Free Chunky Knit Sweater Pattern (Half Fisherman’s Rib)

This chunky knit sweater pattern will help you create a warm and cozy sweater for the colder months.

Worked in half fisherman’s rib, it has a wonderfully soft texture and a deep ribbed neck that can be worn folded or unfolded.

The sweater is knitted flat in four pieces and is available in six women’s sizes.

Scroll down to view the free pattern, or you can purchase the inexpensive, ad-free PDF here.

About This Chunky Knit Sweater

This cozy sweater has a relaxed fit with approximately 3.5–4.5 inches of positive ease.

It is designed to be comfortable without being extremely oversized.

However, you can make a larger size if you prefer a looser, more oversized fit.

The sweater features:

• A soft half fisherman’s rib texture
• A deep ribbed funnel or turtleneck
• Long sleeves with deep ribbed cuffs
• A relaxed, comfortable fit
• Flat construction with seamed pieces
• Six women’s sizes

This pattern is best suited to advanced beginners or intermediate knitters who are comfortable working knit and purl stitches, knitting into the stitch below, increasing, decreasing, shaping, and seaming knitted pieces.

Inspired By The Outlander Knits

This chunky sweater was inspired by the beautiful knitwear seen throughout the Outlander TV series.

Claire, Brianna, Roger, and many of the other characters can often be seen wearing warm, textured knits in earthy shades of brown, beige, gray, and navy.

The simple shape, natural wool, deep neckline, and textured ribbing give this sweater the same rustic feel.

This pattern is part of my Outlander collection; you can see the other Outlander patterns here: Outlander Patterns {Beginner + Intermediate}

Visit the Outlander Pattern Collection Ebooks in my shop below:

• The Ultimate Outlander Knitting Pattern Collection – With 39 Knitting Patterns.
• The Complete Outlander Knitting Pattern Bundle – With 55 Knitting Patterns

A Cozy Sweater For Cold Weather

This sweater is a wonderfully warm layer for cold fall and winter days.

The half fisherman’s rib creates a thick fabric with plenty of texture, while the deep neck helps keep you warm and cozy.

It is perfect for winter walks, running errands, or simply curling up at home with a cup of something warm.

The sweater is knitted with super bulky wool, so it also grows much faster than a sweater made with a lighter-weight yarn.

View more sweater patterns here – Sweaters + Cardigans

How To Knit Half Fisherman’s Rib

Half fisherman’s rib creates a thick, stretchy fabric with a pronounced ribbed texture.

Instead of knitting every knit stitch normally, some of the stitches are worked into the stitch below.

This is abbreviated as K1B.

The stitch pattern is worked over an odd number of stitches:

• Row 1 (RS): Knit to the end of the row.
• Row 2 (WS): K1, *P1, K1B; repeat from * to the last 2 sts, P1, K1.
• Repeat Rows 1 and 2 to form the pattern.

To work K1B, insert the right-hand needle into the stitch directly below the next stitch on the left-hand needle.

Knit into that stitch as normal, allowing the stitch above it to drop from the needle.

Don’t worry if the texture isn’t immediately obvious.

After you have worked several rows, the deep ribbed pattern will begin to appear.

You can also watch my K1B video tutorial here.

Helpful Tutorials

The following tutorials may be useful while working on this sweater:

• How to cast on knitting
• How to cast off knitting
• How to read knitting patterns
• Knitting abbreviations and terms (US and UK)
• How to knit rib stitch patterns (1×1 and 2×2 ribbing)
• KFB knitting – How to make an increase
• How to knit two stitches together – K2tog

Chunky Knit Sweater Pattern Overview

Skill level: Advanced beginner/intermediate

Construction: The sweater is knitted flat from the bottom up in four pieces and seamed.

Stitch pattern: Half fisherman’s rib with 1 x 1 ribbed edges.

Yarn weight: Bulky 05/12 ply

Needles: 6.5 mm (US 10.5) and 8 mm (US 11)

Sizes: Six women’s sizes

Gauge: 9 stitches and 20 rows to 4 inches/10 cm in half fisherman’s rib

Copyright Info

• Please do not copy, sell, redistribute, or republish this pattern. 
• If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
• You may sell items produced using this pattern.
• Do NOT use copyrighted photos for your product listing.
• For the copyright T&C, please read my Terms of Use.

Pattern Notes

• The instructions are written for six sizes.
• Instructions for the larger sizes appear inside the parentheses.
• When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
• Before beginning, highlight or circle all the numbers for the size you are making.
• The sweater is worked flat, but you can use circular needles to accommodate the weight of the knitted pieces.
• Half fisherman’s rib is stretchy and can relax with wear, so it is important to knit and wash a gauge swatch before beginning.
• Measure your swatch without stretching the fabric.
• The yarn amounts given are estimates. You may need more yarn if you lengthen the body or sleeves.
• You can adjust the body length before beginning the armhole shaping.
• Always check that you have enough yarn from the same dye lot before you begin.

