Machine Knit Simple Stitch Sweater Pattern

After using Lion Brand Coboo Yarn for my Crochet Daydream Believer Top, I knew I wanted to make something knit out of it. The crocheted top has such drape, and it is so soft next to the skin I was excited to see what it would be knitted.

I did a swatch using several different gauges on my knitting machine to see what each looked and felt like. While the smaller gauge had beautiful stitch definition, the larger gauge had such great drape and softness I knew I wanted something with that. I also liked the reverse side of the stockinette since I could see the full knit structure for great depth and texture on the fabric surface.

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The openness of the fabric also would be a great fabric in the cotton and bamboo blend yarn for the transitional months. Something to give just enough warmth when the weather just begins to cool off, or warm up in the spring.

For the sweater I started with a few rows of garter stitch to prevent the edges from rolling, and then went straight knit rows on the body till the neckline. On the front, simpler than it sounds short rows creates the soft v neck shaping.

The sleeves are worked from the shoulder edge to the cuff so that the length is easy to adjust after the garment is sewn together.

The neckline and sleeve cuffs are also finished off with garter stitch. An easy no roll finish that creates a subtle edging when next to the reverse stockinette.

I am excited with how this turned out. I can’t wait to wear it over my summer sweaters to bring them into the fall, and to layer tanks and tees under it for a casual fall wardrobe addition. I hope you find this sweater just as simple to make, and also as simple to wear with items in your closet.

Other knitting patterns by City Farmhouse Studio:

Machine Knit Simple Stitch Sweater
by City Farmhouse Studio

See the hand knit version of the pattern HERE

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

Lion Brand – Coboo – 3.5oz/100g – 232 yd/212m – 51% Cotton, 49% Rayon from Bamboo – Category 3 Lt/DK – 14 WPI – 3 (3, 3, 3, 4) [4, 4, 4, 5] skeins (yarn alternatives: Yarn Bee Bamboo-Tiful, King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK, Loops & Threads Silky Soft Rayon From Bamboo, Lion Brand Truboo)

Mid-gauge flat bed machine (LK150)

Gauge 4” x 4” = 14 sts x 16 rows of stockinette

Size:  XS (S, M, L, XL) [2X, 3X, 4X, 5X] 
Finished Garment Bust Width 17.5 (19, 20.5, 22.5, 24.5) [26.5, 28.5, 31, 33.5] inches
Finished Garment Length 21.25 (21.75, 22, 22.25, 22.5) [22.75, 22.75, 23.25, 23.25] inches
Sleeve Length 19.75 (20, 19.75, 19.75, 19.75) [19.25, 19.25, 18, 17.25] inches
Top of Sleeve Width 13.5 (14.5, 15.5, 16.75, 18.75) [19.75, 20.75, 21.75, 23] inches

A YouTube tutorial video showing the sts and each step of the construction can be found at:  https://youtu.be/8SK4kzq9f0c

Glossary
RC – row count

Front
Carriage on right, and row counter set to 000.

With waste yarn and ravel cord e-wrap cast on 62 (66, 72, 78, 86) [92, 100, 108, 118] needles.  Each side of the bed will have 31 (33, 36, 39, 43) [46, 50, 54, 59] needles.  

With carriage tension set tighter 2 full numbers for garter rows to pull in,, knit 2 rows.  Hand transfer the second row stitches to be purl stitches.  Knit 2 rows again, transferring the second row again to be purl stitches.  RC 4.

Reset carriage tension to stockinette gauge.

Knit 54 (61, 60, 59, 55) [54, 52, 51, 49] rows.  Mark edge stitches to know where bottom of sleeve begins.  RC 58 (65, 64, 63, 59) [58, 56, 55, 53].

Knit 18 (19, 18, 21, 25) [26, 28, 31, 33] rows.

RC 76 (84, 82, 84, 84) [84, 84, 86, 86]

Begin Neck Shaping
Place all of the needles on the left side of the bed in hold.  Place 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 4, 4] center right needles into hold.  Set carriage so that it doesn’t knit needles in hold.  Knit 1 row, wrap yarn around first unworked needle.  Knit 1 row.  Stitches in work 29 (31, 34, 37, 41) [44, 48, 50, 55].  RC 78 (86, 84, 86, 86) [86, 86, 88, 88].

Place 3 more needles in the center into hold.  Knit 1 row, wrap yarn around first unworked needle.  Knit 1 row.  Repeat for a total of 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) [2, 2, 1, 1] times worked.  Stitches in work 26 (28, 31, 34, 35) [38, 42, 47, 52].  RC 80 (88, 86, 88, 90) [90, 90, 90, 90].

