Knit Lovely Day Sweater

Have you ever made something that you knew that you would like it, but then once you made it and started wearing it you liked it even more than you thought you would.

That is how I feel about this Lovely Day Sweater. I wanted a sweater with some details so it wasn’t a typical pullover with rib edgings. I also wanted it to have a higher neckline so that it would be warmer in winter.

After going through library book after book in knit edgings, bandings, and stitch examples, I tried several different ideas to finally end up with a cable band that is knit in the traditional vertical orientation but then added to the sweater horizontally.

note: this page contains affiliate links

The cables are a breeze to knit once you get used to managing a third needle while knitting. Luckily it is only a few stitches every few rows so it isn’t that painful of a learning curve.

The sleeves are set in to give a more fitted look, but the width of the sleeves has plenty of ease to be comfortable with a long sleeve shirt underneath. Nothing worse than feeling like your arms are stuffed sausages in an attempt to be warm.

The yarn is from Joann’s Knit and Crochet K+C Essential Cotton. It is 100% cotton and is a Category 3 yarn. It has a cotton fabric feel, but not the harshness that some dish cloth cottons can have. The color way I used was Rain Forest, and I have received so many compliments on it while I wore it.

I found this pattern fun to make. Lots of technique changing between the cables, stockinette, and then shaping of the set in sleeves and neckline. Nothing too hard, but something just beyond knitting and joining square blocks.

Other knit patterns by City Farmhouse Studio:

Knit Lovely Day Sweater
by City Farmhouse Studio

See the machine knit version of the pattern HERE

Get the printable PDF version of the pattern (without ads) HERE
Add it to your Ravelry queue HERE

K+C Yarn – Essential Cotton – 3.5oz/100g – 180 yd/165 m – 100% Cotton – Category 3 Light Yarn – 4 (5, 5, 6, 7) [7, 8, 8, 9] skeins

Size 6 (4mm)  knitting needles
Cable stitch holder needle

Gauge: 4” x 4” = 19 sts x 21 rows 

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) [2X, 3X, 4X, 5X] 

Finished garment bust circumference: 35.2 (36.8, 40, 44.8, 48) [52.8, 56, 60.8, 67.2] inches

Finished garment length:  32.75 (41, 38.75, 39.5, 41) [43, 47, 48.5, 44.25] inches

Notes
A YouTube video instructing how to do the decorative edgings, the shaping at the neckline, arms, sloped shoulders, and more information about the sweater can be found at https://youtu.be/L2YjZX6bBls

For edging, if a cleaner and tighter bottom edge is preferred, the first stitch of the purl row can be slipped instead of  purled.  On knit rows all stitches will be worked as normal

Abbreviations
rs = right side of fabric
ws = wrong side of fabric
sts = stitches
ssk = slip slip knit for a left leaning decrease on right side of fabric
ssp = slip slip purl for a left leaning decrease on right side of fabric
k2tog = knit 2 together for a right leaning decrease on right side of fabric
p2tog = purl 2 together for a right leaning decrease on right side of fabric
rli = right lifted increase
rlip = right lifted increase purl
lli = left lifted increase
llip = left lifted increase purl

FRONT and BACK EDGING – make 2
Cast on 14 sts.  Follow chart at end of pattern for edging for 22 (23, 25, 28, 30) [33, 35, 38, 42] sets of repeats for banding, 88 (92, 100, 112, 120) [132, 140, 152, 168] rows.  Bind off.

COLLAR EDGING
Cast on 14 sts.  Follow chart at end of pattern for edging for 25 (26, 27, 28, 29) [30, 30, 31, 31] sets of repeats for banding, 100 (104, 108, 112, 116) [120, 120, 124, 124] rows.  Bind off.

SLEEVE EDGING – make 2
Cast on 14 sts.  Follow chart at end of pattern for edging for 10 (11, 11, 11, 11) [12, 12, 12, 13] sets of repeats for banding, 40 (44, 44, 44, 44) [48, 48, 48, 52] rows.  Bind off.

FRONT  
Pick up a total of 84 (88, 96, 106, 114) [126, 134, 144, 160] sts along the long edge of the front edging that doesn’t have the mock ribbing.  Pick up so that the next row you can knit.  

With right side facing, knit in stockinette 64 (64, 62, 60, 56) [54, 52, 52, 48] rows, or until stockinette rows measure 12.25 (12.25, 11.75, 11.5, 10.75) [10.25, 10, 10, 9.25] inches ending after a wrong side row.

