Knit an easy yet elegant top-down yoke sweater—the Simplo pattern is quick to knit with bulky yarn
This easy yoke sweater is knitted from the top-down. The yoke is quick and effortless to knit thanks to its eyelet increases, and the purl stripes add to the elegant structure and texture. Designer Meiju Kallio's detailed instructions are easy to follow.
Sizing: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). The pullover is intended to be worn with approx. 2-6″ / 5-15 cm of positive ease at the bust. The sample is shown in size 3.
Finished measurements:
- Bust circumference: 34.5 (38.25, 41.74, 44.25, 45.5, 46.75) (50.5, 53, 56.5, 61.5, 65.25, 69)″ / 86 (95, 105, 111, 114, 117) (126, 132, 142, 154, 163, 172) cm
- Sleeve circumference: 12.5 (13, 16, 17.25, 17.75, 18.5) (19, 20.25, 21, 22, 22.75, 23.5)″ / 31 (32, 40, 43, 45, 46) (48, 51, 52, 55, 57, 58) cm
- Yoke depth from the middle front (ribbing included), approx.: 8 (8, 8.75, 8.75, 9.5, 9.5) (9.75, 9.75, 10.5, 10.5, 11, 11)″ / 20 (20, 22, 22, 24, 24) (25, 25, 27, 27, 28, 28) cm
- Total length from the back of the neck: Approx. 21" / 53 cm (or desired length)
- Sleeve length from the underarm: Approx. 20" / 50 cm (or desired length)
- Neck circumference (will stretch out slightly in use): 18.5 (18.5, 20.25, 20.25, 21, 21) (21, 21, 22.75, 22.75, 23.5, 23.5)" / 46 (46, 51, 51, 52, 52) (52, 52, 57, 57, 58, 58) cm
Materials for the Simplo yoke sweater:
- Yarn: Novita Halaus (40 % Cotton, 35 % Alpaca, 25 % Wool, 50 g / 109 yds / 100 m / skein). You will need 7 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10) (10, 11, 11, 12, 13, 13) skeins or 706 (766, 872, 939, 969, 998) (1058, 1116, 1176, 1265, 1325, 1385) yds / 648 (703, 800, 862, 889, 915) (970, 1024, 1079, 1161, 1216, 1271) m of similar yarn. Color 6011 Henkäys (sand brown).
- Needles: US 10 / 6 mm circular needle for body and sleeves. Sleeves are worked using the magic loop technique, or with DPNs. US 8 / 5 mm circular needle for ribbing. Adjust the needle size to get the correct gauge.
- Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker, scrap yarn/stitch holders.
Gauge: 13 sts and 20 rnd = 4 × 4″ / 10 × 10 cm stockinette st with larger (US 10 / 6 mm) needle
Abbreviations & techniques:
- 1 × 1 ribbing in the round: *k1, p1*, rep *–*.
- approx.: approximately
- bef: before
- BO: bind off
- BOR: beginning of the round/row
- CO: cast on
- dpn(s): double pointed needle(s)
- foll: follows, following
- German short row: Work one more st than indicated in the pattern. Turn work. The working yarn is in the front. Slip the stitch from your left-hand needle to the right-hand needle. Pull the yarn from the slipped stitch tightly up, over and behind the needle, so that both legs of sts below will lift on the needle and look like a double stitch. You have now created the German short row stitch. When you later come to this double stitch, knit it as one.
- k: knit
- k2tog: knit two sts together (right-leaning single decrease)
- LH needle: left hand needle
- M: marker
- MDS: make double stitch, see German short row
- p: purl
- patt: pattern
- PM: place marker
- rep: repeat
- rnd: round
- RH needle: right hand needle
- RS: right side
- SM: slip marker
- ssk: slip, slip, knit; slip one st as if to knit, slip second stitch as if to knit, place the sts back to the left-hand needle in their new orientation, knit slipped sts together through the back loop = decrease
- st(s): stitch(es)
- St st: Stockinette stitch; knit on RS, purl on WS
- WS: wrong side
- yo: yarn over
Pattern for the Simplo yoke sweater
Construction
Work sweater from the top down. After working the yoke, use short rows to make the back of the neck taller than the front. Separate the body and sleeves and work each in the round. Shape sleeves with decreases. Follow the detailed directions below.
