The Olivia Sweater: A Cozy Brioche Knit Pullover Free Pattern

Wrap yourself in the plush, cloud-like comfort of the Olivia Sweater, a modern take on the classic pullover featuring a luxurious brioche stitch that creates a reversible, double-faced fabric. This free pattern guides you through crafting a relaxed, oversized fit with a contemporary color-block design, perfect for chilly days and stylish layering. The brioche stitch is not only incredibly squishy and warm but also creates a beautiful, subtle ribbed texture that looks stunning on both sides. Whether you're a seasoned knitter looking for a new challenge or a confident beginner ready to expand your skills, this pattern is designed to be accessible and rewarding. Let's dive in and create a wardrobe staple you'll reach for all winter long.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather all your materials. Having everything ready will make your knitting experience smooth and enjoyable.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors:
  • Main Color (MC): 800g (e.g., Dove Gray)
  • Contrast Color (CC): 400g (e.g., Dusty Rose)
• Needles:
  • US 8 (5mm) circular needles, 32-inch length (for the body)
  • US 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles (for the sleeves)
• Other: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge

16 stitches and 24 rows in brioche stitch (after blocking) = 4 inches square. Always knit a gauge swatch to ensure your finished sweater fits as intended. Adjust your needle size if necessary to achieve the correct gauge.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down, meaning you'll start at the neckline and work your way to the hem. The brioche stitch is reversible, so the color-block design appears on both sides, but with colors reversed. Let's get started!

Sizes & Abbreviations

Sizes: S (M, L, XL) – Finished chest: 40 (44, 48, 52) inches. Instructions are written for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses.

Abbreviations:

• CO: cast on
• K: knit
• P: purl
• K2tog: knit two together
• P2tog: purl two together
• Sl1yo: slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn over (bring yarn to front, slip stitch, then bring yarn over needle to back)
• Brk: brioche knit (knit the stitch together with its yarn over)
• Brp: brioche purl (purl the stitch together with its yarn over)
• St(s): stitch(es)
• Rnd(s): round(s)

Special Stitch Pattern (Brioche Rib, worked in the round)

This is the foundation of the entire sweater. It's a simple two-round repeat that creates the plush, ribbed fabric.

• Rnd 1: *Sl1yo, K1; repeat from * to end.
• Rnd 2: *Brp, Sl1yo; repeat from * to end.
• Repeat Rounds 1-2 for the pattern.

Yoke

The yoke is the shaped top portion of the sweater that goes over your shoulders. We'll be increasing stitches in a specific pattern to create the roomy, oversized fit.

1. With MC, CO 80 (88, 96, 104) sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a marker for the beginning of the round.
2. Work in brioche rib (Rnds 1-2) for 2 inches.
3. Increase Round: *Brk, Sl1yo, K1, Sl1yo; repeat from * to end. (You have increased 1 st in every 2 sts, adding 40 (44, 48, 52) sts – total 120 (132, 144, 156) sts.
4. Work even in brioche rib for 1 inch.
5. Increase Round: *Brk, Sl1yo, K1, Sl1yo, Brk, Sl1yo; repeat from * to end. (Increase 1 st in every 3 sts, adding 40 (44, 48, 52) sts – total 160 (176, 192, 208) sts.
6. Work even in brioche rib for 1 inch.
7. Increase Round: *Brk, Sl1yo, K1, Sl1yo, Brk, Sl1yo, K1, Sl1yo; repeat from * to end. (Increase 1 st in every 4 sts, adding 40 (44, 48, 52) sts – total 200 (220, 240, 260) sts.
8. Work even in brioche rib until the yoke measures 8 (9, 10, 11) inches from the cast-on edge.

Separate Body and Sleeves

Now we'll divide the work to create the armholes. The stitches for the sleeves will be placed on holders while we work on the body.

1. Next Rnd: Work in brioche rib over the first 60 (66, 72, 78) sts (front), place the next 40 (44, 48, 52) sts on a holder for the sleeve, CO 8 (10, 12, 14) new sts with MC (underarm), work brioche rib over the next 60 (66, 72, 78) sts (back), place the next 40 (44, 48, 52) sts on a holder for the sleeve, CO 8 (10, 12, 14) new sts with MC (underarm).

Body

We'll now work the main body of the sweater in one continuous piece.

1. Body: Continue in brioche rib in the round over all body sts (136 (152, 168, 184) sts) until the body measures 12 (13, 14, 15) inches from the underarm.
2. Color-Block Transition: Switch to CC for the next 4 inches, then switch back to MC for the final 4 inches. (Or, for a more gradual fade, alternate colors every 2 inches.)
3. Ribbing: Work in K1, P1 rib for 2 inches with MC. Bind off loosely in rib.

Sleeves

Now we'll pick up the sleeve stitches and work them down to the cuff.

1. Place 40 (44, 48, 52) sleeve sts from the holder onto double-pointed needles. Pick up and knit 8 (10, 12, 14) sts from the underarm cast-on edge, plus 2 sts at each corner to avoid holes – total 52 (58, 64, 70) sts. Place a marker for the beginning of the round.
2. Work in brioche rib in the round, decreasing 2 sts every 6th round (by working Brk2tog at the beginning and end of the round) until you have 40 (44, 48, 52) sts.
3. Continue even until the sleeve measures 16 (17, 18, 19) inches from the underarm.
4. Color-Block: Work the last 4 inches in CC.
5. Ribbing: Work in K1, P1 rib for 2 inches with MC. Bind off loosely in rib.

Finishing

Your sweater is almost complete! Just a few final steps to make it perfect.

1. Weave in all ends carefully with a tapestry needle.
2. Block to measurements. The brioche stitch will relax and become even more plush after blocking. Lay the sweater flat on a blocking mat, gently shape it to the specified dimensions, and allow it to dry completely.

Congratulations! You've just created a beautiful, cozy Olivia Sweater. The plush brioche stitch and elegant color-block design make it a standout piece in any wardrobe. Enjoy wearing your handmade creation, and don't forget to share your finished project with the knitting community!