A Floral Affair Pullover

A circular yoke pullover with a stranded colorwork band of flowers, A Floral Affair pullover is knitted seamlessly from the top down. Worked in fingering weight, it's the kind of sweater that earns its place in constant rotation: it’s light enough for early autumn over a shirt, warm enough to carry you through the coldest months layered under a coat.

The yoke comes first, colorwork and all, with short rows worked underneath to lengthen the back for a fit that sits right at the hem: no dipping in front, no riding up in back. From thereon the body and sleeves are in simple stockinette stitch. The cuffs pick up a whisper of the yoke's colorwork before settling into ribbing, tying the whole sweater together.

The neckband is the last piece, picked up once the yoke is finished, which means you get to try the sweater on before deciding. Choose your favourite from four options: a short ribbed neck, a folded neck, a funnel neck, or a full turtleneck. 

Knit the flowers in a single contrast shade for a classic, graphic look, or choose a new color for each row of flowers by row for something closer to a garden in bloom.

Ways to wear it: Tucked into high-waisted trousers with the turtleneck version for a polished, everyday look. Loose over a midi skirt with the folded neck for softness. Layered under a wool coat as your first line of defense against the cold. Or on its own on milder days, letting the colorwork yoke be the whole outfit.

Sizes

When choosing a size, measure your bust and add the intended ease, then choose the size that is closest to that measurement. You can also measure the bust circumference of your favorite sweater and choose a size that is closest to that.

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished circumference around the bust: 89 (99, 108, 120, 129) (140, 149, 160, 170) cm / 35 (39, 42.25, 47.25, 50.75) (55, 58.75, 63, 67) inches including the intended positive ease of 10-15 cm / 4-6 inches

Yoke height (adjustable): 24 (24, 24, 24, 26) (26, 26, 28, 28) cm / 9.5 (9.5, 9.5, 9.5, 10.25) (10.25, 10.25, 11, 11) inches

Length from hem to underarm (adjustable): 28 (28, 30, 30, 32) (32, 34, 34, 34) cm / 11 (11, 11.75, 11.75, 12.5) (12.5, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5) inches

Sleeve length from cuff to underarm (adjustable): 42 inches

Upper arm circumference: 37 (38, 40, 42, 45) (50, 55, 58, 59) cm / 14.5 (15, 15.75, 16.5, 17.75) (19.75, 21.75, 22.75, 23.25) inches

Yarn

MC: 860 (950, 1040, 1150, 1260) (1390, 1530, 1680, 1850) m / 950 (1040, 1150, 1260, 1390) (1520, 1680, 1840, 2030) yards of fingering weight yarn 

CC1: 90 (100, 100, 120, 130) (140, 150, 170, 190) m / 90 (100, 110, 130, 140) (150, 170, 180, 200) yards of fingering weight yarn 

Sample: Skydance Fibers Nova (45% merino, 30% baby alpaca, 15% linen, 10% silk; 384 m / 420 yards per 100 g); 3 (3, 3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 5, 5) skeins of MC, shown in colorway 65 Deep Dark Clouds, and 1 skein of CC, shown in colorway 16 Steamy Kitchen Window.

Needles 

3 mm / US2.5 for the ribbing

• DPNs or circular needles with a cable suitable for small circumference knitting for cuffs

• circular needles with a cable length of 40 cm / 16 inches for the neckline

• circular needles with a cable length of 80 cm / 32 inches for smaller sizes and 100 cm / 40 inches for larger sizes for the hem

3.25 mm / US3 for the main part:

• DPNs or circular needles with a cable suitable for small circumference knitting for sleeves

• circular needles with a cable length of 80 cm / 32 inches for smaller sizes and 100 cm / 40 inches for larger sizes for the main part

Note: You might want to go up one needle size for the colorwork part. In that case use 3.5 mm / US 4 needles for the colorwork sections.

Gauge

22 sts and 30 rounds = 10 cm / 4 inches of colorwork and Stockinette stitch on the larger needles, in the round, after blocking

Notions

• stitch markers

• waste yarn

• tapestry needle

• blocking tools