11+ Free Worsted Weight Sweater Knitting Patterns: Projects for all knitters!
Looking for your next knitting project? There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of knitting your own sweater, and with worsted weight yarn, you can create beautiful, wearable garments without spending months on a single project. Worsted weight yarn is a fantastic choice for knitters of all skill levels – it’s versatile, readily available, and knits up relatively quickly. This roundup features over 11 free worsted weight sweater knitting patterns, focusing on designs that are both quick to knit and relatively easy to accomplish, even if you’re a newer knitter.
Our Collection of Free Worsted Weight Sweater Patterns
We’ve scoured the web to find the best free knitting patterns for worsted weight sweaters. This collection includes a variety of styles, skill levels, and techniques, so you’re sure to find something you love.
Easy Beginner-Friendly Sweaters
My First Knit Sweater
“My First Knit Sweater” lives up to its name, offering a truly accessible entry point into sweater knitting, and it’s a perfect project for showcasing the beauty of worsted weight yarn. The RED HEART® Hygge Charm™ yarn, while technically a bulky weight, has a brushed texture that allows it to be knit at a worsted weight gauge, providing both softness and a subtle shimmer. The simple stockinette stitch body lets the yarn shine, and the minimal shaping makes it an ideal project for building confidence. The added texture at the shoulders provides a touch of visual interest without being overly challenging. This pattern is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a relatively quick knit that results in a cozy, wearable garment. If substituting yarn, choose a worsted weight yarn, likely with a brushed or halo effect for a similar look. You may need to swatch carefully to match the specified gauge, as Hygge Charm knits up differently than a standard plied worsted weight.
Get this pattern: free pattern
Nutcracker Sweater
The Pähkinänsärkijä (Nutcracker) Pullover is a loose-fitting women’s sweater with a dropped shoulder design and a high polo neck collar. It is knit flat in pieces (back, front, and sleeves) using Novita Isoveli yarn, a bulky weight yarn. The construction involves ribbing and stockinette stitch. The collar is picked up and knit in the round.
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Two-Tone Bottom-Up Sweater
This Two-Tone Bottom-Up Sweater is an excellent project for knitters who love the rhythm of worsted weight yarn and enjoy subtle texture. The combination of stockinette, seed stitch, and ribbing, along with the two-color design, creates visual interest without being overly complicated. The bottom-up construction, combined with picking up stitches for the sleeves, makes for a satisfying and engaging knit. While the original pattern calls for Vasto by Laines du Nord, any worsted weight yarn that meets the gauge will work beautifully. This design offers a great balance of simplicity and detail, making it perfect for an intermediate knitter or an adventurous beginner looking to expand their skills. The speed of worsted weight means you’ll have a beautiful, wearable sweater in a reasonable amount of time
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Forest Shadows Sweater
The “Forest Shadows Sweater” offers a unique twist on the classic worsted weight sweater by using three strands of DROPS Brushed Alpaca Silk. Although the yarn itself is lighter (yarn group C), holding three strands together creates a fabric equivalent to a heavy worsted or aran weight, making this pattern a perfect fit for our worsted weight theme. The resulting fabric is incredibly soft and airy, with a beautiful halo from the alpaca silk blend. The striped design, achieved by cleverly combining different colors, adds depth and visual interest. The top-down raglan construction is relatively straightforward, making it accessible to intermediate knitters. If you’re looking for a project that’s both luxurious and engaging, and provides the warmth and speed of a worsted weight knit, this is an excellent choice. While the pattern specifies DROPS Brushed Alpaca Silk, you could experiment with other worsted weight yarns, keeping in mind that you’ll need to adjust the number of strands to achieve the correct gauge. You could use a single strand of a heavy worsted/Aran, or two strands of a lighter worsted, or even three strands of a DK weight, as long as you achieve the specified gauge of 10.5 sts x 14 rows.
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Sigh Sweater
The “Sigh Pullover” is a quintessential example of a classic, wearable sweater made beautifully with worsted weight yarn. The Cascade Yarns® 220 Superwash® provides excellent stitch definition for the simple stockinette stitch, and the 100% superwash wool makes it both comfortable and easy to care for. The top-down raglan construction is a favorite among knitters, allowing for a seamless finish and the ability to try on the sweater as you go. This pattern is perfect for knitters who appreciate a straightforward design with timeless appeal. While rated “Easy,” the techniques involved make it a good project for those with some sweater knitting experience, or confident beginners ready to level up. The result is a versatile, everyday sweater that you’ll reach for again and again. Yarn substitution is simple: select any worsted-weight yarn and adjust needle size to meet gauge.
Get this pattern: free pattern
Slightly More Challenging (Intermediate) Sweaters
Harmony Pullover
The Harmony Pullover, designed by Laura Zukaite, is a women’s sweater featuring intricate cable and textured stitch patterns, including a Little Twist Cable, a Hanging Berries Panel, and a Center Cable Panel. It is knit flat in pieces (back, front, and sleeves) from the bottom up and then seamed. The design has a 1×1 Twisted Rib hem, cuffs, and a folded neckband. The yarn specified is Yarnalia COZY, a worsted weight 100% Baby Alpaca yarn.
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Flor Lace Sweater:
Flor is a women’s pullover sweater featuring a textured stitch pattern. It is knit flat in pieces (back, front, and sleeves) and then seamed. The design incorporates a ribbed hem and cuffs, and a picked-up ribbed neckline. The yarn used is Berroco Vintage, a worsted weight yarn.
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Belle Pullover
The Belle Pullover, designed by Laura Zukaite, is a women’s sweater featuring a combination of stitch patterns: Diamond Stitch, Vertical Open Stitch, and 1×1 Twisted Rib. The design includes a unique double-layered scalloped collar. It is constructed from the bottom up in four pieces (two identical body pieces and two sleeves) which are then seamed. The collar is worked separately and then joined to the body. The pattern uses two different yarns from Yarnalia: WOOLY (worsted weight) for the main body and sleeves, and SKYLARK (fingering weight) for the collar details.
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Campesina Sweater
This knitting pattern describes how to create a seamless, top-down sweater with a raglan construction. Beginning with an Italian tubular cast-on for the collar, the pattern transitions into a ribbed neckband before moving to the yoke, which is shaped using raglan increases and German short rows for a comfortable fit at the neckline. The body and sleeves are worked in simple stockinette stitch, with the body featuring a split hem detail finished with ribbing. The sleeves are picked up and knit in the round, decreasing down to a ribbed cuff. The pattern provides detailed row-by-row and round-by-round instructions, making it suitable for experienced knitters. The overall design creates a classic and comfortable sweater with a refined fit.
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Darby – Turtleneck Sweater
The “Darby Turtleneck Sweater” is a beautiful example of how worsted weight yarn can be used to create intricate texture. While the pattern specifies Hobbii Divina, which has an alpaca blend for a soft, luxurious feel, any worsted weight yarn that meets the gauge of 24 sts x 28 rows will work wonderfully. The unique “relief stitch” pattern, creating a striking zigzag design, is the star of this sweater, and the worsted weight yarn provides excellent stitch definition to showcase it. The classic, straight silhouette and turtleneck make it a timeless piece. Although the pattern involves following detailed instructions for the relief stitch, the overall construction is straightforward, making it a rewarding project for an intermediate knitter. The result is a warm, stylish sweater that’s perfect for cooler weather.
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Hip To Be Square Free Knitting Pattern
The “Hip To Be Square” sweater is a truly unique project that elevates worsted weight yarn to a new level of sophistication. While the pattern calls for a combination of Filcolana Tilia (a lace-weight mohair/silk) and Paia (a sequined yarn), holding four strands together creates a fabric with the weight and drape of a heavy worsted or aran, making this a perfect (though unconventional) fit for our worsted weight theme. The entrelac technique, while initially seeming complex, creates a stunning, mosaic-like fabric that’s surprisingly addictive to knit. The result is a luxurious, textured sweater with a beautiful drape. This pattern is ideal for an intermediate knitter who’s ready to tackle a new technique and create a truly statement piece. While yarn substitution is possible, it’s essential to achieve the correct gauge. You could experiment with a single strand of a heavy worsted/Aran weight yarn, two strands of a standard worsted, or even multiple strands of a DK, but swatching is absolutely crucial to ensure the correct fabric density and drape for the entrelac to work correctly. The texture and drape are key to the success of this design.
Get this pattern: free pattern
Confetti Sweater
The “Confetti Sweater” is a vibrant celebration of color, perfectly suited for showcasing the versatility of worsted weight yarn. The pattern cleverly uses Premier® Yarns Anti-Pilling Everyday® Worsted held together with Premier® Yarns Trinket™, a carry-along yarn with colorful nubs. This combination creates a fabric with the weight and warmth of a worsted weight knit, while the Trinket adds a delightful, confetti-like texture. The stranded colorwork, while requiring some attention to detail, is charted and manageable, making this an excellent project for knitters looking to expand their colorwork skills. The top-down, seamless construction adds to the appeal, allowing for easy try-ons and adjustments as you go. While the pattern specifies these two yarns, you could substitute with any worsted weight yarn for the color strands, always holding it together with a carry-along yarn like Trinket, or even a strand of mohair, for the full effect. This sweater is a fun, engaging knit that results in a truly unique and eye-catching garment.
Get this pattern: free pattern
Why Choose Worsted Weight Yarn for Sweaters?
Worsted weight yarn (also sometimes called “Aran” in some regions) is a medium-weight yarn that offers a great balance of warmth, drape, and speed. Here’s why it’s so popular for sweaters:
- Versatility: Worsted weight works well for a wide variety of sweater styles, from simple pullovers to textured cardigans.
- Speed: It knits up faster than finer yarns like fingering or DK, but it’s not as bulky as chunky or super bulky yarns, making it ideal for manageable projects.
- Availability: You can find worsted weight yarn in almost any yarn store, online retailer, or even big-box craft store, in a vast array of colors and fibers (wool, acrylic, cotton, blends, etc.).
- Stitch Definition: Worsted weight yarn shows off stitch patterns beautifully, whether you’re working simple stockinette or more intricate cables.
- Good for Beginners: The gauge is manageable.
See More Free Sweater Knitting Patterns:
- Easy Sweater Knitting Pattern
- Aran Sweater Knitting Patterns
- Cabled Sweater Knitting Patterns
- Fair Isle Sweater Free Knitting Pattern
- Lace Sweater Knitting Patterns
- Stocking Stitch Sweater Patterns
- Striped Sweater Knitting Patterns
- Sweaters with Turtlenecks
- 50+ Free Sweater Knitting Patterns for Women
- Cable Knitting Patterns for Ladies
