Summer Staple Sweater

The Summer Staple Sweater is that easy-breezy topper you can throw on over shorts, jeans, or your cutest swimsuit – all summer long! Come winter, you can layer it with something long-sleeved to remember those warm summer vibes… and it’s a free crochet pattern here on Moogly!

Disclaimer: Materials for this pattern were provided by Yarnspirations; this post includes affiliate links.

Featuring Bernat Softee Cotton

As soon as I saw this yarn, I knew the Summer Staple Sweater was the piece I wanted to make with it! And I got started right away! Alas… life got in the way, and it’s taken me a lot longer than planned to share this pattern with you – but I hope you’ll think it was worth the wait!

Bernat Softee Cotton is a new lightweight cotton acrylic blend that’s perfect for garments – and it was such a pleasure to work with! I used several skeins in the process of designing the Summer Staple Sweater, and I don’t think I hit more than one knot the whole time – and no tangles or other issues at all. It has amazing stitch definition and drape, and it’s definitely a new favorite for me!

The Summer Staple Sweater is made side to side, and the sleeves are added right onto the body, so it’s easy enough for beginners. This method and stitch pattern give the sweater a great drape, and it takes advantage of gravity. The measurements for the schematic are laid flat – it will lengthen when worn!

Summer Staple Sweater – Your New Wardrobe Staple!

The Summer Staple Sweater features easy-to-wear, toss-on-and-go styling that’s at home everywhere from the backyard pool to the shops to the fair! Dress it up or down, it’s cozy and comfy and fun to wear – the model claimed this one as soon as she tried it on (which always warms a mom’s heart).

What do you think of the color scheme I used? Would you do it differently? No problem – this pattern makes it super easy with simple repeats you can customize any which way. And there are lots of gorgeous colors of Bernat Softee Cotton to choose from and combine!

The kangaroo pocket on the front is made in a light but solid fabric to keep it practical. But the body is in an easy 2 row mesh that’s trendy and breathable. And it’s all finished off with fringe – optional, of course, but I love that swing!

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Summer Staple Sweater

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US-I, 5.5mm hook – Susan Bates

1325 – 2150 yds Bernat Softee Cotton (3 – Light; 60% cotton, 40% acrylic; 120g/ 4.2 oz, 232 m/ 254 yds)
CA: Golden (1 (2) balls)
CB: Clear White (4 (5) balls)
CC: Seaside Blue (1 (2) balls)
CD: Dusk Sky (1 ball both sizes)

Stitch markers

Gauge: 15 sts x 11 rows = 4” in pattern

Sizes: XS to XL (2X to 5X)

Helpful Links:

Summer Staple Sweater

Crochet Abbreviations

FSC – Foundation Single Crochet

CSDC – Chainless Starting Double Crochet

Join with dc – Standing dc

Join with sc – Standing sc

Sc2tog – single crochet two together decrease

FDC – Foundation Double Crochet

Mattress Stitch Seaming

Backstitch Seaming

Special Stitches: 

CSDC/dc2tog – pull up loop to the height of a dc st, yo with the loop, insert hook into first st, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through first loop on hook and behind the pulled up loop, yo and insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through first 2 loops on hook, yo and pull through last two loops on hook to finish st.

Notes: 

If you would prefer to skip the FSC, ch 174(182), skip the ch closest to the hook, and sc in each rem ch across.

If you would prefer to skip the CSDC, ch 3 and count that as the first dc, or use your favorite first dc substitute.

The sleeves use turned rounds – join to the first st of the round with a sl st and then turn to work from the opposite direction as for rows. Using stitch markers in the first and last st of each rnd will be helpful.

If you would prefer to skip the FDC, ch 46, dc in the 4th ch from the hook (skipped 3 chs count as first st).

Schematic:

A = 11 (14)”
B = 12 (16.5)”
C = 46 (48)”
D = 12.5 (11.5)”
E = 22 (26.4)”

Summer Staple Sweater Instructions –Size XS to XL

Body – Make 2:

Row 1: With CA, FSC 173; turn. (173 sc)

Row 2: CSDC, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st; rep from * across, turn. (87 dc)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp across; turn. (173 sc)

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for a total of 31 rows, changing colors as listed below:

Rows 1 – 3: CA
Rows 4 – 14: CB
Rows 15 – 18: CC
Rows 19 – 28: CB
Rows 29 – 30: CA
Rows 31: CD

Row 32: CSDC, [ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st] 22 times; turn. (23 dc, rem sts left unworked)

Row 33: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp across; break yarn. (45 sc)

Add Other Side:

Row 1: With CD, skip next 83 sts of Row 31, join to next st with dc, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st; rep from * across, turn. (23 dc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp across; break yarn.

Assemble Body:

Layout Body pieces so that each Row 1 is facing the other, as shown in the schematic above.

Create the front of the sweater by using CA to seam from one end of Row 1 (point A) for 15″, using the mattress stitch (purple zigzag).

Then, seam from the other end of Row 1 (point B) for 20″ to create the back of the sweater (blue zigzag).

Fold the entire piece in half, so that point A and point B meet. Row 33 and Row 2 of the Other Side should meet on each side of the piece.

Using CD, seam Row 33 to Row 2 of the Other Side to create the side seams (sew green zigzag to green, and red to red).

