The Classy Ribbon Sweater includes a full video tutorial and picture aids to guide you through every step, from creating the panels to seaming them together. Two contrasting ribbons on the front add a stylish focal point while the sleeves, hem, and collar are worked directly onto the finished body for a polished look. With a mock neck, mid forearm ribbed cuffs, and a slightly fitted hem, this design brings an elevated feel that is perfect for everyday wear, parties, or a night out.
Looking for a free, fun crochet sweater pattern?
If you are looking for a free crochet sweater pattern that feels both polished and wearable, the Classy Ribbon Sweater is for you.
The design features a mock neck, positive ease, but not oversized, and two contrasting ribbons on the front. This free pattern includes a free video tutorial, walking you through the panel construction, seaming, and finishing so you can confidently create a sweater you’ll reach for again and again.
DESCRIPTION
The Classy Ribbon Sweater is a charming design that can be worn dressed up or down.
Perfect for every day, parties, or a night out.
The ribbons are easily customizable by making them shorter or longer, and I’m curious to see what one or three ribbons on the front would look like.
The sweater is made in two panels from bottom up, seamed together at sides and shoulders, and then the sleeves are worked onto the body in the round turning at the end of each round to keep the stitch pattern.
The collar, hem, and cuffs are all worked onto the sweater by working perpendicular and joining to the sweater by slip stitching each row to anchor.
The collar is a mock neck design, so it comes up about midneck.
The hem is designed to be more fitted to elevate the look. The cuffs hit close to mid forearm to also add to the more classy design.
YARN
Another very popular yarn from Lion Brand Yarn is Wool-Ease yarn.
Wool-Ease yarn is a bestseller for Lion Brand Yarn, and it is easy to see why.
Wool-Ease yarn is a weight 4 yarn that is machine washable and dryable, and made of 80% acrylic and 20% wool. Because it is partly made of acrylic, it is easy to care for and resists pilling.
It is very soft, and I love how the wool adds warmth for those cold days.
There are 28 colors in the Wool-Ease yarn, a lot of them pulling more classic and heathered colors like Blush Heather, Rose Heather, Blue Mist, Lilac, etc.
Each skein has 197 yards (180 meters) per 3 oz (85 grams).
I used the color “Antler” for the base of the Classy Ribbon Sweater, which is listed on their website as a “pinky beige” color. On my computer monitor, the color looks vastly different than how I feel it looks in real life. To me, it looks purple on my monitor, but it looks more beige to me. I wouldn’t even describe it as “pinky beige”.
For the ribbons, I used the color “Flint”, which is not quite black. It is a shade lighter than black.
On LBY’s website, it describes “Flint” as charcoal, but I would say it is darker than charcoal. It is just baaaaarely lighter than black in my opinion.
If I made another Classy Ribbon Sweater, I think I would make it “Fisherman”, which is a natural cream color, perfect for the Pantone 2026 color of the year.
And for the ribbon, I’d probably choose the color “Koi”, which is a bright red. It would be such a cute Christmas/Valentine’s Day Sweater!
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DIFFICULTY
The Classy Ribbon Sweater is considered a Level 3 – Intermediate pattern, but that’s why I included a full video tutorial to make it approachable for all!
To watch the full video tutorial, you can click on the video above, or click HERE.
The majority of the pattern is worked in rows of simple stitches – just alternating single crochet and double crochet.
The reason why it is rated intermediate is because of the method used for the collar, cuffs, and hem.
I debated whether I wanted to make it a more traditional method, but I felt like it compromised on the knit-like look, so I choose to keep the perpendicular anchoring method.
In my premium version on etsy, I have several pictures to aid in the process, or you can watch the free full video tutorial. And as always, I’m always happy to answer any questions! 
The sleeves are worked straight, but extra stitches are used at the underarm seam and shoulder seam to minimize gapping in these seams.
The Classy Ribbon Sweater is a classic design with simple shaping, but with an elevated look that is seen in the ribbons and cuff detailings.
So let’s begin:
MATERIALS
- 850 (935, 1000, 1155, 1245, 1380, 1530, 1610, 1700) yds/ 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) balls of Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Yarn, “Antler” (620-021A), weight 4, 80% acrylic, 20% wool, 197 yds/180 m, 3 oz/85 g (A)
- 135 yds/ 1 ball of Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Yarn, “Flint” (620-052), weight 4, 80% acrylic, 20% wool, 197 yds/180 m, 3 oz/85 g (B)
- US I/5.5 mm crochet hook
- Stitch Markers
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
- Tape Measure
GAUGE
11 stitches 10 rows = 4″/10 cm
SIZE
There are 9 sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X).
