The Basic Sweater Knitting Pattern You’ll Always Want to Wear

If you’re looking for a basic sweater knitting pattern to wear around the house every day, then look no further than Elderwild! Elderwild is a beginner friendly knitting pattern full of stockinette stitch in the round, basic increases and decreases, and all the modification notes you need to make it your own! 

A Basic Sweater Knitting Pattern That’s Anything Basic 

Elderwild is the first in the Wild series, a set of basic sweater knitting patterns that are tailored to fit your body the way YOU like it. Because every body is different. 

What flatters me may not flatter you and visa versa. So Elderwild is chalk full of notes and tips to get the perfect fit! 

Don’t want all the mods? No worry! Follow the instructions and get what you see. But if you’re feeling adventurous or want something just a little different follow the modification notes to change sleeve and body lengths, to add or omit waist shaping, even notes on changing the neckline. 

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Note: The yarn for this pattern was provided for me at no charge by the yarn company. Yarn support allows designers, like me, to continue to provide you with gorgeous patterns while we grow!

So What Do You Mean By Basic? 

When I say “basic sweater knitting pattern” I mean there’s no fancy stitchwork that will challenge you and suck up all your attention. I mean stockinette stitch in the round while binge-watching TV kind of knitting. 

What’s The Fit Like? 

Elderwild is your classic sweatshirt fit. It’s a modified drop shoulder sweater, which means it’s got a ton of room in the chest and shoulders, but has a closer fit around the waist and hips. 

It’s a hike in the woods kind of sweater or a snuggle up on the couch and knit all day every day. 

As for the construction, the sweater will be knit in stockinette stitch in the round from the bottom up, with a folded hem and cuffs. The base sweater pattern includes a flattering mid-depth V-neck, which is picked up and worked in the round in 2/2 ribbing.

Tell Me About That Yarn! 

I knit Elderwild in Harrisville Designs Highland. It’s slightly tweedy heavy worsted yarn with a ton of depth to the color.  

This 100% virgin wool yarn is definitely on the coarse side, so you’re not going to want to wear it next to skin, but you will want to use it for hardworking hard-wearing projects (like that hiking sweater I was mentioning. 

All the Details for this Basic Sweater Knitting Pattern

Size: 

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9] 

Hip Circumference: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) [50, 54, 58, 62]”/76 (86.5, 96.5, 106.5, 117) [127, 137, 147.5, 157.5] cm

Chest Circumference: 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) [60, 64, 68, 72]”/101.5 (112, 122, 132, 142) [152.5, 162.5, 172.5, 183] cm

Note for fit: For this sweater, you’ll be looking to find a hip circumference close to that of your typical preferred bust circumference. 

Yarn: 

800 (900, 990, 1095, 1195) [1310, 1415, 1530, 1615] yds/730 (825, 905, 1000, 1095) [1200, 1295, 1400, 1475] m of heavy worsted weight yarn 

Note: If worsted is not available in your area, I would substitute an Aran weight yarn for this design. 

Yarn Recommendation: 

Harrisville Designs Highland (100% Virgin Wool) 200 yds/180 m, 100 g – 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) [7, 8, 8, 9] skeins in Walnut

Needles  & Notions: 

US 9/5.5 mm & US 7/4.5 – 32”/80 cm circulars and DPNs or Magic Loop – preferred method of small circumference knitting (or needles needed to obtain gauge!)

Stitch markers, tapestry needle, spare cable or stitch holder

Gauge: 

16 sts & 26 rounds = 4”/10 cm in stockinette, with the larger needle, after blocking

Concentration Level: 

Low – This pattern is 90% stockinette in the round with some excellent, yet simple details–we’re talking TV knitting at it’s finest. 

Techniques to Indulge In: 

Provisional CO (optional)

Folded Hem (optional) 

Waist Shaping (optional) 

V-neck Shaping (optional)

Where would you wear your new favorite basic sweater? 

So you’ve got a sweater built for snuggling up in the coming cold. You’ve got a pattern build to fit you perfectly. And I bet you’ve got some worsted weight yarn squirreled away in your stash somewhere, so my question for you is: What are you waiting for?