A new woman sweater knitting pattern, the Aurora Turtleneck Sweater, is now a free knitting pattern here on the blog! Read about the gorgeous yarn and construction for this easy knit sweater pattern or scroll down for the free pattern.
No time right now? Pin this women sweater knitting pattern for later!
*This post contains affiliate links (only for products I love, use and spend my own money on obviously). This means I earn some yarn money if you make a purchase through one of these links (of course at no extra cost for you!), which I promise to use to create more awesome patterns like this one. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here.
The Aurora sweater knitting pattern is the ultimaty cozy everyday sweater. A wide soft cowl turtleneck to keep you warm without being oppressive, a high split hem with rounded bottom panels for a modern twist and a comfy flattering fit are just a few of the features of this women sweater knitting pattern.
Worked in chunky yarn in the round, you’ll have your new favorite sweater ready in no time. No need for short rows or any advanced technique either for the rounded bottom shaping thanks to a little sewing trick.
The Yarn
Chunky, incredibly soft and gorgeous colors. That’s how I’d summerize the Katia Yarns Soffiato yarn I used for this women sweater knitting pattern.
It’s classified as a super bulky weight 6 yarn but feels more like a chunky weight 5 yarn to me. It’s a single ply yarn which gives it some irregularities which adds texture to your simple stockinette sweater body.
With it’s 70% alpaca it will keep you warm and cuddly all winter long (no scratchy collar!). Added bonus, it’s available in 14 gorgeous modern colors, you’re sure to find one (or 5) you’ll fall in love with.
Turtleneck Sweater Knitting Pattern Construction
The turtleneck sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down in the round starting with the turtleneck section.
After knitting the yoke, you will leave the stitches for the sleeves on stitch holders while working the body of the sweater.
From the high split hem onwards, the back and front are worked separately in rows back and forth.
The final ribbing border is then worked separately and sewed around the cast-off edge of the front and back panels respectively (avoiding short rows or other advanced techniques).
Downloadable PDF
Why I Recommend You Purchase the PDF Pattern
If you’ve never used PDF patterns before, you are missing out on so much convenience!
- You don’t need to take screenshots of the pattern
- You don’t need to have your computer, phone or tablet around to work on your project.
- You don’t need to panic if your husband accidentally closed the page
- You can take notes, highlight your size and write down where you are.
- When your best friend begs you to make her the same sweater, you have the pattern ready.
- It’s a great way to support the blog so I can continue to bring you knitting tutorials.
Grab the printable PDF of the Aurora Turtleneck Sweater knitting pattern now in my Etsy shop or on Ravelry:
Before you Start your Women Sweater Knitting Pattern
Materials
- 8 mm / US 11 circular knitting needles
- Katia Yarns Soffiato (Super bulky weight 6, 70% superfine alpaca, 30% polyamide, 80m/87yd, 100g/3.5oz) in color Blue-green 110: 6 (7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) skeins
- 2 stitch holders: you can use an interchangeable circular needle cable with end caps or a piece of yarn (make sure you close it to secure the stitches)
- 10 stitch markers
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends
Size
The sweater knitting pattern is available in the following sizes: XS to 5XL. Sizes are noted throughout the pattern in the following way: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). The pictures illustrate the M size.
Final garment measurements are:
- XS: 70 cm / 27.5” bust, 34 cm / 13.25” upper arm, 58 cm / 22.75” length.
- S: 80 cm / 31.5” bust, 34 cm / 13.25” upper arm, 59 cm / 23.25” length.
- M: 90 cm / 35.5” bust, 36 cm / 14” upper arm, 60 cm / 23.5” length.
- L: 100 cm / 39.25” bust, 38 cm / 15” upper arm, 61 cm / 24” length.
- XL: 110 cm / 43.25” bust, 42 cm / 16.5” upper arm, 62 cm / 24.5” length.
- 2XL: 120 cm / 47.25” bust, 46 cm / 18” upper arm, 64 cm / 25” length.
- 3XL: 130 cm / 51” bust, 52 cm / 20.5” upper arm, 65 cm / 25.5” length.
- 4XL: 140 cm / 55” bust, 54 cm / 21.25” upper arm, 65 cm / 25.5” length.
- 5XL: 150 cm / 59” bust, 56 cm / 22” upper arm, 66 cm / 29” length.
The cardigan is designed with a normal to close fit, 5 cm / 2” negative ease to zero ease at the bust. The length is measured from the neckline (excluding turtleneck) to sweater bottom edge.
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern, in stockinette stitch, is 10 st by 15 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).
Abbreviations & Instructions
- st = stitch
- k = knit
- p = purl
- k2tog = knit 2 stitches together, single right-leaning decrease
- ssk = slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease.
- ssp = slip 2 stitches knitwise, return these 2 stitches to left needle and purl them together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease
- M1 = make one stitch knitwise; single knit increase (knit in front and back loop)
- Sl1k = slip 1 stitch knitwise
- Sl1p = slip 1 stitch purlwise
Repeat instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round/row.
The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round/row between < >.
Special Stitches and Techniques
- Stockinette stitch in the round: knit continuously.
- Sleeves are worked in the round. You can choose to either work with very short needles and cables, use the magic loop technique or double pointed needles.