TERMINOLOGY
- BLO – back loop only
- ch- chain
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
- hdcslst – half double crochet slip stitch
- rep – repeat
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- RS – right side
- sc – single crochet
- sc2tog- single crochet 2 together
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- WS – wrong side
- yo – yarn over
NOTES
- Pattern is written for 9 sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X). Highlight your size throughout the pattern for ease of reading.
- Model is 5’7”/167.5 cm & is wearing size Medium with a 38”/95 cm bust & 25”/3 cm of positive ease.
- Gauge is taken with the piece blocked.
- Check hook size for each gauge and adjust accordingly in the pattern to meet both gauges listed.
- Sweater is worked in two panels – Front Panel and Back Panel.
- Left Shoulder and Right Shoulder refers to when the sweater is worn. This pattern is written for right-handed crocheters. For left-handed crocheters, right/left will be reversed.
- 2 ribbons are made in a contrasting color and attached to the front of the sweater.
- Beginning ch(s) do not count as a st.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
There is a full video tutorial to help you make the Classy Ribbon Sweater. Click on the picture above, or click the “click here to watch video” button below.
And check out my shops if you want to get the concise, ad-free, printable pattern. I have three different shops you can purchase it from:
you can get the Lion Brand Yarn kit HERE which includes all of the yarn to make the sweater as well as the digital download of the pattern.
SPECIAL STITCHES
Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog) –
insert hook into next st, yo, pull up loop, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 3 loops.
Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog) –
*yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, rep from *, yo, pull through 3 loops.
Half Double Crochet Slip Stitch (hdcslst) –
yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up loop and pull loop through all loops on hook
Half Double Crochet Slip Stitch Back Loop Only (hdcslstBLO) –
yo, insert hook into BLO of next st, yo, pull up loop and pull loop through all loops on hook
PATTERN
Front Panel
Leaving a 36”/90 cm tail and using A, ch 45 (51, 55, 61, 67, 73, 77, 83, 89),
Row 1 (RS): starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn [44 (50, 54, 60, 66, 72, 76, 82, 88) sts]
Rows 2-32 (32, 32, 34, 34, 19, 20, 20, 17): ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn
For Sizes 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X:
Loosely sl st – (-, -, -, -, 2, 4, 4, 2) sts
Row – (-, -, -, -, 20, 21, 21, 18): ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * leaving last – (-, -, -, -, 2, 4, 4, 2) sts unworked, turn [- (-, -, -, -, 68, 68, 74, 84) sts]
Rows – (-, -, -, -, 21, 22, 22, 19)- – (-, -, -, -, 34, 36, 36, 36): ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn
Front Panel Neck Shaping
LEFT SHOULDER
With RS facing, place st marker on st 21 (23, 25, 27, 31, 31, 35, 39) from both the right and the left,
With A still connected and leaving st markers until specified in pattern,
Row 1 (RS): ch 1, sc 1, *dc 1, sc 1 rep from * until 1 st before the first marked st, dc2tog, turn [20 (22, 24, 26, 30, 30, 30, 34, 38) sts]
Row 2: ch 1, dc2tog, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn [19 (21, 23, 25, 29, 29, 29, 33, 37) sts]
Rows 3-5: rep Rows 1-2 [16 (18, 20, 22, 26, 26, 26, 30, 34) sts]
Rows 6-7: ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn
Leaving a tail 3x the shoulder width for seaming, fasten off.
RIGHT SHOULDER
With RS facing and using A, sl st in second marked st,
Row 1 (RS): ch 1, sc2tog, dc 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn [20 (22, 24, 26, 30, -, -, -, -) sts]
Row 2: ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * until last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn [19 (21, 23, 25, 29, 29, 29, 33, 37) sts]
Rows 3-5: rep Rows 1-2 [16 (18, 20, 22, 26, 26, 26, 30, 34) sts]
Rows 6-7: ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn
Leaving a tail 3x the shoulder width for seaming, fasten off.
