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The 6th addition to the Yoke Meditation Series is perhaps the warmest and cosiest sweater I’ve designed yet, and given the large gauge also the quickest.

It is another round yoke stranded colourwork sweater, worked seamlessly from the top down, with the colourwork extending deeply past the sleeve separations. The design continues the theme of finding calm and creative flow through knitting colourwork, inspired by the art of Buddhist mandalas.

The pattern is written with a gradient set in mind for the contrast colour, so it gets darker as it grows. However, you can use a single contrast colour or as many as you like, and switch them up whenever you feel like it.

The floats can get a bit long in some spots, so I recommend using the Ladderback Jacquard method to catch them. I’ve also included charts with suggested ladder placements.

If you’re looking for a peaceful escape and enjoy mindfulness through colourwork, I hope you will enjoy knitting your own version of it.

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Translations provided by knitlingo.com

Difficulty: Intermediate

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

Finished chest circumference:

• 94.5 (108.5, 117, 128.5, 137, 148.5, 157, 168.5, 177) cm
• 37¾ (43½, 46¾, 51½, 54¾, 59½, 62¾, 67½, 70¾)” Designed to be worn with 20-25 cm / 8-10” positive ease around the chest.

NOTE: This design runs small as the thicker fabric of this sweater reduces some of the ease. If you’re comparing it to a thinner sweater, it’s best to add an extra 10-15 cm / 4-6” of ease to prevent it from feeling too tight.

Yarn: Worsted/chunky weight. Depending on the length of the sweater and shaping option, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 520 (565, 610, 665, 705, 770, 815, 870, 920) m
• 555 (615, 665, 725, 775, 840, 895, 950, 1005) yds

Contrast colour (CC) - Total across all tones:

• 270 (315, 330, 355, 385, 415, 440, 475, 490) m
• 300 (335, 355, 385, 420, 455, 475, 515, 540) yds

If using a 5-tone gradient set as in the sample:

CC1:

• 60 (70, 75, 80, 90, 95, 100, 110, 115) m
• 65 (75, 80, 90, 95, 105, 110, 120, 125) yds

CC2:

• 45 (55, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85) m
• 50 (60, 60, 65, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95) yds

CC3:

• 60 (70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 105) m
• 70 (75, 80, 85, 90, 100, 100, 110, 115) yds

CC4:

• 45 (50, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 75) m
• 50 (55, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85) yds

CC5:

• 60 (70, 75, 80, 85, 95, 100, 105, 110) m
• 70 (75, 80, 85, 95, 100, 105, 115, 120) yds

NOTE: If you’re using a yarn of different fiber/structure than the sample, you might need more of it. It’s a good idea to add an extra 10-15% just in case.

Yarns used in sample (size 2) are 12 skeins of Shangdrok Cloudy Alpaca (33% Super Fine Alpaca, 34% Baby Alpaca, 33% Wool; 75 m 82 yds / 50 g): 8 skeins of colourway Red Envelope as Main Colour (MC) and 1 skein of each colourway in gradient set Biting Lips for A Minute (5 colours) as Contrast Colour (CC).

Gauge: 14 sts & 20 rows = 10 cm / 4” in stranded colourwork in the round, on larger needles, blocked.

Suggested needles:

• 4.5 mm (US 7) or needle size required to obtain gauge. These should be circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long.
• 4 mm (US 6) or size smaller than gauge needles for the neckband. These should be circulars 40-60 cm / 16-24” long.

Notions: Stitch markers, locking stitch markers and/or bobby pins if using Japanese short rows, row counter, stitch holder, tapestry needle, spare circular needle (in smaller size), measuring tape.

Techniques used: Knitting in the round, short rows, stranded knitting, lifted increases, Ladderback Jacquard.

Notes: The sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down.