This Free Men’s Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern is a go-to if you’re looking for something classic, wearable, and actually enjoyable to knit—and it pairs perfectly with other free sweater knitting patterns you can come back to again and again.

If you’ve ever wanted to knit a men’s sweater that doesn’t feel overly complicated but still looks polished, this is exactly what you need. This Free Men’s Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern keeps things simple with a relaxed drop sleeve fit, clean crew neckline, and easy stripe repeat that keeps your hands moving without constant checking.

If you’ve been putting off knitting a sweater because it feels overwhelming, this is a great place to start.
It breaks everything down into manageable sections so you can actually enjoy the process.

The stripes keep things interesting without adding stress, and the fit is one you’ll reach for constantly.
It’s the kind of project that looks impressive but feels totally doable.

What materials do you need for this Free Men’s Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern?

For this Free Men’s Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern, I used Berroco Vintage, which is one of my favorite yarns for garments. It has just the right balance of softness and durability, so your finished sweater holds its shape while still feeling great to wear. The wool blend also makes it easy to care for, which is a huge win for everyday pieces.

You’ll also need circular needles in two sizes for the ribbing and body, plus your usual basics like stitch markers and a yarn needle. The stripe pattern uses a main color and a contrast color, so you can really make it your own depending on your color choices.

Once you have your materials ready, everything else flows smoothly.
It’s a straightforward setup that lets you focus on the knitting itself.

How does the Free Men’s Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern come together?

This Free Men’s Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern is worked bottom-up and flat, which makes it easy to manage each section as you go. The drop sleeve construction keeps shaping simple, so you’re mostly working straight pieces before seaming everything together at the end.

The stripes are worked in an easy repeat, so once you get going, it becomes a rhythm you don’t have to think about too much. The neckline shaping is clear and approachable, even if you haven’t done a lot of garment knitting before.

Take your time with each section and focus on consistency, especially with your stripes.
By the time you’re finishing, you’ll feel confident tackling another sweater.

Looking for more free sweater knitting patterns to try next?

If you enjoy this style, there are so many other free sweater knitting patterns you can explore:

• Men’s Granite Sweater
• Ladies Michael Sweater
• Child Dathan Sweater
• Youth Granite Sweater
• Youth Peter Sweater

Each one has its own texture and construction style, so you can try different techniques while still making pieces you’ll actually wear. Some focus on simple knit and purl textures, while others introduce subtle structure without making things feel complicated.

If you loved working stripes, you’ll find plenty of ways to build on those skills in other designs.
And if you’re just getting into sweaters, this is a great starting point before branching out.

Men’s Nick Sweater Free Pattern

MATERIALS AND INFO

Sizes: XS, S (M, L) XL, XXL (2X, 3X)

Instructions are given in this size order throughout. XXL and 2X are separate sizes; choose your size using the chest measurements rather than the size label alone.

To fit chest circumference:
88, 92 (100, 108) 116, 124 (128, 138) cm
34.6, 36.2 (39.4, 42.5) 45.7, 48.8 (50.4, 54.3) in

Calculated garment chest circumference before seam allowance, at the stated stockinette gauge:
104, 108 (116, 120) 128, 136 (142, 160) cm
40.9, 42.5 (45.7, 47.2) 50.4, 53.5 (55.9, 63.0) in

Seaming will reduce the finished circumference slightly.

Materials:

• Main color (MC): Approximately 4, 4 (4, 5) 5, 6 (6, 7) balls of Berroco Vintage, 217 yd / 100 g per ball.
• Contrast color (CC): Approximately 4, 4 (4, 5) 5, 5 (6, 7) balls of Berroco Vintage, 217 yd / 100 g per ball.
• Yarn needle.
• Stitch markers.
• Stitch holders or waste yarn.

Needles:

• US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• US 6 / 4 mm circular needles for ribbing.

Circular needles are used to accommodate the stitches. The body panels and sleeves are worked flat; only the neckband is worked in the round.

Gauge:

20 stitches and 28 rows = 10 cm / approximately 4 in in stockinette stitch using larger needles.

METHOD

Nick Sweater is a bottom-up pullover with drop sleeves in an easy-care yarn. The front, back, and sleeves are worked flat and seamed. The neckband is picked up and worked in the round.

Created for our first child, who picked the colors and stripes, this sweater is now available for you to create.

Choose your size using your chest measurement and desired amount of ease.

Unless otherwise stated, measure lengths from the cast-on edge.

STITCH PATTERNS

1×1 Rib, worked flat

Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; repeat from * across.

Row 2 (WS): Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you.

Repeat Rows 1–2.

Stockinette Stitch, worked flat

RS rows: Knit.