The Actual Women Sweater Knitting Pattern
With your 8 mm / US 11 circular knitting needles cast on 70 st and join in the round.
[K1, p1] around for 20 cm / 7.75”.
Continue working in stockinette stitch from here onwards.
Knit in the round for 2 rounds.
Increase Round: [M1, k7, place a st marker] around. <80 st>
Repeat increase round 0 (0, 0, 0, 1, 2, 5, 7, 8). <80 (80, 80, 80, 90, 100, 130, 150, 160)
Next 2 Rounds: knit
Increase Round: [M1, k until marker
Work these 3 rounds a total of 5 (6, 7, 8, 10, 10, 10, 9, 9) times. <130 (140, 150, 160, 190, 200, 230, 240, 250) st>
Knit in stockinette for 17 (16, 14, 13, 8, 9, 7, 9, 9) rounds.
Split for the sleeves
Place stitches for the sleeves onto stitch holders (you will get back to them later) and work only the body stitches from here onwards.
- XS: Slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 35 st, slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 35 st.
- S: Slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 40 st, slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 40 st.
- M: Slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 45 st, slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 45 st.
- L: Slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 50 st, slip 30 st onto stitch holder, knit 50 st.
- XL: Slip 40 st onto stitch holder, knit 55 st, slip 40 st onto stitch holder, knit 55 st.
- 2XL: Slip 40 st onto stitch holder, knit 60 st, slip 40 st onto stitch holder, knit 60 st.
- 3XL: Slip 50 st onto stitch holder, knit 65 st, slip 50 st onto stitch holder, knit 65 st.
- 4XL: Slip 50 st onto stitch holder, knit 70 st, slip 50 st onto stitch holder, knit 70 st.
- 5XL: Slip 50 st onto stitch holder, knit 75 st, slip 50 st onto stitch holder, knit 75 st.
Body
Continue knitting the body stitches in stockinette for 20 cm / 7.75”.
Note: Try on your sweater. The length should be approximately 2.5 cm / 1” below the waist. If you want the split hem to start lower keep working in the round (up to an additional 10 cm / 4”) and skip/reduce the Row 1 and 2 repeat below by the length you’ve added here.
Split Hem Section
You will now divide the stitches into the front and back panel and work them separately.
Work the first 35 (40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75) stitches in rows back and forth while leaving the remaining stitches on the side.
Row 1: [sl1k, p1] twice, knit until last 4 st, [p1, k1] twice
Row 2: [sl1p, k1] twice, purl until last 4 st, [k1, p1] twice
Repeat Row 1 & 2 for 10 cm / 4”.
[Decrease Row 1: [sl1k, p1] twice, ssk, knit until last 6 st, k2tog, [p1, k1]
Repeat Row 2] 3 times. <29 (34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59, 64, 69) st>
[Decrease Row 1.
Decrease Row 2: [sl1p, k1] twice, p2tog, purl until last 6 st, ssp, [k1, p1] twice.] twice. <21 (26, 31, 36, 41, 46, 51, 56, 61) st>
Final Rounded Shaping
Row 1: Cast off 4 st, ssk, knit until last 6 st, k2tog. Leave remaining 4 st on the side (you will get back to these stitches later for the bottom ribbed edge). <11 (16, 21, 26, 31, 36, 41, 46, 51) st>
Row 2: Cast off 2 st, purl until end of row. <9 (14, 19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44, 49) st>
Row 3: Cast off 2 st, knit until end of row. <7 (12, 17, 22, 27, 32, 37, 42, 47) st>
Cast off all remaining st.
Bottom Ribbed Edge
Go back to the 4 st you left on the side: [sl1k, p1] twice
Repeat until you reach 16 (21, 26, 31, 36, 41, 46, 51, 56) cm/6.25 (8.25, 10.25, 12.25, 14.25, 16.25, 18, 20, 22)”.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing. Sew this bottom ribbing section to the body cast off edge.
Repeat the entire split hem section for the back panel.
Sleeves
Join yarn in the armhole, pick up an extra 2 (2, 3, 4, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3) stitches in the gap, knit the sleeve stitches, pick up an extra 2 (2, 3, 4, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3) stitches in the gap and join in the round. <34 (34, 36, 38, 42, 46, 52, 54, 56) st>
Knit in stockinette until your sleeve is 31 (32, 32, 33, 33, 34, 34, 36, 36) cm / 12 (12.5, 12.5, 13, 13, 13.5, 13.5, 14, 14)” from the armhole.
Cuff
[K2tog, k1] around, k 1 (1, 0, 2, 0, 1, 1, 0, 2). <23 (23, 24, 26, 28, 31, 35, 36, 38) st>
For sizes 2XL-5XL: [K2tog, k3] around, k X (X, X, X, X, 1, 0, 1, 3). <X (X, X, X, X, 25, 28, 29, 31) st>
Size XS, S, 2XL, 4XL and 5XL: [K1, p1] until last 3 st, k1, p2tog. < 22 (22, X, X, X, 24, X, 28, 30) st>
[K1, p1] around for 8 cm/3”.
Blocking
You are done with the knitting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your turtleneck sweater even prettier, help even your stitches, flatten your seams, carefully block your project.
Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.