Size Information

To fit bust circumference –

• cm – 86, 91, 97, 102, 107, 112
• in – 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44

Garment measurement –

• cm – 95, 103, 108, 112, 116, 123
• in – 37.5, 40.5, 42.5, 44, 45.5, 48.5

Length from shoulder –

• cm – 56, 58, 58, 60, 61, 61
• in – 22, 23, 23, 23.5, 24, 24

Sleeve seam –

• cm – 41, 42, 42, 42, 43, 43
• in – 16, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 17, 17

Materials

Yarn

• Drops Eskimo Mix – 100% wool, 50g (1.8oz) / 50m (54 yards) colour brown 23.
• This yarn has been renamed Drops Snow by the yarn company Garn Studio.
• This is chunky wool – You could substitute it with The Petite Wool from We Are Knitters.
• Amount of yarn required (balls/skeins) – 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
• Yarn Weight Guide (+ Conversion Chart) – Bulky 05/Chunky/12 Ply.
• Yarn Substitute List

Needles

• 6.5 mm (US 10.5) knitting needles
• 8 mm (US 11) knitting needles
• *You can use either straight needles or circular needles to knit flat.

Notions

• Tape measure
• Darning needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Abbreviations

• k – knit
• p – purl
• st(s) – stitches
• st, st – stockinette stitch
• patt – pattern
• rep – repeat
• beg – beginning
• inc – increase
• dec – decrease
• K1B – knit one below worked like this – insert the right-hand needle into the stitch below the stitch on the left-hand needle and knit it in the usual way, letting the stitch drop off the left-hand needle. (see the video in this post).
• mm – millimeters
• cm – centimeters
• in – inch(es)
• RS – right side

Pattern Instructions

Back

Using 6.5 mm (US 10.5) needles cast on 47, (51, 53, 55, 57, 61) sts

Rib row 1: P1, *K1, P1 rep from * to end.

Rib row 2: K1, *P1, K1 rep from * to end.

Rep these 2 rows for 3 inches, ending with rib row 2.

Change to 8 mm (US  11) needles.

Work in fisherman’s rib as follows:

• Row 1: (RS) Knit
• Row 2: K1, *P1, K1B, rep from * to last 2 sts, P1, K1.
• These last two rows form the pattern.

Continue in the pattern until the back piece measures: 13.5″, (14″, 14″, 14″, 14″, 14″) from the CO edge, ending on a WS row.

The length can be adjusted here if you want to make the sweater shorter or longer.

Front

Work as given for the back – up to the completion of the armhole shaping; 39, (43, 45, 47, 49, 53) sts.

Work straight to 6.5″, (7″, 7″, 7″, 7.5″, 7.5″) from beg of armhole shaping, ending with a WS row.

Shape Neck

Next row: Pattern 16, (18, 18, 19, 19, 21) sts, turn and leave rem sts on a stitch holder.

Work on the first set of sts as follows:

* dec 1 st at neck edge on every row until 13, (15, 15, 16, 16, 18) sts remain.

Work straight until front measures same as back up to beg of shoulder shaping, ending at armhole edge.

Shape Shoulder

Cast off 6, (7, 7, 8, 8, 9) sts at beg of next row.

Work 1 row.

Cast off *.

Return to sts on the stitch holder.

With RS facing, slip first 7, (7, 9, 9, 11, 11) sts onto a holder, join yarn to next st, and pattern to the end of the row. 

Now work as given for the first side of the neck from * to *.

Sleeves

Using 6.5 mm (US 10.5) needles, cast on 23, (25, 25, 27, 29, 29) sts.

Work the 2 rib rows of the back for 3 inches, ending with rib row 2.

Change to 8 mm (US 11) needles.

Proceed in the pattern as given for the back (Fisherman’s rib) but inc 1 st at each end of the 3rd and every foll 4th row until there are 43, (45, 45, 47, 51, 51) sts.

Work straight to 16 (16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 17, 17) inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Place a marker at each end of the last row.

Pattern a further 1.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Cast off in rib.

Neckband

Join right shoulder seam.

With right side facing, join yarn to the neck at the left front shoulder and, using 6.5 mm (US 10.5) needles, pick up and knit 8, (8, 8, 10, 10, 10) sts down the left side of the front neck. 

Knit the front neck sts from the holder.

Pick up and knit 8, (8, 8, 10, 10, 10) sts up the right side of the front neck, then K the back neck sts from the holder (36, 36, 40, 44, 48, 48) sts.

1st, 2nd, 3rd sizes only – work 4.5″ – P1, K1 rib.

4th, 5th, 6th sizes only – work 4.5″ – K1, P1 rib.

All sizes – cast off loosely in rib (use a larger needle size if needed / or do a stretchy bind-off).

Making Up

Do not press, and check the yarn label for washing instructions.

Mattress Stitch – How To Seam Knitting

Join left shoulder and neckband seam.

Set in sleeves, placing the straight side edges above markers to cast off sts at armholes.

Join side and sleeve seams.

Leave the neckband, or fold it over and secure it by slip stitching into position if you want it turned over.

You can leave the neck as a funnel neck or fold it over and seam it as a crew neck.

Share Your Finished Sweater

I love seeing what you make using my patterns!

If you make this chunky knit sweater, I’d love to see your finished project.

Share a photograph on Instagram and tag me @handylittleme.

You can also join the Handy Little Me Facebook group, where you can share your project, ask questions, and chat with other knitters.

Happy knitting!

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