WS rows: Purl.

Stripe Pattern

Beginning with CC, work 8 rows CC, then 8 rows MC.

Repeat these 16 rows, carrying the stripe sequence through all shaping. Begin each new color on a RS row.

BACK

With smaller needles and MC, cast on 104, 108 (116, 120) 128, 136 (142, 160) stitches.

Do not join. Work back and forth in rows.

Work in 1×1 rib until the piece measures 4 cm / 1.6 in, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles and join CC.

Work in stockinette stitch following the stripe pattern until the piece measures 46, 46 (46.5, 46.5) 46.5, 46.5 (47, 47) cm / 18.1, 18.1 (18.3, 18.3) 18.3, 18.3 (18.5, 18.5) in, or desired length to the underarm, ending after a WS row.

Place a marker at each end of this row to mark the bottom of the armholes.

Continue without shaping, maintaining the stripe pattern, until the piece measures 67.5, 67.5 (69.5, 70.5) 71.5, 72.5 (73, 74.5) cm / 26.6, 26.6 (27.4, 27.8) 28.1, 28.5 (28.7, 29.3) in, ending after a WS row.

SHAPE BACK SHOULDERS AND NECK

Bind off 9, 10 (11, 11) 12, 13 (14, 17) stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows, working to the end of each row.

Next row (RS): Bind off 9, 10 (11, 11) 12, 13 (14, 17) stitches, then knit 12, 12 (13, 14) 15, 16 (17, 20) additional stitches.

There are now 13, 13 (14, 15) 16, 17 (18, 21) stitches on the right needle, including the stitch remaining after the bind-off.

Place all remaining unworked stitches on a holder.

Turn and work this shoulder section only.

Next row (WS): Bind off 3 stitches at the neck edge, then purl to the end.

Next row (RS): Bind off the remaining 10, 10 (11, 12) 13, 14 (15, 18) stitches.

With RS facing, return the held stitches to a needle and rejoin yarn at the neck edge.

Next row (RS): Bind off 42, 42 (44, 46) 48, 50 (50, 50) stitches for the center back neck, then knit to the end.

There are 22, 23 (25, 26) 28, 30 (32, 38) stitches in this shoulder section, including the stitch remaining after the bind-off.

Next row (WS): Bind off 9, 10 (11, 11) 12, 13 (14, 17) stitches, then purl to the end.

Next row (RS): Bind off 3 stitches at the neck edge, then knit to the end.

Next row (WS): Bind off the remaining 10, 10 (11, 12) 13, 14 (15, 18) stitches.

FRONT

With smaller needles and MC, cast on 104, 108 (116, 120) 128, 136 (142, 160) stitches.

Do not join. Work back and forth in rows.

Work in 1×1 rib until the piece measures 4 cm / 1.6 in, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles and join CC.

Work in stockinette stitch following the stripe pattern until the piece measures 46, 46 (46.5, 46.5) 46.5, 46.5 (47, 47) cm / 18.1, 18.1 (18.3, 18.3) 18.3, 18.3 (18.5, 18.5) in, or the same length to the underarm as the back, ending after a WS row.

Place a marker at each end of this row.

Continue without shaping, maintaining the stripe pattern, until the piece measures 60, 60.5 (62, 62.5) 63.5, 63.5 (64, 65.5) cm / 23.6, 23.8 (24.4, 24.6) 25.0, 25.0 (25.2, 25.8) in, ending after a WS row.

LEFT FRONT NECK SHAPING

Next row (RS): Knit 38, 40 (43, 44) 48, 51 (54, 63) stitches. Place all remaining stitches on a holder and turn.

Work this side of the neck only, maintaining stockinette stitch and the stripe pattern.

Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on each of the next 6 rows.

Then decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on each of the next 3 RS rows, working the intervening WS rows without decreasing.

Then decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on every following fourth row—every other RS row—1, 1 (1, 1) 2, 2 (2, 2) times.

28, 30 (33, 34) 37, 40 (43, 52) stitches remain.

Continue without shaping until the piece measures 67.5, 67.5 (69.5, 70.5) 71.5, 72.5 (73, 74.5) cm / 26.6, 26.6 (27.4, 27.8) 28.1, 28.5 (28.7, 29.3) in, ending after a WS row.

LEFT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING

Row 1 (RS): Bind off 9, 10 (11, 11) 12, 13 (14, 17) stitches, then knit to the end.

Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Repeat Rows 1–2 once more.

On the next RS row, bind off the remaining 10, 10 (11, 12) 13, 14 (15, 18) stitches.

RIGHT FRONT NECK SHAPING

With RS facing, return the held stitches to a needle and rejoin yarn at the center front.

