Circular Yoke Sweater
Body and sleeves knit bottom-up, joined, then a round yoke shaped by three decrease rounds. The Increase & Decrease Evenly tool writes each one.
- Yarn
- Worsted (4); add a contrast colour for a yoke band if you like.
- Needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16 in and 32 in (40 and 80 cm) circulars and DPNs; US 6 (4 mm) for ribbing
- Sizes
- Any size (size charts). Example: finished chest 40 in (102 cm), upper arm 13 in with ease.
- Example gauge
- 18 sts and 24 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette
- Yarn needed
- About 1,200 yd (1,100 m) worsted for a 40 in chest.
- Stitch multiple
- 4
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body (K) | finished chest × sts per in, to a multiple of 4 | 40 × 4.5 = 180 sts | Cast-On Calculator |
| Underarm hold | about 8% of K, even | 14 sts at each underarm | By hand |
| Sleeve top | (upper arm + ease) × sts per in | 13 × 4.5 = 58.5 → 58 sts | Size Charts |
| Yoke total | (K − 2 × hold) + 2 × (sleeve − hold) | 152 + 88 = 240 sts | By hand |
| Yoke decreases | to ⅔ at ½ depth, to ½ at ¾ depth, to 40% near the top | 240 → 160 → 120 → 96 | Increase & Decrease Evenly |
Materials
- Worsted (4) yarn (see yarn needed)
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16 in and 32 in (40 and 80 cm) circulars and DPNs; US 6 (4 mm) for ribbing
- Markers
- Waste yarn
- Tapestry needle
Gauge swatch
Swatch in the round.
Instructions
Sleeves (make 2)
With DPNs and smaller needle, cast on the cuff (example: 36). Work 2 in of *k2, p2* rib. Change to larger needle.
Inc rnd: K1, M1L, knit to last st, M1R, k1. Increase every 8th rnd until you have the sleeve top (example: 11 times to 58). Knit to sleeve length.
Put the first and last 7 sts (the hold count) on waste yarn. Leave the rest on a spare needle.
Body
With smaller needle, cast on K. Join. Work 2 in of *k2, p2* rib. Change to larger needle and knit to underarm length (example: 14 in / 36 cm total).
Next rnd: Put 7 sts either side of each side “seam” (14 at each underarm) on waste yarn.
Join
Knit across back, sleeve, front, sleeve, placing a marker at the start of round. You have the yoke total (example: 240).
Yoke
Yoke depth: 8–9 in (20–23 cm) for adults; measure a favourite sweater. Example: 9 in.
Knit to half the yoke depth. Dec 1: *K1, k2tog* around (240 → 160).
Knit to three-quarters of the depth. Dec 2: *K2, k2tog* around (160 → 120).
Knit to 1 in (2.5 cm) short of the depth. Dec 3: *K3, k2tog* around (120 → 96).
When your counts don’t divide exactly, enter them in the Increase & Decrease Evenly and follow its written round.
Neck
Change to smaller 16 in needle. Work 1 in of *k2, p2* rib. Bind off loosely in rib.
Finishing
- Graft the underarm sts with Kitchener stitch.
- Weave in ends and block.
Designer’s notes
- Colourwork band: place it between Dec 1 and Dec 2, using a motif that divides 160 (repeats of 4, 5, 8, 10 or 16).
- Neck too wide? Decrease a further 10% in the first round of the rib.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: yoke rounds. Counter 2: sleeve increase rounds.
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Tools for this pattern
- Size ChartsLook up the finished measurements for the size you are making.
- Gauge CalculatorEnter your swatch counts to get stitches and rows per 4 in (10 cm).
- Cast-On CalculatorEnter your width and gauge; it rounds to the stitch multiple for you.
- Increase & Decrease EvenlyEnter stitches now and stitches wanted; copy the written row it gives you.
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.