The Traveler Crew Sweater, Free Pattern

The Inspiration

If you follow my adventures here, you probably know that I embarked on a quest for the perfect basic sweater this winter.

After starting with the Traveler Funnel sweater, I decided to evolve the pattern and create a version with a round neck.

Overall, I was quite happy with the basic pattern, but I still had a few adjustments in mind.

First, I wanted to redo the neckline to make it deeper, especially in the front.

Next, I wanted to see what it would look like if I made the cuffs and hem in 1x1 ribbing instead of 2x2 ribbing.

Finally, I wanted to adjust the sleeve length for more comfort.

With all these modifications in mind, I was ready to create it: an improved version of the basic sweater, this time with a round neck!

The Traveler Crew sweater was born!

Traveler Crew sweater terrifiknits porté

The Pattern

The pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up for the body and flat for the remainder. The sleeves and neckline are picked up in the round from the body stitches. The neckline is crew neck with an integrated seam.

Material: 1290 meters or 1410 yards of merino in "light" weight, held together with as much mohair of “lace” quality. For substitutions, I recommend choosing a main yarn with good structure, like merino.

Needles: Circular and double-pointed needles in 3.5mm/US4 and 3mm/US2, or sizes needed to achieve gauge.

Gauge 10X10 cm or 4X4 in: 26 stitches x 35 rows in stockinette stitch.

Les instructions

DECREASES:

Right decrease: 2 stitches before the marker, knit 2 stitches together.
Left decrease: After the marker, slip one stitch knitwise, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch.

INCREASES:

Left increase: Stop 1 stitch before the marker, pick up the strand between the worked stitch and the next from front to back, and knit it through the back loop.
Right increase: Knit 1 stitch after the marker, pick up the strand between the worked stitch and the next from back to front, and knit it through the front loop.

THE BODY:

Cast on 252 stitches using 3mm/US2 circular needles and join in the round.
Place a beginning-of-round marker and a different marker at the halfway point (126 stitches on each side).
Work 35 rounds or 10cm/4in in 1/1 ribbing, starting and ending each round with a purl stitch.
Switch to 3.5mm/US4 needles and continue in stockinette stitch. At the same time, increase 1 stitch on each side of both markers (right increase before the marker and left increase after) = +4 stitches, for a total of 256 stitches or 128 stitches on each side.
Repeat these increases a total of 6 times every 10 rounds: 276 stitches or 138 stitches on each side.
Continue until the sweater measures 31cm/12.2in in height or 90 rounds.
Separate front and back by binding off 2 stitches before and after each marker = 134 stitches on each side.

THE BACK:

Continue working back and forth for 60 rows or 19cm/7.5in.
On the next row (right side), bind off the central 24 stitches = 55 stitches for each shoulder.
Work each shoulder separately, starting with the left shoulder (when looking at the sweater from the front).
*On the next row (wrong side), knit stitches as they appear.
On the following row (right side), knit one stitch, then decrease 1 stitch on the left, knit the rest of the row normally = 54 stitches.*
Repeat the sequence from * to * a total of 6 times = 49 stitches.
Bind off all stitches. Move to the right shoulder.
*On the next row (wrong side), knit stitches as they appear.
On the following row (right side), knit to the last 3 stitches, decrease 1 stitch on the right, knit 1 stitch = 54 stitches.*
Repeat the sequence from * to * a total of 6 times = 49 stitches.
Bind off all stitches.

THE FRONT:

Continue working back and forth for 54 rows or 17cm/6.7in.
On the next row (right side), bind off the central 18 stitches = 58 stitches for each shoulder.
Work each shoulder separately, starting with the left shoulder (when looking at the sweater from the front).
*On the next row (purl), purl the stitches as they come.
On the next row (knit), knit one stitch, slip one stitch, knit the next two stitches together and pass the previous stitch over, knit the rest of the row normally : -2 stitches, leaving 56 stitches.*
Repeat the sequence from * to * a total of 2 times : 54 stitches per shoulder.
*On the next row (purl), purl the stitches as they come.
On the next row (knit), knit one stitch, make a decrease on the left, knit the rest of the row normally : -1 stitch, leaving 53 stitches.*
Repeat the sequence from * to * a total of 5 times : 49 stitches.
Knit 4 rows in stockinette.
Bind off all stitches.
Move on to the right shoulder.
*On the next row (purl), purl the stitches as they come.
On the next row (knit), knit the row normally until 4 stitches remain, knit the next 3 stitches together, knit 1 stitch : -2 stitches.*
Repeat the sequence from * to * a total of 2 times : 54 stitches per shoulder.
*On the next row (purl), purl the stitches as they come.
On the next row (knit), knit the row normally until 3 stitches remain, make a decrease on the right, knit 1 stitch : -1 stitch.*
Repeat the sequence from * to * a total of 9 times : 49 stitches per shoulder.
Knit 4 rows in stockinette.
Bind off all stitches.
Sew the back shoulders to the front shoulders.

THE SLEEVES:

Pick up 100 stitches in the round using 3.5mm/US4 circular needles, 50 from the front and 48 from the back (approximately 1 stitch picked up for every 2 out of 3 rows).
Continue working in stockinette stitch in the round.
Every 4 rounds, decrease 1 stitch after the marker using a right decrease and 1 stitch before the marker using a left decrease = -2 stitches, leaving 98 stitches.
Repeat these decreases a total of 22 times = 56 stitches at the 88th round.
After 118 rounds or 30cm/12in, switch to 3mm/US2 needles and knit in 1/1 ribbing for 8cm/3.1in or 27 rounds.
Bind off on the 28th round using 3.5mm/US4 needles for a stretchier bind-off.
Work the other sleeve in the same way.
- Back: 18st
- Back sides : 18st each side
- Front : 24st
- Front sides : 23st each side
- And 1st on each seam

THE NECKLINE:

Pick up 124 stitches along the neckline of the sweater with the 3mm/US2 needles:
Knit in 1/1 ribbing for 4cm/1.5in or 10 rounds.
Purl
Knit in 1/1 ribbing for 4cm/1.5in or 10 rounds.
Bind off on the 28th round using 3.5mm/US4 needles for a stretchier bind-off.
Fold the collar and sew it on the inside. You can insert an elastic band inside the seam to add more elasticity
FINISHING:
• Weave in the ends and block

And there you have it, a beautiful homemade basic funnelneck sweater!
Perfect to complement all your outfits!
Don't forget to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok with the hashtags #terrifiknits and # TravelerCrewSweater or # PullTravelerCrew once you're done, or add this project to your Ravelry list! I can't wait to see your version!