Like the look of yarn cake projects, but don’t have any in your stash? No problem! This beautiful gradient top features three skeins of brightly colored yarn to achieve a similar result. Gradually changing yarn from darker to lighter colors results in a smooth gradient effect.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Bust Size 30 (35, 38, 42, 46, 50)” to fit bust 29 (34, 37, 41, 45, 49)”
1” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 34”
Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] over Charts A and B, after wet blocking; 22 sts and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st, after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Malabrigo Yarn Lace (100% Baby Merino Wool; 470 yards [430 meters]/50 grams):
Top: 186 Buscando Azul (C1), 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins; 26 Continental Blue (C2), 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins; 28 Blue Surf (C3), 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) skeins.
Pullover: 186 Buscando Azul (C1) 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) skeins; 26 Continental Blue (C2), 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3) skeins; 28 Blue Surf (C3), 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins.
Needles: US size 6 (4.0 mm): two 24” circular
Notions: Markers; removable markers; stitch holders; waste yarn for provisional cast-on; tapestry needle
Measurements
Abbreviations
Kyok (central increase) – K1, yo, k1 into the same st.
Special Stitches
C1+C1 – work with two strands of C1 held together.
C1+C2 – work with one strand of C1 and one strand of C2 held together.
C2+C2 – work with two strands of C2 held together.
C2+C3 – work with one strand of C2 and one strand of C3 held together.
C3+C3 – work with two strands of C3 held together.
Chart A
Row 1 (RS): (P1, yo, k3, ssk, k3, p1, k3, k2tog, k3, yo) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Row 2 (WS): K1, (p1, yo, p3, p2tog, p2, k1, p2, p2tog tbl, p3, yo, p1, k1) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times.
Row 3: (P1, k2, yo, k3, ssk, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k2) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Row 4: K1, (p3, yo, p3, p2tog, k1, p2tog tbl, p3, yo, p3, k1) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times.
Rep Rows 1-4 for patt.
Chart B
Rnd 1: (P1, yo, k3, ssk, k3, p1, k3, k2tog, k3, yo) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 2: (P1, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k2, p1, k2, k2tog, k3, yo, k1) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) 6 times, p1.
Rnd 3: (P1, k2, yo, k3, ssk, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k2) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 4: (P1, k3, yo, k3, ssk, p1, k2tog, k3, yo, k3) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rep Rnds 1-4 for patt.
Chart C
Rnd 1: (P1, yo, k3, ssk, k3, p1, k3, k2tog, k3, yo) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 2: (P1, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k2, p1, k2, k2tog, k3, yo, k1) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 3: (P1, k2, yo, k3, ssk, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k2) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 4: (P1, k3, yo, k3, ssk, p1, k2tog, k3, yo, k3) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 5: (P1, k5, k2tog, k1, kyok, k1, ssk, k5) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 6: (P1, k17) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 7: (P1, k4, k2tog twice, yo, kyok, yo, ssk twice, k4) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 8: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 9: (P1, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, kyok, ssk, yo, k1, ssk, k3) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 10: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 11: (P1, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, kyok, k1, ssk, yo, k1, ssk, k2) rep 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 12: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 13: (P1, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k2, kyok, k2, ssk, yo, k1, ssk, k1) rep 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 15: (P1, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, k3, kyok, k3, ssk, yo, k1, ssk) 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6) times, p1.
Rnd 16: Rep Rnd 6.
Rnd 17: Rep Rnd 1.
Rnd 18: Rep Rnd 2.
Rnd 19: Rep Rnd 3.
Rnd 20: Rep Rnd 4.
Rnd 21: Rep Rnd 1.
Rnd 22: Rep Rnd 2.
Rnd 23: Rep Rnd 3.
Rnd 24: Rep Rnd 4.
Rep Rnds 1-4 for patt.
Pattern Notes
The top/pullover is worked in the round from the top down. The sleeves are worked seamlessly in the round simultaneously with the yoke.
The charts show only RS of the fabric. Chart A is worked in rows. The RS rows are worked from right to left, and the WS rows from left to right. Charts B and C are worked in rounds. All rounds are worked from right to left.
Pattern
With main needles and waste yarn, CO 11 (11, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts, cut waste yarn, with waste yarn, CO 11 (11, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts, cut waste yarn.
Back
With C1+C1 p11 (11, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts, CO 65 (71, 81, 85, 85, 85) sts, p11 (11, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts – 87 (93, 103, 111, 111, 111) sts.
* Row 1 (RS): K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart A over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1).
Row 2 (WS): P7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart A over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, p7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1).
Rep last 2 rows 3 (3, 3, 3, 5, 5) times more. **
Break yarn, place sts on hold.
Front
Carefully unravel waste yarn, and place live sts on the other needles.
With WS facing and C1+C1, p11 (11, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts, CO 65 (71, 81, 85, 85, 85) sts, p11 (11, 11, 13, 13, 13) sts – 87 (93, 103, 111, 111, 111) sts.
Work as for Back from * to **.
