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Free crochet sweater pattern: Cloud Cover Roll-Neck

ByDora Does Released Updated
Woman in blue cosy crochet alpaca silk roll neck sweater leaning against white wall

The crochet pattern for the Cloud Cover Roll-neck sweater is here just as the blue skies turn white and grey.

This light fluffy and cosy roll neck sweater is perfect for keeping you snug on such cloudy days. It’s deceptively warm for its light weight and is oversized to make it super comfy and huggable!

The pattern can be downloaded from Love Crafts Crochet, Etsy or Ravelry.

Dora wears a fluffy lightweight crochet sweater with a roll neck and ribbed cuffs as she sits on a stool recasting her head on her hands. A text overlay reads; crochet sweater pattern.
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Woman in blue cosy crochet alpaca silk roll neck sweater stepping over something
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About the cloud cover crochet sweater pattern

The Cloud Cover Crochet Sweater has the fluffy look of mohair (thanks to the Brushed Alpaca yarn from Drops), but because it’s worked with Aran yarn, it comes together much more quickly than if working with traditional lace weight mohair yarn.

The sweater is worked in simple stitches with a large ribbed roll neck and long cuffs you can roll back or leave long. 

The perfect transitional sweater for when the clouds cover the sun.

Woman in blue cosy crochet alpaca silk roll neck sweater thinking

Pattern Notes

General Notes

  • Please read through the pattern and all associated notes before starting your project
  • This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology (UK equivalents are given in brackets in the abbreviations list where applicable)
  • Turning chains do not count as stitches
  • Unless otherwise indicated stitches should be worked in consecutive stitches

Construction

  • This sweater is worked by making two identical panels (front and back) bottom up, which are seamed at the shoulders and sides
  • The sleeves are added working in rounds followed by the cuffs, hem and neck
  • A schematic of the sweater is included at the end of the pattern

Skills Used

This is a fairly simple pattern using half double crochet throughout, working in the back loops for the ribbing.  You will create the body pieces flat and the sleeves in the round. 

  • Knowledge of basic crochet stitches, techniques and terminology is assumed
  • Simple stitches
  • Half double crochet 2 together for sleeve decrease (see special stitches)
  • Back loop only for ribbing on cuff, hem and neck (see youtube video here for assistance in creating a ribbed cuff/band)
  • Seaming separate body pieces
  • Working in the round and joining with slip stitch for sleeves
  • Working with fine yarn with a large halo
Woman with hand on hip in blue cosy crochet alpaca silk roll neck sweater

Materials

Made using a 5mm hook and Drops Brushed Alpaca silk, the yarn has a lovely fluffy halo which makes it very lightweight but warm. 

Crochet Hook

5mm hook or as needed to obtain gauge. I used my clover amour hook.

Yarn Requirements

Drops Alpaca Silk in Shade 14. 77% alpaca. 23% silk, 25g ball = 140m / 152 yds:

8(8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12) x 25g balls.

Yarn Substitution Options

A similar fibre blend which meets gauge will produce similar results. Although this yarn seems fine, it is treated as aran weight – the Alpaca silk is a light and fluffy yarn with a large halo. 

Different fibres and yarns will produce a different finished result. Something like a mohair or Suri Alpaca may create a similar look whereas more solid yarns will make a chunkier sweater with a different drape.

It’s particularly important to swatch if you’re substituting yarn with this project, not only to establish gauge, but to make sure you’re happy with the drape of the fabric you’re creating.

You may find this post useful when choosing yarn, and this article talks in more detail about drape.

When using this kind of yarn, take extra care when washing your finished item. Sadly this was advice I neglected and this sample ended up ruined… but it did serve as a cautionary tale for me to learn how to care for your finished crochet garments (you’ll see the disaster version in this article!).

Note that since I shrunk the original sample of this sweater, I have made another sample, this one I left cropped and I used a lace weight yarn purchased at a yarn festival from a Scottish Indie Dyer called Zakami Yarns. I used their lace weight Suri Fluff Lace – 75% Suri Alpaca, 25% mulberry silk in a beautiful delicate pink colour way called Pink Cadillac.

