Knitting Patterns

Lichen Lace Plaid Pullover: Free Knit Pattern

ErrorLookupHub: Stitch Fixes, Troubleshooting & Knitter's Guide • October 29, 2026

Introduction

The Lichen Lace Plaid Pullover is a relaxed men's sweater designed for anyone who loves a soft, drapey, easy-wearing layer. It is knit in the round as a straight tube with no waist shaping, so the fit stays boxy and comfortable from the first stitch to the last. The plaid effect comes from alternating solid stockinette stripes in moss and lichen bamboo cotton, each broken up by a simple four-row eyelet lace stripe. The bamboo cotton blend feels cool and smooth against the skin, making this a perfect lounge piece for autumn evenings or desert-boho layering.

Materials Needed

Yarn: Worsted weight (CYC 4) bamboo cotton blend, approx. 400 yards per 100g skein. Color A (Moss): 3 skeins (1200 yards). Color B (Lichen): 3 skeins (1200 yards).
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle, 32" length, plus a set of 4 double-pointed needles in the same size for the neck ribbing.
Notions: Stitch markers (4 for the yoke plus 1 for the join), stitch holders or scrap yarn, tapestry needle, tape measure, scissors.
Finished size: Chest circumference 44 inches, length 26 inches, sleeve length from underarm 20 inches.

Abbreviations

CO: cast on
k: knit
p: purl
yo: yarn over (wrap the yarn around the needle to create an eyelet hole)
k2tog: knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
ssk: slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together (a left-leaning decrease)
inc: increase one stitch (use your preferred lifted or make-one increase)
BO: bind off
pm: place marker
sm: slip marker
rep: repeat
rnd(s): round(s)
RS: right side
sts: stitches

Gauge

18 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knit a swatch in the round (or flat and measure the knit side), block it, and check that 18 stitches measure 4 inches before you begin.

Tips Before You Start

Because the body is a straight tube with no shaping, the chest measurement depends entirely on your stitch count. If your gauge is off by even one stitch per inch, the finished chest will change by several inches, so swatch carefully.
Bamboo cotton has lovely drape but little memory, so keep your tension relaxed and avoid pulling the yarn tight at the color changes.
When you switch between Color A and Color B, carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the tube rather than cutting it each time.
Place a locking marker at the beginning of the round and check it every few rounds; the plaid stripes make it easy to lose track of where the round starts.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body

Rnds 1-4: With A, CO 200 sts, join to work in the round, pm, and work [k2, p2] rib (200 sts).

Rnds 5-20: k all sts (200 sts).

Rnds 21-24: Change to B, k all sts (200 sts).

Rnds 25-28: Lace stripe: [yo, k2tog] rep to end (200 sts).

Rnds 29-32: k all sts (200 sts).

Rnds 33-36: Change to A, k all sts (200 sts).

Rnds 37-40: Lace stripe: [yo, k2tog] rep to end (200 sts).

Rnds 41-44: k all sts (200 sts).

Rnds 45 onward: Rep Rnds 21-44 for pattern until the piece measures 16 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after a solid stripe in A.

Next rnd (divide for armholes): BO 4 sts, k to last 4 sts, BO 4 sts. Place the remaining 192 sts on a holder (192 sts).

Sleeves (make 2)

Rnds 1-4: With A, CO 48 sts, join to work in the round, pm, and work [k2, p2] rib (48 sts).

Rnds 5-8: k all sts (48 sts).

Rnds 9-12: Change to B, k all sts (48 sts).

Rnds 13-16: Lace stripe: [yo, k2tog] rep to end (48 sts).

Rnds 17-20: k all sts (48 sts).

Rnds 21-24: Change to A, k all sts (48 sts).

Rnds 25-28: Lace stripe: [yo, k2tog] rep to end (48 sts).

Rnds 29-32: k all sts (48 sts).

Rnds 33 onward: Rep Rnds 9-32 for pattern, AT THE SAME TIME inc 1 st at the beginning and end of every 6th rnd 12 times, working the increases into the stripe pattern (72 sts).

Work even until the sleeve measures 20 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after a solid stripe in A (72 sts).

Next rnd: BO 4 sts, k to last 4 sts, BO 4 sts. Place the remaining 64 sts on a holder (64 sts).

Yoke

Set-up rnd: With RS facing, using the circular needle and A, k the 64 sts of the left sleeve, pm, k 96 sts of the front body, pm, k the 64 sts of the right sleeve, pm, k 96 sts of the back body, pm, and join to work in the round (320 sts).

Rnd 1: k all sts (320 sts).

Rnd 2: [k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm, ssk] rep 4 times (312 sts).

Rnds 3-22: Rep Rnds 1-2 ten more times (232 sts).

Rnds 23-24: Change to B, k all sts (232 sts).

Rnd 25: [k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm, ssk] rep 4 times (224 sts).

Rnd 26: k all sts (224 sts).

Rnds 27-28: Change to A, k all sts (224 sts).

Rnd 29: [k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm, ssk] rep 4 times (216 sts).

Rnd 30: k all sts (216 sts).

Rnds 31-34: [k2, p2] rib (216 sts).

Next rnd: BO all sts in rib.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the underarm gaps closed using the yarn tails and a tapestry needle, matching the bound-off edges of the body and sleeves. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, taking care not to pull the fabric tight at the color changes. Block the pullover to the finished measurements: chest 44 inches, length 26 inches, sleeve length 20 inches from underarm. Lay it flat to dry fully before wearing.

Pro Tips and Variations

For a cropped or longer fit, simply work more or fewer pattern repeats in the body before dividing for the armholes; the straight-tube construction makes length easy to adjust.
Swap the two colors for a subtler tonal plaid, or use a single color and let the lace stripes alone create the texture.
If you prefer a wider neckband, work a few extra rounds of [k2, p2] rib before binding off.

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