A new oversized sweater crochet pattern, the Drapey Boxy Sweater, is now a free crochet pattern on the blog. Read all about the easy crochet square sweater pattern construction, cozy fit and yarn or scroll down for the free oversized crochet sweater pattern.
No time right now? Pin this free oversized sweater crochet 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.
Just imagine an unseasonably beautiful, but chilly day. You’ve got a pair of cute boots, comfy jeans (or leggings if you feel like staying a little more comfy) and the COZIEST boxy sweater. You are kept warm, but not SO warm. You carry yourself with confidence because not only is your outfit cute as ever, but you made it.
Now your search for the perfect beginner-level free oversized sweater crochet pattern is over! This one is available in inclusive sizes XS-5XL and features a minimal round collar with a simple, very loose fit. Find the free easy crochet square sweater pattern below!
The Oversized Sweater Construction
This flowy oversized sweater is worked in 4 panels from the bottom up. Then, the panels are sewed together. Finally, stitches for the round collar are picked up and worked in the round.
The entire sweater is worked in alternating rows of double crochet and half-double crochet stitches giving it this slight striped cozy texture effect.
The Yarn
The Drapey Boxy Sweater crochet pattern features a 2-ply sock yarn hand-dyed naturally. It’s a fingering weight 1 sock yarn made from superwash merino fiber (100%).
What’s really special about that yarn is how the color was obtained. You would never guess that I hand-dyed it myself at home! Using avocado peels and pits, skeins of undyed animal fiber yarn, a stovetop, and a little patience, I produce this beautiful peachy pink color. If you too would like to learn how to dye your yarn with avocados, I explained every step of my process in this other blog post.
Of course, you can easily substitute the yarn for this drapey crochet sweater pattern with another yarn – why not that deliciously beautiful color you bought the other day at the yarn store? No need to hand-dye your yarn if experimenting with color alchemy isn’t your cup of tea. When substituting, just make sure you meet gauge, for a perfectly fitted garment.
Downloadable Drapey Boxy Sweater Crochet Pattern
More Easy Crochet Sweater Patterns View All
Before you Start your Oversized Crochet Sweater
Materials
- 4 mm / US G – 6 hook.
- 2-ply superwash sock yarn (100% superwash merino, 365 m / 399 yd, 100g), hand-dyed with avocados by me (learn how in this post): 5 (5, 5, 6, 6) (6, 7, 7, 7) skeins
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends.
Sizes for the Oversized Sweater Crochet Pattern Free
The crochet sweater pattern is available in following sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL. Sizes are written as XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) throughout the pattern. Pictures illustrate the L size.
The sweater is designed with a very big oversized fit, 40 – 50 cm / 16” to 20” ease at the bust.
Below are the final sweater measurements for the different sizes.
- XS: bust 120 cm / 47”
- S: bust 130 cm / 51”
- M: bust 140 cm / 55”
- L: bust 150 cm / 59”
- XL: bust 160 cm / 63”
- 2XL: bust 170 cm / 67”
- 3XL: bust 180 cm / 71”
- 4XL: bust 190 cm / 75”
- 5XL: bust 200 cm / 78.5”
The Sweater is 61 cm / 24” long. To adjust the length, add/remove repeats before shaping for the neck (don’t forget to adjust your yarn quantity accordingly).
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern, in alternating rows of dc and hdc is 20 st by 13 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm / 4” by 4” square.
Abbreviations
This pattern uses US notations.
- st = stitch
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
Notes
Work instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the row / round.
The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the row / round between < >.
The turning ch 1, ch 2 don’t count as stitches throughout the pattern except if mentioned otherwise.
The pattern is written in crochet shorthand. For example:
- “sc 2” means to single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches,
- and “2 sc” means to single crochet twice in the next st.
Sweater Construction
The oversized crochet sweater is worked in 4 panels from the bottom up. Then, the panels are sewed together. Lastly, stitches for the collar are picked up and worked in the round.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t panic if your panels are leaning on one side. Alternating rows of dc and hdc tend to do that. It’s just the nature of the stitches. Blocking your panels will easily fix this.
- I recommend using an invisible seaming technique for attaching the panels. If you’re not familiar with invisible seams, this tutorial is very helpful.
- If you want to fit test your sweater: make the front and back panels first, block then sew them and make the collar before testing your fit. The collar makes a big difference on how the sweater fits and sleeve length you need.
The Actual Oversized Sweater Crochet Pattern Free
Back Panel
With your 4 mm / US G -6 hook, chain 120 (130, 140, 150, 160) (170, 180, 190, 200) + 2
Row 1: Dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, turn. <120 (130, 140, 150, 160) (170, 180, 190, 200) st>
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 2, dc across, turn.
Repeat Row 2 and 3 for another 38 times. Finish with another Row 2 repeat.
