A circular yoke sweater with a simple colorwork pattern
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
SIZING
The pattern is designed to have 3 inches of positive ease. Select a size based on your actual bust width plus the 3 inches of positive ease, totaling the bust width in (A).
(A) Bust Width:
32 (36, 40, 44, 48) (52, 56, 60, 64) inches or 81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122) (132, 142, 152.5, 162.5) cm
(B) Sleeve Length:
21 (21.5, 21.5, 22, 22) (22.5, 22.5, 23, 23) inches or 53.5 (54.5, 54.5, 56, 56) (57, 57, 58.5, 58.5) cm
(C) Total Length:
20.5 (21, 22, 22, 22) (22.5, 23, 23, 22.5) inches or 52 (53.5, 56, 56, 56) (57, 58.5, 58.5, 57) cm
(D) Yoke Length:
8 (8.5, 9.5, 10, 10) (10.5, 11.5, 12, 12) inches or 20.5 (21.5, 24, 25.5, 25.5) (26.5, 29, 30.5, 30.5) cm
(E) Waist Length:
12.5 (12.5, 12.5, 12, 12) (12, 11.5, 11, 10.5) inches or 32 (32, 32, 30.5, 30.5) (30.5, 29, 28, 26.5) cm
(F) Upper Sleeve Width:
13 (13.5, 14, 15, 16.5) (18.5, 20.5, 21.5, 22.5) inches or 33 (34.5, 35.5, 38, 42) (47, 52, 54.5, 57) cm
GAUGE
15 sts x 22 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using size 10 (US), 6.0 mm needles
NOTIONS
Stitch markers
Scrap yarn
Tapestry needle
SUGGESTED NEEDLES
Size 9 (US), 5.5 mm circular needles
Size 9 (US), 5.5 mm double pointed needles or small circular needles
Size 10 (US), 6.0 mm circular needles
Size 10 (US), 6.0 mm double pointed needles or small circular needles
SUGGESTED YARN
3 (4, 4, 5, 5) (5, 6, 6, 7) skeins Knit Picks Simply Wool Worsted in Winnie (MC) or 571 (634, 704, 773, 846) (950, 1049, 1124, 1175) yards or 522 (580, 644, 707, 774) (869, 959, 1028, 1074) meters of worsted weight yarn
1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1, 1) skeins Classic Elite Yarns Wildwood in Beaver (CC) or 67 (74, 83, 91, 99) (111, 123, 132, 138) yards or 61 (68, 76, 83, 91) (101, 112, 121, 126) meters of worsted weight yarn with a thick and thin or boucle texture
STITCH ABBREVIATIONS
BO – bind off
BOR – beginning of round
CC – contrast color
CO – cast on
K – knit
K2tog – knit two stitches together (decrease)
M1L – pick up the bar between the stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back, and knit into the back of the stitch
MC – main color
P – purl
PM – place marker
Rd(s) – round(s)
RS – right side
Sl – slip
SSK – slip unworked stitch from left needle to right needle knitwise. Slip a second unworked stitch from the left needle to the right needle knitwise. Slip those two unworked stitches separately back to the left needle purlwise. Knit those two stitches together in the back of the stitches (decrease)
St(s) – stitch(es)
SM – slip marker
Wrp-tk – with the yarn in the back, slip the next stitch purl wise, bring the yarn to the front, slip the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle, turn
Wrp-tp – with the yarn in the front, slip the next stitch purl wise, bring the yarn to the back, slip the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle, turn
WS – wrong side
YO – yarn over; bring the working yarn to the front of your work and bring it over the top of the right needle
Pattern Notes
This circular yoke sweater is knit in the round and from the top down, beginning with a close fitting neckline you cast on. Before starting the yoke increases, you work short rows on the back panel so the sweater sits nicely on your torso. Work the short rows back and forth as indicated, leaving the remaining stitches unworked until the short rows are complete. On your first round after the short rows, be sure to pick up your wraps (helpful video tutorial from VeryPink Knits available here).
Then, you work the yoke using corrugated ribbing, which includes a front and a back body panel and the beginning of two sleeve panels. When your yoke is long enough to reach your armpits, you separate the sleeve panels from the body panels, holding the sleeve stitches on scrap yarn. At the sleeve separation round, you will cut the yarn and the first sts after the BOR are half of the sleeve stitches for one sleeve panel to hold on scrap yarn. The other half of the sleeve stitches for that same sleeve panel are held on the same scrap yarn and are at the end of the round. The sleeve sts for one of the sleeve panels are split in half on either side of the BOR to ensure the short row shaping sits in the center of the back.
