Tulip Route

DESCRIPTION

Tulip Route is a relaxed colorwork yoke sweater worked seamlessly from the top down. Pick DK-weight yarn in two or three contrasting colors for a bike ride amidst the blooming tulip fields.

Tulip Route starts with a ribbed neckline followed by a three-color colorwork pattern on the yoke. At most two colors are used per round!

Short rows placed at the bottom of the yoke help create a well-fitting, round neckline whereas decreases and increases placed at princess seams add subtle waist shaping. Sleeve cuffs and hem are decorated with a bit more colorwork, then finished with ribbing. Play with the design by inverting colors — like in the sample sweater — or make matchy-matchy hem and cuffs.

Tulip Route comes in 10 sizes (XS to 6X) incorporating Kim McBrien Evans' representative sizing. Choose your size based on upper bust circumference. Schematic of finished measurements is provided.

The pattern is written with both metric and US terminology. Only charted instructions are given for the colorwork patterns.

SIZES

• XS (S, M, L, XL) [2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X]
• To fit upper bust circumference of 71 (82, 92, 102, 112) [122, 132, 142, 153, 163] cm / 28 (32¼, 36¼, 40¼, 44) [48, 52, 56, 60¼, 64¼]"
• Finished full bust circumference approx. 80 (92, 103, 117, 127) [137, 148, 158, 172, 183] cm / 31½ (36¼, 40½, 46, 50) [54, 58¼, 62¼, 67¾, 72]"

Choose a size by adding desired ease to upper bust circumference (measured at the underarm level above any breast tissue). This size-inclusive pullover is intended to be worn with approx. 4–5 cm / 1¾–2" of positive ease. The model wears size S with 5 cm / 2" of positive ease.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find test knitters for sizes 3X–6X. If you'd like to knit any of these sizes, I would be happy to provide you the pattern free of charge in exchange for your feedback. Contact me for details!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

See last photo.

MATERIALS

Yarn

Garnstudio DROPS Soft Tweed (50% wool, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose, 130 m/50 g, 142 yd/1.76 oz), 3 colors

• Main color (MC): 6 (6, 7, 8, 8) [9, 9, 11, 12, 13] skeins in the colorway #2 Marzipan
• Contrasting color 1 (CC1): 2 (2, 2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 2, 3, 3] skeins in the colorway #14 Cherry Sorbet
• Contrasting color 2 (CC2): 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) [1, 1, 1, 2, 2] skeins in the colorway #16 Guacamole

Or DK-weight yarn, 3 colors

• Main color (MC): approx. 700 (750, 850, 1000, 1050) [1100, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600] m / 800 (850, 950, 1100, 1150) [1200, 1300, 1550, 1650, 1750] yd
• Contrasting color 1 (CC1): approx. 140 (140, 160, 170, 200) [230, 250, 260, 270, 280] m / 150 (160, 170, 180, 210) [250, 270, 280, 300, 310] yd
• Contrasting color 2 (CC2): approx. 80 (90, 90, 100, 120) [120, 120, 130, 140, 140] m / 90 (90, 100, 110, 130) [130, 130, 150, 150, 150] yd

Or for a two-color version:

• Main color (MC): approx. 700 (750, 850, 1000, 1050) [1100, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600] m / 800 (850, 950, 1100, 1150) [1200, 1300, 1550, 1650, 1750] yd
• Contrasting color (CC): approx. 220 (230, 250, 270, 290) [320, 330, 360, 370, 390] m / 240 (260, 270, 300, 310) [350, 370, 390, 410, 420] yd

Needles

• 4.0 mm / US #6 short and long circular needles for stockinette and stranded stockinette (or size needed to obtain gauge); adjust needle size for colorwork if necessary
• 3.0 mm / US #2½ short and long circular needles for ribbing
• If not working in magic loop, double-pointed needles in the same sizes for the sleeves

Notions

• 7 stitch markers: 4 for waist shaping, 2 for sides, and 1 unique BOR marker
• Colorwork yarn guide (optional)
• Waste yarn or extra needle for holding sleeve stitches
• Darning needle

GAUGE

• 19.5 sts × 30 rnds = 10 cm / 4" in stockinette and stranded stockinette on larger needles, blocked
• 24 sts × 30 rnds = 10 cm / 4" in ribbing on smaller needles, blocked

TECHNIQUES USED

The pattern uses the following techniques: working in the round, stranded colorwork, German short rows, and provisional cast-on. Instructions for the colorwork pattern are provided only in charted format.

REFERENCES

• Color Dominance
• German Short Rows
• 7 Ways to Knit Short Rows
• 6+1 Provisional Cast-on Methods
• Comparison of 20 Stretchy Bind-off Methods
• Suzanne Bryan's Method of Avoiding Underarm Holes in Knitting