Front Panel of the Oversized Sweater Crochet Pattern Free
With your 4 mm / US G -6 hook, chain 120 (130, 140, 150, 160) (170, 180, 190, 200) + 2
Row 1: Dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, turn. <120 (130, 140, 150, 160) (170, 180, 190, 200) st>
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 2, dc across, turn.
Repeat Row 2 and 3 for another 32 times. Make another Row 2 repeat.
To shape the rounded neck, you will now work both sides separately leaving the middle 14 st unworked.
Count from each side in towards the middle and place a st marker at st 54 (59, 64, 69, 72) (79, 84, 89, 94).
You will work each shoulder up until its marker (not including the marked stitch).
Row 1: Ch 2, dc until marker (leaving marked stitch unworked), turn. <53 (58, 63, 68, 71) (78, 83, 88, 93) st>
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc across, turn. <52 (57, 62, 67, 70) (77, 82, 87, 92) st>
Row 3: Ch 2, dc until last 2 st, dc2tog, turn. <51 (56, 61, 66, 69) (76, 81, 86, 91) st>
Repeat Row 2 and 3 twice. <49 (54, 59, 64, 67) (74, 79, 84, 89) st>
Row 4: Ch 1, hdc across, turn.
Row 5: Ch 2, dc across, turn.
Repeat Row 4 and 5. Repeat Row 4 one more time.
Bind off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Join yarn back at the st after your second st marker.
Row 1: Ch 2, dc 68, turn. <53 (58, 63, 68, 71) (78, 83, 88, 93) st>
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc until last 2 st, hdc2tog, turn. <52 (57, 62, 67, 70) (77, 82, 87, 92) st>
Row 3: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc across, turn. <51 (56, 61, 66, 69) (76, 81, 86, 91) st>
Repeat Row 2 and 3 twice. <49 (54, 59, 64, 67) (74, 79, 84, 89) st>
Row 4: Ch 1, hdc across, turn.
Row 5: Ch 2, dc across, turn.
Repeat Row 4 and 5. Repeat Row 4 one more time.
Bind off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sleeve
Make 2.
With you 4 mm / US G – 6 hook, ch 61 (63, 67, 72, 80) (90, 97, 105, 110) + 2.
For Sizes XS to XL
Row 1: Dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, turn. <61 (63, 67, 72, 80) (X, X, X, X) st>
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 2, dc across, turn.
Repeat Row 2 and 3 another 9 (7, 5, 4, 0) (X, X, X, X). Make another Row 2 repeat.
Row 4: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc until last 2 st, dc2tog, turn. <59 (61, 65, 70, 78) (X, X, X, X) st>
Row 5: Ch 1, hdc across, turn.
Repeat Row 4 and 5 another 8 (9, 11, 13, 18) (X, X, X, X) times. <43 (43, 43, 44, 42) (X, X, X, X) st>
[Repeat Row 3 and 5
Repeat Row 4 and 5] another 1 (1, 1, 1, 0) times. <41 (41, 41, 42, 42) (X, X, X, X) st>
For Sizes 2XL to 5XL
Row 1: Dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across, turn. <X (X, X, X, X) (90, 97, 105, 110) st>
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc across, hdc2tog, turn. <X (X, X, X, X) (88, 95, 103, 108) st>
Row 3: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc until last 2 st, dc2tog, turn. <X (X, X, X, X) (86, 93, 101, 106) st>
Repeat Row 2 and 3 another X (X, X, X, X) (3, 6, 12, 14) times. <X (X, X, X, X) (74, 69, 53, 50)>
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc across, turn.
Repeat Row 3 and 4 another X (X, X, X, X) (16, 13, 5, 2) times. <X (X, X, X, X) (42, 43, 43, 46) st>
Blocking
Before assembling your sweater, block each panel.
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.
Assembly
Sew the front and back panels together. Make the shoulder seams first, then sew up the sides leaving.
Sew up the sides leaving 15 (16, 17, 18, 20) (22.5, 24, 26, 27.5) cm / 6 (6.25, 6.5, 7, 7.75) (8.75, 9.5, 10.25, 10.75)” unseamed for the armholes.
Finally attach the sleeves and sew them closed.
Collar
The collar is worked in continuous rounds.
With your 4 mm / US G – 6 hook, join yarn in the junction between front and back panel (it doesn’t matter which side). Place a st marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
Round 1: Sc 96 around the neck area. Spread stitches evenly.
Round 2: [Sc 14, sc2tog] around. <90 st>
Round 3: Sc around.
Round 4: [Sc 13, sc2tog] around. <84 st>
Round 5: Sc around.
Round 6: [Sc 12, sc2tog] around. <78 st>
Round 7: Sc around.
Blocking Your Oversized Sweater
You’re done with the crocheting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your sweater even prettier and help even your stitches, wet 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.
