79 and will have 10 stitches on the needle.

Decreases are over; continue to work on the remaining stitches for another 7 rows before casting off the stitches.

Knitting the sleeves of a cotton women’s sweater

Only the sleeves and a few finishes are missing and your knitted cotton sweater will be ready to be worn!

Cast on 36 stitches and work 12 rows in 1/1 Rib Stitch.

We will set up the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch pattern, and also for the sleeves we will knit the first and last stitch.

  • Row #13: knit 1 selvedge stitch, *knit 4 stitches, yarn over, 1 skpo*. Repeat from * to * 5 times, knit 4 stitches, knit 1 selvedge stitch.
  • Row#14 and following even rows: purl rows.

Now, continue working according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch pattern for the entire length of the sleeves.

To give volume to the sleeves, increase 1 stitch every 8 rows, inside the selvedge stitch, on both sides, 5 times. You are at Row #47 and you will have 46 stitches.

Work 4 more rows, then start decreasing for the armohole.

  • Row #53: cast off the first 4 stitches, then continue according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch until the end of row. 42 stitches are left.
  • Row #54: cast off the first 4 stitches, then continue purling until the end of row. 38 stitches are left.

The decreases will be made from the right side within 2 stitches, every 2 rows.

  • Row #55: knit 2 stitches, 1 left-leaning decrease, continue according to the Zig Zag Eyelet Column Stitch until 4 stitches are left, then 1 right-leaning decrease, knit 2 stitches. 36 stitches are left.
  • Row #56 and following even rows: purl row.

Repeat decreasing as on Row #55 a further 13 times (that is up to Row #81). You will have 10 stitches.

The decreases are complete. Work another row according to the set pattern and cast off the remaining stitches.

The finishings of a summer cotton knitting sweater

Now, you just have to sew the various parts already made and proceed with the finishes.

Place the front on the back, with the right side of the work facing upwards and the edges well-aligned. Sew the left shoulder and pick up the stitches around the neckline to knit the edge.

Work 4 rows in 1/1 Rib Stitch and loosely cast off in rib.

Sew the shoulder previously left open and the neckline, attach the sleeves, and sew the sides.

Finally, weave in all the ends in the fabric.

Pastel yellow recycled cotton sweater

If you need a different size, or simply you want to save the pattern, you can download the PDF from our site.

And if you liked to make a cotton knitting sweater, discover all our knit kits, available for any level of difficulty!

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