Elena V-Neck Sweater Knitting Pattern for Beginners

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The Elena is an easy sweater knitting pattern crafted with beginners in mind. Whether you’re new to knitting or garment making, the Elena is an easy sweater to make.

This comfy pullover sweater features a v-neck that’s simply made. Along the cuffs and hem is 2×2 ribbing.

The classic stockinette stitch creates a sweater that drapes beautifully in worsted weight yarn.

The Elena Sweater is knit flat, in four pieces: a front panel, back panel and two sleeves. Those pieces are then seamed together. Since this one is knit in flat pieces and seamed you can use straight needles or a circular needle, as I did.

This free knitting pattern includes 9 sizes. The sizes are to fit bust sizes 30″ through 62″ with a generous amount of ease.

You can purchase the ad-free, well formatted PDF Pattern in one of my shops. Scroll down for the free pattern!

More Easy Knitting Patterns

The Giana Pocket Shawl is a squishy knit in garter stitch.

Another chunky knit that’s lovely and simple is the Umbria Shawl.

The Bella Vita Blanket makes a gorgeous knit homewarming gift for a favorite couple.

Read more of the top knitting patterns from last year in this round up.

Yarn

Touch of Alpaca* is a lovely blend of acrylic and alpaca, which is hypoallergenic. I’m living in my sweater.

It’s warm, wears well and washable. These are a must in sweater yarn.

Can you substitute a different yarn? Absolutely. Many #4 medium worsted weight yarns will work well for this sweater pattern.

Stitch

The Elena Sweater is knit simply with a 2 x 2 ribbing. The main sweater is knit in stockinette stitch.

The v-neck is simple to achieve with decreases. So you’ll need to know (or learn) how to knit two together.

I link up some tutorials for you in the stitches section too.

Materials

• #4 medium worsted weight yarn, pictured is Lion Brand’s Touch of Alpaca (90% Acrylic, 10% Alpaca, 3.5 oz/100 g, 207 yd/190 m):
• XS – 3 skeins or approximately 621 yds/568 m 
• SM – 4 skeins or approximately 725 yds/663 m
• MED – 4 skeins or approximately 828 yds/757 m
• LG – 5 skeins or approximately 948 yds/867 m
• XL – 6 skeins or approximately 1078 yds/986 m
• 2X – 6 skeins or approximately 1208 yds/1105 m
• 3X – 7 skeins or approximately 1342 yds/1227 m
• 4X – 7 skeins or approximately 1449 yds/1325 m
• 5X – 8 skeins or approximately 1656 yds/1514 m
• 4.5 mm needles size US 7, or needle size needed to meet gauge. You can knit this pattern with straight needles. Even though it’s knit flat, I use my circular knitting needles. 
• Yarn needle, Measuring tape, Scissors

Notes

1. Worked flat, turn after each row.
2. Pattern is written for multiple sizes where the first number given is the smallest size and larger sizes come next in parenthesis. For example: CO 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136) indicates to cast on 72 sts for the XS size, 80 sts for SM, 104 sts for XL size, etc. Where no size is indicated, instructions apply to all sizes.
3. Stitch multiple is 4.
4. Please check gauge first by knitting at least a 6” (15cm) square in stockinette in your chosen yarn + needles, block your swatch + measure. Compare it to the listed gauge and adjust your needle size if needed. St gauge is more important than row gauge for this pattern.
5. For this pattern I bound off and seamed the shoulders. You may choose to do a 3 needle bind off if you prefer.

Stitches/Abbreviations (US Terms)

BO – bind off

CO – cast on You might like this super easy short tail cast on, or the crocheter’s cast on.

Kfb – knit front and back

K – Knit

K2tog – knit two together

K2tog–L – you can use any left leaning decrease, I used this one-get the tutorial here. This is used on the v-neck so you will want it to look as finished as possible. 

P – purl

rep – repeat

RS – right side

st(s) – stitch(es)

Ws – wrong side

Gauge

4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)= 15 sts x 20 rows in stockinette, block your gauge swatch & measure gauge after. 

Skill Level

Easy

Construction

This easy sweater is knit flat and from the bottom up. There are 4 pieces: the back panel, front panel and two sleeves. Once you knit the 4 pieces you will seam them together. 

Fit

Suggested positive ease: 8-10”/20-25cm for an oversized fit. Pictured in size M on model with 36”/91cm bust.

To fit Bust: 30”/76cm, (34”/86.5cm, 38”/96.5cm, 42”/106.5cm, 46”/117cm, 50”/127cm, 54”/137cm, 58”/147cm, 62”/157.5cm)

Finished Bust: 38”/96.5cm (42.5”/108cm, 47”/119.5cm, 51”/129.5cm, 55.5”/141cm, 60”/152.5cm, 64”/162.5cm, 68”/172.5cm, 72.5”/184cm)

Adjustment

If you would like to add neck ribbing you can use the same ribbing technique I use for the Bosa Sweater. To lengthen your sweater do so before the neckline. I’s often easiest to go up or down a size first.

You can purchase the ad-free, well formatted, printable PDF for this pattern in one of my shops. Scroll down for the free pattern.

Scroll down for the V-Neck Sweater Knitting Pattern

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