Back Panel
Leaving a 36”/90 cm tail and using A, ch 45 (51, 55, 61, 67, 73, 77, 83, 89),
Row 1 (RS): starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, *sc 1, dc 1 in next st, rep from * across, turn [44 (50, 54, 60, 66, 72, 76, 82, 88) sts]
Rows 2-37 (37, 37, 39, 39, 19, 20, 20, 17): ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn
For Sizes 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X:
Loosely sl st – (-, -, -, -, 2, 4, 4, 2) sts
Row – (-, -, -, -, 20, 21, 21, 18): ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * leaving last – (-, -, -, -, 2, 4, 4, 2) sts unworked, turn [- (-, -, -, -, 68, 68, 74, 84) sts]
Rows – (-, -, -, -, 21, 22, 22, 19)- – (-, -, -, -, 39, 41, 41, 41): ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn
Back Panel Neck Shaping
LEFT SHOULDER
With WS facing, place st marker on st 18 (20, 22, 24, 28, 28, 28, 32, 36) from both the right and the left,
With A still connected and leaving st markers until specified in pattern,
Row 1 (WS): ch 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * until 1 st before the first marked st, sc2tog, turn [17 (19, 21, 23, 27, 27, 27, 31, 35) sts]
Row 2: ch 1, sc2tog, dc 1, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn [16 (18, 20, 22, 26, 26, 26, 30, 34) sts]
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
RIGHT SHOULDER
With WS facing and using A, sl st in second marked st,
Row 1 (WS): ch 1, dc2tog, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * across, turn [17 (19, 21, 23, 27, 27, 27, 31, 35) sts]
Row 2: ch 1, sc 1, *dc 1, sc 1, rep from * until last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn [16 (18, 20, 22, 26, 26, 26, 30, 34) sts]
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Seaming
With RS of Front and Back Panel facing towards each other, use tails to whip st tops of shoulders.
Using beginning tails of panels and RS facing towards each other, seam sides leaving approximately 6.5 (6.75, 7.25, 8, 8.5, 8.75, 9.25, 9.25, 10.5)”/16.5 (17, 18, 20, 21.5, 22, 23, 23, 28) cm unworked. This works out to be 16 (17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 23, 26) rows not seamed.
Collar
Ribbing is worked perpendicular to neck opening. You will be evenly spacing 39 (41, 43, 45, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59) rows around neckhole opening. I suggest that you divide the Collar into 4 sections with st markers, and place approximately 10 (10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14, 15) rows in each section to help you stay on track. For Sizes XS, M, L, 2X, and 3X, you’ll need to stagger 2 sections of 9 (-, 10, 11, -, 12, 13, -, -).
With RS facing, sl st to marked st on Back Panel.
Using A, ch 12,
Row 1 (RS): hdcslst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st in next 2 sts of neckline to anchor, turn (11 sts)
Row 2: skipping the sl sts, hdcslstBLO in each st across, turn
Row 3: ch 1, hdcslstBLO in each st across, sl st in next 2 sts of neckline to anchor, turn
Rows 4-39 (41, 43, 45, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59): rep Rows 2-3 around
With WS facing, sc in BLO of last row and BLO of beginning chs together to join.
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Remove st markers.
Bottom Hem
Ribbing is worked perpendicular to Panels. You will working 72 (80, 92, 100, 112, 124, 132, 140, 148) rows evenly spaced around. I suggest that you divide the Main Body into 4 sections with st markers, and place 18 (20, 23, 25, 28, 31, 33, 35, 37) rows in each section to help you stay on track.
With RS facing, sl st to middle of Back Panel.
Using A, ch 17,
Row 1 (RS): hdcslst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st in next 2 sts of Panel to anchor, turn (16 sts)
Row 2: skipping the sl sts, hdcslstBLO in each st across, turn
Row 3: ch 1, hdcslstBLO in each st across, sl st in next 2 sts of Panel to anchor, turn
Rows 4-72 (80, 92, 100, 112, 124, 132, 140, 148): rep Rows 2-3 around
With WS facing, sc in BLO of last row and BLO of beginning chs together to join.
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Remove st markers.
Sleeves
Sleeves will be worked in rounds, but turned at the start of each round to keep the stitch pattern.
You will be working one st in each row end. Sizes 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X will also be working one st in each underarm st. An extra stitch is at the underarm seam and two extra sts at the shoulder seam. Decreases will be used to lessen gapping.
