Argyle Pattern V-Neck Sweater

There’s something special about watching a handmade project come to life — especially when it’s a piece that looks straight out of a store window. This week, I worked on a black and blue argyle V-neck sweater for a 10-year-old, blending a classic pattern with a modern color twist.

 Why I Chose This Project

I wanted to knit something that looked store-bought but carried the warmth of handmade craftsmanship. The argyle pattern gave it a preppy, timeless feel — perfect for fall and winter layering. I designed it using my Knitting Pattern Assistant, selecting:

• Garment: V-neck sweater with set-in sleeves
• Category: Child (2–10 years)
• Size: 10 years
• Fit: Loose, hip-length
• Tension: 10

My gauge was 7.27 stitches per inch and 10 rows per inch, giving a soft but structured finish.

To view the pdf of the schematic and shaping instructions, follow this link.

🧵 The Design and Fit

This sweater features a black base with diamond-shaped blue argyle motifs to give it a smart, vintage-inspired look.

The finished dimensions were:

• Body width: 17” (124 stitches)
• Body length: 20” (200 rows)
• Armhole depth: 8”
• Neckline depth: 5”

The fit is relaxed but tailored enough to layer comfortably over a shirt or tee — perfect for an active 10-year-old.

✂️ Shaping the Sweater

Shaping is what turns a flat piece of knitting into a perfectly fitted garment. I followed the pattern below for precise shaping and balanced proportions:

Armhole Shaping

• Reduce 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 stitch, knitting 2 rows between each decrease.
• Knit 8 rows before starting the front neckline shaping.

Front Neckline Shaping

Reduce 1 stitch every 3 rows until row 54, then knit 6 remaining rows to the shoulder.

The V-shape neckline gives the sweater a polished, classic finish — perfect for layering over a button-up shirt.

Knitting the Argyle

The argyle design was worked in fairsle, using both black and royal blue yarns simultaneously. I used separate yarn bobbins for each color section, carefully managing tension to avoid puckering.

🧺 Finishing Touches

The neckline ribbing was knitted in black for a crisp finish that frames the V beautifully.

After knitting the front, back, and sleeves, I lightly blocked each piece before seaming. I used mattress stitch for clean, invisible joins at the hems and joined the rest of the panels with my swing machine— making sure to take the extra time to get the argyle diamonds lined up perfectly!

✨ Final Thoughts

This black and blue argyle sweater turned out to be one of my favorite makes this season. It’s a timeless design with a youthful energy — and my young model couldn’t stop smiling once he tried it on!

Projects like this remind me how rewarding it is to bring together precision, creativity, and personal touch through machine knitting.

If you’d love to make one yourself, or learn how to design and shape garments like this, join me inside my Online Knitting School — where I share full video lessons, patterns, and shaping guides.

👉 Enroll today and start your next sweater project!