Plymouth Yarn Women's Fairisle Yoke Pullover Knitting

Plymouth Yarn Women's Fairisle Yoke Pullover

What is Being Made

This is a women's pullover sweater featuring a distinctive Fairisle yoke design. The garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small to XXL, with finished chest measurements of 34", 38", 42", 46", and 50" respectively. The pullover is designed to be worn with 2-4" of positive ease, meaning it should be sized 2-4" larger than your actual chest measurement for a comfortable fit. Center back length varies by size from 25" to 29", and all sizes feature a consistent sleeve length of 18½" measured from the underarm.

Construction Techniques

The Homestead Women's Fairisle Yoke Pullover employs a bottom-up, seamless construction worked entirely in the round. This modern knitting approach eliminates the need for seaming and creates a more cohesive garment. The body is worked first from the bottom up to the yoke using circular needles, followed by sleeves worked in the round. Once the body and sleeves reach the appropriate length, all pieces are worked together for the yoke section, where the Fairisle colorwork pattern is introduced. The yoke construction allows for elegant decreasing that shapes the garment at the shoulders while displaying the stranded colorwork pattern.

The pattern incorporates stranded colorwork in the yoke section, a traditional Fair Isle technique where multiple colors are carried across the row to create intricate geometric patterns. Fairisle yokes are a classic design element that adds visual interest and traditional appeal to a contemporary seamless construction.

Stitches Used

• 1x1 Twisted Rib: The ribbing at the lower edge is worked using 1x1 twisted rib, created by knitting through the back loop (K1tbl) alternated with purling. This twisted variation creates a more refined, elastic edge than standard ribbing. The ribbing is worked for 10 rounds at the beginning of the garment.
• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The main body of the pullover is worked in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows (or rounds when working circularly).
• Stranded Colorwork: The Fairisle yoke features stranded colorwork, where two colors are worked in each round with the unused color carried (stranded) across the back of the work.
• Wrap and Turn (W&t): This short-row shaping technique is employed to add depth and shaping to the garment. The wrap and turn is worked by slipping a stitch, wrapping the yarn around it, and turning to work back in the opposite direction, creating gradual shaping without visible gaps.
• Decreases: Strategic decreases (K2tog tbl) are used throughout the yoke to shape the garment and accommodate the stranded colorwork pattern.

Materials and Gauge

The pattern calls for Homestead yarn from Plymouth Yarn. The main color is #3 Brown Heather, with quantities varying by size: 4 skeins for Small, 5 skeins for Medium and Large, and 6 skeins for XL and XXL. Each skein weighs 100g. For the Fairisle yoke, one 100g skein each of three contrast colors is required: #6 Oatmeal Heather, #18 Navy, and #15 Denim.

The gauge is 16 stitches and 20 rows over 4" in stockinette stitch on US Size 8 (5mm) needles after blocking. For the 1x1 twisted rib, the gauge is 18 stitches over 4" when slightly stretched on US Size 8 (5mm) needles.

Needles and Notions

This pattern requires US Size 8 (5mm) circular needles in multiple lengths: 16", 24", and 32" for the smallest size, with larger sizes requiring 32" and 40" circulars. Additionally, US Size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) are needed for working the sleeves and any sections that become too small for circular needles. The pattern also requires scrap yarn for holding stitches and four stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction sections.

The pattern is written with the smallest size as the primary instructions, with larger sizes indicated in parentheses throughout. When only one number appears, that measurement or instruction applies to all sizes.