|

Classic Stripe Easy Knit Sweater (Blanket Sweater)

When your living room couch decor matches your shrug, you take a picture. He he!

This classic “striped” blanket knit sweater is the latest pattern in my easy “Blanket Sweater Series” and it features a lighter weight fabric than my super chunky winter blanket sweaters. It’s the easiest knit version yet as you only need know how to knit and purl in order to make garter stitch and stockinette stitch sections.  The stripes are fun but are totally optional if color changes are a scary thing for you.

Someone recently commented that these sweaters are much like shawls that stay on better and I have to agree! They are so easy to haul around and throw on when you need a little extra warmth.  I love the look of this one in particular as I think it’s perfect to wear for a coffee date with friends or it can even be worn to the office.  While I used a wool blend yarn, you can easily substitute the yarn for a cotton blend for summer time.  Since it’s made with worsted weight yarn, you should have no trouble finding a yarn that you’d like for this sweater (Or maybe there will be too many choices..he he!  This happens to me all the time!).

This sweater has a smaller fit and isn’t as bulky as my last sweaters since I’d like it to be a warmer weather option.  You’ll find that while it’s made with worsted weight yarn, you will hold two strands together throughout the pattern. If you follow my blog, you probably have noticed that I do this with a lot of my patterns. The truth is, I like pieces to work up quickly or I get bored. Holding two strands together not only gives it a cool look, it also keeps me interested in the project long enough to finish it. 😉

I actually love the look of it “inside out” as I’m wearing it here. If you prefer this look, you’d simply have to use a different seam. ( I used the mattress stitch for the stockinette portion but that seam shows on the wrong side. You’d have to use a seam that works for reverse stockinette stitch )

As the pattern is written, it will fit as pictured on sizes XS-M, BUT you can easily adjust the pattern to fit any size. Recently, I made my “Boxy Knit Top Pattern” for multiple sizes as I have recently received requests for many sizes.  While I want to make more multi-sized patterns, I didn’t do so with this pattern because this is essentially a rectangle (almost a square). All you will need to do is add stitches to your cast on edge, and knit more rows to make a larger size.  You can see with my gauge how many stitches I had per inch, so check your gauge against mine, and figure how many stitches you might need to get to the size that you’d like.  The sweater is modeled on a size XS/S so while the pattern will fit up to a large, the fit and drape will vary unless adjustments are made.

You essentially knit a blanket and then fold in the corners to make arms. Voila!

Are we ready to knit? 🙂

Scroll down for the free pattern, or you can find my inexpensive ad-free,printable PDF version on Etsy HERE.

Description:

This beginner friendly, classic blanket sweater is made by knitting a simple rectangle on large needles while holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together.  This shrug uses basic knit and purl stitches to create a striking, striped garter stitch edge with a stockinette body.  The stripes create a beautiful look making the top suitable for the office or for a day out with friends.  Enjoy this easy and classic shrug pattern!

You will need:

US Size 13, 9.0mm 29” Circular Knitting Needles

6 skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease Yarn in Fisherman (85 g and 197 yards per skein) or comparable worsted weight yarn. Pattern uses approximately 343 grams of Fisherman yarn for S/M and 409 grams for size L. (Because you will hold two strands together while knitting, 6 skeins are suggested in order to hold two strands together throughout the pattern)

2 skeins Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn in black or comparable worsted weight yarn (110g 170 yards per skein) Pattern uses approximately 93 grams of black yarn for size S/M and 104 grams for size L. (2 skeins suggested in order to hold two strands of yarn together throughout the pattern)

Scissors

Tapestry Needle to weave in ends

Lion Brand has also made this into a kit which you can purchase HERE!

 

Skill Level:

Beginner +

 

Skills & Abbreviations:

k- knit

p- purl

(RS) -right side of work

(WS) – wrong side of work

Mattress stitch seam

 

Gauge:

Just over 2.5 stitches per inch

 

Measurements:

*Note that the stockinette will curl in at the arms. This measurement is when the stockinette is flat and uncurled.