Do not break yarn.
Yoke
Set-up Rnd (RS): *K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart B over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), PM, turn work at 90º, pick up and k11 (11, 11, 11, 16, 16) sts along sleeve cup edge, PM; rep from * once more – 196 (208, 228, 244, 254, 254) sts.
Note: The last marker should be another color. This is a new beg rnd.
Rnd 1 (Sleeve Inc): *K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart B over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), SM, k1, yo, k to 1 st to M, yo, k1, SM; rep from * once more – 4 sts inc’d; 200 (212, 232, 248, 258, 258) sts.
Rnd 2: *K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart B over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), SM, k to M, SM; rep from * once more.
Rep last 2 rnds until you have 43 (47, 49, 55, 61, 69) sts for Sleeves, ending with Rnd 2.
Next Rnd: *K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart B over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), SM, k to M, SM; rep from * once more.
Rep last rnd until armhole meas 5¾ (6, 6½, 7, 7½, 8)” / [14.5 (15.5, 16.75, 18.25, 19, 20.5) cm] from CO, ending with Rnd 3 of Chart B.
Next Rnd: K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart B over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), SM, k to M, SM, place just worked Left Sleeve sts on a stitch holder, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart B over next 73 (91, 91, 109, 109, 109) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), place unworked Right Sleeve sts on another stitch holder, turn work to WS.
Back only
Note: Work Chart A, starting with Row 2.
Row 1 (WS): P7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart A, p7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1)
Row 2 (RS): K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart A, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1)
Row 3: P7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart A, p7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1)
Row 4: K7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), work Chart A, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1)
Body
Note: Work Chart C, starting with Row 2.
Set-up Rnd: CO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, PM for new beg rnd, CO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, k7(1, 6, 1, 1, 1), PM, work Chart C, PM, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), CO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, PM, CO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), PM, work Chart C, PM, k7 (1, 6, 1, 1, 1), k to next M.
Rnd 1: *K to M, SM, work Chart C, SM, k to M; rep from * once more.
Rep Rnd 1 until you have worked Rnd 23 of Chart C.
Next Rnd (Inc): *K1, yo, k to 1 st before M, yo, k1, SM, work Chart C, SM, k1, yo, k to 1 st before M, yo, k1; rep from * once more.
Change yarn to C1+C2. Rep Rnd 1 until you have worked Rnd 23 of Chart C. Work Inc Rnd.
Change yarn to C2+C2. Rep Rnd 1 until you have worked Rnd 23 of Chart C. Work Inc Rnd.
Change yarn to C2+C3. Rep Rnd 1 until you have worked Rnd 23 of Chart C. Work Inc Rnd.
Change yarn to C3+C3.
Next Rnd: *K to M, SM, work Chart B, SM, k to M; rep from * once more.
Rep last rnd 19 more times.
BO all sts.
Right Sleeve
Place live sts on spare needles. Beg at center underarm with C1+C1, pick up and k3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts along CO edge, 5 sts along Back, knit Sleeve sts, pick up and k3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts along CO edge to center underarm, PM for beg rnd – 54 (58, 62, 68, 76, 84) sts.
Short Sleeves Version
Knit 2 rnds.
Change yarn to C2+C2. Knit 2 rnds.
Change yarn to C3+C3. Knit 2 rnds.
BO all sts.
Long Sleeves Version
Knit 2 rnds.
Dec Rnd: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before M, k2tog, k1, SM.
Change yarn to C1+C2. Knit for 4¼ (4¼, 4¼, 4½, 4½, 4½)” / [11 (11, 11, 11,5, 11.5, 11.5) cm].
Change yarn to C2+C2. Knit for 4¼ (4¼, 4¼, 4½, 4½, 4½)” / [11 (11, 11, 11,5, 11.5, 11.5) cm].
Change yarn to C2+C3. Knit for 4¼ (4¼, 4¼, 4½, 4½, 4½)” / [11 (11, 11, 11,5, 11.5, 11.5) cm].
Change yarn to C3+C3. Knit for 4¼ (4¼, 4¼, 4½, 4½, 4½)” / [11 (11, 11, 11,5, 11.5, 11.5) cm].
AT THE SAME TIME work Dec Rnd every 30 (26, 26, 22, 14, 10) rnds 3 (4, 4, 5, 9, 12) more times – 46 (48, 52, 56, 56, 58) sts.
BO all sts.
Left Sleeve
Place live sts on spare needles. Beg at center underarm with C1+C1, pick up and k3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts along CO edge, knit Sleeve sts, pick up and k5 sts along Back, pick up and k3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts along CO edge to center underarm, PM for beg rnd – 54 (58, 62, 68, 76, 84) sts.
Short and Long Sleeve Versions
Work as Right Sleeve.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block to dimensions.
How can I download the directions for this pattern?
Hello Evie! We currently do not allow downloads of our patterns, but are exploring options in the near future. You are welcome to save this pattern by copying and pasting into a word document or by printing the pattern via the printer icon on the left hand side of your screen. Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor