How to Make a Turtleneck Sweater

A handknitted turtleneck sweater is warm and fashionable.

Turtleneck sweaters can help keep you warm and toasty during cold wintry weather. A thick turtleneck can satisfy the necessity of wearing a scarf when going outdoors. The cozy collar keep drafts from getting to your neck. Turtleneck sweaters are available for purchase in most women's fashion stores, but knitting one yourself can be a satisfying project. When you knit your own sweater, you have a wider selection of colors and designs to choose from, and you will enjoy the many compliments you are likely to receive.

Things You'll Need

• 8-10 balls of 3 1/2 ounce yarn
• Size 7 (4.5 mm) and Size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles, or needles to obtain the desired gauge
• 2 stitch holder
• Yarn needle with large eye

Instructions

1. Cast on 15 stitches and knit 22 rows in stocking stitch with size 8 needles for a 4-inch square. Use a larger or smaller needle size to achieve this gauge. Follow the instructions given for a size small sweater, bust size 32 to 34 inches. For size medium make the bust size 36 to 38 inches or for size large, create 40 to 42 inches for the bust. (For medium and large, follow the measurements in parenthesis below, respectively.)

2. Cast on 70 (78, 86) stitches for the back edge of the sweater. Work in ribbing, knitting two, purling two to the end of the row. Knit the last two stitches. On the reverse row purl two, knit two, to the end of the row. Purl the last two stitches. Continue in this ribbing pattern until work measures 4 inches, ending with a right side row.

3. Change to the larger size needles and work in stocking stitch -- right side knit, wrong side purl -- until work measures 23 (25, 27) inches. End with right side facing for next row. Cast off 7 (8, 9) stitches at the beginning of the next six rows to shape the shoulder. Put the remaining 28 (30, 32) stitches on a stitch holder.

4. Repeat Step 2 for the front of the sweater. Change to the larger size needles and work in stocking stitch -- right side knit, wrong side purl -- until work measures 19 1/2 (21 1/2, 23 1/2) inches. End with right side facing for next row.

5. Knit 29 (32, 35) stitches for the neck edge. Turn the work over to the reverse side. Leave the remaining needles on a spare needle. Knit two stitches together at the neck edge of the next four rows, then on every other row four more times, until there are 21 (24, 27) stitches remaining. Continue in stocking stitch until work measures 23 (25, 27) inches.

6. Cast off 7 (8, 9) stitches at the beginning of the next row and at the beginning of following alternate rows two more times to shape the shoulders. Slip the next 12 (14,16) stitches from the spare needle onto a stitch holder. Join a new ball of yarn to the remaining stitches and knit to the end of the row.

7. Knit the first two stitches together at the neck edge on the next four rows. Knit the first two stitches together at the beginning of following alternate rows four more times until 21 (24, 27) stitches remain. Continue in stocking stitch until work measures 23 (25, 27) inches with wrong side of work facing.

8. Cast off 7 (8, 9) stitches at the beginning of the next row and at the beginning of the following alternate rows two more times to shape the shoulders.

9. Cast on 38 (38, 42) stitches with size 7 needles for the sleeve. Work in ribbing, knitting two stitches, purling two stitches until work measures 5 inches, ending with the right side facing. Change to size 8 needles and work in stocking stitch, increasing one stitch at both ends on the next and every following fourth row until there are 72 (76, 86) stitches. Continue in stocking stitch until work measures 21 1/2 (22, 22 1/2) inches, ending with a purl row. Cast off.

10. Sew the right shoulder seam. Pick up and knit 19 stitches down left front neck edge with size 7 needles and right side of work facing you. Knit the 12 (14,16) stitches from the stitch holder. Pick up and knit 19 stitches up right front neck edge. Knit 28 (30, 32) stitches from back stitch holder, for a total of 78 (82, 86) stitches in total for the turtleneck collar.

11. Purl two, knit two with wrong side facing along the next row until two stitches remain on the needle. Purl these two stitches. Knit two, purl two all along the next row until two stitches remain. Knit these two. Repeat these two rows for 9 1/2 inches in length for the collar. Cast off loosely in the ribbed pattern.

12. Sew left shoulder seam. Sew the turtleneck collar seam, reversing the seam so the right side will show when the collar is turned over.

13. Sew the sleeves to the sides of the sweater along the cast-off top each of each sleeve. sew the side seams and sleeves seams, reversing the sleeve seam 3 inches from the bottom edge for the cuff.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your knitting gauge twice to ensure accuracy before you start the project.

• Always complete a row before you set aside the knitting. Stopping in the middle of a row may stretch out the stitch in the middle of the row where you paused.

References

• Bernat: Harmony - Turtleneck Sweater
• ABC Knitting Patterns: Aran Sweater with Turtleneck Collar
• Berroco; Shivaree Turtleneck & Scarf; February 1, 2007

Resources

• Berroco; Free Patterns; Tessa