Add Sleeves:

Rnd 1 (RS): With CD, join to center seam of side with sc, sc in side of next sc row, 2 sc in side of next dc row, sc in each skipped st of Row 31, 2 sc in side of next dc row, sc in side of next sc row; join and turn. (90 sc)

Rnd 2 (WS): CSDC, ch 1, skip the next st, *dc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st; rep from * around, join and turn.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc2tog in first two sts, sc in each st and ch sp across until 2 sts rem, sc2tog in last ch sp and st; join and turn. (88 sc)

Rnd 4: With CC, CSDC, ch 1, skip the next st, *dc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st; rep from * around, join and turn.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc2tog in first two sts, sc in each st and ch sp across until 2 sts rem, sc2tog in last ch sp and st; join and turn. (86 sc)

Repeat Rows 4 and 5 for a total of 41 rows, changing colors as listed below. Break yarn and finish off after Rnd 41.

Rows 6 – 7: CC
Rows 8 – 12: CB
Rows 13 – 16: CA
Rows 17 – 21: CB
Rows 22 – 25: CC
Rows 26 – 28: CB
Rows 29 – 33: CD
Rows 34 – 36: CB
Rows 37 – 41: CC (50 sts)

Go to Pocket and Fringe Instructions – All Sizes (below)

Summer Staple Sweater Instructions –Size 2X to 5X

Body – Make 2:

Row 1: With CA, FSC 181; turn. (181 sc)

Row 2: CSDC, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st; rep from * across, turn. (91 dc)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp across; turn. (181 sc)

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for a total of 39 rows, changing colors as listed below:

Rows 1 – 3: CA
Rows 4 – 20: CB
Rows 21 – 24: CC
Rows 25 – 39: CB

Row 40: CSDC, [ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st] 20 times; turn. (21 dc, rem sts left unworked)

Row 41: With CA, ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp across; turn. (41 sc)

Row 42: CSDC, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st; rep from * across, turn.

Row 43 – 45: With CD, rep Row 41 and 42, ending on a Row 41 rep. Break yarn.

Add Other Side:

Row 1: With CB, skip next 99 sts of Row 39, join to next st with dc, *ch 1, skip the next st, dc in the next st; rep from * across, turn. (21 dc)

Row 2 – 6: Rep as Row 41 – 45.

Assemble Body:

Layout Body pieces so that each Row 1 is facing the other, as shown in the schematic above.

Create the front of the sweater by using CA to seam from one end of Row 1 (point A) for 16″, using the mattress stitch (purple zigzag).

Then, seam from the other end of Row 1 (point B) for 21″ to create the back of the sweater (blue zigzag).

Fold the entire piece in half, so that point A and point B meet. Row 45 and Row 6 of the Other Side should meet on each side of the piece.

Using CD, seam Row 45 to Row 6 of the Other Side to create the side seams (sew green zigzag to green, and red to red).

Add Sleeves:

Rnd 1 (RS): With CD, join to center seam of side with sc, [sc in side of next sc row, 2 sc in side of next dc row] 3 times, sc in each skipped st of Row 39, *2 sc in side of next dc row, sc in side of next sc row; rep from * around, join and turn. (118 sc)

Rnd 2 (WS): CSDC, ch 1, skip the next st, *dc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st; rep from * around, join and turn.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc2tog in first two sts, sc in each st and ch sp across until 2 sts rem, sc2tog in last ch sp and st; join and turn. (116 sc)

Rnd 4: With CC, CSDC, ch 1, skip the next st, *dc in the next st, ch 1, skip the next st; rep from * around, join and turn.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc2tog in first two sts, sc in each st and ch sp across until 2 sts rem, sc2tog in last ch sp and st; join and turn. (114 sc)

Repeat Rows 4 and 5 for a total of 41 rows, changing colors as listed below. Break yarn and finish off after Rnd 47.

Rows 6 – 7: CC
Rows 8 – 12: CB
Rows 13 – 16: CA
Rows 17 – 21: CB
Rows 22 – 25: CC
Rows 26 – 28: CB
Rows 29 – 35: CD
Rows 36 – 40: CB
Rows 41 – 47: CC (72 sts)

Pocket and Fringe Instructions – All Sizes (Optional)

Row 1: With CB, FDC 44; turn. (44 dc)

Row 2: CSDC, dc in each rem st across; turn.

Rows 3 – 4: With CC, rep Row 2.

Rows 5 – 6: With CB, CSDC/dc2tog, dc in each st across until 2 sts rem, dc2tog; turn.

Rows 7 – 8: With CC, rep Rows 5 – 6.

Rows 9 – 10: With CB, rep Rows 5 – 6.

Rows 11 – 12: With CC, rep Row 2, break CC.

Rows 13 – 14: With CB, rep Row 2; turn.

Edging Round: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire piece, working 3 sc in each corner; join and break yarn leaving a long tail for sewing.

Sew on Pocket: Using CB, sew the pocket to the front of the sweater as shown, using the backstitch.

Add Fringe: Using CB, cut 15″ lengths of yarn. With 4 strands, knot to the end of every other dc row as shown. Trim to 6″ or desired length. Unravel ends of yarn if desired.

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LOOKING FOR MORE?

Are you looking for more summer sweater patterns? I have quite a few now! You can browse all my patterns on Moogly or Ravelry – and check out some of my warm-weather faves: the Seaglass Summer Cardi, Easy Striped Summer Tee, and Cupcake Tee!

If the Summer Staple Sweater pattern inspires you and you post a photo on social media, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too!

THE FINE PRINT

Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram! Thank you to Yarnspirations for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2021, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.

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