Esme Sweater
A new v-neck sweater knitting pattern – the Esme sweater – is now a free knitting blanket pattern here on the blog. Read all about the inspiration behind the design, the yarn and the beginner-friendly construction, scroll down to view the full free pattern or purchase an ad free PDF PDF from my shop, Etsy shop or Ravelry shop.
No time right now? Pin this mohair sweater knitting pattern free 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.
This is the loose, fluffy sweater of your dreams. This v-neck sweater pattern was inspired by my mom, our love for yarn crafts, and her need for a fluffy sweater. It is so special to give our loved ones exactly what they want. We make it with our hands and weave our love into every stitch. Available in sizes XS-5XL, this is the perfect comfy, beautiful sweater for anyone.
The Yarn
3 strands of lace weight yarn are held together to form a fluffy airy yarn with a marbled color. If you prefer a uniform color, you can easily work with 3 strands of the same colorway.
Hobbii Diablo is a mohair blend which creates this fluffy cozy fabric.
Although the yarn is qualified as lace weight, holding 3 strands together and knit loosely, it could be substituted with a worsted weight yarn.
Beginner Friendly Construction
The Esme fluffly sweater has a very simple and classic construction. The sweater is worked in panels sewed together. The back and front panels are worked from the bottom up as simple rectangles.
The front panel has an easy V-neck that is made simply by dividing your stitches and working one side at a time.
The sleeves are worked from the shoulder down, finishing with a tight cuff on smaller needles.
Downloadable PDF Esme Sweater Knitting Pattern
Grab the printable PDF of the Esme Sweater knitting pattern is now in my shop, on Etsy shop or on Ravelry:
[sp_index title=”More Knit Sweaters you’ll love” display_date=”no” post_ids=”8043, 2087, 7814″]
Before You Start Your Esme V-Neck Sweater Knitting Pattern Free
Materials
- 4 mm / US 6 knitting needles
- 6.5 mm / US 10.5 knitting needles
- Hobbii Diablo (Lace weight 1, 40% acrylic, 30% mohair, 30% polyamide, 225m/246yd, 25g/0.85oz) held triple:
- Powder Rose (14): 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) skeins
- Champagne (13): 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) skeins
- Red Clay (47): 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) skeins
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends
- 1 stitch marker
Sizes
The sweater knitting pattern is available in 9 sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL. Sizes are noted throughout the pattern in the following way: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL).
The pictures illustrate the 2XL size.
The sweater is designed with a loose oversized fit, 10 – 15 cm / 4 – 6” ease at the bust.
Final garment measurements are:
- XS: 86 cm / 34” bust, 32 cm / 12.5 upper arm circumference.
- S: 95 cm / 37.5” bust, 34 cm / 13” upper arm circumference.
- M: 105 cm / 41” bust, 37 cm / 14.5” upper arm circumference.
- L: 117 cm / 46” bust, 40 cm / 16” upper arm circumference.
- XL: 126 cm / 49.5” bust, 45 cm / 17.5” upper arm circumference.
- 2 XL: 138 cm / 54.5” bust, 51 cm / 20” upper arm circumference.
- 3XL: 148 cm / 58” bust, 54 cm / 21” upper arm circumference.
- 4XL: 157 cm / 62” bust, 57 cm / 22.5” upper arm circumference.
- 5XL: 169 cm / 66.5” bust, 60 cm / 23.5” upper arm circumference.
The total sweater length is 70 cm / 27.5”. You can adjust this length by adding/removing rows before splitting for the V-neck (refer to notes in italic).
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern, in stockinette stitch with 6.5 mm / US 10.5 needles, is 13 st by 19 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).
Stitches and Techniques
Sick of all the yarn jargon and conversions?
US vs UK, abbreviations, imperial vs metric, yarn weights, etc?
The Esme sweater knitting pattern doesn’t use any special stitches and techniques. Only the following basic stitches are used:
- k = knit
- k2tog = knit 2 stitches together, single right-leaning decrease
- p = purl
- p2tog = purl 2 stitches together, single decrease
- st = stitch
- sl1k = slip 1 stitch knitwise
- sl1p = slip 1 stitch purlwise
- Stockinette stitch: knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side. To facilitate sewing, I like to slip the first stitch of every row (knitwise on knit rows, purlwise on purl rows).
Abbreviations & Instructions
- k = knit
- k2tog = knit 2 stitches together, single right-leaning decrease
- p = purl
- p2tog = purl 2 stitches together, single decrease
- st = stitch
- 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: knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side. To facilitate sewing, I like to slip the first stitch of every row (knitwise on knit rows, purlwise on purl rows).
Construction
3 strands of lace weight yarn are held together to form a fluffy airy yarn with a marbled color.