Small / Medium  

From end of arm to end of arm, measurement is approximately 34” inches

From top of shrug to bottom of shrug, measurement is approximately 33” long

Large  

From end of arm to end of arm, measurement is approximately 38” inches

From top of shrug to bottom of shrug, measurement is approximately 35” inches long

Notes:

*As you knit the striped garter stitch edges, you may simply carry the color along the edge of the fabric. There is no need to cut and weave in ends for each color change.

 

Classic Stripe Blanket Sweater Pattern:

Garter Stitch Striped Edge:

*hold two strands of yarn together throughout the pattern

Cast On 90 stitches for small/medium size, or 100 for large with black (holding two strands of yarn together)

Row 1 Knit across

Row 2 Knit across

Row 3 Change to cream, knit across

Row 4 Knit across

Row 5 Change to black, knit across

Row 6 Knit across

Row 7 Change to cream, knit across

Row 8 Knit across

Row 9 Change to black, knit across

Row 10 Knit across

Row 11 Change to cream, knit across

Row 12 Knit across

Row 13 Change to black, knit across

Row 14 Knit across

Main Body (Stockinette Portion)

Change to cream

Row 1 Knit across row (RS)

Row 2 Purl across row

Repeat rows 1 & 2, working in stockinette stitch, for approximately 27” inches for a small/medium or 29” inches for a large, ending with a purl row (WS).

You will now work on the knit side (RS)

Final Garter Stitch Striped Edge:

Change to black

Repeat rows 1 – 14 of the first Garter Stitch Striped Edge portion of the pattern. Cast off and weave in ends.

*There should be approximately 27” inches for a small/medium or 29” inches for a large of stockinette stitch with approximately 3” inches of garter stitch on either end.

Assembly:

Fold in each corner as pictured below. With a length of yarn and your tapestry needle, seam 7” inches inward on both sides of the sweater. Use a simple whip stitch seam for the garter stitch portions and a mattress stitch seam for the stockinette portions.  The mattress stitch seam will be nearly invisible!

 

 

Seaming where the stripes meet can be a bit tricky as you line them up. Use your white yarn and whip stitch around, working mostly on the inside of the sweater so the seam isn’t as visible. Once you reach the stockinette portion, use the mattress stitch seam.  You can also get creative and add decorative buttons to the seam or simply leave it as is.

I hope that you enjoyed this beginner friendly, classic knit blanket sweater!

XO

Jessica

Don’t know how to knit? You can see my tutorial and video HERE to get started!

Similar Posts

32 Comments

  1. Vauuuuu,thank you for that beginner project,I love it.I liked a boxy jeans pattern too.I finally find something easier to do.Very nice work!!!!!!

    1. Hi Melita! You’re welcome! I’m so happy that you like the beginner friendly patterns. They are still my favorite to make and to do. Have a great day!

  2. Hi,

    I absolutely love everything you design and make. The patterns are easy and the results just gorgeous. I want to make everything! I have all the supplies to make the Mod Heirloom Crochet blanket. It is for a housewarming gift for a sweet friend of mine. I can’t wait to get started. Of course I have to give this knitted sweater a try. I have done some knitting, but it has been quite a few years ago.. Hopefully I’ll remember it easily sorta like riding a bike. Thank you so much for sharing all your beautiful designs with us.

    Happy Knitting!
    Charlotte

    1. Hi Charlotte! Thank you so much for your kind words about my designs. I love making them – I’m pretty obsessed with it actually. He he! I hope that the knitting comes back to you quickly. And if you have trouble, just check out YouTube. It saved me from giving up on knitting forever! Have a great week Charlotte and thanks again for taking the time to write to me. -Jessica

    1. Thanks Julie! I couldn’t tell if I like the stripes as they are or worn inside out. Ha! I’m so glad that you like them.

  3. Jessica, I have made at least 10 scarfs in winter nights and love them. I gave them as gifts. Also I have made probably10 scarfs in two ways giant knit cowl. I can not wait to do the blanket sweater. I would like to know how many stitches to add for large and ex large? Please help me with this. Thank you and keep doing great knitting projects and I love them all. Mary

    1. I’m working on posting a large version in the coming days, so keep your eyes peeled! I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed the Winter Nights scarf and Giant Knit Cowl! Thanks for taking the time to comment and you’re welcome of course Mary!

