Valley Yarns Robineau Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Robineau Stranded Colorwork Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Robineau is a top-down yoke sweater designed by Julie Turjoman, featuring a distinctive stranded colorwork yoke worked in two contrasting colors. This intermediate-level knitting project is engineered as a seamless, in-the-round construction that creates a polished, professional finish. The sweater is designed with generous positive ease of 2 to 4 inches, making it an excellent layering piece for versatile everyday wear. Available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5XL, with finished bust measurements from 33¾ inches to 60¾ inches, the Robineau accommodates a wide range of body types and fit preferences.

Techniques Used

This sweater employs several advanced knitting techniques that define its intermediate skill level. The top-down construction method allows knitters to begin at the neckline and work downward, providing flexibility to try on the garment as it develops and easily adjust length to personal preference. The sweater is worked in the round using circular needles, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates seamless, continuous fabric. The most visually striking technique is stranded colorwork, where two yarn colors are carried simultaneously across the yoke section, creating an intricate, delicate pattern that lies gracefully over the shoulders. The contrast color is strategically repeated on both the sleeve and body hems, unifying the design. The pattern also incorporates the LLI (left-leaning increase) method for shaping increases distributed evenly around the yoke, ensuring balanced, invisible increases that maintain the integrity of the colorwork pattern.

Stitches Used

The Robineau primarily utilizes stockinette stitch as the foundational fabric, which is worked over the body and sleeves to create a smooth, refined surface. The neckband features garter stitch, a reversible textured stitch created by alternating knit and purl rounds, providing a decorative and slightly elastic edge at the neck opening. The stranded colorwork yoke section combines stockinette stitch with the two-color stranded technique, where both yarn colors are worked simultaneously to form the pattern. Shaping throughout the sweater is accomplished using K2tog (knit two together) decreases and the LLI increase method, allowing for precise yoke shaping and sleeve cap construction.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Robineau is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Worthington, a premium blend yarn composed of 50% wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose. This fiber composition creates a garment with excellent warmth, softness, and subtle sheen. The main color (MC) requires 6 to 11 skeins depending on size, while the contrast color (CC) requires 2 skeins. Each skein of Worthington weighs 50 grams and yields 174 yards, providing reliable yardage calculations for this project.

Needles required include US size 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 29-40 inch lengths, along with double-pointed needles (dpn) of the same size for working the yoke decreases. A US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle in 16-inch length and a set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles in the smaller size are used for the garter stitch neckband. The pattern recommends switching to the longest available circular needle as the stitch count increases during yoke construction. Additional materials include 4 stitch markers in 2 unique colors for tracking pattern repeats and increases, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger US size 6 needles. Achieving correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and fit. The sweater is offered in nine sizes with finished bust measurements ranging from 33¾ inches (XS) to 60¾ inches (5XL), accommodating diverse sizing needs while maintaining the design's proportions and visual impact of the stranded colorwork yoke.