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How to knit a sweater for a man

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men’s-sweater
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Yarn - Bernat Softee Baby / light 3 / Net Weight - 120 g / 310 yds (283 m) / 3 balls needed
Needles - 29 in. and 16 in. long circular needles US 5 (or other size needle to obtain the gauge)
Sweater Size - S 34 - 36
Gauge - 17 stitches in 4 inches
Complexity - Easy

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men’s-sweater-knitting-pattern
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Men’s sweater knitting pattern
Step-by-step knitting instructions
Step 1
Cast on 150 stitches (multiples of 5 sts) on two knitting needles to make the loops bigger. That way it will be easier to knit your first row.
Step 2
Before starting knitting your first row in round, make sure that you did not develop any twists and all your loops are straight. If the mistake occurs at this point, you won’t be able to fix the problem later on. The only way might be just to start all over again.
Ribbing – knit 3, purl 2 for 10 rounds.
Step 3
Knit all stitches for 80 rounds.
Step 4
Increase the number of stitches from both sleeve sides before starting sleeves. You should have 160 stitches in total.
Step 5
Slide a half of your stitches on the other knitting needle, long pin, or just yarn to work with those sts later.
Step 6
Continue knitting just half of the stitches (the front piece of the sweater). Bind off 4 stitches from both sleeve sides. Knit all stitches on the right side and purl all stitches on the wrong side for 30 rows.
Step 7
Cast off all the 72 stitches, cut the yarn, secure and hide it.
Step 8
Work the back.
Attach the yarn and bind off 4 sts from both sleeve sides the same as you did for the front piece.
Knit all stitches on the right side and purl all stitches on the wrong side for about 36 rows.
Step 9
Cast off the 72 sts, cut the yarn, and secure it.
Step 10
Cast on 20 stitches for a sleeve.
Knit it for 28 – 30 rows or more depending on a head circumference.
Step 11
Pick up additional 45 stitches.
Knit in round for 8 rounds.
Step 12
Begin to gradually decrease the number of stitches.
Knit two stitches together one time in each row every other round until 55 stitches left.
Step 13
Start to reduce 1 stitch in 5 rounds until 40 sts left (or other number of multiples of 4 stitches).
Step 14
Ribbing – purl 2, knit 2 for 10 rounds.
Cast off the 40 stitches and cut the yarn.
Connect the last and 1st stitches.
Secure and hide the tail of the yarn.
Step 15
Join both shoulder pieces to front and back parts of the sweater.
Step 16
Attach the yarn and pick up stitches for the neck. Pick up as many sts as you can and then decrease it to the needed number in order to avoid holes or other imperfections near the neck line.
Step 17
Reduce the number of picked up stitches to 76 stitches (or other number of multiples of 4 sts).
Knit all the stitches for 6 rounds.
Step 18
Ribbing – purl 2, knit 2 for 30 rounds. Since the wrong side of the ribbing mostly will be visible, it might be desired to knit your wrong side as right side in order to get a better look.
Cast off the 76 stitches.
Cut the yarn, connect the last and first stitches, and secure the tail of the yarn.

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Sweater knitting pattern

Comments

Hi hiraljoshi,

Hi hiraljoshi,
Yes, 180 sts should be fine if your gauge will be about the same as mine. Happy knitting!

Thank you very much! it will

Thank you very much! it will be the first time i am going to knit a sweater!

Also, please guide 42 inches is chest size? or shoulder? my husband's chest size is 38. He uses shirts of 42 size. so still i need to stitch 180? or 150 would be fine?

Hi hiraljoshi,

Hi hiraljoshi,
If his chest circumference is 38 inches and your gauge will be about the same as mine, then I would suggest starting with 160 sts. Happy knitting!

Hi! Sorry to bother you. i

Hi! Sorry to bother you. i want to know is it same possible with t straight needles? Also if i want some pattern on front side of sweater. so should i measure gauge in same pattern? Also if i want bit loose sweater can i increase stitches?

Hi hiraljoshi,

Hi hiraljoshi,
Yes, you may knit the sweater as two separate pieces, and then join them together. For that you need to divide the total number of sts by 2. If I would use straight needles, I'd cast on about 80 sts for each front and back parts of the sweater. You may cast on as many sts as needed. Happy knitting!

Hi hiraljoshi,

Hi hiraljoshi,
I would like to help you out, but not sure that I understood your question. Please ask a specific question (bottom ribbing, body, sleeves). That way it will be easier for me to answer.

Hi hiraljoshi,

Hi hiraljoshi,
I can help you with this pattern only, I cannot advise on something I did not do. If I wanted to add some pattern other than stockinette stitch for the front part, I would mark my beginning and middle of a round to start a new pattern. Happy knitting!

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