Round yoke sweater: calculated for your measurements

A round yoke has no raglan lines: from the neck, stitches are increased in a few rounds evenly all the way round, then the yoke splits into body and sleeves. It is the classic home for colourwork. Here is how each number is worked out.

Calculate a round yoke →

How a round yoke works

The sweater is knit top-down in the round. You cast on at the neck, then work 3–4 increase rounds spread evenly round the whole circle, with plain sections in between. When the yoke reaches the underarm, the stitches are divided into the body and two sleeves, and a few stitches are cast on under each arm.

Unlike a raglan, the increases do not form lines, so the yoke stays smooth and takes a circular motif easily.

Numbers for size M

• Neck cast-on: 92 sts
• Increase rounds: +50 +78 +120 sts
• Yoke stitches at the end: 340, yoke depth — 60 rounds
• Body stitches after the split: 224
• Yarn: 1140–1450 m

Yoke depth and back raise

Yoke depth is the distance from the neck to the underarm, usually 19–24 cm for women’s sizes. Too shallow and the sweater pinches under the arms; too deep and it folds. So the sweater does not pull backwards, work a few short rows across the back after the neckband — a 2–3 cm back raise.

A colourwork yoke

Choose a motif so the stitch count at each stage divides by the repeat. The builder fits the increases to your motif’s repeat, and you can draw the motif in the colourwork editor.

FAQ