Bind off 28, 28 (30, 32) 32, 34 (34, 34) stitches for the center front neck, then knit to the end.

There are 38, 40 (43, 44) 48, 51 (54, 63) stitches in this neck-and-shoulder section, including the stitch remaining after the bind-off.

Turn and work this side of the neck only, maintaining stockinette stitch and the stripe pattern.

Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on each of the next 6 rows.

Then decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on each of the next 3 RS rows, working the intervening WS rows without decreasing.

Then decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge on every following fourth row—every other RS row—1, 1 (1, 1) 2, 2 (2, 2) times.

28, 30 (33, 34) 37, 40 (43, 52) stitches remain.

Continue without shaping until the piece measures 67.5, 67.5 (69.5, 70.5) 71.5, 72.5 (73, 74.5) cm / 26.6, 26.6 (27.4, 27.8) 28.1, 28.5 (28.7, 29.3) in, ending after a RS row.

RIGHT FRONT SHOULDER SHAPING

Row 1 (WS): Bind off 9, 10 (11, 11) 12, 13 (14, 17) stitches, then purl to the end.

Row 2 (RS): Knit.

Repeat Rows 1–2 once more.

On the next WS row, bind off the remaining 10, 10 (11, 12) 13, 14 (15, 18) stitches.

SLEEVES — MAKE 2

With smaller needles and MC, cast on 60, 62 (62, 64) 64, 64 (66, 66) stitches.

Do not join. Work back and forth in rows.

Work in 1×1 rib until the sleeve measures 4 cm / 1.6 in, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles and join CC. Begin working in stockinette stitch following the stripe pattern.

Sleeve Shaping to Underarm

Work 2 rows.

Work the following increase stages in order. Omit any stage specifying 0 times.

For each increase row, work:

K1, M1L, knit to the last stitch, M1R, k1.

Each increase row adds 2 stitches. Work all other rows in stockinette stitch, maintaining the stripe pattern.

Increase 1 stitch at each end of every following 4th row 0, 0 (6, 8) 12, 17 (17, 26) times.

Then increase 1 stitch at each end of every following 6th row 9, 13 (13, 12) 10, 7 (7, 1) times.

Then increase 1 stitch at each end of every following 8th row 6, 3 (0, 0) 0, 0 (0, 0) times.

90, 94 (100, 104) 108, 112 (114, 120) stitches.

Continue without shaping in stockinette stitch, maintaining the stripe pattern, until the sleeve measures 45.5, 45.5 (46.5, 47.5) 49, 49.5 (50, 50) cm / 17.9, 17.9 (18.3, 18.7) 19.3, 19.5 (19.7, 19.7) in from the cast-on edge, or desired length, ending after a WS row.

Bind off all stitches.

Work the second sleeve to match the first.

NECKBAND

Sew shoulder seams.

With smaller needles, MC, and RS facing, pick up and knit:

• 19, 19 (19, 20) 20, 22 (22, 22) stitches down the left front neck edge.
• 28, 28 (30, 32) 34, 34 (34, 34) stitches across the center front neck.
• 19, 19 (19, 20) 20, 22 (22, 22) stitches up the right front neck edge.
• 48, 48 (50, 52) 54, 56 (56, 56) stitches around the back neck.

XL only: Distribute the 34 center-front pickups evenly across the 32-stitch center-front bind-off edge.

114, 114 (118, 124) 128, 134 (134, 134) stitches total.

Place a marker for the beginning of the round and join, taking care not to twist the stitches.

Work in k1, p1 ribbing until the neckband measures 2.5 cm / approximately 1 in from the pickup edge.

Bind off in pattern.

FINISHING

Center each sleeve’s bind-off edge over a shoulder seam. Pin the sleeve edge to the front and back armhole edges between the underarm markers, distributing any sleeve fullness evenly.

Sew sleeves into place.

Sew sleeve and side seams, matching the body stripes.

Remove markers, weave in all ends, and block.

ABBREVIATIONS

CC: Contrast color.

K: Knit.

K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together.

M1L: With the left needle, lift the strand between stitches from front to back; knit through its back loop to increase 1 stitch.

M1R: With the left needle, lift the strand between stitches from back to front; knit through its front loop to increase 1 stitch.

MC: Main color.

P: Purl.

PM: Place marker.

RS: Right side.

SM: Slip marker.

SSK: Slip 2 stitches individually knitwise, then knit them together through the back loops.

St/sts: Stitch/stitches.

WS: Wrong side.

Have you tried this Free Men’s Striped Sweater Knitting Pattern yet? I’d love to hear what colors you picked or who you’re knitting it for—leave a comment and let me know!

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