Free Knitting Pattern for a Top-Down Colorwork Sweater, featuring a round yoke and short row shaping.
This beautiful sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down, featuring a striking stranded colorwork yoke. The design incorporates short rows to shape the back and shoulders for a comfortable fit. The body and sleeves are worked in simple stockinette stitch, with a colorwork detail at the hem and cuffs, finishing with ribbed edges. The pattern uses Merino Sweet yarn in four colors, creating a vibrant and visually appealing garment.
The design is mostly in St st, and the colorwork charts make this suitable for Intermediate knitters.
Skill Level: Intermediate (Stranded colorwork, short rows, picking up stitches, working in the round)
Size: M
Materials Used:
- Merino Sweet yarn (specific colors and quantities listed in the pattern)
- Color 20 (Natural) – 3 hanks
- Color 4283 (Citrus) – 1 hank
- Color 3022 (Raspberry) – 1 hank
- Color 9015 (Amaranth) – 1 hank
- 3.50 mm circular knitting needles (40 cm and 80 cm cables)
- 4.0 mm circular knitting needles (60 cm and 80 cm cables)
*Note, cables can be longer if prefered for magic loop method.
Notions:
- 17 stitch markers (16 of one color, 1 of a different color)
Gauge: 23 stitches x 29 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 inches) in stockinette stitch using 4.0 mm needles.
Pattern Considerations:
- Top-Down Construction: The sweater is worked from the collar down, allowing for easy try-ons and adjustments as you go.
- Circular Needles: The entire project is worked in the round using circular needles.
- Stranded Colorwork: The yoke features a stranded colorwork pattern. Familiarity with carrying two or more colors of yarn in the same row is required. The pattern provides charts to follow.
- Short Rows: Short rows are used to shape the back of the neck and shoulders, creating a better fit. The pattern uses the Wrap & Turn (W&T) method, but notes that other short row methods can be substituted. Instructions are provided for resolving W&T stitches.
- Increases: The yoke increases are evenly distributed throughout the colorwork section. The pattern indicates where to make these increases.
- Sleeve Separation: Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the body is worked, then picked up later.
- Underarm Cast-On: Stitches are cast on at the underarms to provide a comfortable fit.
- Ribbing: The collar, cuffs, and hem are worked in 1×1 rib.
- Bind-Off: A loose bind-off is recommended for the ribbed edges to prevent them from being too tight.
- Finishing: Weaving in yarn ends is an important part of the finishing stage.
- Blocking: Blocking is recommended to even out the stitches and improve the overall appearance of the sweater.
