Men’s Sleeveless Sweater – FREE Knitting Pattern for All Sizes

Men's Sleeveless Sweater Knitting Pattern
Men’s Sleeveless Sweater Knitting Pattern Ai enhanced. The original illustration for this pattern can be found down below.

This men’s sleeveless sweater knitting pattern is a classic and versatile design, perfect for knitters who enjoy creating timeless wardrobe staples. The pattern combines ribbing and textured stitch work to produce a sleek and polished look that suits any style. Available in both regular sizes (Small–XL) and extended sizes (2XL–5XL), this project is designed to provide a tailored fit for a wide range of body types.

Featuring clean lines and thoughtful details, this sweater includes ribbed edges for structure, a comfortable armhole fit, and a neatly finished neckline with precise shaping. The design’s lightweight construction makes it ideal for layering over shirts or wearing on its own, offering year-round versatility and style. This timeless piece pairs well with both casual and formal attire, making it an essential addition to any wardrobe.

This pattern is accessible to knitters of varying skill levels, offering clear instructions for shaping the armholes, neckline, and shoulders to achieve a professional finish. The textured stitch pattern adds a touch of sophistication while remaining straightforward to execute. This project is as enjoyable to knit as it is to wear, resulting in a high-quality, hand-knit sweater that will be a treasured staple for years to come.

This pattern is actually a part of a sweater set. Click here for the Men’s Cardigan Sweater pattern.

Explore the classic Coats and Clark Everyone Wears Sweaters, Book No. 291 (1952). Click to view all the vintage sweater patterns in this timeless collection!

About the Images

To help bring this design to life, we’ve included an AI-generated image of the finished pattern alongside the original vintage illustration. The original image highlights the charm and craftsmanship of the vintage design, while the AI rendering provides a detailed and colorized view of how the completed sweater will look. This combination ensures you have both a historical reference and a modern interpretation to guide you in your crafting journey.

This pattern is transformed, adapted, and expanded from a public domain design originally published in Coats and Clark Everyone Wears Sweaters Book No. 291 (1952). While the original design is in the public domain, the rewritten instructions and supplementary content on this site are © Tiffany Bliss Mullins, 2025. All rights reserved. Have questions about this pattern, public domain, or copyright? Visit the FAQ page for answers and resources.

Pattern Navigation

Back Cover of Coats and Clark 291
Back Cover of Coats and Clark 291. This is the only illustration in the book for this pattern.

Men’s Sleeveless Sweater Pattern – Regular Sizes (Small, Medium, Large, XL)

MATERIALS

  • Yarn: CHADWICK’S RED HEART SOCK AND SWEATER YARN, 3 Ply, Shrink-and-Stretch Resist Finish, Art. E.255:
  • Small (S, 34″): 6 skeins
  • Medium (M, 38″): 7 skeins
  • Large (L, 42″): 7 skeins
  • Extra Large (XL, 46″): 8 skeins
  • Knitting Needles: Milwards “Phantom” Aluminum Knitting Pins or Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 1 (2½ mm) and 1 pair No. 2 (2¾ mm).

GAUGE

Stockinette stitch: 7½ sts = 1 inch; 10 rows = 1 inch.

BLOCKING MEASUREMENTS

  • Chest: 34 (38, 42, 46) inches
  • Width across back/front at underarm: 17 (19, 21, 23) inches
  • Width across back above armhole shaping: 15 (16½, 18, 19½) inches
  • Length from shoulder to lower edge: 22 (23, 24, 25) inches
  • Length of side seam: 13 (14, 14½, 15) inches

BACK

  1. Cast On: Using No. 1 needles, cast on:
  • Small: 108 sts
  • Medium: 120 sts
  • Large: 132 sts
  • XL: 144 sts
  1. Work in k2, p2 ribbing for:
  • Small-Medium: 2½ inches
  • Large-XL: 3 inches
  1. On the last row of ribbing, increase evenly to:
  • Small: 125 sts
  • Medium: 137 sts
  • Large: 149 sts
  • XL: 161 sts
  1. Switch to No. 2 needles and begin Pattern Stitch:
  • Row 1: Knit across.
  • Row 2: Purl across.
  • Row 3: K3, p6. Repeat from * to end of row.
  • Row 4: P3, k6. Repeat from * to end of row.
  • Repeat Rows 1–4 for pattern.
  1. Work in pattern until the piece measures:
  • Small: 13 inches
  • Medium: 13½ inches
  • Large-XL: 14 inches

TO SHAPE ARMHOLES

  1. Bind off at the beginning of the next 2 rows:
  • All Sizes: 9 sts each side
  1. Decrease 1 st at each end every other row:
  • Until there remain:
    • Small: 107 sts
    • Medium: 117 sts
    • Large: 127 sts
    • XL: 137 sts
  1. Work even until armhole measures:
  • Small: 8 inches
  • Medium: 8½ inches
  • Large: 9 inches
  • XL: 9½ inches

TO SHAPE SHOULDERS

  1. Bind off at each shoulder edge:
  • Small: 13 sts, 3 times
  • Medium: 14 sts, 3 times
  • Large: 15 sts, 3 times
  • XL: 16 sts, 3 times
  1. Place the remaining sts on a stitch holder for the back neck.

BACK NECKBAND

  1. Attach yarn to back neck sts. Using No. 1 needles, work in k2, p2 ribbing for 1 inch.
  2. Bind off loosely in ribbing.

