This elegant top-down ladies' sweater features a circular colorwork yoke and classic ribbed hem and cuffs. You will enjoy working the fair isle-inspired yoke charts and shaping the body seamlessly from the neckline. The pattern includes charted colorwork, short-row shaping for the yoke, and clear instructions for sleeve and body shaping.
Progress Tracker
0% Complete
— General Information :
Info :
"Guell" Ladies' sweater is worked from the top down entirely seamless, starting at the neckline.
Info :
Sizes: This pattern contains instructions for the following sizes in the indicated order: 32 (34; 36; 38) (40; 42; 44) (46; 48; 50) (52; 54; 56) (58; 60; 62).
Info :
Needles and Materials: Stitch Sisterz Mongolian Cashmere 4 ply (100% cashmere, 100 g = 366 m) — for total yardage needed in your size, please refer to table below; Juli by Yarna (100% merino wool, 50 g = 175 m) — quantities by size listed in pattern; Mechita by Malabrigo Yarn (100% merino wool, 100 g = 384 m) — quantities by size listed in pattern; circular needles 1.5 mm [US000], 2.75 mm [US2] and 3 mm [US2.5] or other appropriate size to obtain gauge; stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holder, spare circular, extra cords or a piece of auxiliary yarn.
Info :
Gauge: 30 sts and 36 rows/rounds = 10x10 cm [4x4 in], in stockinette stitch, on 2.75 mm [US2] needles, after blocking and stretched.
— Stitch patterns, techniques and abbreviations :
Info :
Stockinette stitch (st st) – in back- and forth rows with turning: knit on right side, purl on wrong side. In rounds: knit all stitches in all rounds.
Info :
Ribbing – alternate 'k2, p2'.
Info :
RLI = right-leaning lifted increase: insert right needle into stitch one row below next stitch and knit this additional stitch, then work next stitch as indicated.
Info :
LLI = left-leaning lifted increase: insert left needle into stitch two rows below the stitch just worked, lift stitch onto left needle and knit this additional stitch.
Info :
ssk: slip, slip, knit: slip 2 sts individually knit-wise, return them to the left needle and knit them together through the back loop (left-leaning knit decrease).
Info :
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
Info :
k: knit. p: purl. RS: right side of work. WS: wrong side of work. Colorwork pattern charts indicate order of work for the circular yoke; charts show all rows. Read charts from bottom to top and from right to left.
— Order of Work / Begin of work :
Info :
This pattern contains instructions for the following sizes in the indicated order: 32 (34; 36; 38) (40; 42; 44) (46; 48; 50) (52; 54; 56) (58; 60; 62).
Round 1 :
Using 1.5 mm [US000] needles and preferred cast-on method, cast on 152 (152; 152; 152) (152; 152; 168) (168; 168; 168) (180; 180; 180) (196; 196; 196) sts, place BoR marker, and join into the round without twisting.
Info :
Work in Ribbing pattern to a height of 3 cm [1.2 in] from cast-on edge, then change to 2.75 mm [US2] needles, and continue.
Round 2 :
In the next round, increases a total of 2 (2; 2; 2) (2; 2; 0) (0; 0; 0) (2; 2; 2) (0; 0; 0) sts the following way: Sizes 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42: slip BoR marker to right needle, RLI, k76, LLI, work in st st to end of round. Sizes 52, 54, 56: slip BoR marker to right needle, RLI, k90, LLI, work in st st to end of round.
Info :
After having worked 7 rounds in st st, change to 3 mm [US2.5] needles, and continue from Circular Yoke Chart #1.
Info :
You now have a total of 154 (154; 154; 154) (154; 154; 168) (168; 168; 168) (182; 182; 182) (196; 196; 196) sts.
Info :
Work all rows of Chart #1, then continue from Chart #2 (2; 3; 4) (6; 7; 5) (6; 8; 10) (11; 9; 11) (12; 13; 14).
Info :
Complete all rows of the chart, then change to 2.75 mm [US2] needles, and continue by working 2 rounds of st st even.
Info :
You now have a total of 396 (396; 429; 440) (484; 506; 516) (528; 576; 600) (612; 637; 663) (676; 702; 728) sts.
