INTRODUCTION

Bee Dreaming in Winter

by Joan of Dark aka Toni Carr

I spent the last few years falling in love with yoked, lopapeysa style sweaters - that is to say a sweater knit seamlessly in the round, with stranded colorwork at the yoke (neck) and around the bottom edge and sleeve cuffs. This one was inspired by my love of winter turning into spring, and a visit to a friend’s beehives in midwinter. The rust-colored dirt emerging from the snow, the garden flowers that dare to bloom early and get touched with a little bit of frost and the sleepy bees heading out to start replenishing the hives, all inspired this sweater pattern.

Knit from the bottom up, the stranded colorwork can get a little spicy on some of the rounds that call for 3 and 4 colors at once. The key here is to make sure your dominant color is held to the left, and that it is done the same way consistently for each round!

model: Joan of Dark

photos: David Van Deman

SIZE

 XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in size XS with 4 inches/10 cm of negative ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm:  25.5[28.75, 33.5, 36.75, 40, 44.75 48, 52.75, 56, ] inches/ 65[73, 85, 93.5, 101.5, 110, 122, 134, 142] cm
Length:  24.25[24.75, 26, 26.25, 26.75, 26.75, 27.75, 27.75, 27.75] inches/ 61.5[63, 66, 66.5, 68, 68, 70.5, 70.5, 70.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Dream in Color Classy [100% superwash merino wool; 250 yds/228 m per 4 oz/113 g skein];
[MC] Cinnamon Girl #011; 3[3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
This pattern uses an extra fine merino worsted weight yarn and calls for mini skeins for the colorwork. If you substitute with full-size skeins, you will have quite a bit of the contrasting colors left over. Also, if substituting a different yarn, a light worsted-weight wool or wool blend will be best.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #7/4.5 mm circular needle, 32-inch/90 cm long
1 US #8/5 mm circular needle, 32-inch/90 cm long
1 set US #7/4.5 mm double pointed needles or preferred method for working small circumference in the round
1 set US #8/5 mm double pointed needles or preferred method for working small circumference in the round

Notions
4 stitch holders or waste yarn
3 stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

20 sts/22 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles
22 sts/24 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch on smaller needles

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

M1: insert the left needle into the bar between your two stitches from the back to the front. Knit through the front of this loop.

CHARTS

The charts are worked in the round, meaning you always read from the right to left.

DIRECTIONS

Body
With smaller circular needle cast on 128[144, 168, 184, 200, 224, 240, 264, 280] sts, pm and join to work in the round.

Round 1: (K2, p2) around.
Repeat Round 1 for a total of 2 inches/5 cm.

Switch to larger circular needle, begin working from Chart 1, and work through Round 8.

Continuing in MC, work in stockinette stitch in the round until piece measures 9[9, 9.5, 9.5, 10, 10, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5] inches/ 23[23, 24, 24, 25.5, 25.5, 26.5, 26.5, 26.5] cm from cast on edge.

Begin waist shaping:
Note: if you would prefer a straight sweater with no shaping, continue in stockinette stitch instead of working waist shaping.

Setup round: K 64[72, 84, 92, 100, 112, 120, 132, 140] , pm, knit to end of round.

Decrease round: K1, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before marker, ssk. 4 sts decreased, 124[140, 164, 180, 196, 220, 236, 260, 276] sts.
Knit 4 rounds.
Repeat these 5 rounds twice more. 116[132, 156, 172, 188, 212, 228, 252, 268] sts.

Work an additional 4 rounds in stockinette stitch.

Increase round: K1, m1, knit to marker, m1, sm, k1, m1, knit to marker, m1. 4 sts increased, 120[136, 160, 176, 192, 216, 232, 256, 272] sts.
Knit 4 rounds.
Repeat these 5 rounds twice more. 128[144, 168, 184, 200, 224, 240, 264, 280] sts.

Work in stockinette stitch in the round until the body measures approximately 16.75[17.5, 18, 18, 18.5, 18.5, 19, 19, 19] inches/ 42.5[44.5, 46, 46, 47, 47, 48.5, 48.5, 48.5] cm from the cast on edge, or desired length to underarm. Set body aside and work sleeves.

SLEEVES (make 2)
With smaller needles for working small circumferences in the round, cast on 36[36, 36, 42, 42, 42, 48, 48, 48] sts. Place marker and join to work in the round.

