Tahki Yarns Cheyenne Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Cheyenne Knitted Sweater

What is Being Made

The Cheyenne is an intermediate-level knitted pullover sweater designed by Melissa LaBarre. This garment is available in seven sizes ranging from XSmall to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 35½ inches (90 cm) to 56 inches (142 cm) and lengths from 18½ inches (47 cm) to 24 inches (61 cm). The sweater features a classic pullover construction with set-in sleeves and a crew neckline finished with ribbing.

Construction Techniques

The Cheyenne employs a seamless, top-down construction method, meaning the sweater is knitted from the neckline downward in a single piece without requiring seaming. The garment is worked in the round using circular needles, which creates a continuous fabric and eliminates the need for side seams. This technique is popular among knitters because it allows for easy fitting adjustments during the knitting process and produces a more polished finished garment.

The pattern uses a raglan yoke shaping method to create the armholes and sleeve cap. Increases are worked at regular intervals along raglan lines to gradually expand the width of the yoke section. Once the desired yoke depth is reached, the body and sleeves are divided, and the body is continued downward while the sleeves are set aside on waste yarn to be worked later.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary fabric stitch used throughout most of the sweater. This stitch creates a smooth, classic knit fabric by knitting every round when working in the round.
• Ridge Pattern: An alternating textured pattern used in certain sizes (Small, Medium, Large, 1X, 2X, 3X) that combines purl and knit rounds to create a subtle ridged texture. The pattern repeats over four rounds: a purl round, a knit round, an alternating purl-knit round, and another knit round.
• K2, P2 Rib: A classic ribbed stitch used for finishing edges, particularly at the neckline and cuffs. This stitch alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches to create an elastic, fitted edge.

Materials and Tools

The Cheyenne is designed to be knitted with Tahki Yarns Dakota, a 100% naturally undyed wool yarn. The yardage required varies by size, ranging from 4 skeins for the smallest sizes (XSmall, Small, and Medium) to 6 skeins for the largest sizes (2X and 3X). Each skein contains 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and provides 262 yards (240 meters) of yardage. The yarn is worked in color #04 Pinecone, a natural undyed wool shade.

The pattern requires size 8 (5 mm) circular needles in three different lengths: 16 inches (40 cm), 24 inches (60 cm), and 32 inches (80 cm). These multiple needle lengths accommodate the decreasing stitch counts as the knitter progresses from the wide body section to the narrower neckline. Additionally, size 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) are needed for working the sleeve caps in the round. Essential notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and raglan increases, waste yarn for temporarily holding stitches, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge and Fit

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rounds equal 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch for XSmall size. For other sizes using the Ridge Pattern, the gauge is 18 stitches and 31 rounds equal 4 inches (10 cm). Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper finished measurements, and knitters are advised to knit and measure a gauge swatch before beginning the project.