Free Knitting Pattern: Spencer Sweater for All Sizes Petite to Plus

Spencer Sweater Knitting Pattern: A Timeless Classic for All Sizes

The Spencer Sweater Knitting Pattern is a versatile and elegant design, perfect for knitters who want to create a timeless wardrobe staple. This pattern features detailed instructions for regular sizes (S-XL), plus sizes (1X-5X), and petite sizes (XXXS-XS), ensuring that knitters of all shapes and sizes can craft a perfectly fitting sweater. Whether you’re looking for a classic pullover to pair with jeans or a cozy sweater to dress up your winter wardrobe, this pattern has you covered.

Designed with careful attention to detail, the Spencer Sweater showcases a flattering ribbed and textured pattern, easy-to-follow shaping instructions, and customizable sleeve lengths. The pattern also includes instructions for creating a polished finish with grosgrain ribbon and buttons, adding both durability and style. Perfect for knitters of all experience levels, this pattern is an ideal choice for crafting a handmade garment that combines beauty and practicality.

With separate sections for regular, plus, and petite sizes, this pattern eliminates the guesswork, providing tailored instructions to fit your specific needs. From size-specific yardage requirements to precise shaping details, every aspect is designed to make your knitting experience seamless and enjoyable.

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, 2024. All rights reserved. Have questions about this pattern, public domain, or copyright? Visit the FAQ page for answers and resources.

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!

Spencer Sweater Knitting Pattern

Jump to Pattern Section:

Regular Sizes (S-XL)

Plus sizes (1X-5X)

Petite Sizes (XXXS-XS)

Spencer Sweater and Striped Sweater Original illustration

Spencer Sweater in Regular Sizes (S-XL)

Materials:

Chadwick’s Red Heart Sock and Sweater Yarn, 3 Ply, Shrink-and-Stretch Resist Finish, Art. E.255: 8 (9, 10, 11) skeins for Regular Sizes. (category 2 yarn also called “sport weight” would be the modern equivalent)
Milward’s “Phantom” Aluminum Knitting Pins or Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 2 (2¾ mm size)
2 buttons, 1/2 inch (12 mm) in diameter
Grosgrain ribbon:
- Small: 1 yard
- Medium: 1 yards
- Large: 1¼ yards
- XL: 1½ yards

Gauge: 7 sts = 1 inch; 11 rows = 1 inch

Measurements:

Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46) inches
Length from shoulder to lower edge: 16¼ (17, 17½, 18) inches
Sleeve length: 15½ (16, 16½, 17) inches

Back:

Cast on 86 (94, 102, 110) sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern:
Rows 1-2: K2, P2. Repeat to end.
Rows 3-4: P2, K2. Repeat to end.
Increase 1 st at each end every 5th row until 102 (110, 118, 126) sts.
Work straight until piece measures 5 inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeves:
Cast on 2 sts at end of next 10 rows.
Cast on 4 sts at end of next 12 rows.
Cast on 8 sts at end of next 16 rows.
Inc 1 st at both ends every 11th row 4 times.
Total: 294 (310, 326, 342) sts.
Work straight until piece measures 13½ (14, 14½, 15) inches.
Shape Shoulders and Sleeves:
Bind off 7 sts at beginning of next 40 rows.
Place remaining 24 sts on a holder for the collar.

Left Front:

Cast on 62 sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern and increase at side edge every 5th row 8 times, until 70 sts.
When piece measures 3 inches, increase 1 st at front edge every 16th row 8 times.
Continue until piece measures 5 inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeve:
Cast on 2 sts at side edge every other row 5 times.
Cast on 4 sts at side edge every other row 6 times.
Cast on 8 sts at side edge every other row 8 times.
Inc 1 st at side edge every 11th row 4 times.
Work until piece measures 13½ inches.
Shape Shoulder:
Bind off 7 sts at side edge every other row 20 times.
Place remaining 40 sts on holder for collar.

Right Front:

Cast on 62 sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern:
Increase 1 st at side edge (sleeve edge) every 5th row 8 times. (70 sts total).
When the piece measures 3 inches, increase 1 st at the front edge (button edge) every 16th row 8 times. (78 sts total).
Work without further increases at the side edge until the piece measures 5 inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeve:
Cast on 2 sts at side edge every other row 5 times.
Cast on 4 sts at side edge every other row 6 times.
Cast on 8 sts at side edge every other row 8 times.
Increase 1 st at side edge every 11th row 4 times. (174 sts total).
Work until the piece measures 13½ inches.
Shape Shoulder:
Bind off 7 sts at the side edge every other row 20 times.
Place the remaining 40 sts on a holder for the collar.

Collar:

Use the held sts from Back, Left Front, and Right Front (total 110 sts).
Work in pattern, decreasing 1 st at each end every 5th row until 98 sts remain.
Bind off 3 sts at beginning of next 20 rows.
Bind off 4 sts at beginning of next 6 rows.
Bind off remaining 14 sts.

