Piper Sweater Knitting Pattern

Introducing: the Piper Striped Sweater -- Free Knitting Pattern

The Piper Sweater Knitting Pattern is knit using a striped texture pattern combining stockinette and garter stitch. It is worked flat with a relaxed fit to create a perfect year-round sweater. Scroll down to access the free knitting pattern or shop the kit with Lion Brand Yarn!

Piper Sweater Knitting Pattern

© ORIGINALLY LOVELY 2021

This pattern and photographs of this garment are property of Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely. This pattern, photos, and design are subject to copyright and are for personal use only. All commercial use is strictly prohibited. You may not reproduce or distribute this pattern under any circumstances.

The free version of this pattern must be accessed from the webpage.

To purchase an ad-free, printable PDF of the Piper Sweater on Ravelry, CLICK HERE

To purchase an ad-free, printable PDF of the Piper Sweater on Etsy, CLICK HERE

Skill Level

Intermediate

For this pattern, you will need to know how to knit, purl, be familiar with different increases and decreases, pick up stitches, feel confident reading knitting patterns, and work the tubular bind off.  

Although this is listed as an intermediate level knitting pattern, I do think that advanced beginners who are ready to dive into sweater construction will enjoy this pattern as well.

Materials

• 2, (2, 2, 2, 2), (2, 2, 3, 3) balls / 450, (500, 550, 600, 650), (700, 750, 800, 850) yards Lion Brand Comfy Cotton Blend in Whipped Cream (Main Color)
• 2, (2, 2, 2, 2), (2, 2, 3, 3) balls / 450, (500, 550, 600, 650), (700, 750, 800, 850) yards Lion Brand Comfy Cotton Blend in Chai Latte (Accent Color)
• Size US 9 (5.5 mm) 32" or longer circular knitting needles
• Size US 8 (5.0 mm) 32" or longer circular knitting needles
• Size US 7 (4.5 mm) 24" circular knitting needles
• Stitch Markers
• Tapestry Needle to weave in ends

Notes:

This sweater is worked flat, beginning at the front hem, working upwards to shape the body, shoulders, neckline, and then the back. You will then pick up stitches to knit each sleeve and the neckband. Sides will be seamed at the end. 

Finished Dimensions

	XS	S	M	L	XL	2X	3X	4X	5X
Bust/Chest Circumference	38	42	46	50	54	58	62	66	70
Length	23.25	24	24	24.75	24.75	25.5	25.5	26.25	26.25
Sleeve Length	17.5	17.5	17.5	17.5	17.5	17.5	17.5	17.5	17.5

XS, (S, M, L, XL), (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

The Piper Sweater knitting pattern is written for the smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parenthesis. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To keep track of your size, you can highlight or circle all numbers for your chosen size before you begin.

Help Choosing Size

This sweater is designed to be worn with 8-10” of positive ease. Model is 6’ tall, has a 33” bust, and is wearing a size Small with 9” of positive ease. For best fit, choose a size that is 8-10” larger than your corresponding bust measurement. For example, if your bust is 54”, you would wear a size 3X. 

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch on size 9 needles

Abbreviations

This pattern is written using U.S. English terminology using Craft Yarn Council Standards.

AC = accent color 

BO = bind off

CO = cast on

K = knit

K2TOG = knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)

K3TOG = knit 3 stitches together (2 stitches decreased)

K2TOGTBL = knit 2 stitches together through the back loop (1 stitch decreased)

K3TOGTBL = knit 3 stitches together through the back loop (2 stitches decreased)

MC = main color

M1L = make one left. Pick up the bar between the stitch you just knit and the one you are about to knit with your left needle from front to back, knit through the back. 

M1R = make one right. Pick up the bar between the stitch you just knit and the one you are about to knit with your left needle from back to front, knit through the front.

P = purl

PM = place marker

RS = right side

SL1 = slip 1 stitch purl-wise (as if to purl)

SSK = slip the next 2 sts knitwise, then knit them together through the back loops ( 1 st decreased)

SSSK = slip the next 3 sts knitwise, then knit them together through the back loop (2 sts decreased)

WS = wrong side

YO = yarn over

Piper Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern

Using size 8 needles, cast on 86 (94, 104, 112, 122) (130, 140, 148, 158) sts in MC using long tail tubular cast on method. 