    1. Hi Linda! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment and let me know that you like the patterns. I’m so glad that you like the simple styles like I do. Thanks so much and have a great day! And you’re welcome of course. 😉 It’s really fun to share the projects here.

  4. This looks lovely, and I’m looking forward to trying it! Quick question (beginning knitter here), you say you’re holding two strands throughout, so does that mean you’re knitting double stranded thoughout for a thicker fabric? And if so, in the striped section is that actually carrying four strands (two of each color)? Thanks for clarifying!

    1. Hi Marie!
      I hold two throughout, but in the striped portion you still only hold two. You must drop the color and pick up the new color at the end of the row. You can then carry the color up the side of the work to pick it up when you start the next stripe. Does that make sense?

      1. Thanks, it does! But still wondering if you’re actually knitting with two cream strands for the body to create a thicker fabric?

        1. Yes, you knit holding the two together (so two cream strands for the entire body), which makes it more like knitting with a chunky yarn.

  5. Hi Jessica, I live in South Africa Suggested wool for pattern We do not have your suggested wool here. I bought a chunky wool from Turkey, Nako, Alpaca. 100g ca. 190 m. I use a 9 mm sircle needle. Initially I used 2 strands with this wool but it does not work. Too uncomfortable and thick . I now use only a single strand and casted on 120 stitches. Wil let you know how it works out. any suggestions?

    1. Hi Magda,
      I hope that the single strand of wool will work for you. Maybe the yarn that you have is a bit chunkier than this yarn used here? As long as you make a rectangle with similar measurements, you should be good to go. Let me know if it works for you!

  6. Thank You for the larger size:) I love your patterns. I also receive your newsletter:)
    Thank You and Have a Great Day:)

    1. Hi Sara,
      You’re welcome and thank you so much for the kind words!! I really appreciate it. 🙂

  7. I can’t wait to make this! You are so talented and have some great patterns so thank you! I also wanted to know how would I go about cleaning a sweater this? No matter how careful I am I always get something on my clothes lol

    1. Ha ha! Good question!! I am NO expert in how to clean the sweaters! 🙂 For wool, I am always scared to wash it. I’ve ruined tons of sweaters by accidentally washing and then drying them. Can you tell I’m not good at this part?! Love to make and wear them though! Ha! The best with wool is to use cool water and hand wash – lay flat to dry. Never put the sweater in the dryer – that part I know. 🙂

    1. Hi Cathy,
      Are you referring this this pattern or a crocheted version? The chain might be for the crocheted version rather than this knit version?

  8. Hi – I just finished making this and it is wonderful!!! I live in Ottawa Canada where winters are cold, and, in the office, summers are freezing too. I made this to leave at the office all summer. I am no size small so I continued your size increments to make a 2x (cast on 120 stitches and knit 33 inches of the cream middle). I have big problems knitting while holding two strands together as they eventually get all tangled up so I used Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick and knit with a single strand. It turned out to be a bit big for me but that was solved by putting in a button along the seam. It’s now perfect and so cozy. I have it on now. It was my first real knitting project beyond dishcloths and I love it!

    1. I’m so glad that you shared your story with me Kelly! It sounds like it worked out really well with the Thick & Quick. I’m happy to hear that! My in-laws live in Calgary and I hear a lot about how cold it is up there. I’m sure you will put your new sweater to a lot of use. Congrats on making something beyond dishcloths – woo hoo!! Have a great spring there in Canada.

  9. Hi! I love your patterns, I think they are awesome, just one question about this pattern since I have never used circular knitting needles before I wondered if you can use straight needles instead?

    1. Thanks so much Jasmin! Unfortunately I don’t think all of the stitches will fit on straight needles this time! You can certainly give it a try though.

  10. Hi Jessica, love the pattern, just wanted to know the measurements of the blanket sweater, height and width?

    Thanks Jaz

  11. I know this was posted a couple years ago but I thought I’d try my comment anyway!

    I love the look of this but would prefer it without the stripes. Should I just follow the pattern as is without changing yarns?

    Thanks in advance!

Comments are closed.