Crochet him something he’ll actually reach for this baggy crochet sweater for men has the relaxed, oversized fit that works over a tee, under a jacket, or on its own for weekend wear. The loose shape means less fussing with fit, so it’s a forgiving project even if you’ve never crocheted menswear before. Free crochet sweater patterns for men are genuinely hard to find, which makes this one worth saving whether you’re making it for a partner, your dad, or yourself. Ready to start? The free pattern is right here.
A ribbed sweater in a single deep navy reads as effortlessly put-together, and the chunky yarn weight here means the whole body works up in far less time than the finished result suggests. For a similarly structured ribbed texture in a women’s silhouette, the off-shoulder sweater uses the same front and back post technique across a different construction style.
Crochet Baggy Sweater For Men
The crew neck and straight body shape make this a genuinely gender-neutral pattern despite the “for men” framing, the sizing just runs on the larger end, so it works as an oversized fit across a range of body types. Working in chunky yarn also makes the rib columns highly visible while you’re learning the stitch, which is helpful if post stitches are new to you.
Materials and Tools
- Approximately 1000 grams of 14-ply wool yarn
- A 5 mm crochet hook (for the 6-stitch ribbed border)
- A 5.5 mm crochet hook (for the main half double crochet body)
- Stitch markers
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Stitch You Should Know
How This Pattern Works
Before you start, a few things will make the whole pattern easier to follow:
- The 6 single crochet stitches along one edge form the ribbed border, always worked with the 5 mm hook. Tip: keep a stitch marker at the border edge so you always know where to switch hooks.
- All half double crochet body stitches use the 5.5 mm hook.
- All stitches are worked in the back loops only unless a row specifically says otherwise. This is what creates the ribbed, knit-like texture throughout.
- Row 30 is the center point. The panel is symmetrical around it — the second half mirrors the first.
- Longer chains at Rows 7, 9, 37, and 39 create the sleeve extensions. When you chain out at those rows, you’re adding width that becomes the sleeves. Tip: these are the rows most likely to make the fabric look strange mid-work — trust the process and keep going.
- Slip stitches at Row 22 create the armhole shaping. Working slip stitches instead of half double crochet over those stitches pulls that edge in without cutting yarn.
- The chain at the start of Row 1 is split between the two hooks: the first 6 chains use the 5 mm hook (for the border), and the remaining chains use the 5.5 mm hook (for the body). Tip: switch hooks mid-chain at this point and mark where the border section begins so you don’t lose track.
The Pattern
The jumper is worked as one continuous panel from left sleeve to right sleeve. Rows alternate direction and the stitch counts change at certain key rows to shape the sleeves and armholes. Work all stitches in the back loops only unless stated otherwise.
Foundation
- Make a slip knot.
- Row 1: Chain 57. (Use the 5 mm hook for the first 6 chains, then switch to the 5.5 mm hook for the remaining 51 chains.)
First Sleeve Shaping (Rows 2–9)
- Row 2: Skip 1, half double crochet 50 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 3: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 50 in the back loops only, chain 2.
- Row 4: Turn, half double crochet 51 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 5: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 51 in the back loops only, chain 2.
- Row 6: Turn, half double crochet 52 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 7: Turn, single crochet 6, half double crochet 52, chain 4.
- Row 8: Turn, skip 1, half double crochet 55 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 9: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 55 in the back loops only, chain 29.
Body Build-Up (Rows 10–21)
- Row 10: Turn, skip 1, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 11: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 12: Turn, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 13: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Repeat Rows 12–13 five times (10 rows total) until Row 21.
New to crochet and not sure how to read a pattern yet? The video tutorial below will guide you through it step by step, you’ve got this!
Armhole Shaping (Rows 22–23)
- Row 22: Turn, skip 1, slip stitch 8, chain 1, half double crochet 74 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 23: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 71 in the back loops only, chain 1.
Body Decrease to Centre (Rows 24–30)
- Row 24: Turn, half double crochet 71 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 25: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 26: Turn, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 27: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 28: Turn, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 29: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 30: Turn, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1. (This is the center / midpoint of the panel.)
Body Increase from Centre (Rows 31–37)
- Row 31: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 32: Turn, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 33: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 34: Turn, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 35: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 70 in the back loops only, chain 2.
- Row 36: Turn, skip 1, half double crochet 71 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 37: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 71 in the back loops only, chain 4.
Section 6 — Second Armhole Shaping (Rows 38–39)
- Row 38: Turn, skip 1, half double crochet 74 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 39: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 74 in the back loops only, chain 10.
Section 7 — Second Body Build-Up (Rows 40–50)
- Row 40: Turn, skip 1, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 41: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 42: Turn, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 43: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Repeat Rows 42–43 four times (8 rows total) until Row 49.
- Row 50: Turn, half double crochet 83 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
Second Sleeve Shaping (Rows 51–58)
- Row 51: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 55 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 52: Turn, half double crochet 55 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 53: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 52 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 54: Turn, half double crochet 52 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 55: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 51 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 56: Turn, half double crochet 51 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 57: Turn, single crochet 6 in the back loops only, half double crochet 50 in the back loops only, chain 1.
- Row 58: Turn, half double crochet 50 in the back loops only, single crochet 6 in the back loops only. Fasten off.
Yarn Substitution
The pattern calls for 14-ply wool yarn, which is a heavy worsted to bulky weight. Any yarn in that thickness range will give you the dense, warm, structured body this jumper is designed to have. Staying with wool or a wool blend is worth it here — the stitch definition is noticeably better, and the finished garment keeps its shape through wear. If you want to use acrylic, choose a heavier, denser acrylic rather than a soft or fluffy one, and confirm your hook sizes give a firm, even fabric rather than a loose one.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does one flat panel become a whole sweater? The panel is worked sideways from the left sleeve edge to the right sleeve edge in one continuous piece. Once finished, it folds in half at Row 30 (the center point) and the edges are seamed together to form the body, with the long edges becoming the sleeves.
2. Why are there two different hooks in the same row? The 6-stitch ribbed border stays on the smaller 5 mm hook throughout to keep that edge firm and consistent, while the body uses the larger 5.5 mm hook for a looser, more comfortable fabric. Switching mid-row is the method — mark the border stitches so you always know where to swap.
3. What do the longer chains at Rows 7, 9, 37, and 39 do? These extended chains add width at key points to create the sleeve extensions. When you chain out further than the previous row, you’re building material that will later form the sleeve length.