A close up of a crochet sweater in progress made with laceweight alpaca silk yarn and a 5mm crochet hook shown to the bottom left of the image.

Because this yarn is classified as a lace weight, you get a whopping 420m per 50g. And because I was still able to make gauge with it, I used marginally over 2 skeins. That’s about 105g for a whole sweater!

Other Materials & Notions

Yarn needle, scissors and a tape measure.

You may wish to block this project, in which case I recommend a blocking matt and pins. Learn more about blocking here.

How to purchase a Dora Does crochet pattern:

I sell my PDF crochet patterns in my Etsy, Ravelry and Love Crafts stores. You can purchase this pattern on any of these platforms, depending on your preference. Simply click the relevant links throughout this pattern page to be taken to the listing, or visit the store homepages in the links at the start of this paragraph.

Measurements & finished size

  • The sweater is designed to be loose fitting with positive ease 
  • Approximate measurements of the finished garment are given below to help you in choosing a suitable size for you / the recipient of the garment
  • Additional measurements are given in the schematic at the end of the pattern
  • The pattern is designed for adults and offered in 7 women’s sizes
  • Instructions for different sizes are written in increasing order, with the smallest size first and larger sizes following in brackets. i.e. XS(S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X) sts or Rows / Rounds
  • The cuffs, hem and roll neck have the same stitch count but a different number of rows so only a single stitch count is given in that section
  • If you are working from a hard copy of the pattern, you may want to go through and highlight or circle the relevant instruction for your chosen size
  • The item you see pictured is a size S worn by me, UK size 8-10 (US 4-6), 5ft 1in.

Approximate finished sizes are given below with more details in the schematic which follows.

Finished Bust Measurement (inches): 36(40, 42, 46, 50, 56, 60)in

Finished Length (inches): 24(24, 25, 25.5, 25.5, 26.5, 27)

Armhole Depth (inches): 8(8, 9, 9, 9.5, 10, 10)

A line drawn schematic of the cloud cover sweater showing the dimensions in inches.

Stitches & Abbreviations: US terms 

(UK Equivalent in Brackets)

  • blo = back loop only
  • ch = chain
  • hdc = half double crochet (UK half treble crochet)
  • hdc2tog = half double crochet 2 together (UK half treble 2 together, see special sts)
  • RS = Right Side
  • ss = slip stitch
  • st(s) = stitch(es)
  • WS = Wrong Side
  • yo = yarn over

Special Stitches 

Half Double Crochet 2 Together (hdc2tog)

Yo, insert hook, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), insert hook, yo, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yo, pull through all 5 loops.

A side view selfie of Dora wearing a pink version of her cloud cover crochet sweater pattern. The sweater is cropped with long sleeves and a roll neck and is worn over a white vest, paired with wide leg jeans.
A quick mirror selfie of me modelling the pink cropped version I recently made.

Gauge

13 sts and 11 rows in 10cm / 4in of hdc rows worked with a 5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

Note: To allow the halo on this yarn to be shown I worked this with a very loose tension.  If you struggle to meet the gauge with this specific yarn you may wish to change your hook to help you meet it. The finished fabric is very light and airy.

Variation in your gauge will lead to variations in the finished size of your project. 

Learn how to make and measure a gauge swatch here.

Dora stands against a white wall wearing an oversized but lightweight mohair crochet sweater with roll neck and long ribbed cuffs. A text overlay reads; crochet sweater pattern.

The pattern can be downloaded in PDF format from Love Crafts Crochet, Etsy or Ravelry.

The Cloud Cover Sweater Pattern

Body

Worked bottom up, make 2

Using a 5 mm hook, ch61(67, 73, 82, 88, 94, 98);

Row 1(RS): 1hdc in third ch from hook and each st to end. 59(65, 71, 80, 86, 92, 98) sts

Rows 2-60(60, 62,64, 64, 66, 68): Ch2 (does not count as st), turn, 1hdc in each st to end

Fasten off, if required, block pieces to size & shape

Side Seams: Place RS together and create side seams by sewing together the first 38(38, 38, 40, 38, 38, 40) rows from bottom of body panel upwards, leaving 22(22, 24, 24, 26, 28, 28) rows unworked.

Shoulder Seams: Join the top edges of the two body pieces together by working 16(18, 21, 25, 28, 31, 33) ss from the outside towards the centre on each side, leaving a neck line of 27(29, 29, 30, 30, 30, 32) sts unworked on each panel. Should you wish, you can change the size of the neckline by changing the length of the shoulder seam (make sure you change each seam by the same amount!).

Sleeves

Repeat sleeve and cuff on each side

With WS facing, join the yarn to the side seam at the bottom of the armhole;

Round 1(WS): Ch2, work 66(66, 72, 72, 78, 84, 84) hdc around the armhole, working 3hdc for every two row-ends and joining to top of first st with a ss. 66(66, 72, 72, 78, 84, 84) sts

Round 2: Ch2, turn, 1hdc in each st round, join to top of first st with ss

Round 3 (decrease round): Ch2, turn, hdc2tog, 1 hdc in each st round to two sts from end, hdc2tog, join to top of first st with ss. 64(64, 70, 70, 76, 82, 82) sts

Rows 4-31: Rep rows 2 and 3.36(36, 42, 42, 48, 54, 54)  sts

Rows 32-39: Rep round 2 

You can make sleeves longer or shorter by adding or removing rows after the decrease section has finished.  The cuff will add around 3-6in to the length depending if you have it folded over or left long.

Do not fasten off, continue to cuff

Cuff

Continuing from end of last round of sleeve, with WS facing, Ch26 (for all sizes) perpendicular to sleeve

Row 1: 1hdc in third ch from hook and in each ch. 24 hdc

Row 2: Ss into next 3 sts on last round of sleeve (these sts replace the turning chain), turn, 1hdc in the blo of each hdc just made

Row 3: Ch2, turn, 1hdc in blo of each st

Rows 4-24 (24, 28, 28, 32, 36, 36): Rep rows 2 and 3

Joining row: Turn, ss through the starting chain and blo of last row to join two sides of the cuff

Fasten off

Bottom Hem

When working round the bottom, include the side seams as a st when slip stitching

With WS facing, join yarn to bottom of one of the side seams, ch14;

Row 1: 1hdc in third ch from hook and each ch. 12 hdc

Row 2: Ss into next 3 sts on foundation ch of body panel, turn, 1hdc in the blo of each hdc just made

Row 3: Ch2, turn, 1hdc in blo of each st

Rows 4-80 (88, 96, 108, 116, 124, 132): Rep rows 2 and 3

Joining row: Turn, ss through the starting chain and blo of last row to join two sides of the hem

Fasten off

Roll Neck

When working round the neckline, include the shoulder seams as a st when slip stitching.

Note that here you will ch3 at the end of the rows (the top of the roll neck) to allow the neck more stretch to roll over itself.

You will also only ss into two sts on the neckline to create a turning ch (as opposed to 3 on the cuff and hem)

With WS facing, join yarn to one of the shoulder seams, ch 33

Row 1: 1hdc in fourth ch from hook and each ch (30 hdc)

Row 2: Ss into next 2 sts on neckline, turn, 1hdc in the blo of each hdc just made 

Row 3: Ch3, turn, 1hdc in blo of each st

Row 4-54 (60, 60, 62, 62, 62, 66): Rep rows 2 and 3

Joining Row: Turn, ss through the starting chain and blo of last row to join two sides of the roll neck

Fasten off, sew in all ends and turn the right side out

How to find me and share your finished makes

Happy Hooking 

Dx

More crochet sweater patterns

P.S. Because I always have to mess around…

Woman hiding in roll neck sweater with glasses

Copyright Dora Does Limited, Registered in England, Company Number 13992263. This pattern is for personal use only and may not be shared or reproduced in written, photo, video or any other form without prior written consent. All rights reserved. Terms of service.

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5 Comments

    1. Thanks for letting me know – there was an odd glitch in ravelry but it should be fixed now! Dora

      Reply