How to Crochet a Sweater

Co-authored by Suzi Quillen and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: November 12, 2024 Fact Checked

If you can do single crochet and double crochet stitches, you have the skills to make a pullover sweater. All you need to do is crochet 2 rectangular panels using an easy mesh stitch pattern. Then, work 2 smaller rectangles that will become the sleeves. Since this pattern isn't worked in the round, you'll just need to sew the pieces together at the end and enjoy your new sweater!

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Starting the Body of the Sweater

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1
Take your measurements and decide which size sweater to make. Wrap a measuring tape around your bust and make a note of the size. Then, measure how long you'd like the sweater to be. Pick a sweater size that closely matches your measurements:^{[1]
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- Small (S): 32 in (81 cm) bust and 23 in (58 cm) length
- Medium (M): 36 in (91 cm) bust and 25 in (64 cm) length
- Large (L): 40 in (100 cm) bust and 27 in (69 cm) length
- Extra-large (XL): 44 in (110 cm) bust and 23 in (58 cm) length
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Buy 4 to 6 skeins of yarn depending on the sweater size. Choose worsted weight yarn in any color you like. Each skein should weigh 5 oz (142 g) and be 251 yd (230 m) long. Pick yarn that's comfortable and made of acrylic, cotton, wool, or a blend. Depending on the size you're making, get out:
- S: 4 skeins
- M: 4 skeins
- L: 5 skeins
- XL: 6 skeins
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Tie a slip knot and slide it onto the hook. Then, wrap your yarn around the hook and pull the yarn through the knot. This will make 1 ch.^{[2]
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Tip: You'll also need a US size K (6.5 mm) and size H 5.0 mm crochet hook to make the rest of the sweater.
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Crochet ch stitches to make a foundation chain. To make another ch stitch, insert your hook into the first ch you made and wrap the yarn around it. Pull it through the loop to make a ch stitch. To create your foundation chain, make a total of:^{[3]
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- S: 55 chains
- M: 61 chains
- L: 69 chains
- XL: 75 chains
Edie Eckman, Crochet Expert

Crocheting a sweater is like making a tapestry of warmth and self-expression. Pick yarn that feels and looks good, and works with your pattern. Check gauge so the fit is right. Every stitch is a step towards your unique creation. Don't rush it. Savor the journey, from first loop to last seam. You're not just making a garment, but an heirloom.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Crocheting the Panels

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Single crochet (sc) into every chain stitch for the first row. To create a nice edge that lays flat for your panel, make a sc stitch into each ch stitch of your foundation row.^{[4]
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Did You Know? To sc, insert your hook into a stitch and wrap the yarn around it. Pull through the loop so there are 2 loops on your hook. Then, wrap the yarn around again and pull through both loops to make a sc stitch.
2
2 and turn the work to start the second row. Then, skip the first stitch (sk st) on the row and insert your hook into the second stitch to slip stitch (sl st) it. To sl st, wrap the yarn around your hook and pull it through both loops.^{[5]
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- This will be the beginning of a simple mesh stitch, which you'll work for the entire panel.
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2, sk st, and sl st across row 2. To work the repeating mesh stitch pattern, you'll need to ch 2 stitches. Then, sk st and insert your hook into the following stitch on the row. Sl st it and keep working this pattern till the end of row 2:^{[6]
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- Ch 2, sk st, sl st into the next stitch.
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2 and turn the work to start the third row. Once you reach the end of the second row, ch 2 and flip the work over. Now you can sl st into space that's below the ch 2 you made on the last row. Continue to ch 2 and sl st into the next space all across the row.^{[7]
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- The pattern for this row is ch 2, turn, sl st into the ch 2 space below and then repeat ch 2, sl st into the next sp until the end of the row.
- The fabric you're crocheting should now look like a loose mesh with some gaps.
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Keep making row 3's pattern until the panel is as long as you like. Continue to ch 2 and sl st into the next gap for every row. Keep crocheting until your sweater panel is at least:^{[8]
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- S: 21 ¹⁄₂ in (55 cm) long
- M: 23 ¹⁄₂ in (60 cm) long
- L: 24 ¹⁄₂ in (62 cm) long
- XL: 25 ¹⁄₂ in (65 cm) long
Once you've made the panel as long you'd like for your sweater, cut an 8 in (20 cm) tail and tie off the end. Thread the tail and weave it into the panel. Then, make another panel with the same dimensions.^{[9]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Making the Sleeves