Work 10 rows in k1, p1 rib stitch. 

On the next round, switch to size 9 needles. 

1 (RS): in MC, knit.

2 (WS): in MC, purl. 

3: in AC, knit. 

4: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 1-4 22, (22, 22, 22, 21), (22, 21, 21, 21) more times. You will now have 23, (23, 23, 23, 22), (23, 22, 22, 22) total AC stripes. 

5: in MC, BO 4 sts, k to end of row. [82, (90, 100, 108, 118), (126, 136, 144, 154) sts]. 

6: in MC, BO 4 sts, p to end of row. [78, (86, 96, 104, 114), (122, 132, 140, 150) sts]. 

7-8: as row 3-4. 

Repeat rows 1-4 2 (3, 3, 4, 5) (5, 6, 7, 7) more times. [26, (27, 27, 28, 28), (29, 29, 30, 30) total AC stripes]. 

9: in MC, knit. 

10: in MC, p30 (33, 38, 40, 45) (49, 53, 57, 62) sts, BO 18 (20, 20, 24, 24) (24, 26, 26, 26), p30 (33, 38, 40, 45) (49, 53, 57, 62). 

You will now have 30, (33, 38, 40, 45), (49, 53, 57, 62) sts for the Right Front; 30, (33, 38, 40, 45), (49, 53, 57, 62) sts for the Left Front; and 18, (20, 20, 24, 24), (24, 26, 26, 26) sts bound off in the center for the front of the neckline.

Right Front: 

You will now work the first 30, (33, 38, 40, 45), (49, 53, 57, 62) sts to shape the Right Front. 

11 (RS): in AC, knit to last 2, k3tog. [28, (31, 36, 38, 43), (47, 51, 55, 60) sts].

12 (WS): in AC, knit. 

13: in MC, k to last 2, k2tog. [27, (30, 35, 37, 42), (46, 50, 54, 59) sts].

14: in MC, purl. 

15: in AC, k to last 2, k2tog. [26, (29, 34, 36, 41), (45, 49, 53, 58) sts]. 

16: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 13-16 once more. [24, (27, 32, 34, 39), (43, 47, 51, 56) sts]. 

17: In MC, k to last 2, k2tog. [23, (26, 31, 33, 38), (42, 46, 50, 55) sts]. 

18: in MC, purl. 

19: in AC, knit. 

20: in AC, knit. 

Repeat 17-20 once more. [22, (25, 30, 32, 37), (41, 45, 49, 54) sts]. 

21: in MC, knit. 

22: in MC, purl. 

23: in AC, knit. 

24: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 21-24 once more. [33, (34, 34, 35, 35), (36, 36, 37, 37) total AC stripes].

25: in MC, k to last st, M1R, k1. [23, (26, 31, 33, 38), (42, 46, 50, 55) sts]. 

26: in MC, purl. 

27: in AC, k to last st, M1R, k1. [24, (27, 32, 34, 39), (43, 47, 51, 56) sts]. 

28: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 25-28 once more. [26, (29, 34, 36, 41), (45, 49, 53, 58) sts]. 

Set aside and work left front. 

Left Front: 

You will now work across the 30, (33, 38, 40, 45), (49, 53, 57, 62) sts that were set aside for left front. 

Starting at center neckline with RS facing you,

11 (RS): in AC, k3togtbl, k to end of row. [28, (31, 36, 38, 43), (47, 51, 55, 60) sts]. 

12 (WS): in AC, knit. 

13: in MC, k2togtbl, k to end of row. [27, (30, 35, 37, 42), (46, 50, 54, 59) sts].

14: in MC, purl. 

15: in AC, k2togtbl, k to end of row. [26, (29, 34, 36, 41), (45, 49, 53, 58) sts]. 

16: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 13-16 once more. [24, (27, 32, 34, 39), (43, 47, 51, 56) sts]. 

17: in MC, k2togtbl, k to end of row. [23, (26, 31, 33, 38), (42, 46, 50, 55) sts].

18: in MC, purl. 

19: in AC, knit. 

20: in AC, knit. 

Rep 17-20 once more. [22, (25, 30, 32, 37), (41, 45, 49, 54) sts]. 

21: in MC, knit. 

22: in MC, purl. 

23: in AC, knit. 