The sweater is worked in panels sewed together. The back and front panels are worked from the bottom up as simple rectangles. The front panel has a V-neck that is worked one side at a time. The sleeves are worked from the shoulder down, finishing with a tight cuff on smaller needles.
The Actual Esme Mohair Sweater Knitting Pattern Free
Back Panel
With your 6.5 mm / US 10.5 needles, holding one strand of each of the 3 colors, cast on 56 (62, 68, 76, 82, 90, 96, 102, 110) st.
[K1, p1] across for 8 rows.
Knit in stockinette stitch until total length is 70 cm / 27.5”.
Note: If you want to change the total length of the sweater, work more or fewer rows here. Take note of how many cm / inches you’ve modified so you can do the same for the front panel.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Front Panel
With your 6.5 mm / US 10.5 needles, holding one strand of each of the 3 colors, cast on 56 (62, 68, 76, 82, 90, 96, 102, 110) st.
[K1, p1] across for 8 rows.
Knit in stockinette stitch until total length is 52 cm / 20.5”
Note: If you’ve modified the sweater length, apply the same modification here before starting the V-neck
V-Neck Formation
Row 1: Sl1k, k25 (28, 31, 35, 38, 42, 45, 48, 52), p1, k2, p1, k across.
Row 2: Sl1p, p25 (28, 31, 35, 38, 42, 45, 48, 52), k1, p2, k1, p across.
Row 3: Sl1k, k23 (26, 29, 33, 36, 40, 43, 46, 50), p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k across.
Row 4: Sl1p, p23 (26, 29, 33, 36, 40, 43, 46, 50), k1, p1, k1, p2, k1, p1, k1, p across.
Row 5: Sl1k, k21 (24, 27, 31, 34, 38, 41, 44, 48), [p1, k1] three times, [k1, p1] three times, k across.
Row 6: Sl1p, p21 (24, 27, 31, 34, 38, 41, 44, 48), [k1, p1] three times, place a st marker, [p1, k1] three times, p across.
Now you need to split your work in 2 sections: both shoulders of the V-neck.
Section 1
Work with only the first 28 (31, 34, 38, 41, 45, 48, 51, 55) stitches (up to stitch marker) and leave the remaining stitches on the side. You’ll get back to them later.
Row 1: Sl1k, k until last 8 st, k2tog, [p1, k1] three times. <27 (30, 33, 37, 40, 44, 47, 50, 54) st>
Row 2: Sl1p, [k1, p1] three times, p across.
Repeat Row 1 and 2 another 8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11, 12) times. <19 (22, 24, 28, 30, 34, 36, 39, 42) st>
Continue working without decreases.
Row 3: Sl1k, k until last 6 st, [p1, k1] three times.
Row 4: Sl1p, [k1, p1] three times, p across.
Repeat Row 3 and 4 until total length of your panel is 70 cm / 27.5”.
Section 2
Go back to the remaining stitches, join yarn at the V-neck.
Row 1: Sl1k, [p1, k1] twice, p1, k2tog, k across. <27 (30, 33, 37, 40, 44, 47, 50, 54) st> Row 2: Sl1p, p until last 6 st, [k1, p1] three times.
Repeat Row 1 and 2 another 8 (8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11, 12) times. <19 (22, 24, 28, 30, 34, 36, 39, 42) st>
Continue working without decreases.
Row 3: Sl1k, [p1, k1] twice, p1, k across.
Row 4: Sl1p, p until last 6 st, [k1, p1] three times.
Repeat Row 3 and 4 until total length of your panel is 70 cm / 27.5”.
Sleeves
Make 2.
With your 6.5 mm / US 10.5 needles, holding one strand of each of the 3 colors, cast on 42 (44, 48, 52, 58, 66, 70, 74, 78) st.
Knit in stockinette stitch until you reach 34 cm / 13.5”.
Note: If you want to increase/decrease the length of the sleeves, knit more of fewer rows here. Make sure to adjust both sleeves the same way.
Switch to 4 mm / US 6 needles.
Decrease row: k2tog across. <21 (22, 24, 26, 29, 33, 35, 37, 39) st> Cuff row: [k1, p1] across.
Repeat cuff row for 12 cm / 4.75”.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Assembly
Assemble the front and back panels by sewing the shoulders seams.
Attach the sleeves to the body panels. Fold the sleeve in half and start by sewing the middle to the shoulder seam. Sew down, make sure you don’t stretch or compress the sleeve fabric when sewing.
Finish sewing the sides together and close the sleeves all the way to the end of the cuffs.
Blocking
You’re done with the knitting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your sweater even prettier, help even your stitches and seams, block your project to finished measurements.
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.
Copyright 2022 of Knitting with Chopsticks.
