Fanback Sweater by Amelia Archer

Fanback Sweater

Knitting
December 2023
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette
US 3 - 3.25 mm
60 - 540 yards (55 - 494 m)
newborn - adult 5XL
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

This yoke design may be scaled to any size because it uses a half circle for the back and single increases on each row to form triangles for a front v-neck. The yoke is knit back and forth in garter stitch following an easy formula.

Originally developed to have fun with self-striping yarn, I have used Knit Spin Farms sock yarn to make colorful yokes with solid/tonal bodies and sleeves. But really any fingering/sport weight yarn choice would be fun to explore. The yoke has a stretchy texture.

The pattern has suggestions for sleeve separation, but leaves the sleeves and body and neck/button bands up to the knitter’s basic knowledge for custom fit and styling.

The gauge for the Color Loop-garter yoke is
25 sts/ 22 garter ridges = 4 inches/10 cm garter stitch

Color Loops are vertically stranded loops that are knit or slipped on subsequent rounds and then end with a last stitch worked--no ends to weave in! In this design they are used as radial spokes of the fanback design, and line up all the increases.

One skein of self-striping yarn is more than enough, and I would suggest a contrasting yarn for the Color Loops and sleeves/body. (No yardage given for sleeves/body.)

A note on the fabric created: the Color Loops form subtle purl bumps in the RS and vertical strands on the WS, so the knitter may choose either side as the visible side based on their preference.