ARMSCYE SHAPING
1st decrease section
Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 2) [3, 4, 5, 5] sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 2) [3, 4, 5, 5] sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by p2tog.  Stitches in work 78 (82, 88, 98, 108) [118, 124, 132, 148].

2nd decrease section
Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 3, 3] sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 3, 3] sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by p2tog.  

Work 2nd decrease section a total of 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) [2, 4, 3, 5] times.  Total stockinette rows 68 (68, 66, 66, 62) [60, 62, 60, 60].  Stitches in work 72 (76, 82, 86, 96) [106, 100, 108, 108].

3rd decrease section
Decrease one stitch with by ssk.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Decrease one stitch with by p2tog.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by ssp.  

Work 3rd decrease section a total of 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) [4, 3, 4, 3] times.  Total stockinette rows 70 (70, 68, 68, 64) [68, 68, 68, 66]. Stitches in work 68 (72, 78, 82, 92) [90, 88, 92, 96].

Sizes M-5X – 4th decrease section
Decrease one stitch with a ssk.  Work the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain. K2tog.  Purl 1 row.
Work above decrease section a total of 0 (0, 1, 1, 3) [1, 1, 2, 3] times.  Total stockinette rows  70 (70, 70, 70, 70) [70, 70, 72, 72].  Stitches in work 68 (72, 76, 80, 86) [88, 86, 88, 90].

All Sizes – In stockinette work 6 (10, 10, 10, 10) [10, 10, 8, 8] rows.  Total stockinette rows 76 (80, 80, 80, 80) [80, 80, 80, 80]

NECK SHAPING
Knit 34 (36, 38, 40, 43) [44, 43, 44, 45] stitches.  Place the remainder of the stitches on a holder to work later. Turn work.

Bind off first 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) [3, 3, 3, 3] sts.  Purl the remainder of the row.  

2nd neck decrease section 
Knit the row until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.
Bind off the first 2 sts at the neckline.  Purl the remainder of the row.   

Work 2nd neck decrease section a total of 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) [4, 4, 4, 4] times.  11 (15, 15, 15, 15) [15, 15, 15, 15] sts bound off at neckline.  23 (21, 23, 25, 28) [29, 28, 29, 30] stitches in work for shoulder.  Total stockinette rows 84 (90, 90, 90, 90) [90, 90, 90, 90].

3rd neck decrease section
Knit the row until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.
P2tog, purl the remainder of the row.   

Work 3rd neck decrease section a total of 3 (2, 3, 4, 4) [4, 4, 4, 4] times.  17 (19, 21, 23, 23) [23, 23, 23, 23] sts bound off at neckline.  17 (17, 17, 17, 20) [21, 20, 21, 22] stitches in work for shoulder.  Total stockinette rows 90 (94, 96, 98, 98) [98, 98, 98, 98].

4th neck decrease section
Knit the row until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.  Purl the next row.

Work 4th neck decrease section a total of 3 (2, 1, 1, 1) [2, 2, 3, 3] times.  20 (21, 22, 24, 24) [25, 25, 26, 26] sts bound off at neckline.  14 (15, 16, 16, 19) [19, 18, 18, 19] stitches in work for shoulder.  Total stockinette rows 96 (98, 98, 100, 100) [102, 102, 104, 104]. 

SHOULDER SHAPING
Bind off or ssk to decrease 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] stitches at the beginning of the row.  Knit the remainder of the row.  
Purl the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp.

Repeat the shoulder shaping section a total of 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) [4, 4, 4, 4] times.  Total stockinette rows 102 (106, 106, 108, 108) [110, 110, 112, 112].

Bind off the remaining 8 (7, 8, 8, 7) [7, 6, 6, 7] sts.

Move the held stitches onto a needle so you can start to purl the row that was held.  

2ND NECK SHAPING
Purl the 34 (36, 38, 40, 43) [44, 43, 44, 45] stitches.  
Bind off first 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) [3, 3, 3, 3] sts.  Knit the remainder of the row.  

2nd neck decrease section 
Purl the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp.
Bind off the first 2 sts at the neckline.  Knit the remainder of the row.   

Work 2nd neck decrease section a total of 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) [4, 4, 4, 4] times.  11 (15, 15, 15, 15) [15, 15, 15, 15] sts bound off at neckline.  23 (21, 23, 25, 28) [29, 28, 29, 30] stitches in work for shoulder.  Total stockinette rows 84 (90, 90, 90, 90) [90, 90, 90, 90].