Yoke
Using the smaller (US 8 / 5 mm) needle, CO 60 (60, 66, 66, 68, 68) (68, 68, 74, 74, 74, 76) sts using tubular CO (or the method you prefer). Being careful not to twist the sts, join work to knit in the round. PM for BOR. This is the middle back.
Work 1 × 1 ribbing:
Rnd 1 (RS): *K1, p1*, rep *–* to end.
Rnd 2: As rnd 1.
Work in ribbing for 1.25″ / 3 cm.
Change to the larger (US 10 / 6 mm) needle.
Next rnd: Purl.
Shaping the yoke
1st increase section:
Size 1: K10, [m1R, k20] × 2, m1R, k10. (3 sts increased)
Size 2: K5, [m1R, k10] × 5, m1R, k5. (6 sts increased)
Size 3: K3, [m1R, k10] × 3, [k10, m1R] × 3, k3. (6 sts increased)
Size 4: K1, [m1R, k8] × 4, m1R, [k8, m1R] × 4, k1. (9 sts increased)
Size 5: K4, [m1R, k6] × 5, [k6, m1R] × 5, k4. (10 sts increased)
Size 6: K4, [m1R, k5] × 6, m1R, [k5, m1R] × 6, k4. (13 sts increased)
Size 7: K2, [m1R, k4] × 8, m1R, [k4, m1R] × 8, k2. (16 sts increased)
Size 8: K5, [m1R, k3] × 9, k2, m1R, k2, [k3, m1R] × 9, k5. (19 sts increased)
Size 9: K5, [m1R, k4] × 8, [k4, m1R] × 8, k5. (16 sts increased)
Size 10: K1, [m1R, k4] × 9, m1R, [k4, m1R] × 9, k1. (19 sts increased)
Size 11: K4, [m1R, k3] × 11, k1, m1R, k1, [k3, m1R] × 11, k4. (23 sts increased)
Size 12: K6, [m1R, k2] × 14, k4, m1R, k4, [k2, m1R] × 14, k6. (23 sts increased)
You now have 63 (66, 72, 75, 78, 81) (84, 87, 90, 93, 99, 105) sts.
Next rnd: Knit.
2nd increase section:
Inc rnd 2: *K3, m1R *, rep *-* to end.
21 (22, 24, 25, 26, 27) (28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35) sts increased, you now have 84 (88, 96, 100, 104, 108) (112, 116, 120, 124, 132, 140) sts.
Knit 2 rnds.
Short row section:
Short Row 1 (RS): K 21 (22, 24, 25, 26, 27) (28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35), turn.
Short Row 2 (WS): MDS, p to BOR, SM, p 21 (22, 24, 25, 26, 27) (28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35), turn.
Short Row 3 (RS): MDS, k to BOR, SM, k to last DS, work DS as one, k 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7), turn.
Short Row 4 (WS): MDS, p to BOR, SM, p to last DS, work DS as one, p 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7), turn.
Rep Short Rows 3 & 4 above two more times.
Next Row (RS): MDS, k to BOR, SM.
Next rnd: Purl. (Work DSs as one).
Increase section 3:
Inc rnd 3: K2, yo, *k4, yo*, rep *-* to 2 sts bef end, k2.
21 (22, 24, 25, 26, 27) (28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35) sts increased, you now have 105 (110, 120, 125, 130, 135) (140, 145, 150, 155, 165, 175) sts.
Knit 5 rnds.
Purl 1 rnd.
Inc rnd 4: K3, yo, *k5, yo*, rep *-* to 2 sts bef end, k2.
21 (22, 24, 25, 26, 27) (28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35) sts increased, you now have 126 (132, 144, 150, 156, 162) (168, 174, 180, 186, 198, 210) sts.
Knit 6 rnds.
Next rnd: Purl.
Inc rnd 5: K4, yo, *k6, yo*, rep *-* to 2 sts bef end, k2.
21 (22, 24, 25, 26, 27) (28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35) sts increased, you now have 147 (154, 168, 175, 182, 189) (196, 203, 210, 217, 231, 245) sts.