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1
Chain up a new row to start the widest part of a sleeve. You'll be crocheting a rectangle of fabric that's wide at 1 end and narrow at the other end so you can fold it into a tube and stitch it to make a sleeve. To start a sleeve, use your size L (8.0 mm) crochet hook and make:^{[10]
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- S: 49 chains
- M: 55 chains
- L: 61 chains
- XL: 67 chains
2
into every stitch across row 1. Skip the first ch stitch that's closest to your hook and sc into the following stitch. Then, sc into every stitch until you reach the end.^{[11]
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- You're now working the upper part of the sleeve.
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2, sk a stitch, and sl st before working the pattern for row 2. Once you've finished the first row for the upper sleeve, ch 2 and turn the work. Skip the single crochet stitch below and sl st into the next stitch. Then, continue to ch 2, sk a stitch, and sl st into the following stitch all across row 2. The repeating pattern for the row is:^{[12]
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- Ch 2, sk st, sl st into the next stitch.
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2 and sl st into the space below before you crochet the row 3 pattern. At the end of row 2, ch 2 and flip the work. Sl st into the ch 2 space below and then start the repeating pattern for the rest of row 3. To work row 3, repeat:^{[13]
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- Ch 2, sl st into the next ch 2 space.
This will make the upper sleeve before you start working with a smaller crochet hook. You'll also begin decreasing the stitches so the sleeve narrows at the mid-section.^{[14]
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3 using a size K hook and double crochet (dc) into the gap below. Switch to a size K (6.5 mm) hook to begin working the mid-section of the sleeve. Ch 3 stitches and turn the work before you dc into the first ch 2 space below. Then, make 2 dc stitches into the next ch 2 space. To finish this row, continue to:^{[15]
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- 2 dc in the next ch 2 space.
3, sk st, and dc into every stitch across the row. Remember to turn the work after your ch 3. Then, skip the first stitch of the row and dc into every stitch for the rest of the mid-section row.^{[16]
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Continue to dc the mid-section for at least another 5 inches (13 cm). When you reach the end of a row, ch 3 and turn the work. Then, skip the first stitch on the row before you dc into every stitch. Keep repeating this pattern until the mid-section that you're working with the K hook measures:^{[17]
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- S: 5 inches (13 cm)
- M: 6 inches (15 cm)
- L: 7 inches (18 cm)
- XL: 7 inches (18 cm)
9
Switch to a size H hook and continue the pattern for another 6 inches (15 cm). To make the lower section of the sleeve, start working on a size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook. Continue this pattern for a total of 6 inches (15 cm):^{[18]
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- Ch 3, turn, sk a stitch, and dc every stitch of the row.
Variation: If you want the sleeves to be narrower near the wrist, you can use an even smaller crochet hook.
Cut a 6 in (15 cm) yarn tail and thread it onto a tapestry needle. Weave the end through the sleeve to hide it. Then, make another identical sleeve.^{[19]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Making Cuffs for the Sweater and Sleeves

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Slide a slip knot onto a size L (8.0 mm) crochet hook and ch 6. Sc the second stitch from the hook. Then, sc into every stitch across the row. When you get to the end, ch 1 and turn the work.^{[20]
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through each back loop (sc blo) for every row. To sc blo, insert your hook into the back of the stitch instead of the front loop and work a sc stitch. Crochet through the back of every stitch for the row.^{[21]
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Did You Know? You'll continue to do this to make a cuff that you attach to the sweater or sleeves.
Continue to ch 1 and turn the work before you sc blo into each stitch across the row. Repeat this pattern until the cuff is long enough to fit across the bottom of 1 panel. Then, tie off the yarn and weave in the tail.^{[22]
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Make 2 cuffs for the sleeves. Repeat this pattern to crochet 2 short cuffs that will go at the small ends of the sleeves. Work each cuff until it's as long as the sleeve ending is wide. Then, cut the yarn and thread it onto a tapestry needle before you weave it into the fabric.^{[23]
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- For example, if your sleeve is 5 inches (13 cm) wide, make the cuff 5 inches (13 cm) long.

Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Assembling the Sweater

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Take 1 of the rectangles you made for a sleeve and fold the long sides together to create a tube shape. Then, thread a needle with at least with at least 40 inches (100 cm) of yarn and whipstitch the sides together.^{[24]
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Did You Know? To whipstitch, insert the needle into the first stitches of both fabric edges. Then, insert the needle through the inner loops of the following stitch.
Lay both of the panels on top of each other and whipstitch from the bottom of the panels up towards the top. Measure the widest part of your sleeve and leave that much space near the top of the panels so you can sew the sleeves in place.^{[25]
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Sew the sleeves to the sweater and whipstitch the top of the shoulders. Put the sleeves in place so their seams are pointing down and whipstitch the sleeves to the sweater. Then, continue to sew along the top of the shoulders and leave about an 11 in (28 cm) opening in the middle of the sweater for your head.^{[26]
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- Remember to tie off the yarn and weave in the ends.
4
Seam each cuff to the sleeves and bottom of the sweater. Place the narrow cuffs at the end of the sleeves and whipstitch them in place. Then, take the long cuffs and seam them to the bottom of the sweater.^{[27]
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- Tie off the yarn and weave in the ends when you're done.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Is a sweater a beginner-friendly project?

Sarah Stearns
DIY Specialist
Sarah Stearns is a DIY Specialist, Artist, Maker, Blogger, and the Founder of SarahMaker.com. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in fun, approachable crafts like crocheting, making polymer clay jewelry, quilting, and creating Cricut projects. Her work has been featured in several publications, such as Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Vox, and Apartment Therapy. Sarah holds a BA in Psychology from Vanderbilt University.

Sarah Stearns

DIY Specialist

Expert Answer

Crochet beginners should start with small projects that are worked in flat rows, like potholders or scarves. Then, when you’re ready to learn to crochet in the round, you can move to more challenging projects.

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How long would it take to crochet a sweater?

Suzi Quillen
Knitting and Crochet Expert
Suzi Quillen is a Knitting and Crochet Expert based in Granite Falls, Washington. After honing a love of knitting and crochet and becoming a crochet pattern designer, Suzi founded Perfectly Knotty in 2014, an online hub for knitting and crochet learners and enthusiasts. Perfectly Knotty offers multiple avenues to inspire creativity in its customers, selling allergy-conscious yarns and fibers, offering crochet and knitting patterns, and providing stitching support via tips and resources.

Suzi Quillen

Knitting and Crochet Expert

Expert Answer

The time required to crochet a sweater depends on various factors, such as the yarn size—whether it's thin and lightweight or thick and bulky. The size of the sweater, whether it's for a baby, an adult medium, or someone in a plus size, also plays a significant role. The complexity of the pattern and the skill level of the stitcher contribute to the timeframe. What may be simple for one person could be challenging for another, affecting the speed of completion. Tracking time spent on a project varies; while those creating items for sale may monitor their hours like a job, the average stitcher often enjoys the creative process without strict timekeeping. As a friend aptly described it, it's about experiencing the magic of transforming a ball of string into a functional creation.

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What can I use if I don't have stitch markers?

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You can use safety pins basically the same way you'd use a stitch marker, just be careful, as they are sharp.

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This pattern uses US/Canadian terminology.

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To check your gauge before you begin, crochet a swatch of the pattern for a body panel. You should get just over 3 ch stitches for every 1 inch (2.5 cm) you crocheted.

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Check your measurements against the pattern dimensions before you being the sweater.[1]

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