— Centering colorwork motif / Move BoR marker :
Info :
To center the colorwork motif on the circular yoke, move the BoR marker by the number of sts listed for your size in the indicated direction: Size 32: 13 sts to the right; Size 34: 13 sts to the right; Size 36: 13 sts to the right; Size 38: 14 sts to the right; Size 40: 17 sts to the right; Size 42: 14 sts to the right; Size 44: 12 sts to the left; Size 46: 12 sts to the left; Size 48: 13 sts to the left; Size 50: 14 sts to the left; Size 52: 14 sts to the left; Size 54: 3 sts to the right; Size 56: 6 sts to the left; Size 58: 1 st to the right; Size 60: 1 st to the right; Size 62: don't move the marker.
— Distribute sts for panels and place markers :
Info :
In the next round, distribute the sts as follows for each size, slip BoR marker, place markers M1 (right sleeve), M2 (Front), M3 (left sleeve) with k counts and back panel counts as indicated (full list of counts per size appears in the pattern).
Next Round :
Slip BoR marker, k37 (37; 39; 40) (45; 46; 48) (50; 56; 58) (61; 62; 63) (66; 67; 68), turn work to wrong side, slip 1 stitch purl-wise to the right needle, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the WS in purl.
Info :
Work to BoR marker, slip BoR marker, work to marker M3, slip marker M3, p37 (37; 39; 40) (45; 46; 48) (50; 56; 58) (61; 62; 63) (66; 67; 68), turn work to right side, slip 1 stitch knit-wise, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the RS.
— Short-row shaping for the yoke :
Next Row 1 (RS) :
Work to marker M3, slip marker M3, knit to BoR marker, slip BoR marker, work to 5 sts before the Double Stitch, turn work to wrong side. Slip 1 stitch purl-wise to the right needle, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the WS in purl.
Row 2 (WS) :
Work to BoR marker, slip BoR marker, purl to marker M3, slip marker M3, work to 5 sts before the Double Stitch, turn work to right side, slip 1 stitch knit-wise, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the RS. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 another 2 (2; 2; 2) (2; 3) (3; 3; 3) (3; 3; 3) (3; 3; 3) times as indicated in pattern.
Next Row 3 (RS) :
Knit to 3 sts before the Double Stitch, turn work to wrong side. Slip 1 stitch purl-wise to the right needle, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the WS in purl.
Row 4 (WS) :
Purl to 3 sts before the Double Stitch, turn work to right side, slip 1 stitch knit-wise, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the RS. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 another 2 (2; 2; 2) (2; 3) (3; 3; 3) times as indicated.
Next Row 5 (RS) :
Knit to 1 st before the Double Stitch, slip 1 stitch purl-wise to the right needle, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the WS in purl.
Row 6 (WS) :
Purl to 1 st before the Double Stitch, turn work to right side, slip 1 stitch knit-wise, lead the working yarn behind the stitch, over the right needle. Pull the working yarn taut so both legs of the stitch sit on the right needle. Continue on the RS. Repeat Rows 5 and 6 another 1 (1; 1; 1) (1; 1; 1) (2; 2; 2) (2; 2; 2) time(s).
Info :
Continue, working st st in the round to BoR marker, knitting both legs of the Double Stitch together as one.
Info :
Work 0 (0; 0; 2) (2; 2; 4) (4; 4; 6) (6; 6; 6) (8; 8; 8) more rounds in st st.
— Dividing for the sleeves :
Next Round – dividing for the sleeves :
Slip BoR marker to right needle, transfer 75 (75; 79; 81) (91; 93; 97) (101; 113; 116) (122; 124; 126) (132; 134; 137) right sleeve sts to a spare needle or stitch holder for holding, cast on 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) new underarm sts, slip marker M1 to right needle, work over the sts of the Front in st st to marker M2, slip marker M2 to right needle, transfer 75 (75; 79; 81) (91; 93; 97) (101; 113; 116) (122; 124; 126) (132; 134; 137) left sleeve sts to a spare needle or stitch holder for holding, cast on 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) new underarm sts, slip marker M3 to right needle, work over the sts of the Back in st st to BoR marker.