With RS facing and using A, sl st to join in first st of underarm after the seam,
For Sizes XS, M, L, 2X, and 5X:
Rnd 1 (RS): ch 1, dc2tog, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * until shoulder seam, sc 1 in shoulder seam [16 (-, 18, 20, -, 24, -, -, 28) sts], dc2tog shoulder seam and next st, **sc 1, dc 1, rep from ** until 1 st before underarm seam, sc2tog next st and underarm seam, sl st to join, turn [32 (-, 36, 40, -, 48, -, -, 56) sts]
For Sizes S, XL, 3X, and 4X:
Rnd 1 (RS): ch 1, dc2tog, *sc 1, dc 1, rep from * until 1 st before shoulder seam, sc 1 [- (16, -, -, 20, -, 26, 26, -) sts], dc2tog in shoulder seam, **sc 1, dc 1, rep from ** until 1 st before underarm seam, sc2tog next st and underarm seam, sl st to join, turn [- (34, -, -, 42, -, 54, 54, -) sts]
All Sizes:
Rnd 2 (WS): ch 1, *dc 1, sc 1, rep from *around, sl st to join, turn
Rnds 3-33: rep Rnd 2
Cuffs
Ribbing is worked perpendicular to Sleeve. You will working 27 (28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 36, 37, 37) rows evenly spaced around. I suggest that you divide the Cuff into 4 sections with st markers, and place approximately 6 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9) rows in each section to help you stay on track. For Sizes XS, L, and 2X, you’ll need to stagger 2 sections of 7 (-, -, 8, -, 9, -, -, -).
With RS facing, sl st to middle of back of Sleeve.
Using A, ch 17,
Row 1 (RS): hdcslst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st in next 2 sts of Sleeve to anchor, turn (16 sts)
Row 2: skipping the sl sts, hdcslstBLO in each st across, turn
Row 3: ch 1, hdcslstBLO in each st across, sl st in next 2 sts of Sleeve to anchor, turn
Rows 4-27 (28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 36, 37, 37): rep Rows 2-3 around
With WS facing, sc in BLO of last row and BLO of beginning chs together to join.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Rep on second sleeve.
Block sweater.
Ribbons
Using B, ch 91
Row 1 (RS): sl st in 2nd ch from hook, hdcslst across to last ch, leave 1 ch unworked, turn (88 hdcslsts)
Row 2: sl st 1, ch 1, hdcslst across to last hdcslst, leave 1 hdcslst unworked, turn (86 hdcslsts)
Row 3: sl st 1, ch 1, hdcslst across to last hdcslst, leave 1 hdcslst unworked, turn (84 hdcslsts)
Row 4: sl st 1, ch 1, hdcslst across to last hdcslst, leave 1 hdcslst unworked, turn (82 hdcslsts)
Row 5: sl st 1, ch 1, hdcslst across to last hdcslst, leave 1 hdcslst unworked, turn (80 hdcslsts)
Row 6: sl st 1, ch 1, hdcslst across to last hdcslst, leave 1 hdcslst unworked, turn (78 hdcslsts)
Sl st around perimeter of Ribbon. Place (sl st, ch 1, sl st) in corners.
Fasten off.
Rep for second ribbon.
FAUX CENTER TIE
Using B, ch 11,
Row 1 (RS): hdcslst in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch, turn (10 sts)
Rows 2-3: ch 1, hdcslst across, turn
Sl st around perimeter of Tie. Place (sl st, ch 1, sl st) in corners.
Fasten off.
Assembly
If you are having trouble understanding the written instructions, check out the video HERE.
- Taking one ribbon, lay on flat surface and fold in half. Place st marker specifying middle of Ribbon.
- Place stitch st markers 5.5”/13.5 cm up from bottom of tails on both sides.
- Cut a 12”/30 cm length of B.
- Using a tapestry needle, running stitch across ribbon at st markers on both tails. Repeat going in different direction.
- Cinch tight and tie ends in knot. Trim excess.
- Cut a 18”/45 cm length of B. Taking upper portion of bow, fold down onto cinched tails making sure middle of Ribbon matches middle of tie so that bows are symmetrical. Wrap B around center and tie a knot. Arrange ribbon to liking.
- Take Faux Center Tie, wrap around middle of ribbon.
- Whip stitch two ends of Faux Center Tie together.
- Attach ribbon to sweater front tying in a bow on the WS so it can be removed for washing.
Rep for second ribbon.
Code Word: Classyribbon
And that’s how you make the Classy Ribbon Sweater!
Make sure that when you post to social media or another platform, please refer back to me as the designer. If you are on Instagram, tag @CozyNooksDesigns for a change to be featured!
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Cozy Nooks Designs
Rachel Alford from Cozy Nooks Designs was on the PBS TV show Knit and Crochet Now! season 13. She also designs for Lion Brand Yarn, has been in several crochet/knit magazines, and freelances by filming videos for Annie’s online episodes. Be sure to check out her YouTube Channel for tips, tricks, & tutorials!
