Elena Sweater Knitting Pattern for Beginners
The Elena Sweater is an easy 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 sweater is knit in classic stockinette stitch. This creates a sweater that drapes beautifully in worsted weight yarn.
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It’s hard to beat a classic stockinette for drape and ease.
The Elena Sweater is knit flat, in four pieces: a front panel, back panel and two sleeves. Those pieces are then seamed together.
This free sweater 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.
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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
- US 7/4.5mm needles or needles needed to meet gauge
- Yarn needle, Measuring tape, Scissors
Notes
- Worked flat, turn after each row.
- 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.
- Stitch multiple is 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.
- 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.
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/Adjustment
Suggested positive ease: 8-10”/20-25cm. 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)
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
Elena Sweater Knitting Pattern
The Elena Sweater is an easy knitting pattern crafted with beginners in mind. Whether you’re new to knitting or garment making, the Elena is an easy sweater to make.
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
Tools
- US 7/4.5mm needles or needles needed to meet gauge
- Yarn needle
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
Instructions
Back Panel Pattern
CO 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136)
- Row 1. *{K2, P2} rep from * across.
- Rows 2-12. Rep Row 1 for 12 rows total or until ribbing is 2.5”/6.5cm long.
Row 13. (RS) K all.
Row 14. (WS) P all.
Rep last two rows until entire panel is 22”/56cm (23”/58.4cm, 23”/58.4cm, 23.5”/59.7cm, 24”/61cm, 24”/61cm, 24”/61cm, 24”/61cm, 24.5”/62.2cm) long or to your desired length.
BO. Leave a long tail for seaming, cut yarn.
Front Panel Pattern
CO 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136)
- Row 1. *{K2, P2} rep from * across.
- Rows 2-12. Rep Row 1 for 12 rows total or until ribbing is 2.5”/6.5cm long.
Row 13. (RS) K all.
Row 14. (WS) P all.
Rep Rows 13-14 until entire panel is 18”/45.7cm (18.5”/47cm, 17”/43.2cm, 16.5”/42cm, 16.5”/42cm, 16”/40.6cm, 15”/38cm, 15”/38cm, 14”/35.6cm) long.
*Here is where you will add more length, if you lengthened your Back Panel. V-neck will span the last 4.4”/11.2cm, (4.4”/11.2cm, 6.2” /15.5cm, 7”/17.8cm, 7.4”/18.8cm, 8.2”/20.8cm, 9”/23cm, 9.4”/24cm, 10.6”/27cm) of panel length. Make sure your front and back panel match up to this point if you increased length.
Divide Panels
On the next right side row you will divide your front panel in half and begin decreases one panel at a time to create the v-neck.
Left Front Panel When Wearing
- Row 1. On your next RS row K 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68 sts), slip remaining 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68 sts) on an extra needle or spare length of yarn for later. Continue with sts on your needle.
- Row 2. (WS) P all. (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68 sts)
Decrease
Row 3. (RS) K across until last 3 sts, k2tog, k last st. (35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67 sts)
Row 4. (WS) P all.
Rep Rows 3-4 continuing to decrease every RS row until you have 24 (28, 29, 31, 34, 36, 38, 42, 42 sts) left and shoulder is 6.4”/16.3cm (7.5”/19.6cm, 7.7”/19.5cm, 8.3”/21cm, 9”/23cm, 9.6”/24.4cm, 10”/25.4cm, 11.2”/28.5cm, 11.2”/28.5cm) wide.
Leave a long tail for seaming and cut yarn. BO.
Right Front Panel When Wearing
Slip other half of sts back onto your working needle. Rejoin join yarn at center st.
Row 1. (RS) K across. (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68 sts)
Row 2. (WS) P across.
Decrease
Row 3. (RS) K first st, K2tog-L, k across. (35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59, 63, 67 sts)
Row 4. (WS) P across.
Rep Rows 3-4 continuing to decrease every RS row until you have 24 (28, 29, 31, 34, 36, 38, 42, 42 sts) left and shoulder measures 6.4”/16.3cm (7.5”/19.6cm, 7.7”/19.5cm, 8.3”/21cm, 9”/23cm, 9.6”/24.4cm, 10”/25.4cm, 11.2”/28.5cm, 11.2”/28.5cm) wide.
Leave a long tail for seaming and cut yarn. BO.
Block Panels
Block your panels now, before seaming. For more information on blocking you can read about it in this post.
Seam Panels
- Lay front and back panels together with RS touching.
- Sew together at the shoulders.
- Sew sides together from hem to last 6.5”/16.5cm (7”/17.8cm, 7.5”/19cm, 8”/20.3cm, 8.5”/21.6cm, 9”/23cm, 9.5”/24cm, 10”/25.4cm, 10.5”/26.7cm) of panel, leave this open for armhole.
Sleeves
Make 2
- To find the exact sleeve length for you try your sweater on now.
- Measure from where the sweater comes off your shoulder down to where you would like your sleeve to stop. Usually this is between the wrist and first thumb joint.
- Sleeve is knit from the wrist up, so you can also check width and length as you go and make adjustments, if needed.
CO 32 (32, 32, 36, 36, 36, 40, 40, 40)
Row 1. *{K2, P2} rep from * across.
Rows 2-12. Rep Row 1 for 12 rows total or until ribbing is 2.5”/6cm long.
Row 13. (RS) K all.
Row 14. (WS) P all.
Row 15. K first st, kfb, k across to last 2 sts, kfb, k last st. (34 sts)
Row 16. (WS) P all.
Repeat Rows 15-16 until you have 48 (52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 78 sts) and sleeve is 13“/33cm (14“/35.6cm, 15”/38cm, 16”/40.6cm, 17”/43.2cm, 18”/45.7cm, 19”/48.3cm, 20”/50.8cm, 21”/53.4cm) wide.
Once your sleeve is to width, continue to repeat Rows 13-14. Until your sleeve is 18”/45.7cm long or to desired length.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Block Sleeves
Block your sleeves now, before seaming. For more information on blocking you can read about it in this post.
Seam Sleeves
- Fold sleeve in half lengthwise with RS touching.
- Sew long edge together.
- Turn sleeve RS out.
- With sweater body still WS out, slide sleeve (RS out) in sweater, lining up shoulder end of sleeve to armhole opening.
- Seam sleeve to armhole. Rep for other sleeve.
Finishing
Cut yarn, weave in ends.
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Copyright © 2021 ChristaCoDesign/Crystal Marin. This pattern is for personal use only. Please feel free to sell and/or gift items you personally make from this pattern. You may not distribute this pattern and/or photos in any form, including screenshots, email, photocopying, or posting photos of this pattern online, or elsewhere. Please use this link https://christacodesign.com/2021/02/11/elena-sweater-knitting-pattern-for-beginners/ if you would like to share this pattern.
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Thank you for sharing so much info for making this sweater. I’m just getting back into knitting and I’m sure to enjoy making this one
You’re quite welcome! I hope you get to make one soon!
How did you join shoulders together am I missing something
Hi Barbara,
The shoulders are sewn to the back panel here:
Seam Panels
Lay front and back panels together with RS touching.
Sew together at the shoulders.
Alternatively, if you have not bound off yet, you can use a three needle bind off to join the shoulders to the back panel.
I hope this helps!
Crystal