Yoke Meditation Series 5

Welcome to the fifth installment of the Yoke Meditation Series—a collection designed to give knitters a peaceful escape from the busyness of everyday life. This series is all about finding calm, focus, and creative flow, and Yoke Meditation Series No. 5 is yet another mesmerising addition.

Inspired by the intricate beauty of Buddhist mandalas, this top-down round yoke sweater turns knitting into a meditative experience. The stranded colorwork begins at the neckline and flows seamlessly through the body, even past the sleeve separation.

To help with those tricky long floats, I've included step-by-step guidance for the Ladderback Jacquard method, making sure your work looks neat and polished inside and out. Whether you’re working with a light or dark main colour, the pattern includes charts for both to make things easier.

You can choose between a straight or shaped waist to customise the fit to your style. Knit in sport weight yarn, this design combines delicate, intricate patterns with bold, chunky blocks, creating a rhythm that’s as enjoyable to knit as it is to wear. For the best effect, pair a solid main colour with a colour-changing gradient yarn as your contrast—it’ll really make the mandala-inspired motif come to life.

The Yoke Meditation Series isn’t just about making sweaters; it’s about taking a moment for yourself, enjoying the process, and embracing mindfulness through colourwork. Let this sweater be a creative escape and a beautiful addition to your wardrobe.

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

Finished chest circumference:

• 91.5 (101.5, 110, 121.5, 130, 141.5, 150, 161.5, 170) cm
• 36½ (40½, 44, 48½, 52, 56½, 60, 64½, 68)”

Designed to be worn with 10-15 cm / 4-6” positive ease around the chest.

To choose the most appropriate size, measure the wearer's chest and add the preferred ease. Or measure the circumference of an already-owned sweater that fits well. Then find the closest finished chest circumference.

Gauge

26 sts & 32 rows = 10 cm / 4"

Stockinette stitch and colourwork in the round on larger needles, blocked.

Yardage

Sport weight, depending on the length of the sweater, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 835 (920, 985, 1070, 1145, 1235, 1305, 1410, 1480) m

• 915 (1005, 1080, 1170, 1250, 1350, 1430, 1540, 1615) yds

Contrast colour (CC):

• 255 (275, 295, 315, 335, 360, 390, 410, 445) m

• 280 (300, 325, 345, 370, 395, 425, 445, 485) yds

Yarn in Sample

Yarns used in sample (size 2) is Dundaga Wool from Paces Vilnas Fabrika Merino Singles (~420 m [460 yds] / 100 g), 1 skein of colour-changing gradient as contrast colour and 2 undyed skeins as main colour.

Needles

• 2.75 mm (US 2) circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting
• 2.25 mm (US 1) circulars 60 cm / 24” long and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting

Notions

Stitch markers, locking stitch markers or bobby pins, row counter, stitch holder, tapestry needle, tape measure.

Techniques

Knitting in the round, short rows, Ladderback jacquard, lifted increases.

Notes

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