Create Your Perfect Fit : Free Crochet Sweater Pattern

I’m excited to share with you my latest pattern, a cozy V-Neck chunky crochet sweater, featuring the stunning sieve stitch. This unique stitch creates a fabric of small eyelets, resulting in a strong yet airy mesh that beautifully complements the chunky yarn. The texture is both lovely and practical—it’s not too dense, allowing for a graceful drape while still providing the warmth you need during cooler weather. The sleeves are worked directly onto the garment, simplifying the construction process.

My crochet pattern is written in US terms and is available in sizes S through 5X.

Free to view on the blog here today, you can also upgrade to a PDF in my Etsy and Ravelry stores.

When I was designing the sweater, the V-neck was voted the most popular from my newsletter subscribers (runner up was a crew neck sweater). You can have a say too!  Subscribe to be a part of future designs (and you’ll receive the option to download a free PDF when a new pattern releases).

Happy crocheting!

Why you’ll Love to Crochet this Chunky Sweater

Level

Easy (minimal shaping to the V-Neck and sleeves)

Supplies and Materials

• Emu Classic Tweed Chunky; 1082, (1225, 1369, 1502, 1638, 1760, 1917) yds
• 6mm / J-10 Crochet Hook for body (I use these clover hooks)
• 5mm / H-8 Crochet Hook ribbing and sleeves
• Stitch Markers (these are my current favourite stitch markers)
• Tape Measure
• Scissors (I’ve used these for years)
• Yarn Needle

Yarn Choices

I wanted a chunky yarn that had some softness and wouldn’t feel too solid – nothing worse than wearing a sweater that is stiff and has no drape at all (in my opinion!).   

Emu Classic Tweed Chunky from The Knitting Network has a fibre blend of 80% Acrylic, 15% Merino Wool and 5% Viscose – it’s the merino that makes all the difference and was exactly what I was looking for.

Here’s more information about the yarn I used:

Yarn Substitutions

You could substitute any #5 weight yarn but be aware the drape of your finished sweater may be different.

If you have chunky/bulky weight in your stash, crocheting your swatch will give you the feel of the drape.  If your gauge is different from my pattern gauge, use my stitch gauge calculator (see gauge below).

Gauge

13 stitches and 14 rows = 10cm X 10cm / 4in X 4in

Don’t panic if the gauge of your switch is different from mine, use the stitch gauge converter and make the adjustments to your stitch count.

Glossary

Stitches

You will need to know how to work these stitches:

Single Crochet (sc)

Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog)

Single Crochet Back Loop Only (scblo)

Slip Stitch (sl st)

For my UK crocheters, the table below is a conversion of basic crochet stitches from US to UK.

Abbreviations

• Beginning (beg)
• Chain (ch)
• Continued (cont)
• Decrease (decr)
• Each (ea)
• Repeat (rep)
• Skip (sk)
• Space (sp)
• Stitch/es (st/s)
• Wrong Side (WS)
• Right Side (RS)

Measurements

Measurements follow the guidance from the Craft Yarn Council.

Sample size is medium.

How the crochet chunky sweater pattern is worked

My sweater is worked in sieve stitch for the body and sleeves.  This stitch pattern is an easy two-row repeat, one row single crochets and chains and one row single crochets.  It creates a fabric of small eyelets, giving a strong mesh stitch (see image below).

This stitch pairs so well with the chunky yarn, it’s not too dense allowing for drape but still gives warmth during colder weather wearing.

The cuffs, hem and around the V of the neck are ribbed using single crochet in the back loop only (scblo).

The body is worked in rows, the sleeves are worked in rounds.

The image below shows the process of working the pattern.

1. The back is worked first with no shaping.  Armhole depth is measured and stitch markers placed for the side seam.
2. The front panel is worked straight to the shaping of the V.  The first shoulder and then second shoulder are worked separately.  Decreases are made every 3^rd row on the V edge.  Decreases are made by working two single crochet stitches together (sc2tog). 

The front and back are assembled next. With the wrong side facing outwards, the front is placed on top of the back and lined up.  Shoulder seams are sewn followed by sewing the side seam from the stitch markers to the hem.

3. Once the seams are sewn, yarn is rejoined underarm and the sleeves are worked in rounds, joined with a slip stitch (sl st) and turned to start the new round.  Shaping uses the same as the v-neck decreases and the smaller hook.  Without fastening off, the ribbed cuff is crocheted by chaining, working back down the chain in single crochet back loop only (scblo), slip stitching to the next three stitches on the cuff edge, and working back up to the end of the ribbing.  Continuing around the cuff, the seam is then closed by working slip stitches through one loop on either side.
4. The ribbed hem and V-neck ribbing is worked next using the same technique and stitches as the ribbed cuffs.  Finally, there is one more step with the V-neck ribbing.  After working around the V opening, there is a flap.  This is secured by crossing over the middle of the V and sewing in place (see image below).

