Knit an oversized boyfriend sweater for super-stylish lounging
Oversized sweaters are perfect for lazy weekends, when the only thing on your to-do list is catching up on that new Netflix show, or curling up on the sofa with a good book. Look no further than this free knitting pattern to make yours.
Our exclusive oversized boyfriend sweatshirt design is not only soft and cosy, but stylish enough to pop to the shops in too. The pattern is not too tricky to follow either, so it makes a great project for intermediate knitters who know how to knit and would like to use their skills to create beautiful projects for their wardrobe.
Our pattern uses a cable needle – brush up on cable knitting with our step-by-step guide.
Grab your knitting needles, and note down our free chunky knitting pattern below, to create your own oversized sweater in no time at all.
Skill level
Not too tricky
Measurements
To fit bust 82-86(92-97:102-17)cm;
Finished measurements Bust 111(124:137)cm; Length to shoulder 70(72:74)cm; Sleeve length 46(45:44)cm.
What you need
15(17:19) 50g balls of King Cole Merino Blend Aran in Pale Blue 1539
Pair each of 4.5mm and 5mm knitting needles
Cable needle
Tension
18 sts and 24 rows to 10cm square over st-st using 5mm needles.
Abbreviations
beg beginning; C8Ba slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, [k1, p1] twice, k4 from cable needle; C8Bb slip next 4 sts onto a cable needle and hold at back of work, k4, then [k1, p1] from cable needle; cm centimetres; cont continue; foll following; inc increase; k knit; m1 make one st; by picking up and working into back of loop lying between st just worked and next st; p purl; patt pattern; rem remaining; rep repeat; RS right side; ssk [slip 1] twice, insert tip of left hand needle from left to right through the fronts of both slipped sts and work 2 tog; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; tog together; WS wrong side.
Don't miss our full glossary of knitting abbreviations here.
NOTE: The sweater is deliberately oversized and the model is wearing the 2nd size, but as there is no armhole shaping, you can make it shorter if you prefer.
Free knitting pattern
Cable panel (worked over 10 sts)
1st row (WS) K1, [p1, k1] twice, p4, k1. 2nd row P1, k4, [k1, p1] twice, p1. 3rd row As 1st row. 4th row P1, C8Ba, p1. 5th row K1, p5, k1, p1, k2. 6th row P1, [k1, p1] twice, k4, p1. 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th rows As 5th row. 8th, 10th and 12th rows As 6th row. 14th row P1, C8Bb, p1. 15th, 17th and 19th rows As 1st row. 16th, 18th and 20th rows As 2nd row. These 20 rows form the cable panel and are repeated.
Back
With 5mm needles, cast on 102(114:126) sts. 1st row (RS) K2, [p2, k2] to end. 2nd row P2, [k2, p2] to end. 3rd row As 2nd row. 4th row As 1st row. These 4 rows form the double moss st and are repeated twice more **. Beg with a k row, work in st-st until work measures 70(72:74)cm from cast on edge, ending with a p row.
Shape shoulders
Slipping the first st of each cast-off group, cast off 8(9:10) sts at beg of next 6 rows, then cast off 8(10:12) sts at beg of foll 2 rows. Leave rem 38(40:42) sts on a holder.
Front
Work exactly as given for Back to **. Beg with a k row, work in st-st until 10 rows fewer have been worked than on Back to start of shoulder shaping, so ending with a WS row.
Shape neck
With RS facing, k33(38:43), k2tog, k4, turn and cont on these 38(43:48) sts only, leave rem sts on a spare needle. P 1 row. Next row K to last 6 sts, k2tog, k4. Rep the last 2 rows 3 times more. 34(39:44) sts. P 1 row.
Shape shoulder and neck
Next row Cast off 8(9:10), k to last 6 sts, k2tog, k4. 25(29:33) sts. P 1 row. Rep the last 2 rows once more. 16(19:22) sts. Next row Cast off 8(9:10), k to end. P 1 row. Next row Cast off rem 8(10:12) sts. With RS facing, slip 24(26:28) sts at centre front onto a holder, rejoin yarn to rem 39(44:49) sts, k4, ssk, k to end. P 1 row. Next row K4, ssk, k to end. Rep the last 2 rows 4 times more.
Shape shoulder and neck
Next row (WS) Cast off 8(9:10) sts, p to end. Next row K4, ssk, k to end. Next row Cast off 8(9:10) sts, p to end. K 1 row. Rep the last 2 rows once more. K 1 row. Next row Cast off rem 8(10:12) sts.
Sleeves
With 4.5mm needles, cast on 38(42:46) sts. Work 12 rows in double moss st patt as given for Back. Inc row (RS) K15(17:19), p1, [k2, m1] twice, k2, p1, k15(17:19). 40(44:48) sts. Change to 5mm needles. 1st row (WS) P15(17:19), work 10 sts of 1st row of cable panel, p15(17:19). 2nd row (RS) K15(17:19), work 10 sts of 2nd row of cable panel, k15(17:19). These 2 rows set the position of the cable panel with st-st to each side. Working correct patt panel rows, work 3 rows. Inc row (RS) K2, m1, patt to last 2 sts, m1, k2. Taking inc sts into st-st, work 5 rows. Rep the last 6 rows, 15(14:13) times more, then the inc row again. 74(76:78) sts. Cont straight until sleeve measures 46(45:44)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row. Cast off, decreasing 2 sts across the centre cable.
Collar
Join right shoulder seam. With 4.5mm needles, pick up and k18 sts down left front neck, k across 24(26:28) sts at centre front, pick up and k18 sts up right front neck, then k across 38(40:42) sts at centre back. 98(102:106) sts. Beg with a WS row, work 5cm in double moss st as given for Back. Change to 5mm needles and cont in double moss st until collar measures 15cm from pick up row. Cast off loosely but evenly in patt.
To make up
Join left shoulder and collar seam, reversing seam on last 11cm of collar to allow for turn-over. With centre of cast off edge of sleeve to shoulder, sew on sleeves. Join side and sleeve seams.
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