FRONT

  1. Work as for Back until piece measures 2 inches from the start of the armhole shaping.

TO SHAPE NECK

  1. Divide sts for neck opening:
  • Work across:
    • Small: 45 sts for the left side of the neck, place 3 sts on a safety pin, and place remaining sts on a stitch holder.
    • Medium: 50 sts for the left side of the neck, place 3 sts on a safety pin, and place remaining sts on a stitch holder.
    • Large: 55 sts for the left side of the neck, place 3 sts on a safety pin, and place remaining sts on a stitch holder.
    • XL: 60 sts for the left side of the neck, place 3 sts on a safety pin, and place remaining sts on a stitch holder.
  1. Left Neck Shaping:
  • Bind off at the neck edge:
    • 7 sts once, 3 sts once, then decrease 1 st every 3rd row 5 times.
  • Work even until armhole matches the Back.
  1. Shoulder Shaping: Work as for Back.
  2. Attach yarn to the other side and work to correspond, reversing shaping.

FRONT NECKBAND

  1. Pick up and knit sts evenly along the left neck edge, knit the 3 center sts from the holder, and pick up sts along the right neck edge.
  2. Work in k2, p2 ribbing, decreasing 1 st before and after the center 3 sts every other row.
  3. Continue until the neckband measures 1 inch.
  4. Bind off loosely in ribbing.

ARMBANDS

  1. Pick up sts evenly around the armhole:
  • Small: 152 sts
  • Medium: 164 sts
  • Large: 176 sts
  • XL: 188 sts
  1. Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 1 inch.
  2. Bind off in ribbing.

FINISHING

  1. Block the sweater to measurements.
  2. Sew shoulder and side seams.

Here is the Men’s Extended Sizes version of the pattern. Adjustments have been made for larger sizes and proportions.

MEN’S SLEEVELESS SWEATER KNITTING PATTERN for Extended Sizes: 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL

MATERIALS

  • Yarn: CHADWICK’S RED HEART SOCK AND SWEATER YARN, 3 Ply, Shrink-and-Stretch Resist Finish, Art. E.255:
  • 9 (10, 11, 12) skeins (1 oz. “Tangle-Proof” Pull-Out Skeins) of No. 403 Lt. Oxford.
  • Knitting Pins:
  • Milwards “Phantom” Aluminum Knitting Pins or Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 1 (2½ mm. size).
  • 1 pair No. 2 (2¾ mm. size).

GAUGE

Stockinette st—7½ sts make 1 inch; 10 rows make 1 inch.

BLOCKING MEASUREMENTS

  • Chest: 46 (50, 54, 58) inches.
  • Width Across Back or Front at Underarm: 23 (25, 27, 29) inches.
  • Width Across Back Above Armhole Shaping (Excluding Armbands): 18 (19½, 21, 22½) inches.
  • Length from Shoulder to Lower Edge: 25 (26, 27, 28) inches.
  • Length of Side Seam (Excluding Armbands): 14 (14½, 15, 15½) inches.

BACK

  1. Cast On:
    Using No. 1 knitting pins, cast on 160 (176, 192, 208) sts.
  2. Ribbing:
    Work in ribbing of k2, p2 for 3½ (3½, 4, 4) inches, increasing evenly across the last row 31 (33, 35, 37) sts. There are now 191 (209, 227, 245) sts on the needle.
  3. Main Pattern:
    Change to No. 2 knitting pins and work in pattern:
  • 1st row (RS): Knit across.
  • 2nd row (WS): Purl across.
  • 3rd row (RS): Knit 3, purl 6; repeat across, ending with k3.
  • 4th row (WS): Purl 3, knit 6; repeat across, ending with p3. These 4 rows form the pattern. Continue in this pattern until the piece measures 14 (14½, 15, 15½) inches.
  1. Armhole Shaping:
  • Bind off 10 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
  • Decrease 1 st at both ends of every other row until there remain 161 (177, 193, 209) sts.
  • Work without further decreasing until the piece measures 9 (9½, 10, 10½) inches from the first row of armhole shaping.
  1. Shoulder Shaping:
  • Bind off 20 (22, 24, 26) sts at the beginning of the next 6 rows.
  • Bind off the remaining 41 (45, 49, 53) sts for the back of the neck.

FRONT

  1. Work as for the Back until the piece measures 2 inches from the first row of armhole shaping.
  2. Neck Shaping:
  • With RS facing, work across the first 73 (81, 89, 97) sts and place the remaining sts on a stitch holder for the other side of the neck.
  • Continue working over these sts, decreasing 1 st at the neck edge every 3rd row until 53 (59, 65, 71) sts remain.
  1. Shoulder Shaping:
  • Bind off 20 (22, 24, 26) sts at the beginning of the next 3 rows, working armhole decreases as needed.
  1. Attach yarn to the other side of the neck and work to correspond, reversing all shaping.

FRONT NECKBAND

  1. Pick Up Stitches:
    Using No. 1 knitting pins, pick up and knit 72 (80, 88, 96) sts along each neck edge, plus 3 sts from the center holder. There are 147 (163, 179, 195) sts total.
  2. Neckband Pattern:
  • Row 1: K2, p2; repeat across, ending with k2.
  • Row 2: P2, k2; repeat across, ending with p2.
  • Repeat these 2 rows, decreasing 1 st before the first marker and after the second marker every other row until the neckband measures 1 inch.
  • Bind off loosely in ribbing.

ARMBANDS

  1. Pick Up Stitches:
    With RS facing and No. 1 knitting pins, pick up and knit 180 (196, 212, 228) sts around each armhole, including bound-off sts.
  2. Armband Ribbing:
    Work in ribbing of k2, p2 for 1 inch. Bind off loosely in ribbing.

FINISHING

  • Block to measurements.
  • Sew shoulder and side seams.

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