Moss Stitch Strawberry Henley Set Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This Moss Stitch Strawberry Henley Set is a cozy, beginner-friendly lounge set that looks far more complicated than it is. It is made from simple rectangles and straight tubes in textured moss stitch, so you only ever need to knit, purl, increase, and decrease. The mauve mohair-silk fabric feels feather-light and softly fuzzy against the skin, while five tiny plum strawberry appliqués on the chest and hip add a preppy, playful touch. Whether you are knitting your first garment or your fiftieth, this set is a relaxing, rewarding project you will want to live in all weekend.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Lace weight mohair silk blend (70% mohair, 30% silk), held double throughout. Color A (mauve): 800 yards. Color B (plum): 50 yards.
• Needles: 5.0 mm (US 8) circular needles in 24" and 32" cables, plus 5.0 mm (US 8) double-pointed needles for small circumferences.
• Notions: Stitch markers, a tapestry needle, a cable needle or spare needle for holding stitches, 3 buttons (about ½" / 12 mm), and a sewing needle and thread for the appliqués.
• Finished size: Top — chest 40", length 26", sleeve length 24" from shoulder. Pants — waist 32", inseam 30".

Abbreviations

• CO — cast on: make the starting loops on your needle.
• BO — bind off: finish an edge so the stitches do not unravel.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• RS — right side: the outside, public face of the fabric.
• k — knit stitch.
• p — purl stitch.
• moss st — moss stitch: a textured pattern of knit and purl stitches that alternates every row (see Gauge and Tips).
• inc — increase: add one stitch (here, knit into the front and back of the same stitch, "kfb").
• kfb — knit into the front and back of the same stitch (makes 2 stitches from 1).
• m1 — make one: lift the bar between stitches and knit it twisted to add a stitch.
• ssk — slip, slip, knit: slip 2 stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together (a left-leaning decrease).
• k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (a right-leaning decrease).
• st st — stockinette stitch: knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows.
• Rnd — round: one pass around a circular or in-the-round piece.

Gauge

16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in moss stitch, with the yarn held double. Knit a 6" x 6" swatch, block it gently, and measure a 4" section in the middle; if you have more stitches than 16, go up a needle size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Hold the yarn double consistently. Work from two separate balls (or the inside and outside of one cake) so the two strands never twist into a tangle.
• Keep track of your moss stitch rows. Moss stitch alternates every row, so place a marker at the start of each row and check that knit stitches sit above purl stitches from the row below.
• Work the placket slit carefully. When you divide the front, put the second set of 38 stitches on a spare needle or holder so the two sides stay tidy and even.
• Block before seaming. Mohair-silk relaxes a lot with moisture, so block the pieces to the finished measurements first; your seams and appliqué placement will be much neater.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Top — Back (Color A)

Row 1 (CO): Cast on 80 sts.

Rows 2–96: Work in moss stitch, alternating knit and purl rows, until the piece measures 16" from the cast-on edge (80 sts).

Final row: Bind off all 80 sts.

Top — Front (Color A)

Row 1 (CO): Cast on 80 sts.

Rows 2–84: Work in moss stitch until the piece measures 14" from the cast-on edge (80 sts).

Row 85 (divide for placket): Work 38 sts in moss stitch, bind off 4 sts, work 38 sts in moss stitch (76 sts; 38 sts each side).

Rows 86–96: Work each side separately in moss stitch for 2" (38 sts each side).

Row 97 (rejoin): Work 38 sts across the first side, cast on 4 sts over the bound-off gap, work 38 sts across the second side (80 sts).

Rows 98–108: Continue even in moss stitch until the front measures 16" from the cast-on edge (80 sts).

Final row: Bind off all 80 sts.

Sleeves — Make 2 (Color A)

Row 1 (CO): Cast on 40 sts.

Rows 2–8: Work in moss stitch (40 sts).

Row 9 (inc): kfb, work in moss stitch to last st, kfb (42 sts).

Rows 10–16: Work even in moss stitch (42 sts).

Row 17 (inc): kfb, work in moss stitch to last st, kfb (44 sts).

Rows 18–24: Work even in moss stitch (44 sts).

Row 25 (inc): kfb, work in moss stitch to last st, kfb (46 sts).

Rows 26–32: Work even in moss stitch (46 sts).

Row 33 (inc): kfb, work in moss stitch to last st, kfb (48 sts).

Rows 34–40: Work even in moss stitch (48 sts).

Row 41 (inc): kfb, work in moss stitch to last st, kfb (50 sts).

Rows 42–48: Work even in moss stitch (50 sts).

Row 49 (inc): kfb, work in moss stitch to last st, kfb (52 sts).

Rows 50–108: Work even in moss stitch until the sleeve measures 18" from the cast-on edge (52 sts).

Final row: Bind off all 52 sts.

Placket Bands (Color A)

Right band: With RS facing, pick up 20 sts evenly along the right front placket edge. Work 1" in moss stitch (20 sts). Bind off.

Left band: With RS facing, pick up 20 sts evenly along the left front placket edge. Work 1" in moss stitch, working 3 buttonholes evenly spaced across the band (20 sts). Bind off.

Collar (Color A)

Set-up: With RS facing, pick up 60 sts evenly around the neckline (60 sts).

Rows 1–6: Work in moss stitch until the collar measures 1" (60 sts).

Final row: Bind off all 60 sts.

Strawberry Appliqués — Make 5 (Color B)

Row 1 (CO): Cast on 3 sts.

Row 2: kfb, k1, kfb (5 sts).

Row 3: Purl (5 sts).

Row 4: k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7 sts).

Rows 5–7: Work in stockinette stitch, beginning with a purl row (7 sts).

Row 8: k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1 (5 sts).

Row 9: Purl (5 sts).

Row 10: ssk, k1, k2tog (3 sts).

Final row: Bind off all 3 sts.

Pants — Legs, Make 2 (Color A)

Rnd 1 (CO): Cast on 64 sts and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist (64 sts).

Rnds 2–180: Work in moss stitch in the round until the leg measures 30" from the cast-on edge (64 sts).

Final rnd: Bind off all 64 sts.

Pants — Waistband (Color A)

Set-up: With RS facing, pick up 128 sts evenly around the waist (128 sts).

Rnds 1–12: Work in moss stitch in the round until the waistband measures 2" (128 sts).

Final rnd: Bind off all 128 sts.

Pants — Leg Cuffs (Color A)

Set-up: With RS facing, pick up 64 sts evenly around one leg opening (64 sts).

Rnds 1–6: Work in moss stitch in the round until the cuff measures 1" (64 sts).

Final rnd: Bind off all 64 sts. Repeat for the second leg opening.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the shoulder seams of the top. Set in the sleeves along the armholes, then sew the side seams and sleeve seams. Sew the placket bands in place along the front opening and sew the buttons opposite the buttonholes. Sew the leg openings of the pants together at the crotch. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, then block the top and pants to the finished measurements (chest 40", length 26", sleeve 24"; waist 32", inseam 30") using cool water and a gentle press with a towel. Once dry, sew the five strawberry appliqués to the chest and hip as desired.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color-play: Work the placket bands, collar, and cuffs in Color B for a contrasting trim that echoes the strawberries.
• Pocket option: Knit two small moss-stitch squares and sew them to the hips of the pants for a cozy, practical detail.
• Fit tweak: Add or remove stitches in multiples of 4 at the cast-on of the top and pants to adjust the ease without changing the moss-stitch pattern.