Knit 7 rnds.
Next rnd: Purl.
Inc rnd 6: K5, yo, *k7, yo*, rep *-* to 2 sts bef end, k2.
21 (22, 24, 25, 26, 27) (28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35) sts increased, you have 168 (176, 192, 200, 208, 216) (224, 232, 240, 248, 264, 280) sts.
Work in St st until the yoke measures 8 (8, 8.75, 8.75, 9.5, 9.5) (9.75, 9.75, 10.5, 10.5, 11, 11)″ / 20 (20, 22, 22, 24, 24) (25, 25, 27, 27, 28, 28) cm (or desired length) measured from the middle of the front (ribbing included).
Separating sleeves and body
Sl BOR marker, k 25 (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) (33, 34, 36, 38, 41, 44), *sl next 34 (34, 40, 42, 44, 46) (46, 48, 48, 48, 50, 52) sleeve sts to scrap yarn or st holder, CO 6 (8, 12, 14, 14, 14) (16, 18, 20, 24, 24, 24) sts in underarm*, k 50 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62) (66, 68, 72, 76, 82, 88) front sts, rep *–* for the other sleeve, k 25 (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) (33, 34, 36, 38, 41, 44) to end.
You now have 112 (124, 136, 144, 148, 152) (164, 172, 184, 200, 212, 224) body sts altogether and 34 (34, 40, 42, 44, 46) (46, 48, 48, 48, 50, 52) sts waiting on both sleeves.
Body
Work in Stockinette st until the body measures approx. 19″ / 48 cm or desired length measured from the middle of the back of the neck.
Change to the smaller (US 8 / 5 mm) needle and begin ribbing:
Bottom ribbing
Set-Up rnd: Purl.
Rnd 1 (RS): *K1, p1*, rep *–* to end.
Work in 1 × 1 ribbing, until ribbing measures approx. 2″ / 5 cm. BO loosely, tubular BO is used in the sample sweater.
Sleeves
Work with the larger (US 10 / 6 mm) needle.
Move 34 (34, 40, 42, 44, 46) (46, 48, 48, 48, 50, 52) sleeve sts to the circular needle or 4 dpns to work in the round. Join yarn and pick up and k 6 (8, 12, 14, 14, 14) (16, 18, 20, 24, 24, 24) sts from underarm and PM at the center of underarm to indicate BOR. You now have 40 (42, 52, 56, 58, 60) (62, 66, 68, 72, 74, 76) sts.
Work 4″ / 10 cm in St st.
Sleeve decrease rnd: Sm (BOR), k2, k2tog, k to 4 sts bef end, ssk, k to end. (2 sts decreased)
Rep the sleeve decrease rnd on every 14th (12th, 6th, 6th, 5th, 5th) (5th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 3rd) rnd 4 (5, 8, 10, 11, 11) (12, 12, 13, 15, 15, 16) more times; 10 (12, 18, 22, 24, 24) (26, 26, 28, 32, 32, 34) sts decreased, you now have 30 (30, 34, 34, 34, 36) (36, 40, 40, 40, 42, 42) sts.
Work in St st until sleeve measures at least 18″ / 45 cm (or desired length) from underarm.
Last decrease rnd: K 9 (9, 11, 11, 11, 12) (12, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15), k2tog 6 times, k 9 (9, 11, 11, 11, 12) (12, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15).
6 sts decreased, you now have 24 (24, 28, 28, 28, 30) (30, 34, 34, 34, 36, 36) sts.]
Change to the smaller (US 8 / 5 mm) needle.
Cuff ribbing
Set-Up rnd: Purl.
Next rnd: *k1, p1*, rep *–* to end.
Work in ribbing for approx. 2.25″ / 6 cm. BO loosely in ribbing, tubular BO is used in the sample sweater.
Work the other sleeve in the same way.
Finishing
Weave in all yarn ends and wet block the garment according to its measurements.
Corrections made on January 20, 2025: Issue with Increase rnds 5 & 6 corrected; some purl rnds were also missing. Gauge added.
Corrections made on March 7, 2025: Incorrect row counts in Increase rnds 4 & 5 corrected.
