Crochet Solstice Sweater Free Pattern

As I was saying – this is my first sweater pattern and I’m so happy with how it turned out! I’m calling it the Solstice Sweater, in honor of it’s release date, the summer solstice! I know it seems absolutely odd to celebrate the first day of summer with a wool sweater, but here we are!

It was my goal to create a sweater that would be ideal for those in between seasons kind of times. You know, when it’s not hot but not really cold either? I used DK weight yarn and created an open stitch pattern that kinda let’s the breeze through, making it perfect for June gloom!

The stitch pattern is pretty simple. A combination of shell stitches (do you love them as much as I do?!) and dc5tog’s create the wavy pattern that you see and once you get the 4 row/round repeat figured out, it goes really quickly!

Let me tell you my favorite thing about this sweater – it’s constructed in a way that requires zero sewing! Hate stitching pieces together to create a garment? Perfect, because you won’t have to! And of course, that also means no ugly seams! yay!

Terms of Use

You are welcome and encouraged to sell any items you make using this pattern! When selling online, please credit Julie King / Gleeful Things by linking to www.gleefulthings.com or tagging @gleefulthings. You may NOT sell the pattern, distribute it in any form, post it online, or alter it to claim it as your own.

Yarn

Furls Whims Merino, #3 DK weight yarn: 750 (950, 1150) yards of Blue

Materials  

US Size K/10.5 (6.5mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge, yarn needle, scissors

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Difficulty  

Intermediate

Sizes

S (M, L)

Sizes XL – 3X are coming soon! Please check back!

Finished Measurements

Size	S	M	L
Bust/width	34”	37”	40”
Length	15”	18”	21”
Sleeve circumference	8”	11”	14”
Sleeve length	16”	19”	22”

Gauge

See instructions below. Swatch should measure approximately 5” – 5.5” square, depending on how you stretch it.

Abbreviations

ch(s) – chain(s), dc – double crochet, dc2tog – double crochet 2 together, dc5tog – double crochet 5 together, tr – treble crochet, tr2tog – treble crochet 2 together, st(s) – stitch(es), sl st – slip stitch, yo – yarn over, RS – right side, WS – wrong side

Special Stitches  

· Shell = 5 dc in same st/ch.

· tr2tog (treble crochet 2 together) = *yo twice, insert hook into st, yo & draw up a loop, [yo & draw through two loops] twice; repeat from * in next st, yo & draw through all 3 loops on hook

· dc2tog (double crochet 2 together) = *yo, insert hook into next st, yo & draw up a loop, yo & draw through two loops; repeat from * once in next st, yo & draw through all 3 loops on hook

· dc5tog (double crochet 5 together) = *yo, insert hook into next st/ch/ch space, yo & draw up a loop, yo & draw through two loops; repeat from * 4 more times, yo & draw through all 6 loops on hook.

Notes  

1.  This sweater is worked in a way that does not require sewing any pieces together. Starting at the shoulder, you’ll work in rows to create part of one side until you reach the armpit. Next, you’ll join your yarn at the shoulder, and again, work in rows to create the opposite side above the armpit. At that point, you will work a round that joins the two sides and then the remainder of the body is worked in joined rounds. Once the body is complete, you’ll join your yarn to the holes left for the arms and work your sleeves in joined rounds.

2. Pattern is written for size small with adjustments for sizes medium – large in parentheses like this: S (M, L). In some sections of the pattern, you will find each size written out separately within a table. Please refer to the notes in gray highlight for help.

3. You can easily shorten or lengthen your sweater by doing more or fewer pattern repeats (rounds 2-5) after the joining round. The same method applies to shortening or lengthening the sleeves.

4.  In row 1, all sts will be made into the ch. In all following rows/rounds, sts will be made into sts or ch spaces, not the ch itself, with the exception of row 1 on side 2 where a portion of the row will be worked into the chs again.

5. The progress photos throughout this pattern show a size medium being made. Keep in mind that stitch counts for other sizes will be different but they are all constructed in the same way.