Work in 1x1 rib for 2 inches/5 cm.
Switch to larger needles for working small circumferences in the round and work Chart 2 through Round 6.

Increase round: K1, m1, knit to end of round, m1. 2 sts increased, 38[38, 38, 44, 44, 44, 50, 50, 50] sts.
Knit 6 (6, 7, 7, 5, 6, 5, 5, 5) rounds.
Work these 7[7, 8, 8, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6] rounds 7[7, 8, 8, 8, 7, 8, 10, 10] more times. 52[52, 54, 60, 60, 58, 66, 70, 70] sts.

Work Increase round once. 54[54, 56, 62, 62, 60, 68, 72, 72] sts.
Knit 3[4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2] rounds
Repeat these 4[5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 3] rounds 2[1, 1, 1, 4, 5, 4, 3, 6] more times. 58[56, 58, 64, 70, 70, 76, 78, 84] sts.

For sizes S, M, L and 1X only:
Next round: K1, m1, knit to end of round. 58(57, 59, 65, 71, 70, 76, 80, 84] sts

All sizes:
Work in stockinette stitch until sleeve measures 17[17.5, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 19] inches/ 43[44.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 48.5] cm or desired length from cast on edge.

Slip 6[6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7] sts before marker and 6[6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7] sts after marker to stitch holder. Place remaining sts on holder or waste yarn.

Yoke
Take body, sl 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14, 14] body sts to holder, k 46[45, 47, 53, 59, 56, 62, 64, 70] sleeve sts, k 52[60, 72, 80, 88, 98, 106, 118, 126] back sts, sl 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14, 14] body sts to holder, k 46[45, 47, 53, 59, 56, 62, 64, 70] sleeve sts, k 52[60, 72, 80, 88, 98, 106, 118, 126] front sts. 196[210, 238, 266, 294, 308, 336, 364, 392] sts total.

Knit 1[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4] rounds.

Begin working from Chart 3, being sure to work the appropriate chart for your size.

Work Chart 3 through Round 40[41, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45] . 96[90, 85, 95, 105, 110, 120, 130, 140] sts remain.

After finishing Chart 3, work in (K1, p1) ribbing for 4 rounds.

Bind off in pattern.

FINISHING

Block as desired. Graft underarms and weave in all ends

I cannot stress blocking enough for stranded colorwork. I’ve been on the verge of tears at how a yoke looks, only to block it and think it looks wonderful. It really is the key to finishing your garment!

A – Total length: 24.25[24.75, 26, 26.25, 26.75, 26.75, 27.75, 27.75, 27.75] inches/ 61.5[63, 66, 66.5, 68, 68, 70.5, 70.5, 70.5] cm
B – Yoke depth:  7.5[7.75, 8.25, 8.5, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9, 9] inches/ 57[58, 61, 61.5, 63, 63, 65, 65, 65] cm
C – Length to underarm:  15.5[15.5, 15.75, 15.75, 16.5, 16.5, 16.75, 16.75, 16.75] inches/ 39.5[39.5, 40, 40, 42, 42, 42.5, 42.5, 42.5] cm
D – Chest circumference at underarm: 25.5[28.75, 33.5, 36.75, 40, 44.75, 48, 52.75, 56] inches/ 65[73, 85, 93.5, 101.5, 113.5, 122, 134, 142] cm
E – Neck circumference:  20[18, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28] inches/ 51[45.5, 43, 48.5, 53.5, 56, 61, 66, 71] cm
F – Upper arm circumference:  11.5[11.5, 11.75, 13, 14.25, 14, 15.25, 15.5, 16.75] inches/ 29[29, 30, 33, 36, 35.5, 38.5, 39.5, 42.5] cm
G – Arm length:  17[17.5, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 19] inches/ 43[44.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 48.5] cm
H – Wrist circumference:  7.25[7.25, 7.25, 8.5, 8.5, 8.5, 9.5, 9.5, 9.5] inches/ 18.5[18.5, 18.5, 21.5, 21.5, 21.5, 24, 24, 24] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Joan of Dark, aka Toni Carr, is a former derby girl, former aerialist and current knitting fanatic. She owns and runs Strange Brew Coffee in Indiana, and is surrounded by dogs, cats, a parrot, a mini horse, a husband and a small child named Evelyn, who is just as responsible as the cats for the yarn tangles in her knitting bag.

She can be found on the web or here for pattern support.

Pattern & images © 2022 Joan of Dark aka Toni Carr