Binding:

Pick up 306 sts around front and collar edges.
Work in ribbing for 3 rows, picking up 4 sts down front edges at each end of the last 4 rows.
Bind off in ribbing.

Cuffs:

Pick up 64 sts around sleeve edge.
Work in ribbing for 9 rows.
Bind off in ribbing.

Finishing:

Work buttonhole stitch around buttonholes and sew on buttons to correspond.

Sew seams, attach buttons, and line with ribbon as instructed.

Line ribbing at lower edge with grosgrain ribbon, cutting buttonholes to match buttonholes on ribbing.

Spencer Sweater in Plus Sizes (1X–5X)

Materials:

Chadwick’s Red Heart Sock and Sweater Yarn, 3 Ply, Shrink-and-Stretch Resist Finish, Art. E.255: 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) skeins (category 2 yarn also called “sport weight” would be the modern equivalent)
Milward’s “Phantom” Aluminum Knitting Pins or Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 2 (2¾ mm size)
2 buttons
Grosgrain ribbon:
- 1X: 1¾ yards
- 2X: 2 yards
- 3X: 2¼ yards
- 4X: 2½ yards
- 5X: 2¾ yards

Gauge: 7 sts = 1 inch; 11 rows = 1 inch.

Measurements:

Bust: 50 (54, 58, 62, 66) inches
Length from shoulder to lower edge: 19 (19½, 20, 20½, 21) inches
Sleeve length: 17½ (18, 18½, 19, 19½) inches

Back:

Cast on 118 (126, 134, 142, 150) sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern:
- Rows 1-2: K2, P2. Repeat to end.
- Rows 3-4: P2, K2. Repeat to end.
Increase 1 st at each end every 5th row until there are 134 (142, 150, 158, 166) sts.
Work straight until the piece measures 6 inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeves:
- Cast on 2 sts at the end of the next 10 rows.
- Cast on 4 sts at the end of the next 12 rows.
- Cast on 8 sts at the end of the next 16 rows.
- Increase 1 st at both ends every 11th row 4 times.
  (Total: 366 (382, 398, 414, 430) sts)
Work straight until the piece measures 14½ (15, 15½, 16, 16½) inches.
Shape Shoulders and Sleeves:
- Bind off 9 sts at the beginning of the next 44 rows.
  (Remaining 32 sts are placed on a holder for the collar.)

Left Front:

Cast on 74 (78, 82, 86, 90) sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern, increasing 1 st at side edge every 5th row 8 times, until there are 82 (86, 90, 94, 98) sts.
When the piece measures 4 inches, increase 1 st at front edge every 16th row 8 times.
Work without increasing at the side edge until the piece measures 6 inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeve:
- Cast on 2 sts at side edge every other row 5 times.
- Cast on 4 sts at side edge every other row 6 times.
- Cast on 8 sts at side edge every other row 8 times.
- Increase 1 st at side edge every 11th row 4 times.
Work until the piece measures 14½ (15, 15½, 16, 16½) inches.
Shape Shoulder:
- Bind off 9 sts at the side edge every other row 22 times.
- Place the remaining 48 sts on a holder for the collar.

Right Front:

Cast on 74 (78, 82, 86, 90) sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Next row (for buttonholes):
- K2, P2, bind off next 4 sts, (K2, P2) 3 times, K2, bind off next 4 sts, work in ribbing to end.
- On the next row, cast on 4 sts over each set of bound-off sts to complete buttonholes.
Switch to pattern:
- Increase 1 st at side edge every 5th row 8 times (82 (86, 90, 94, 98) sts total).
- When the piece measures 4 inches, increase 1 st at the front edge every 16th row 8 times (90 (94, 98, 102, 106) sts total).
Work without increasing at the side edge until the piece measures 6 inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeve:
- Cast on 2 sts at side edge every other row 5 times.
- Cast on 4 sts at side edge every other row 6 times.
- Cast on 8 sts at side edge every other row 8 times.
- Increase 1 st at side edge every 11th row 4 times (182 (190, 198, 206, 214) sts total).
Work until the piece measures 14½ (15, 15½, 16, 16½) inches.
Shape Shoulder:
- Bind off 9 sts at the side edge every other row 22 times.
- Place the remaining 48 sts on a holder for the collar.

Collar:

Use the held sts from Back, Left Front, and Right Front (128 (136, 144, 152, 160) sts).
Work in pattern, decreasing 1 st at each end every 5th row until 112 (120, 128, 136, 144) sts remain.
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 22 rows.
Bind off 4 sts at the beginning of the next 8 rows.
Bind off remaining 16 sts.

Binding:

With the wrong side facing, pick up 346 (362, 378, 394, 410) sts around the front and collar edges.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 3 rows, picking up 4 sts at the ends of the last 4 rows.
Bind off in ribbing.

Cuffs:

Pick up 72 (76, 80, 84, 88) sts around sleeve edges.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 9 rows.
Bind off in ribbing.

