If you’d rather knit than sew, seamless sweater knitting is for you. These sweaters are worked in one piece, usually in the round from the neck down, so when you bind off the last cuff you’re almost done. No mattress stitch, no lumpy seams, and you can try the sweater on as you go.
This list is for knitters who want a sweater with little or no finishing. You’ll find simple raglans, round yokes, a colorwork yoke, a set-in sleeve worked top-down and two no-sew cardigans. Every pattern is free.
Seamless Sweater Knitting Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Circular needles in 16″, 24″ and 32″ lengths
- Double-pointed needles or a long cable for magic loop sleeves
- Ring stitch markers, including one unique beginning-of-round marker
- Waste yarn or flexible stitch holders
- Your sweater yarn
- Tapestry needle
- Soft measuring tape
1. Flax Light
Photo: Tin Can Knits
Flax Light is the fingering-weight version of a much-loved free raglan. It’s knit top-down and seamless in the round, with a garter stitch panel on each sleeve. The thinner yarn makes a sweater you can wear in spring or layer under a jacket. Sizes go from 0–6 months to 6XL.
- Designer: Tin Can Knits
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Fingering (#1)
- Needle size: 3.75 mm (US 5) and 2.75 mm (US 2)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Dotty Pullover
Photo: Yay For Yarn
This bulky pullover is knit from the neckline down in one piece, with the front, back and both sleeves worked together. A simple dot stitch adds texture all over, and ribbing finishes the hem, cuffs and neck. Bulky yarn keeps it quick, and sizes run XS to 5X.
- Designer: Yay For Yarn
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Bulky (#5)
- Needle size: 8 mm (US 11)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid ad-free PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Hokkaido Sweater
Photo: Sidsel Grau
Hokkaido has a round yoke with a saddle shoulder placed on the back, which gives it a relaxed, slightly unusual shape. It’s knit top-down and seamless, and the sleeves are worked one at a time after the body. It uses aran-weight wool for a warm, easygoing sweater.
- Designer: Sidsel Grau
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Aran (#4)
- Needle size: 5 mm (US 8), plus 4 mm and 3.5 mm for ribbing
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Amused
Photo: Jordana Paige for Knitty
Amused is a top-down raglan with reversible cables, so the cables look tidy from both sides, which is lovely at the collar. It’s worked seamlessly in the round in aran-weight yarn. If you’ve knit a plain raglan and want to add cables, this is a nice next step. Sizes run XS to 3X.
- Designer: Jordana Paige for Knitty
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Aran (#4)
- Needle size: 5.5 mm (US 9)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Caron Top Down Funnel Neck Pullover
This oversized pullover has deep raglans, roomy sleeves and a cozy funnel neck. It’s worked top-down in the round, and the pattern says it has virtually no finishing. Caron Latte Cakes shift slowly from one color to the next, so you get a soft gradient with no color changes to manage.
- Designer: Caron / Yarnspirations
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Caron Latte Cakes (see pattern)
- Needle size: see pattern
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. On the Beach
Photo: Isabell Kraemer
Want set-in sleeves without sewing? On the Beach is knit top-down using a contiguous method, which shapes a set-in shoulder as you go. It’s a relaxed sport-weight V-neck with a casual, beachy feel. Sizes run XS to L.
- Designer: Isabell Kraemer
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Sport (#2)
- Needle size: 5 mm (US 8) and 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Penguin Shuffle Sweater
This playful sweater has a band of penguins marching around a colorwork yoke. It’s knit seamless and top-down in worsted yarn, with German short rows at the back neck. After the yoke, the body and sleeves are plain stockinette in the round. The designer says a confident beginner who knows knitting in the round can make it.
- Designer: Marly Bird
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Needle size: 5 mm (US 8)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Bly
Photo: Amy Christoffers for Berroco
Bly is a seamless cardigan. It’s knit top-down in one piece with raglan sleeves, three-quarter length sleeves and a garter stitch welt with a split hem. The longer, leaner shape looks great over a dress or with jeans. It’s worked in worsted yarn in seven sizes.
- Designer: Amy Christoffers for Berroco
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Needle size: 4.5 mm (US 7) and 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Asheville
Photo: Caro in the City
Asheville is a cozy top-down raglan cardigan worked flat in one piece, so there’s still nothing to sew. You hold an aran yarn together with a fingering yarn to get a thick, super bulky fabric, and changing the fingering color creates a soft fade. Sizes run XS to XL.
- Designer: Caro in the City
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Super bulky (aran + fingering held together)
- Needle size: 8 mm (US 11)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Roomy Raglan
Photo: Jules Efterfield
Roomy Raglan is a marled, oversized pullover made by holding two yarns together. You start at the collar, use German short rows to shape the neck, and work the raglan yoke in the round. Bracelet-length sleeves and contrast edges give it a modern look. The free version is one size, so check the measurements first.
- Designer: Jules Efterfield
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Bulky (two yarns held together)
- Needle size: 6.5 mm (US 10.5), 6 mm (US 10) and 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Drop Shoulder Stripped Sweater
Photo: AlenaCharity Limbithu
This one is built in a clever way. You knit the yoke first, then pick up stitches along its sides for the shoulders, and work the striped body and sleeves in the round. There’s an optional folded neck. It’s labeled intermediate beginner and comes in sizes XS to 3XL.
- Designer: AlenaCharity Limbithu
- Skill level: Easy (intermediate beginner)
- Yarn: DK / light worsted (see pattern)
- Needle size: see pattern
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- First seamless sweater? Start with #1, Flax Light, or go bulky and fast with #2.
- Want a round yoke? Try #3, or #7 if you’d like colorwork.
- Ready for cables? #4 has reversible cables that look good from both sides.
- Need a no-sew cardigan? #8 for a lighter layer, #9 for a chunky one.
- Want a different shoulder? #6 has set-in sleeves worked top-down.
FAQ
What does seamless mean in knitting?
A seamless sweater is knit in one piece, usually in the round, instead of in separate front, back and sleeve pieces that you sew together. Most seamless sweaters are worked top-down, but some are bottom-up with the sleeves joined at the yoke. Either way, there’s little or no sewing at the end.
Are seamless sweaters better than seamed ones?
Not better, just different. Seamless sweaters are quicker to finish and easy to try on as you go. Seamed sweaters have more structure, which helps heavy yarns and cotton hold their shape. For a first sweater in wool, many knitters find seamless easier.
How do I knit sleeves in the round without DPNs?
Use the magic loop method. Put the sleeve stitches on a long circular needle, at least 32″, and pull the extra cable out at the halfway point. You knit half the stitches, then slide them around and knit the other half. Two short circular needles also work.
Pick a pattern, cast on at the neck and enjoy knitting a whole sweater without a single seam.