3rd neck decrease section
Purl the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp.
Ssk, knit the remainder of the row.   

Work 3rd neck decrease section a total of 3 (2, 3, 4, 4) [4, 4, 4, 4] times.  17 (19, 21, 23, 23) [23, 23, 23, 23] sts bound off at neckline.  17 (17, 17, 17, 20) [21, 20, 21, 22] stitches in work for shoulder.  Total stockinette rows 90 (94, 96, 98, 98) [98, 98, 98, 98].

4th neck decrease section
Purl the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp. 
Knit the next row.

Work 4th neck decrease section a total of 3 (2, 1, 1, 1) [2, 2, 3, 3] times.  20 (21, 22, 24, 24) [25, 25, 26, 26] sts bound off at neckline.  14 (15, 16, 16, 19) [19, 18, 18, 19] stitches in work for shoulder.  Total stockinette rows 96 (98, 98, 100, 100) [102, 102, 104, 104]. 

2ND SHOULDER SHAPING
Bind off or p2tog to decrease 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] stitches at the beginning of the row.  Purl the remainder of the row.  
Knit the row until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.

Repeat the shoulder shaping section a total of 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) [4, 4, 4, 4] times.  Total stockinette rows 102 (106, 106, 108, 108) [110, 110, 112, 112].

Bind off the remaining 8 (7, 8, 8, 7) [7, 6, 6, 7] sts.

BACK
Pick up a total of 84 (88, 96, 106, 114) [126, 134, 144, 160] sts along the long edge of the front edging that doesn’t have the mock ribbing.  Pick up so that the next row you can knit.  

With right side facing, knit in stockinette 64 (64, 62, 60, 56) [54, 52, 52, 48] rows, or until stockinette rows measure 12.25 (12.25, 11.75, 11.5, 10.75) [10.25, 10, 10, 9.25] inches ending after a wrong side row.

ARMSCYE SHAPING
1st decrease section
Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 2) [3, 4, 5, 5] sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 2) [3, 4, 5, 5] sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by p2tog.  Stitches in work 78 (82, 88, 98, 108) [118, 124, 132, 148].

2nd decrease section
Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 3, 3] sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Bind off 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 3, 3] sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by p2tog.  

Work 2nd decrease section a total of 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) [2, 4, 3, 5] times.  Total stockinette rows 68 (68, 66, 66, 62) [60, 62, 60, 60].  Stitches in work 72 (76, 82, 86, 96) [106, 100, 108, 108].

3rd decrease section
Decrease one stitch with by ssk.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Decrease one stitch with by p2tog.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by ssp.  

Work 3rd decrease section a total of 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) [4, 3, 4, 3] times.  Total stockinette rows 70 (70, 68, 68, 64) [68, 68, 68, 66]. Stitches in work 68 (72, 78, 82, 92) [90, 88, 92, 96].

Sizes M-5X – 4th decrease section
Decrease one stitch with a ssk.  Work the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain. K2tog.  Purl 1 row.

Work above decrease section a total of 0 (0, 1, 1, 3) [1, 1, 2, 3] times.  Total stockinette rows  70 (70, 70, 70, 70) [70, 70, 72, 72].  Stitches in work 68 (72, 76, 80, 86) [88, 86, 88, 90].

All sizes – Knit 26 (28, 28, 30, 30) [32, 32, 32, 32] rows.  Total stockinette rows 96 (98, 98, 100, 100) [102, 102, 104, 104]. 

SHOULDER SHAPING
Bind off or ssk to decrease 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] stitches at the beginning of the row.   Knit the remainder of the row in stockinette until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.
Bind off or p2tog to decrease 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] stitches at the beginning of the row.   Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp.

Repeat the shoulder shaping section a total of 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) [4, 4, 4, 4] times.  Total stockinette rows 102 (106, 106, 108, 108) [110, 110, 112, 112].

Bind off the remaining 60 (56, 60, 64, 62) [64, 62, 64, 66] sts.

SLEEVE – make 2
Pick up a total of 38 (42, 42, 42, 42) [46, 46, 46, 50] sts along the long edge of the front edging that doesn’t have the mock ribbing.   Pick up so that the next row you can knit.

With right side facing, work in stockinette 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [6, 3, 6, 4] rows.