Further Information for Customizing

If you prefer a less-finished garment, leaving off the ribbed hem and around the V-neck gives a ‘rustic’ look and a deeper ‘V’.  Your sweater will also be shorter.  The sieve stitch gives a neat edge making this possible.  The image below shows how your chunky sweater will look:

Comparing the finished sweater with a ribbed hem and V-neck could help you decide:

Sweater Pattern Notes

• Pattern is written in US crochet terms.
• Multiples of 2 plus 1
• Size instructions are written like this: S, (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X).
• Chain one turning chain does not count as a stitch.
• Chain one space counts as a stitch.
• Stitch repeats are shown * for example: *ch1, sk 1, sc in next st, * rep across.  You will chain 1, skip 1 stitch, single crochet in the next st and repeat this across.
• To maintain stitch counts, make sure you don’t miss the last stitch on row 3 and repeats (pattern calls for working a single crochet into the last stitch).
• To help with alignment of the eyelets, for row 2 repeats, the single crochet is placed in the second single crochet that was worked in the chain space of the previous row.
• The middle of the stitch for the V-neck is worked into for both right and left shoulder.
• V-neck decreases – it is important to maintain the sieve stitch pattern.  Check your stitch count after each row and use the alignment of the eyelets to maintain.
• Don’t forget to turn the sleeves at the end of each round.
• Weave in ends as you go.
• Read the pattern through before you begin crocheting.

Crochet Chunky Sweater Pattern Instructions (US terms)

With a 6mm /  J-10 hook

Back

Ch 63, (71, 77, 83, 89, 97, 103, 111)

Row 1: sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in ea ch across, ch1, turn

Row 2: sc in base of ch1, *ch1, sk 1, sc in next st, * rep across, ch1, turn

Row 3 (RS): sk 1^st st, *2sc in next ch1-sp, *rep across to last st, sc in last st, ch1, turn

Rows 2 and 3 form sieve stitch

Rep rows 2 and 3 for a total of 69, (71, 71, 73, 73, 75, 75, 75) rows

Fasten off.

At the beginning and end of row 44, (43, 40, 41, 39, 40, 38, 37) place a st marker for the armhole

Front

Repeat instructions for back to row 46, (48, 48, 50, 50, 52, 52, 52)

Count 31, (35, 38, 41, 44, 48, 51, 55) stitches and place a st marker to mark the middle st.

NOTE: Decr at beg and end of row for first and second shoulder are by working sc2tog

First Shoulder

Keeping cont of sieve pattern, decr on the 1^st row, 3rd row and every following 3^rd row on V edge for a total of 22 rows.

Row 23: decr V edge

Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew shoulder seam.

Second Shoulder

Rejoin yarn at st marker

Rep instructions for first shoulder.

Assembling Front and Back

With WS facing outwards, place front panel on back and line up

Sew shoulder seams

Sew side seam from st marker to hem

Fasten off

Sleeves

Rejoin yarn on WS underarm

Round 1: ch1, rep row 2 of front evenly around, join with sl st, ch1, turn

Round 2 – 17: keep cont of sieve st, joining with a sl st, ch1, turn

Change to 5mm /  H-8 hook

Round 18 – 32: rep sieve st

Round 33: sc2tog, rep sieve st to last 2 sts, sc2tog, join with sl st, ch1, turn

Round 34: rep sieve st

Round 35 – 40: rep rows 33 and 34

Round 41 – 44: rep sieve st

Try on your sweater to check the length of the sleeve.  The ribbed cuff adds an extra 2.5” so include this in your calculation.  If you need a longer sleeve, cont rep sieve st without decr.

DO NOT FASTEN OFF

Ribbed Cuff

Cont with 5mm /  H-8 hook

Ch10,

Row 1: sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in ea ch to cuff edge, sl st in next 3 sts on cuff edge, turn

Row 2: scblo in ea st to last st, sc in last st, ch1, turn

Row 3: sc in 1^st st, scblo in ea st to cuff edge, sl st in next 3 sts on cuff edge, turn

Rep rows 2 and 3 around

Join ribbed cuff seam by either sl st through a loop on ea side or sew seam closed.

Fasten off

Rep on other sleeve

Ribbed Hem

With a 5mm  /  H-8 hook, working on RS, rejoin yarn at side seam

Ch13

Rep instructions for ribbed cuff but alternating sl st 2 on hem edge and sl st 3 on hem edge

Fasten off

V-Neck Ribbing

With a 5mm / H-8 hook, working on RS, rejoin yarn at centre st of the V.

Ch 4

Rep instructions for ribbed cuff but sl st 2 sts on neck edge

DO NOT JOIN SEAM

Fasten off leaving a long tail

Make a crisscross with the flaps (see photo in how the pattern is worked) and sew in place.

Fasten off

Congratulations, your crochet chunky sweater is finished!

Copyright Notice

The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Goodwin at Jera’s Jamboree.  This pattern and design are subject to copyright and are for personal, non-commercial use only.  You may not share, resell, alter or redistribute this pattern in part or in whole. You may, however, sell any finished items you make.  If you would like to include this pattern in a roundup, you may take one photo and link back to this pattern.

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