24: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 21-24 once more. [33, (34, 34, 35, 35), (36, 36, 37, 37) total AC stripes].

25: in MC, k1, M1L, k to end of row. [23, (26, 31, 33, 38), (42, 46, 50, 55) sts].

26: in MC, purl. 

27: in AC, k1, M1L, k to end of row. [24, (27, 32, 34, 39), (43, 47, 51, 56) sts]. 

28: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 25-28 once more. [26, (29, 34, 36, 41), (45, 49, 53, 58) sts]. Break yarn.

Back Join:

You will now join the 26, (29, 34, 36, 41), (45, 49, 53, 58) sts set aside for the right front, and the 26, (29, 34, 36, 41), (45, 49, 53, 58) sts set aside for the left front into one row to shape the back. 

29 (RS): in MC, k26 (29, 34, 36, 41) (45, 49, 53, 58) sts for right shoulder, CO 26 (28, 28, 32, 32) (32, 34, 34, 34) sts, k26 (29, 34, 36, 41) (45, 49, 53, 58) sts for left shoulder. [78, (86, 96, 104, 114), (122, 132, 140, 150) sts]. 

30: in MC, purl. 

31-32: in AC, knit. 

33: in MC, knit. 

34: in MC, purl. 

35-36: in AC, knit. 

Repeat rows 33-36 6 (7, 7, 8, 9) (9, 10, 11, 11) more times. [8, (9, 9, 10, 11), (11, 12, 13, 13) total AC stripes since back of neck join]. 

37: in MC, CO 4 sts, k across. [82, (90, 100, 108, 118), (126, 136, 144, 154) sts]. 

38: in MC, CO 4 sts, p across. [86, (94, 104, 112, 122), (130, 140, 148, 158) sts].

39-40: in AC, knit. 

41: in MC, knit. 

42: in MC, purl. 

Repeat rows 39-42 22, (22, 22, 22, 21), (22, 21, 21, 21) more times. [23, (23, 23, 23, 22), (23, 22, 22, 22) total AC stripes since underarm CO sts]. 

On the next row, switch to size 8 needles. Work 10 rows in k1, p1 rib stitch. 

BO using the tubular bind off method. 

Sleeves: 

To work the sleeves, you will pick up stitches around the armhole opening and work the sleeve flat using size 9 needles. 

1: in MC, with RS facing and beginning at the underarm, pick up 67 (73, 73, 79, 85) (85, 91, 97, 97) sts around armhole opening. This is about 3 sts per every 4 rows and 5 sts at the each side of the underarm. 

2: in MC, purl. 

3-4: in AC, knit. 

5 (decrease row): in MC, k1, ssk, k to last 3, k2tog, k1. [65 (71, 71, 77, 83) (83, 89, 95, 95) sts].

6: in MC, purl. 

Continue in pattern as established (knitting 2 rows in AC; knitting 1 row, purling 1 row in MC), decreasing every 8 (8, 8, 6, 6) (6, 6, 4, 4)th row 9, (11, 11, 14, 15), (15, 15, 19, 19) more times. 

Then, continue in pattern as established until sleeve measures 16”. You may work more or less at this point to make your sleeve longer or shorter. End your sleeve 1.5” before your desired sleeve length. 

On the next row, switch to size 7 needles, work 8 rows in p1, (k1, p1) rib stitch, BO using tubular bind off method. 

Repeat for second sleeve. 

Neckband:

Using size 7 needles, begin picking up stitches to the right of the sts cast on for the back of neck. 

Pick up 26 (28, 28, 32, 32) (32, 34, 34, 34) sts across the back neckline, 25 sts along left shoulder, 18 (20, 20, 24, 24) (24, 26, 26, 26) sts across center front, and 25 sts along right shoulder. [94, (98, 98, 106, 106), (106, 110, 110, 110) sts total].

Join to work in the round. PM to denote beg/end of each round. 

Work in k1, p1, rib stitch until neckband measures 3”. Bind off loosely. Fold neckband in and seam to inner edge to create a foldover neckband. 

Finishing: 

Starting at the bottom hem, seam up each side of the body to close using mattress stitch. Continue from the underarm down to the cuff of each sleeve. 

Weave in all ends to secure. 

To block, soak in warm water and lay flat to dry. 

Enjoy!