Info :
After having divided for the sleeves, you should have a total of 264 (272; 297; 304) (328; 346; 352) (360; 384; 402) (414; 427; 440) (467; 476; 496) sts.
Info :
Continue, working in st st in the round, slipping markers M1, M2, M3 and the BoR marker as you encounter them.
Info :
After having worked this way for 2 cm [0.8 in], begin working the vertical bust dart as follows: Next Round 1 – decrease round: slip BoR marker to right needle, work the 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of the side panel in st st, slip marker M1 to right needle, k2, k2tog, work in st st to 4 sts before marker M2, ssk, k2, slip marker M2 to right needle, work the 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of the side panel in st st, slip marker M3 to right needle, k2, k2tog, work in st st to 4 sts before the BoR marker, ssk, k2 = 4 sts decreased in this round.
— Rounds 2–6 and repeats :
Rounds 2–6 :
Slip BoR marker to right needle, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of side panel in st st, slip marker M1 to right needle, work in st st to marker M2, slip marker M2 to right needle, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of side panel in st st, slip marker M3 to right needle, work in st st to BoR marker.
Info :
Repeat Rounds 1–6 another 3 (3; 3; 3) (2; 2; 2) (1; 1; 1) (1; 1; 1) (1; 1; 1) times. You now have a total of 248 (256; 281; 288) (316; 334; 340) (352; 376; 394) (406; 419; 432) (459; 468; 488) sts.
Info :
Work decreases as follows: Next Round 1: slip BoR marker to right needle, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of side panel in st st, slip marker M1 to right needle, k2, k2tog, work in st st to 4 sts before marker M2, ssk, k2, slip marker M2 to right needle, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of the side panel in st st, slip marker M3 to right needle, work in st st to BoR marker = 2 sts decreased in this round.
Rounds 2–4 :
Slip BoR marker to right needle, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of side panel in st st, slip marker M1 to right needle, work in st st to marker M2, slip marker M2 to right needle, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of side panel in st st, slip marker M3 to right needle, work in st st to BoR marker.
Info :
Repeat Rounds 1–4 another 3 times. You should now have a total of 240 (248; 273; 280) (308; 326; 332) (344; 368; 386) (398; 411; 424) (451; 460; 480) sts.
Info :
Work even for 5 cm [2 in] (the waist level should fall on the middle of this section).
— Waist shaping increases :
Next Round 1 – waist shaping increases :
Slip BoR marker to right needle, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of side panel in st st, slip marker M1, k2, LLI, work in st st to 2 sts before marker M2, RLI, k2, slip marker M2, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts of side panel in st st, slip marker M3, k2, LLI, work in st st to 2 sts before BoR marker, RLI, k2 = 4 sts increased in this round.
Info :
Work Rounds 2–8 even over an unchanged stitch count in earlier established order. Repeat Rounds 1–8 another 8 (8; 7; 7) (6; 6; 6) (6; 7; 7) (5; 5; 5) (4; 4; 4) time(s).
Info :
You should now have a total of 276 (284; 305; 312) (336; 354; 360) (372; 400; 418) (422; 435; 448) (471; 480; 500) sts.
Info :
When piece has either reached a height of 34 (36; 38; 39) (40; 42; 44) (46; 48; 49) (50; 51; 52) (53; 54; 55) cm [13.4 (14.2; 15; 14.6) (15.75; 16.5; 17.3) (18.15; 18.9; 19.3) (19.7; 19.7; 20.5) (20.9; 21.25; 21.65) in] from sleeve division, or is 10 cm [4 in] shorter than desired length: In the next round, evenly distributed, either increase or decrease stitches as listed for your size (see size-specific instructions in pattern).
Info :
Size-specific listed increases/decreases per size appear in the pattern, resulting in a total stitch count of 275 (286; 308; 319) (341; 363; 363) (374; 407; 418) (429; 440; 451) (473; 484; 506) sts depending on size. Change to 3 mm [US2.5] needles, and continue from Chart #15.