You will join the body panels on the sleeve separation round, then finish the body of the sweater down to the waist. The pattern includes optional bust darts, including suggested spacing for each size and a description to customize bust darts based on your own measurements. (Note: the sweater in the modeled picture does not feature bust darts.) You then work each sleeve individually and in the round. You finish by picking up stitches at the neckline and working an i-cord bind off for the collar.
Stitch counts and round counts are indicated for each size based on the following size order: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). It is recommended that you highlight the stitch and round counts for your size before beginning to knit.
Stitches that appear between * and * should be worked until the end, unless otherwise indicated.
It is recommended you check your gauge on both the circular needles and double pointed needles (or small circular needles) to ensure your tension is the same. Adjust your needle size as necessary to obtain gauge.
INSTRUCTIONS
Collar:
Using long tail cast on and larger needles, CO 64 (66, 70, 76, 78) (88, 90, 86, 88) sts. PM for BOR and begin working in the round.
Rd 1: K
Short Rows:
Rd 2: (set up round) K32 (33, 35, 38, 39) (44, 45, 43, 44), PM, K to end
R1: K to 3 sts before marker, wrp-tk, turn
R2: P to 3 sts before marker, wrp-tp, turn
R3: K to 3 sts before last wrapped stitch, wrp-tk, turn
R4: P to 3 sts before last wrapped stitch, wrp-tp, turn
Repeat R3-4 one additional time. Knit to BOR. Begin working in the round again and remove the short row marker on your next round. When you work a wrapped stitch for the first time on the next round, pick up the wrap and knit it together with the live stitch.
Yoke Increases:
Rd 3: *K1 in MC, K1 in CC*
Rd 4: *K1 in MC, P1 in CC*
Rd 5: In MC, K to end
Rd 6: In MC, *K2, M1L.* You will now have 96 (99, 105, 114, 117) (132, 135, 129, 132) sts.
Rd 7: *K1 in MC, K1 in CC*
Rd 8-9: *K1 in MC, P1 in CC*
Rd 10: In MC, K to end
Rd 11: In MC, *K3, M1L.* You will now have 128 (132, 140, 152, 156) (176, 180, 172, 176) sts.
Rd 12: *K1 in MC, K1 in CC*
Rd 13-15: *K1 in MC, P1 in CC*
Rd 16: In MC, K to end
Rd 17: In MC, *K4, M1L.* You will now have 160 (165, 175, 190, 195) (220, 225, 215, 220) sts.
Rd 18: *K1 in MC, K1 in CC*
Rd 19-22: *K1 in MC, P1 in CC*
Rd 23: In MC, K to end
Rd 24: In MC, *K5, M1L.* You will now have 192 (198, 210, 228, 234) (264, 270, 258, 264) sts.
Rd 25: *K1 in MC, K1 in CC*
Rd 26-30: *K1 in MC, P1 in CC*
Rd 31: In MC, K to end
Rd 32: In MC, *K12 (7, 6, 5, 4) (5, 3, 2, 2), M1L* until you have 0 (2, 0, 3, 2) (4, 0, 0, 0) sts remaining, K until end. You will now have 208 (226, 245, 273, 292) (316, 360, 387, 396) sts.
Rd 33: *K1 in MC, K1 in CC*
Rd 34-39: *K1 in MC, P1 in CC*
Rd 40: In MC, K to end
Repeat Rd 40 for a total of 7 (10, 13, 16, 18) (20, 24, 27, 29) repeats.
Try on your piece. The length should fall just below your armpits, where you can comfortably pinch together either side of a sleeve panel under your arms. If it is too short, continue working K rounds until you reach the described length. Cut yarn and join again for the next round.