Finishing:

Sew all seams.
Line the ribbing at the lower edge with grosgrain ribbon, cutting buttonholes to match buttonhole placement.
Work buttonhole stitch around buttonholes and attach buttons.

Spencer Sweater in Petite Sizes (XXXS-XS)

Materials:

Chadwick’s Red Heart Sock and Sweater Yarn, 3 Ply, Shrink-and-Stretch Resist Finish, Art. E.255: 6 (7, 8) skeins (category 2 yarn also called “sport weight” would be the modern equivalent)
Milward’s “Phantom” Aluminum Knitting Pins or Clark’s O.N.T. Plastic Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 2 (2¾ mm size)
2 buttons, 1/2 inch (12 mm) in diameter
Grosgrain ribbon:
- XXXS: ¾ yard
- XXS: 7/8 yard
- XS: 1 yard

Gauge: 7 sts = 1 inch; 11 rows = 1 inch.

Measurements:

Bust: 28 (30, 32) inches
Length from shoulder to lower edge: 15 (15¼, 15¾) inches
Sleeve length: 13½ (14, 14½) inches

Back:

Cast on 72 (78, 84) sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern:
Rows 1-2: K2, P2. Repeat to end.
Rows 3-4: P2, K2. Repeat to end.
Increase 1 st at both ends of next row, then every 5th row until you have 84 (90, 96) sts.
Work without increasing until the piece measures 4½ (4¾, 5) inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeves:
Cast on 2 sts at the end of the next 8 rows.
Cast on 4 sts at the end of the next 10 rows.
Cast on 8 sts at the end of the next 12 rows.
Increase 1 st at both ends every 10th row 3 times.
Total: 186 (198, 210) sts.
Work straight until the piece measures 12¼ (12¾, 13¼) inches.
Shape Shoulders and Sleeves:
Bind off 7 sts at the beginning of the next 36 rows.
Place the remaining 20 (22, 24) sts on a holder for the collar.

Left Front:

Cast on 56 (60, 64) sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern:
Increase 1 st at the side edge every 5th row 5 (6, 7) times (61, 66, 71 sts).
When the piece measures 2½ (2¾, 3) inches, increase 1 st at the front edge every 14th (15th, 16th) row 7 times (68, 73, 78 sts).
Work without increasing at the side edge until the piece measures 4½ (4¾, 5) inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeve:
Cast on 2 sts at the side edge every other row 4 (4, 5) times.
Cast on 4 sts at the side edge every other row 5 (5, 6) times.
Cast on 8 sts at the side edge every other row 6 (7, 8) times.
Increase 1 st at the side edge every 10th row 3 times (126, 144, 162 sts).
Work until the piece measures 12¼ (12¾, 13¼) inches.
Shape Shoulder:
Bind off 7 sts at the side edge every other row 18 (18, 20) times.
Place the remaining 32 (36, 40) sts on a holder for the collar.

Right Front:

Cast on 56 (60, 64) sts.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 1 inch.
Switch to pattern:
Increase 1 st at the side edge every 5th row 5 (6, 7) times (61, 66, 71 sts).
When the piece measures 2½ (2¾, 3) inches, increase 1 st at the front edge every 14th (15th, 16th) row 7 times (68, 73, 78 sts).
Work without increasing at the side edge until the piece measures 4½ (4¾, 5) inches. Place a marker.
Shape Sleeve:
Cast on 2 sts at the side edge every other row 4 (4, 5) times.
Cast on 4 sts at the side edge every other row 5 (5, 6) times.
Cast on 8 sts at the side edge every other row 6 (7, 8) times.
Increase 1 st at the side edge every 10th row 3 times (126, 144, 162 sts).
Work until the piece measures 12¼ (12¾, 13¼) inches.
Shape Shoulder:
Bind off 7 sts at the side edge every other row 18 (18, 20) times.
Place the remaining 32 (36, 40) sts on a holder for the collar.

Collar:

Use the held sts from Back, Left Front, and Right Front (84, 94, 104 sts total).
Work in pattern, decreasing 1 st at each end every 5th row until 78, 86, 94 sts remain.
Bind off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 16 (18, 20) rows.
Bind off 4 sts at the beginning of the next 2 (4, 6) rows.
Bind off the remaining 8 (10, 12) sts.

Binding:

Pick up 260 (278, 296) sts around front and collar edges.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 3 rows, picking up 4 sts down front edges at each end of the last 4 rows.
Bind off in ribbing.

Cuffs:

Pick up 52 (56, 60) sts around sleeve edge.
Work in ribbing (K2, P2) for 9 rows.
Bind off in ribbing.

Finishing:

Sew shoulder seams.
Attach buttons and grosgrain ribbon.
Line ribbing at lower edge with grosgrain ribbon, cutting buttonholes to match.
Work buttonhole stitch around buttonholes.
Sew buttons to correspond with buttonholes.

Free Knitting Pattern: Spencer Sweater for All Sizes Petite to Plus