Instructions for gauge swatch

Row 1: Ch 22 (final 3 chs count as 1 dc), 2 dc in 4^th ch from hook, dc5tog, *1 shell in next ch, dc5tog; repeat from * across until 1 ch remains, 3 dc in final ch – 3 dc5tog + 2 shells + 6 dc.

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; repeat from * across – 10 dc + 9 ch 1 spaces.

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) & turn, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc5tog starting in 1^st ch 1 space, *1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space; repeat from * across until 1 st remains, 3 dc in final st – 3 dc5tog + 2 shells + 6 dc.

Row 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, 1 tr in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 tr in next st; repeat from * across – 10 tr + 9 ch 1 spaces.

Row 5: Repeat row 3

Rows 6 & 7: Repeat rows 2 & 3.

Instructions for sweater

Row 1 (RS): Ch 58 (64, 70) (final 3 chs count as 1 dc), 2 dc in 4^th ch from hook, dc5tog, *1 shell in next ch, dc5tog; repeat from * across until 1 ch remains, 3 dc in final ch – 9 (10, 11) dc5tog + 8 (9, 10) shells + 6 dc.

Row 2 (WS): Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; repeat from * across – 28 (31, 34) dc + 27 (30, 33) ch 1 spaces.

Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) & turn, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc5tog starting in 1^st ch 1 space, *1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space; repeat from * across until 1 st remains, 3 dc in final st – 9 (10, 11) dc5tog + 8 (9, 10) shells + 6 dc.

Row 4: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, 1 tr in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 tr in next st; repeat from * across – 28 (31, 34) tr + 27 (30, 33) ch 1 spaces.

Row 5: Repeat row 3

The following rows are different depending on which size you’re making. Find your size in the table below.

S	Fasten off after row 5.
M	Rows 6 & 7: Repeat rows 2 – 3. Fasten off after row 7.
L	Rows 6 – 9: Repeat rows 2 – 5. Fasten off after row 9.

Now you will create the neck hole & start the second side by working into the starting ch from row 1.

Neck hole row: With WS facing up, join yarn to the ch at the bottom of 1^st 3 dc from row 1 by chaining 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch), skip 1 ch, 1 tr in next ch, [ch 1, skip 1 ch, 1 tr in next ch] 4 (5, 6) times, ch 33 (35, 37), skip 33 (35, 37) chs, 1 tr in next ch, [ch 1, skip 1 ch, 1 tr in next ch] 5 (6, 7) times – 12 (14, 16) tr + 10 (12, 14) ch 1 spaces + 1 ch 33 (35, 37) space.

Row 1 (side 2): Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) & turn, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc5tog starting in 1^st ch 1 space, 1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space, 1 shell in next st, dc5tog (working into chs now), [1 shell in next ch, dc5tog] 4 (5, 6) times, *1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space; repeat from * across until 1 st remains, 3 dc in final st – 9 (10, 11) dc5tog + 8 (9, 10) shells + 6 dc.

The following rows are different depending on which size you’re making. Find your size in the table below.

S	Rows 2-5 (side 2): Repeat rows 2-5 above. Do not fasten off after row 5 this time.
M	Rows 2-7 (side 2): Repeat rows 2-7 above. Do not fasten off after row 7 this time.
L	Rows 2-9 (side 2): Repeat rows 2-9 above. Do not fasten off after row 9 this time.

Now you will work a round that joins the two sides together to create arm holes.

The following rounds are different depending on which size you’re making. Find your size in the table below.

