Painted Fern Sweater

A cozy, oversized knit featuring bold yoke texture and thoughtful modern shaping.

Painted Fern Sweater is a top-down, seamless design that explores multiple raglan-style increase lines paired with a striking central colorwork motif. The yoke grows organically as you knit, creating visual interest while maintaining a relaxed, wearable silhouette.

Designed to fit like a favorite oversized sweatshirt, Painted Fern balances structure and softness. Clean body and sleeve lines allow the yoke to shine, while cozy finishing details — including a folded collar and Italian bind-offs — bring polish and comfort to the finished garment.

This is a sweater for knitters who enjoy watching fabric unfold stitch by stitch, and for wearers who love an easy, relaxed fit with a little something special.

✨ Design Features

• Top-down, seamless construction
• Multiple raglan-style increase lines for a unique yoke structure
• Bold colorwork motif worked through the yoke
• Ladderback Jacquard technique used to manage long floats
• Oversized, sweatshirt-style fit
• Optional short-row shaping at the back hem for added length
• Folded collar with elastic bind-off for structure and comfort
• Italian sewn bind-offs at hem and cuffs
• Designed for yarns with a light, fluffy halo
• Bulky-weight gauge for a warm, cozy fabric

❤️ Skill Level – Intermediate

This pattern is best suited to knitters comfortable with top-down sweater construction, working in the round, and following shaping instructions. Experience with colorwork is helpful, and the Ladderback Jacquard technique is introduced and explained for managing long floats.

An engaging and rewarding knit that remains approachable with careful attention to stitch placement and pattern rhythm.

Sizes

Designed to be worn with generous positive ease.

Finished bust circumference:
37 (41, 45, 49, 54, 58, 60, 65, 69)”
93 (103, 113, 123, 135, 145, 150, 163, 173) cm

Recommended positive ease: approximately 8–12” / 20–30 cm
Sample shown with 11” / 28 cm of ease on a 38” / 95 cm bust.

Suggested Yarn

Sample Version – Oversized fit with folded collar

Main Color (MC)
Rowan Mode – Softest Alpaca, color Linen. 70% Alpaca, 23% Nylon, 7% Wool. 142 yd / 130 m per 50 g ball. Required:
615 (680, 750, 815, 900, 965, 1000, 1082, 1150) yd
560 (620, 690, 745, 825, 880, 915, 990, 1050) m

Contrast Color (CC)
Isager Yarn – Eco Soft, color EO (Natural). 56% Baby Alpaca, 44% Pima Cotton. 137 yd / 125 m per 50 g ball. Required:
105 (115, 125, 137, 150, 162, 170, 180, 195) yd
96 (105, 114, 125, 138, 150, 155, 165, 180) m

For best results, choose yarns (or a yarn combination) with a light, fluffy look and a soft halo to enhance the motif and overall coziness of the garment.

Needles & Notions
Needles
• US 10 / 6.0 mm – body and sleeves (needles for gauge)
• US 9 / 5.5 mm – hem (needles one size smaller than those for gauge)
• US 8 / 5.0 mm – collar and cuffs (needles two sizes smaller than those for gauge)

Notions
• 11 (11, 11, 11, 15, 15, 19, 19, 19) stitch markers for raglan placement
• One distinct BOR marker
• Tapestry needle
• Waste yarn or stitch holders for sleeves