Milano Cowl Sweater
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
09/04/2026
MILANO COWL SWEATER
Designed by Andi Javori
SKILL Knitting
DIFFICULTY Advanced Beginner
SIZES
S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL) Sample shown in Medium.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)”
Length: 21½ (22, 22½, 23, 23½, 24, 24½)”
MATERIALS
• 8 (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15) skeins of Circulo Yarn Alpaccino, 55% Baby Alpaca, 45% Merino Wool; 50 g/174 yd. Color: 9825 Babette.
• US Size 7 (4.5 mm) 32” circular knitting needles, or size needed to get gauge • US Size 7 (4.5 mm) 16” circular knitting needles, or size needed to get gauge • US Size 8 (5.0 mm) 24” circular knitting needles – used for cowl neck
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holder or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
GAUGE
With US 7 (4.5mm) knitting needles: 20 sts x 28 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch knit in the round, after blocking. Knit all stitches. Save time, check your gauge.
PATTERN NOTES
A relaxed, effortlessly stylish sweater featuring a generous cowl neck and wide, flowing sleeves. Worked in a variegated yarn, the simple stockinette fabric lets the beautiful color changes take center stage. The oversized cowl adds warmth and a cozy drape, while the wide sleeves give the sweater an easy, modern silhouette.
This sweater is knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up. The Front and Back are separated at the underarms. Front and Back are worked back and forth after the separation row. Stitches for the Sleeves are picked up and knit seamlessly from the top down. Stitches for the Cowl Neck are picked up and knit in the round.
SPECIAL STITCHES
Make 1 left increase (M1L): pick up bar between last st worked and next st, bringing the needle from the front to the back, then knit into back loop of picked up bar.
Make 1 right increase (M1R): pick up bar between last st worked and next st, bringing the needle from the back to the front, then knit into front loop of picked up bar.
STITCH GUIDE
Stockinette Stitch in the round (any number of sts)
Rnd 1: *Knit all sts.
Rep Rnd 1 for patt.
Stockinette Stitch worked flat (any number of sts)
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rep Rows 1 – 2 for patt.
Moss Stitch in the round (multiple of 2 sts)
Rnd 1 (RS): K1, p1; rep from to end.
Rnd 2: P1, k1; rep from to end.
Rep Rnds 1 – 2 for patt.
SWEATER PATTERN
Body
Cast on 180 (200, 220, 240, 260, 280, 300) sts with US Size 7 (4.5 mm) 32” circular knitting needles. PM and join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist.
Work in Moss Stitch patt for 1¼” from the beginning.
Work in Stockinette Stitch patt until piece measures approx. 14” from the cast-on edge.
Separate Back/Front
Note: You will now begin working flat, back and forth in rows.
BACK
K90 (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150) Back sts. Place 90 (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150) Front sts on stitch holder or waste yarn.
Work in est’d patt until piece measures 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½, 10, 10½)” from armhole separation.
BO 22 (27, 32, 35, 40, 45, 48) Shoulder sts, k46 (46, 46, 50, 50, 50, 54) Neck sts, BO 22 (27, 32, 35, 40, 45, 48) Shoulder sts.
FRONT
Place 90 (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150) Front sts back on knitting needle. Work in est’d patt until piece measures 4½ (5, 5½, 6, 6½, 7, 7½)” from the armhole separation.
Front Neck Shaping
Next Row: Work in est’d patt for 41 (46, 50, 55, 59, 64, 68) sts. ATTACH A NEW BALL OF YARN, BO 8 (8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 14) sts for the neck, work to end of the row.
Now working both sides AT SAME TIME with separate balls of yarn:
Next Row: Work even in est’d patt.
BO 4 (4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) sts at each neck edge – 37 (42, 47, 51, 55, 60, 64) sts.
BO 3 (3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 4) sts at each neck edge – 34 (39, 44, 47, 52, 57, 60) sts.
BO 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts at each neck edge – 31 (36, 41, 44, 49, 54, 57) sts.
BO 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts at each neck edge – 28 (33, 38, 41, 46, 51, 54) sts.
BO 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts at each neck edge – 25 (30, 35, 38, 43, 48, 51) sts.
BO 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) sts at each neck edge – 22 (27, 32, 35, 40, 45, 48) sts.
Work shoulders without shaping until piece measures 7½ (8, 8½, 9, 9½, 10, 10½)” from the armhole separation.
BO Shoulder sts.
To Finish:
Sew Shoulder seams.
SLEEVE (Make 2)
Note 1: There is minimal shaping for the Sleeves. All shaping is done towards the bottom of the Sleeve. There is no shaping for Size 3XL Sleeves.
With US Size 7 (4.5 mm) 16” circular knitting needles, pick up and k76 (80, 86, 90, 96, 100, 106) Sleeve sts. PM and join to knit in the round.
Work in Stockinette Stitch patt until piece measures approx. 13¼ (13¼, 12¾, 12¾, 12¾, 11¾, 11¾)” from pick up round.
Note: No Inc Rnd for size 3XL only. Inc Rnd: K1, M1L, k to 1 st before M, M1R, k1 – 78 (82, 88, 92, 98, 100, 108) sts.
Rep Inc Rnd every 4 (5, 5, 10, 20, 0, 9) rounds, 6 (4, 4, 2, 1, 0, 1) time(s) – 90 (90, 96, 96, 100, 100, 110) sts.
Cont in Stockinette Stitch patt until Sleeve measures approx. 16¾ (16¾, 15¾, 15¾, 15¾, 14¾, 14¾)” from beginning.
Cuff
Work in Moss Stitch patt in the round for 1¼”. BO Cuff sts.
COWL NECK
With US Size 8 (5.0 mm) 24” circular knitting needles, place 46 (46, 46, 50, 50, 50, 54) Back Neck sts on the needle, then pick up and k58 (58, 58, 62, 62, 62, 66) Front Neck sts – 104 (104, 104, 112, 112, 112, 120) sts. PM and join to knit in the round.
Work in Moss Stitch patt until piece measures approx. 10” from pick up round. BO all sts loosely.
Finishing Weave in ends. Block to measurements.
Abbreviations
approx.: approximately
BO: bind off
cont: continue
est’d: established
inc: increase
k: knit
M: marker
p: purl
patt: pattern
PM: place marker
rep: repeat rnd(s):
round(s)
RS: right side
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side
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