Top-down sweater with round yoke and two color Jacquard Stitches by Knitting for Breakfast

30 October, 2019

We are Alessia and Fabia Taverna from  Knitting for Breakfast, two sisters with a true passion for knitting. We live in a small Italian town near the mountains and our main source of inspiration is the nature that surrounds us. All our designs arise from the contemplation of plants and flowers. Therefore, the colors and shapes of this top-down sweater are inspired by the sensations that the surrounding mountains convey to us. The green of our mountains is very intense and in autumn a fine mist wraps it. We have tried to convey the charm and the mystery of this moment in this warm top-down sweater with round yoke and Jacquard pattern.

Top-down sweater

Knitting for Breakfast

We learned to knit when we were little girls, under the patient guidance of our grandmothers. A few years ago, we had both lost our respective jobs, then we discovered a real interest in hand knitting. Thanks to this passion, we found a way to reinvent ourselves. We worked hard, learned new techniques and started designing our own models. Gradually, our passion became a new job.

Bicolor jacquard stitches

We love knitting outdoors, on the lawn in front of the house, in the company of our 3 cats while having a good coffee. For us, knitting is a way of life. The rediscovery of slowness in a society that sometimes runs too fast. The pleasure of making something with our hands, but slowly. Undoubtedly, our goal is to bring to the present a tradition that we learned from our grandmothers and that we believe should not be missed.

Top-down sweater with yoke

Knitting for Breakfast

Level: intermediate

Materials. 7 (8, 9) balls of Katia Merino Flamé in green col.109 (COLOUR A), 2(3,4) balls in beige col.101 (COLOUR B), 5.5mm (US9) circular needles with 40 and 80cm (16’’ and 32’’) long cables, stitch markers and waste yarn.

Sizes: S (M, L)

Measurements for size M

  • Bust circumference: 106 cm
  • Total height: 62 cm
  • Height from underarm: 39 cm
  • Neck opening: 22 cm
  • Sleeve width on upper side: 17 cm
  • Sleeve length from underarm: 46 cm

Stitches and Abbreviations

  • k2tog= knit 2 stitches together
  • k = knit
  • p = purl
  • st(s) = stitch(es)
  • rep = repeat
  • skpo= slip 1, knit 1, pass stitch over
  • kfb= knit front and back
  • R= round
  • i = increase
  • Bicolour Jacquard Stitch (see GRAPHICS)
  • 1×1 Ribbing: *k1, p1* rep from * to *

▶️ Basic Knitting Stitches Videos

Gauge. With 5.5mm needles in stockinette stitch in the round: 10x10cm=16sts x 24r

How to follow the pattern

This sweater is knitted top-down, in the round with circular needles. It is worked in one-piece; therefore it has the advantage of having no seams. From the neck we knit evenly distributing the increases throughout the yoke until we reach the sleeves that are placed on hold on waste yarn and picked up later.

Two color Jacquard Stitches

A B C Graphics

Two color Jacquard Stitches

Yoke (all sizes)

With 5.5mm circular needles and Katia Merino Flamé col.109 (green) cast on 88sts + 1st, join to work in the round, working the extra stitch together with the first stitch and being careful not to twist the stitches; insert the stitch marker to mark the start of the round (88sts).

Change to Katia Merino Flamé col.101 (beige).

R1: k

R2-7: 1×1 ribbing

R8-9: k

R10: *k3, kfb, rep from * to end of round (22 increase-110sts)

R11-13: k

R14: * k10, kfb, rep from * to end of round (10 increase-120sts)

R15: k

R16-22: follow Graphic A (from right to left and R1-7), rep 12 times.

R23-24: k

R25: *k2, kfb, rep from * to end of round (40 increase-160sts)

R26-35: k

R36: *k3, kfb, rep from * to end of round (40 increase–200sts)

R37: k

R38-53: follow Graphic B (from right to left and R1-16), rep 20 times

Change to Katia Merino Flamé col.109 (green)

R54: k

R55: *k3, kfb, rep from * to end of round (50 increase-250sts)

R56-61: k

Size S

R62: *k9, kfb, rep from * to end of round (25 increase-275sts)

Size M

R62: *k4, kfb, rep from * to end of round (50 increase-300sts)

Size L

R62: *k4, kfb, rep from * to end of round (50 increase-300sts)

R63-65: k

R66: *k14, kfb, rep from * to end of round (20 increase-320sts)

All sizes

Knit 3 rounds.

Place on hold on waste yarn the firsts 58 (62, 66) sts (first sleeve), k 85 (93, 99) sts (front), cast on 2sts, place on hold on waste yarn 58 (62, 66) sts (second sleeve), k 74 (83, 89) sts (back), cast on 2sts.

Total: 163 (180,192) sts 

Top-down sweater

Body

Continue working with Katia Merino Flamé col.109 (green)

Knit 7 rounds.

Evenly distribute 3 (10,12) k2tog decreases (160 (170,180) sts)

Continue knitting every round until body measures approx 27 (31, 35) cm from underarm. 

Follow Graphic C (from right to left and from R1 to R7), rep 16 (17,18) times.

Knit 3 rounds

Work 8 rounds in 1×1 ribbing

Change to Katia Merino Flamé col.101 (beige) and loosely bind off all sts.

Top-down sweater

Sleeves (x2)

With Katia Merino Flamé col.109 (green) pick up the 58 (62, 66) sts placed on hold, insert the stitch marker to mark the start of the round and pick up and knit 2sts from underarm.

R1-2: k

R3: skpo, k until 3 sts remains from end of the round, k2tog, k1

R4-5: k

R6: skpo, k until 3 sts remains from end of the round, k2tog, k1

R7-8: k

R9: evenly distribute 6 k2tog decreases

R10-14: k

R15: skpo, k until 3 sts remains from end of the round, k2tog, k1

Rep. R10-15 other 6 times.

Continue knitting every round until sleeve measures approx 42 (45, 46) cm from underarm.

Work 9 rounds in 1×1 ribbing.

Change to Katia Merino Flamé col.101 (beige) and loosely bind off all sts.

Rep for the second sleeve.

sweater with round yoke