Place 2 more needles in the center into hold.  Knit 1 row, wrap yarn around first unworked needle.  Knit 1 row.  Repeat for a total of 2 (2, 3, 3, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] times worked.  Stitches in work 22 (24, 25, 28, 31) [34, 38, 43, 48].  RC 84 (92, 92, 94, 94) [94, 94, 94, 94].

Place 1 more needles in the center into hold.  Knit 1 row, wrap yarn around first unworked needle.  Knit 1 row.  Repeat for a total of 2 (3, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 4, 4] times worked.  Stitches in work  20 (21, 23, 26, 29) [32, 36, 39, 44].  RC 88 (98, 96, 98, 98) [98, 98, 102, 102].

Knit 2 (4, 8, 6, 8) [8, 8, 6, 6] rows.

RC 90 (102, 104, 104, 106) [106, 106, 108, 108].  Bind off shoulder stitches.

Move carriage to left side.  Move left most 29 (31, 34, 37, 41) [44, 48, 50, 55] needles into working position, leaving the 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 4, 4] center left needles and all on right side of bed in hold.  Reset row counter to 76 (84, 82, 84, 84) [84, 84, 86, 86] and repeat the instructions for the neck shaping starting at the first knit row. Bind off shoulder stitches but do not cut yarn.

Hang needles for each side of neckline over 2 (4, 7, 5, 7) [7, 7, 5, 5] needles.  With carriage tension set tighter 2 full numbers for garter rows, knit 2 rows.  Hand transfer the second row stitches to be purl stitches.  Knit 2 rows again, transferring the second row again to be purl stitches.  RC 4.  Bind off.

Back
Carriage on right, and row counter set to 000.  With waste yarn and ravel cord e-wrap cast on 62 (66, 72, 78, 86) [92, 100, 108, 118] needles.  Each side of the bed will have 31 (33, 36, 39, 43) [46, 50, 54, 59] needles.  

With carriage tension set tighter 2 full numbers for garter rows to pull in, knit 2 rows.  Hand transfer the second row stitches to be purl stitches.  Knit 2 rows again, transferring the second row again to be purl stitches.  RC 4.

Reset carriage tension to stockinette gauge.

Knit 54 (61, 60, 59, 55) [54, 52, 51, 49] rows.  Mark edge stitches to know where bottom of sleeve begins.  RC 58 (65, 64, 63, 59) [58, 56, 55, 53].

Knit 32 (37, 40, 41, 47) [48, 50, 53, 55] rows.

RC 90 (102, 104, 104, 106) [106, 106, 108, 108].

With another section of yarn, bind off the 20 (21, 23, 26, 29) [32, 36, 39, 44] stitches at the far left side of bed, leaving center 11 (12, 13, 13, 14) [14, 14, 15, 15] needles on the left side of bed in work.

Bind off (but do not cut yarn) first 20 (21, 23, 26, 29) [32, 36, 39, 44] stitches at the far right side of bed, leaving center 11 (12, 13, 13, 14) [14, 14, 15, 15] needles on the right side of bed in work.  

With 22 (24, 26, 26, 28) [28, 28, 30, 30] needles in work, and carriage tension set tighter 2 full numbers for garter rows, knit 2 rows.  Hand transfer the second row stitches to be purl stitches.  Knit 2 rows again, transferring the second row again to be purl stitches.  RC 4.  Bind off.

Sleeve
Note:  The sleeves are knit from the shoulder down to the cuff for ease of adjusting the length.  

With carriage on right, row counter set to 000, and carriage tension set to stockinette gauge, e-wrap cast on or hang fabric over 48 (50, 54, 60, 66) [70, 72, 76, 80] needles.  Each side of the bed will have 24 (25, 27, 30, 33) [35, 36, 38, 40] needles in work.

Knit 3 (4, 3, 4, 6) [3, 3, 7, 4] rows.

Decrease one stitch on each side.  Knit 7 (7, 6, 5, 4) [4, 4, 3, 3] rows.  Repeat for a total of 10 (11, 13, 15, 18) [19, 19, 21, 22] times.  Total stitches in work 28 (28, 28, 30, 30) [32, 34, 34, 36].  RC 73 (81, 81, 79, 78) [79, 79, 70, 70].

Knit 3 (4, 3, 4, 6) [3, 3, 7, 4] rows.  RC 76 (85, 84, 83, 84) [82, 82, 77, 74].

With carriage tension set tighter 2 full numbers for garter rows to pull in, knit 2 rows.  Hand transfer the second row stitches to be purl stitches.  Knit 2 rows again, transferring the second row again to be purl stitches.  RC 80 (89, 88, 87, 88) [86, 86, 81, 78].  Bind off.

Make second sleeve.

Sew shoulders of front and back together, and join top of sleeve to sides between stitch markings.  Sew from cuff down to bottom hem.