Info :
After having worked all rounds of Chart #15, change to 2.75 mm [US2] needles, and continue. Work 7 rounds in st st. Before the next round, change to 1.5 mm [US000] needles, and continue as follows: k1, *(p2, k2), repeat from * to last 3 sts of this round, ending with 'p2, k1'. During the first round, decrease, evenly distributed, a total 3 (2; 0; 3) (1; 3; 3) (2; 3; 2) (1; 0; 3) (1; 0; 2) sts.
Info :
You now have a total of 272 (284; 308; 316) (340; 360; 360) (372; 404; 416) (428; 440; 448) (472; 484; 504) sts. After having worked in Ribbing for 3 cm [1.2 in], bind off all sts.
— Right sleeve :
Info :
Take up the formerly held sleeve sts again, and place them on 2.75 mm [US2] needles. RS of work facing, join new working yarn, work in st st to end of round, place marker M1, work 9 (13; 13; 13) (13; 13; 15) (17; 17; 17) (17; 19; 21) (21; 21; 21) sts into the corresponding underarm sts at the side of the sweater, place BoR marker, and join into the round without twisting. You should now have a total of 84 (88; 92; 94) (104; 106; 112) (118; 130; 133) (139; 143; 147) (153; 155; 158) sts.
Round 1 (decrease rnd) :
Slip BoR marker to right needle, k2, k2tog, work in st st to 4 sts before marker M1, ssk, k2 = 2 sts decreased.
Info :
Work Rounds 2–11 even over an unchanged stitch count in earlier established order. Work Rounds 1–11 a total of 10 (12; 11; 12) (11; 12; 12) (11; 12; 12) (11; 12; 12) (11; 11; 11) times. You should now have a total of 64 (64; 70; 70) (82; 82; 88) (96; 106; 109) (117; 119; 123) (131; 133; 136) sts.
Info :
Work in the established pattern until sleeve has either reached a length of 28 (30; 32; 34) (35; 37; 39) (40; 41; 42) (43; 44; 45) (46; 48; 50) cm [11 (11.8; 12.6; 13.4) (13.8; 14.6; 15.4) (15.75; 16.1; 16.5) (17; 17.3; 17.7) (18.15; 18.9; 19.7) in] from armhole, or is 10 cm [4 in] shorter than desired length. Remove marker M1.
— Sleeve increases for left sleeve and finishing :
Info :
In the next round, evenly distributed, increase 2 (2; 7; 7) (6; 6; 0) (3; 4; 1) (4; 2; 9) (1; 10; 7) sts as indicated for your size, using a combination of LLI, RLI and other increases according to size-specific instructions in the pattern.
Info :
Change to 3 mm [US2.5] needles, and continue from Chart #15. You now have a total of 66 (66; 77; 77) (88; 88; 88) (99; 110; 110) (121; 121; 132) (132; 143; 143) sts. After having worked all rounds of Chart #15, change to 2.75 mm [US2] needles, and continue. Work 7 rounds in st st. Before the next round, change to 1.5 mm [US000] needles, and continue as follows: k1, *(p2, k2), repeat from * to last 3 sts of this round, ending with 'p2, k1'. During the first round, decrease, evenly distributed, a total of 2 (2; 1; 1) (0; 0; 0) (3; 2; 2) (1; 1; 0) (0; 3; 3) st(s).
Info :
You now have a total of 64 (64; 76; 76) (88; 88; 88) (96; 108; 108) (120; 120; 132) (132; 140; 140) sts. After having worked in Ribbing for 3 cm [1.2 in], bind off all sts. Work the left sleeve the same way.
Info :
Moisten the sweater, and block it spread out flat until completely dry. Hide all ends. Happy knitting!
— Circular Yoke Charts :
Info :
Circular Yoke Chart #1 through Chart #10 are provided across multiple pages showing all rows for the circular yoke colorwork. Read charts from bottom to top and from right to left. Charts include symbols for RLI and LLI placements and row numbers at right edge.
This graceful top-down sweater combines charted colorwork with flattering shaping to create a timeless wardrobe piece. The circular yoke is charted across multiple pages so you can follow the motif precisely. It is the perfect project for knitters who enjoy colorwork and a seamless construction. 🧶🧵