Vintage Ribbon Trim Knit Sweater – FREE Knitting Pattern

Knit sweater with ribbon trim
Knit Sweater with ribbon trim

Elegant and Timeless Knit Sweater with Ribbon Trim

This elegant Ribbon Trim Sweater, originally featured in Knit and Crochet Style Parade, blends vintage charm with modern sophistication. Designed with flattering dolman sleeves and a delicate ribbon detail, this 1950s classic has been updated with modern terminology and a clear, reader-friendly format. Perfect for creating a timeless piece with a unique touch for your wardrobe!

This is a vintage crochet pattern originally published in Knit and Crochet Style Parade by Coats and Clark’s in 1954. The pattern has entered the public domain as the original copyright was not renewed. I’ve modernized it using today’s crafting terms and made it more reader-friendly for modern crafters. You can read more about copyright essentials here.

To explore all the FREE patterns from this book, click here.


Materials

  • Yarn: Chadwick’s Red Heart Orlon “Fashion-Glo,” 3 Ply
  • Skeins Needed:
    • Size 34: 9 skeins
    • Size 36: 10 skeins
    • Size 38: 10 skeins
    • Size 40: 10 skeins
  • Needles:
  • No. 1 knitting pins (2.25 mm)
  • No. 2 knitting pins (2.75 mm)
  • Other Materials:
  • 2 yards of ¼-inch-wide velvet ribbon
  • Gauge:
  • 5 stitches = 1 inch
  • 10 rows = 1 inch

Back

  1. Cast On:
  • Using No. 1 knitting pins, cast on:
    • Size 34: 104 stitches
    • Size 36: 112 stitches
    • Size 38: 120 stitches
    • Size 40: 128 stitches
  1. Ribbing:
  • Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 2 ½ inches (Size 34) or 3 inches (Sizes 36–40).
  1. Body:
  • Switch to No. 2 knitting pins and begin working in stockinette stitch (k1 row, p1 row).
  • Increase 1 stitch at both ends of every:
    • Size 34–36: 8th row
    • Size 38: 9th row
    • Size 40: 10th row
  • Continue increasing until there are:
    • Size 34: 120 stitches
    • Size 36: 128 stitches
    • Size 38: 136 stitches
    • Size 40: 144 stitches
  1. Dolman Sleeves:
  • Cast on at the beginning of the next 16 rows:
    • Size 34: 8 stitches per row
    • Size 36: 9 stitches per row
    • Size 38: 9 stitches per row
    • Size 40: 10 stitches per row
  • Then cast on at the beginning of the following 4 rows:
    • Size 34: 12 stitches per row
    • Size 36: 10 stitches per row
    • Size 38: 14 stitches per row
    • Size 40: 12 stitches per row
  • The total number of stitches is now:
    • Size 34: 296 stitches
    • Size 36: 312 stitches
    • Size 38: 336 stitches
    • Size 40: 352 stitches
  1. Mark for Sleeves:
  • Place a marker and work without increasing until the piece measures 2 ¾ inches (Size 34) or 3 ½ inches (Size 40) from the marker, ending with a purl row.
  1. Shape Neck:
  • Knit across the first 136 (Size 34), 144 (Size 36), 156 (Size 38), or 164 (Size 40) stitches. Bind off the center stitches for the neck opening: 24 (Size 34–38) or 26 (Size 40).
  • Knit across the remaining stitches.
  1. Neck and Sleeve Shaping:
  • Work on the last set of stitches only, binding off at the neck edge as follows:
    • Bind off 7 stitches (Sizes 34–38) or 9 stitches (Size 40) twice.
    • Bind off 4 stitches 2 times (Sizes 34–36) or 4 times (Sizes 38–40).
    • Bind off 2 stitches 6 times (Sizes 34–36) or 10 times (Sizes 38–40).
  • Then decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge every other row:
    • Size 34: 10 times
    • Size 36: 8 times
    • Size 38: 8 times
    • Size 40: 8 times
  1. Shape Shoulder:
  • Bind off at the beginning of the sleeve edge:
    • Size 34: 8 stitches per row, 8 times
    • Size 36: 9 stitches per row, 8 times
    • Size 38: 10 stitches per row, 8 times
    • Size 40: 11 stitches per row, 8 times
  • Bind off any remaining stitches for the shoulder.

Front

Work as for the Back.


Back Neckband

  1. Pick Up Stitches: With No. 1 knitting pins and the right side facing, pick up and knit along the neck edge:
  • Size 34: 144 stitches
  • Size 36: 152 stitches
  • Size 38: 160 stitches
  • Size 40: 168 stitches
  1. Beading:
  • Row 1 (Wrong Side): P2, *p2tog, yo, p6; repeat from * to the last 6 stitches, p2tog, yo, p4.
  • Continue in k1, p1 ribbing for 1 ¼ inches.
  1. Bind Off: Bind off tightly in ribbing.

Front Neckband

Work exactly as for the Back Neckband.


Cuffs

  1. Pick Up Stitches: Sew the shoulder and top sleeve seams, including the neckband edges. With No. 1 knitting pins and the right side facing, pick up and knit:
  • Size 34: 64 stitches
  • Size 36: 68 stitches
  • Size 38: 72 stitches
  • Size 40: 76 stitches
  1. Work Ribbing:
  • Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1 ¼ inches.
  1. Bind Off: Bind off loosely in ribbing.

Finishing

  1. Block: Block all pieces to the specified measurements.
  2. Seams: Sew the side and sleeve seams in one continuous seam.
  3. Ribbon: Draw the velvet ribbon through the neckband beading and tie it into a bow at the front for a polished finish.