Free pattern · Knitting

MODERN MUSE

An airy oversized sweater with a V-neck and dramatic folded balloon sleeves, knitted in stockinette with NOVA on 12 mm needles. Knit in 10–12 hours.

Intermediate
10–12 hours
V-neck
Balloon sleeves
Stockinette

Size: 68 × 55 cm · Oversized
Yarn: NOVA · 5 skeins, 50 g / 150 m
Needles: 12 mm / 80 cm circular (body) and 12 mm / 60 cm circular (sleeves)
Gauge: 6 × 11 = 10 cm

Get the yarn · $8.90 Start knitting

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Materials

NOVA SILVER GRAY

NOVA · 5 skeins, 50 g / 150 m

$8.90

Colour: NOVA SILVER GRAY

Tools

Needles: 12 mm / 80 cm circular (body) and 12 mm / 60 cm circular (sleeves)
Tapestry needle: for seaming
Stitch markers: beginning of round and centre front
Scissors: for cutting yarn

Size

68 × 55 cm · Oversized

Measurement	Oversized
Width	68 cm
Length	55 cm
Hem to armhole	38 cm
Neck width	28 cm
Shoulder	20 cm
Sleeve length	30 cm
Sleeve width	52 cm
NOVA skeins	5

Gauge

stitches in 10 cm

rows in 10 cm

mm needles

In stockinette stitch. The fabric is airy, stretchy and very elastic.

Pattern

Tick steps as you go. Your progress is saved on this device.

Abbreviations

K: knit
P: purl
st(s): stitch(es)
RS / WS: right side / wrong side
edge st: edge stitch (slip first stitch, purl last stitch)
k2tog: knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
ssk: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)

01Body

Cast on 104 sts. Join to work in the round, making sure stitches are not twisted. Place a marker for beginning of round.
Bottom ribbing: K1, P1 for 6 rounds (including the setup round).
Switch to stockinette in the round: knit every round. Work 30 rounds. Length from hem to armhole: approx. 38 cm. For a longer sweater, add extra rounds here.
Divide for front and back: 52 sts – back, 52 sts – front. From here work flat in rows.

02Back

Edge stitches: slip the first stitch of every row, purl the last stitch of every row.
Right side rows: knit. Wrong side rows: purl.
Work 24 rows. Bind off loosely.

03Front (V-neck shaping)

Beginning of front: work 4 rows flat without shaping. Place a marker at center: 26 sts right side, 26 sts left side.
Optional: cross the center stitches once to prevent a hole.
Right front, row 5 (RS): knit until the last 3 sts, k2tog (right-leaning decrease), edge stitch.
Row 6 (WS): purl across.
Continue decreases in every odd-numbered row: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23. Even rows: purl without decreases.
After all decreases: 16 sts remain. Bind off loosely.
Left front: attach yarn at center. Decrease in odd rows 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 using ssk (left-leaning decrease). Even rows: purl.
After decreases: 16 sts. Bind off loosely.

04Shoulder seams

Sew shoulders together using mattress stitch.

05Right sleeve

Pick up 52 sts evenly around the armhole. Join to work in the round.
Rounds 1–2: knit.
Increases (to create volume): increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the round on round 3 (53 sts), 6 (54 sts), 9 (55 sts), 12 (56 sts), 15 (57 sts), 18 (58 sts), 21 (59 sts), 24 (60 sts), 27 (61 sts), 30 (62 sts).
Work 2 rounds plain between increase rounds. After increases: 62 sts.
Rounds 31–32: knit.
Decreases (tapering): decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the round on rounds 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 (k2tog once each decrease round). After decreases: 52 sts.
Rounds 61–63: knit without shaping.
Fold the sleeve to the inside, fold it in half and sew it to the inside of the armhole.

Tip · This creates the oversized balloon sleeve effect.

06Left sleeve

Work exactly the same as the right sleeve, with one difference: increases are made at the end of the round.
Decreases are made at the end of the round using ssk.
Finish the same way by folding and sewing.

07Finishing

Lightly steam through a cotton cloth. Do not press with an iron.
Let the sweater cool flat.

Tip · Construction notes: straight body = relaxed fit. V-neck shaped with gradual decreases. Sleeves are first widened, then tapered, then folded — creating dramatic volume. The airy fabric gives a soft cloud-like silhouette.

Done!

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