Separate Sleeves from Body:
Rd 41 (Set up Round): Place 23 (24, 25, 27, 29) (33, 36, 38, 40) sts on scrap yarn or stitch holder to save for later, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) sts, PM for the new BOR, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) sts, K across 58 (65, 73, 83, 88) (92, 108, 118, 118) sts, place 46 (48, 50, 54, 58) (66, 72, 76, 80) sts on scrap yarn or stitch holder to save for later, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) sts, PM, CO 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) sts, K across 58 (65, 73, 83, 88) (92, 108, 118, 118) sts, place remaining 23 (24, 25, 27, 29) (33, 36, 38, 40) sts on the same scrap yarn or stitch holder as the sts from the beginning of the round. You will now have 120 (134, 149, 169, 184) (192, 224, 243, 244) sts on your needles, not counting the sleeve sts on the scrap yarn.
Body with Bust Darts: (Optional)
Use this section if you would like to add bust darts to your sweater and make it more form fitting at the waist. For instructions on how to calculate and customize the bust darts to your particular size, please see the Pattern Notes about Adding Bust Darts.
Rd 42: (setup round) K11 (14, 16, 20, 21) (23, 28, 31, 31), PM for bust dart marker, K36 (37, 41, 43, 46) (46, 52, 56, 56), PM for bust dart marker, K across to next underarm marker, SM, K across
Rd 43: K1, K2tog, K until 3 sts before bust dart marker, SSK, K1, K until next bust dart marker, SM, K1, K2tog, K until 3 sts before underarm marker, SSK, K1, SM, K across.
Rd 44: K across
Repeat Rds 43-44 an additional 4 (5, 6, 8, 8) (9, 10, 12, 13) times for a total of 5 (6, 7, 9, 9) (10, 11, 13, 14) repeats. You will now have 88 (94, 109, 129, 144) (152, 180, 191, 188) sts.
Rd 45: K across
Repeat Rd 46 a total of 52 (50, 46, 41, 40) (37, 32, 27, 23) times, or until you reach 1 inch less than your desired length.
Rd 46: Using smaller needles, *Sl1, P1*
Rd 47-52: *K1, P1*
Bind off in ribbing pattern.
Body without Bust Darts:
Rd 42: K across
Repeat Rd 43 a total of 62 (62, 60, 59, 58) (57, 54, 53, 51) times, or until you reach 1 inch less than your desired length.
For Sizes M (L, 4XL) ONLY:
Rd 43: K across until last 2 sts, K2tog
For ALL Sizes:
Rd 44: Using smaller needles, *Sl1, P1*
Rd 45-50: *K1, P1*
Bind off in ribbing pattern.
Sleeves:
(Set up Round): Remove 46 (48, 50, 54, 58) (66, 72, 76, 80) sts from scrap yarn and distribute evenly along larger double pointed needles or small circular needles. Find the bottom of the armpit (where you CO sts at the sleeve separation), and pick up 2 (2, 2, 2, 4) (4, 4, 4, 4) sts. PM in the middle of the picked up sts at the bottom of the armpit to mark the BOR.
Rd 1-7 (7, 6, 5, 4) (3, 3, 2, 2): In MC, K across
Rd 8 (8, 7, 6, 5) (4, 4, 3, 3): In MC, K1, K2tog, K until 3 sts before end, SSK, K1
Repeat Rds 1-8 (8, 7, 6, 5) (4, 4, 3, 3) an additional 10 (11, 12, 14, 16) (20, 23, 24, 26) times for a total of 11 (12, 13, 15, 17) (21, 24, 25, 27) repeats. You will now have 26 (26, 26, 26, 28) (28, 28, 30, 30) sts.
Repeat Rd1 for a total of 19 (14, 19, 23, 28) (32, 20, 43, 37) repeats, or until you reach 1 inch less than your desired length.
Rd 9: Using smaller needles, *Sl1, P1*
Rd 10-15: *K1, P1*
Bind off in ribbing pattern.
Collar:
Using smaller needles, pick up and knit 64 (66, 70, 76, 78) (88, 90, 86, 88) sts along neckline edge. Bind off using the I-Cord Bind Off (video tutorial available here) until the last 3 sts. Using a separate needle, pick up 3 sts along the edge of the CO stitches at the beginning of the round. Holding the two needles together, graft the 3 sts at the end of the round to the 3 picked up sts at the beginning of the round.
Weave in ends using a tapestry needle. Block your garment.
THANK YOU!
I hope you enjoyed making the Pathways Sweater as much as I did! Tag me on Instagram @knitabitcrochetaway and use #knitabitcrochetaway and #PathwaysSweater– I’d love to see your progress and finished product!