S	Round 1 (joining round): Ch 3 (1st 2 chs count as part of final 1 dc2tog + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; repeat from * across until 2 sts remain, skip 1 st, ch 1, dc2tog starting in last st & ending in 1st st on opposite side, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; repeat from * across until 2 sts remain, skip 1 st, 1 dc in final st, sl st to join to 2nd ch at beginning of opposite side (this dc + those 1st 2 chs count as 1 dc2tog) – 52 dc + 54 ch 1 spaces + 2 dc2tog.
M	Round 1 (joining round): Ch 4 (1st 3 chs count as part of final 1 tr2tog + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, 1 tr in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 tr in next st; repeat from * across until 2 sts remain, skip 1 st, ch 1, tr2tog starting in last st & ending in 1st st on opposite side, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 tr in next st; repeat from * across until 2 sts remain, skip 1 st, 1 tr in final st, sl st to join to 3rd ch at beginning of opposite side (this tr + those 1st 3 chs count as 1 tr2tog) – 58 tr + 60 ch 1 spaces + 2 tr2tog.
L	Round 1 (joining round): Ch 3 (1st 2 chs count as part of final 1 dc2tog + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; repeat from * across until 2 sts remain, skip 1 st, ch 1, dc2tog starting in last st & ending in 1st st on opposite side, *ch 1, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st; repeat from * across until 2 sts remain, skip 1 st, 1 dc in final st, sl st to join to 2nd ch at beginning of opposite side (this dc + those 1st 2 chs count as 1 dc2tog) – 64 dc + 66 ch 1 spaces + 2 dc2tog.

The following rounds are different depending on which size you’re making. Find your size in the table below.

S	Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) & turn, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc5tog starting in 1st ch 1 space, *1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space; repeat from * around, 2 dc in same st as ch 3 from beginning of round, sl st to join to top of ch 3 – 18 dc5tog + 18 shells.   Round 3: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 tr in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 4th ch – 54 tr + 54 ch 1 spaces.   Round 4: Repeat round 2   Round 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 3rd ch – 54 dc + 54 ch 1 spaces.   Rounds 6 – 17: Repeat rounds 2-5   Round 18: Repeat round 2 and fasten off.
M	Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) & turn, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc5tog starting in 1st ch 1 space, *1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space; repeat from * around, 2 dc in same st as ch 3 from beginning of round, sl st to join to top of ch 3 – 20 dc5tog + 20 shells.   Round 3: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 3rd ch – 60 dc + 60 ch 1 spaces.   Round 4: Repeat round 2   Round 5: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 tr in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 4th ch – 60 tr + 60 ch 1 spaces.   Rounds 6 – 17: Repeat rounds 2-5   Rounds 18 – 20: Repeat rounds 2-4   Fasten off after round 20.
L	Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) & turn, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc5tog starting in 1st ch 1 space, *1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space; repeat from * around, 2 dc in same st as ch 3 from beginning of round, sl st to join to top of ch 3 – 22 dc5tog + 22 shells.   Round 3: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 tr in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 4th ch – 66 tr + 66 ch 1 spaces.   Round 4: Repeat round 2   Round 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 3rd ch – 66 dc + 66 ch 1 spaces.   Rounds 6 – 21: Repeat rounds 2-5   Round 22: Repeat round 2 and fasten off.

Sleeves:

Round 1: With WS facing up, join yarn at bottom of arm hole by chaining 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch), [1 dc, ch 1] evenly around arm hole until you have a total of 15 (21, 27) dc + 15 (21, 27) ch 1 spaces, sl st to join to 3^rd ch.  

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc) & turn, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc5tog starting in 1^st ch 1 space, *1 shell in next st, dc5tog starting in next ch 1 space; repeat from * around, 2 dc in same st as ch 3 from beginning of round, sl st to join to top of ch 3 – 5 (7, 9) dc5tog + 5 (7, 9) shells.

Round 3: Ch 5 (counts as 1 tr + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 tr in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 4^th ch – 15 (21, 27) tr + 15 (21, 27) ch 1 spaces.

Round 4: Repeat round 2

Round 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + 1 ch) & turn, skip 1 st, *1 dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st; repeat from * around, sl st to join to 3^rd ch – 15 (21, 27) dc + 15 (21, 27) ch 1 spaces.

Rounds 6 – 21 (25, 29): Repeat rounds 2-5

Round 22 (26, 30): Repeat round 2 and fasten off.