Continuing in stockinette work first stitch.  Increase one stitch by either a rli or rlip. Continue working the row until 2 stitches remain.  Increase another stitch by either a lli or llip.  Work in stockinette 8 (7, 5, 4, 3) [2, 2, 1, 1] rows.

Repeat above increase and plain rows a total of 8 (9, 12, 15, 18) [22, 25, 29, 31] times.   Total stockinette rows 74 (74, 74, 77, 74) [72, 78, 64, 66].  Stitches in work 54 (60, 66, 72, 78) [90, 96, 104, 112]

Continue in stockinette for 2 (2, 2, 1, 4) [6, 2, 12, 6] rows ending after a ws row.  Total stockinette rows 76 (76, 76, 78, 78) [78, 80, 76, 72].

SLEEVE CAP SHAPING
1st decrease
Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) [4, 4, 4, 4] sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) [4, 4, 4, 4] sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by ssp.  Total stockinette rows 78 (78, 78, 80, 80) [80, 82, 78, 74].  Stitches in work 48 (54, 58, 64, 70) [80, 86, 94, 102]. 

2nd decrease section
Bind off or ssk to decrease 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) [2, 3, 3, 3] sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by k2tog.  
Bind off or p2tog to decrease 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) [2, 3, 3, 3] sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by p2tog.  

Work 2nd decrease section a total of 3 (3, 3, 2, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] times.  Total stockinette rows 84 (84, 84, 84, 84) [84, 86, 82, 78].  Stitches in work 36 (42, 46, 52, 58) [68, 70, 78, 86].

3rd decrease section
Decrease one stitch with a ssk.  Work the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain. K2tog.
Size XS-M – Purl the next row.
Size L-5X – P2tog, then purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Decrease one stitch by ssp.

Work 3rd decrease section a total of 1 (3, 2, 1, 1) [2, 2, 3, 4] times.  Total stockinette rows 86 (90, 88, 86, 86) [88, 90, 88, 86].  Stitches in work 34 (36, 42, 48, 54) [60, 62, 66, 70].

4th decrease section
Decrease one stitch with a ssk.  Work the remainder of the row until 3 sts remain. K2tog.  Work 3 rows in stockinette.

Work 4th decrease section a total of 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] times.  Total stockinette rows 90 (94, 92, 94, 94) [96, 98, 96, 94].  Stitches in work 32 (34, 40, 44, 50) [56, 58, 62, 66].

5th decrease section
Decrease one stitch with a ssk.  Work the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.  Decrease one stitch with a p2tog.  Work the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp.

Work 5th decrease section a total of 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) [3, 4, 5, 6] times.  Total stockinette rows 96 (100, 100, 102, 102) [102, 106, 106, 106].  Stitches in work 20 (22, 24, 28, 34) [44, 42, 42, 42].

6th decrease section
Bind off 2 sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.  
Bind off 2 sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp.

Work 6th decrease section a total of 1 (1, 1, 2, 3) [3, 3, 3, 2] times.  Total stockinette rows 98 (102, 102, 106, 108) [108, 112, 112, 110].  Stitches in work 14 (16, 18, 16, 16) [26, 24, 24, 30].

7th decrease section
Bind off 3 sts.  Knit the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  K2tog.  
Bind off 3 sts.  Purl the remainder of the row until 2 sts remain.  Ssp.

Work 7th decrease section a total of 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) [2, 2, 2, 3] times.  Total stockinette rows 100 (104, 104, 108, 110) [112, 116, 116, 116].  Stitches in work 6 (8, 10, 8, 8) [10, 8, 8, 6].

Bind off remaining stitches.  

CONSTRUCTION
Sew shoulders of front and back body together.  Join neck edging ends together.  Seam around neckline with join in the back, easing in the width of the sweater neckline to collar edging. The collar will appear to be too short, but that is to adjust for the thickness of the band.  The seamed edge will stretch to fit neckline opening.  Attach edging bands to sleeve and body edges.  Sew sleeves onto body matching armscye decrease sections.  Seam from cuff to bottom of sweater body.

EDGING PATTERN– 4 row pattern repeat

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⟋╲╲⟋

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⟋╲╲⟋

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

⬤

KEY 

⬤ = Purl on RS, Knit on WS

⟋╲╲⟋ = 1/2 left cable – slip 1 sts onto cable needle, hold in front, knit 2 sts, knit 1 from cable needle

note: for the edging, if a cleaner and tighter bottom edge is preferred, the first stitch of the purl row can be slipped instead of  purled.  On knit rows all stitches will be worked as normal.