Star Trek Fair Isle Yoke Jumper (Top-down, stranded colourwork)

Sad, bold, and wearable—this top-down ladies/mens/unisex jumper uses DK-weight yarn and a stranded yoke to feature a repeated Starfleet-style delta motif across the yoke. Worked in the round from the neck down with raglan increases, then separated for body and sleeves. Includes full sizing, yarn and needle options, charts, colourwork tips and finishing notes.

Sizes (finished chest circumference)

• XS 32" / 81cm
• S 36" / 91cm
• M 40" / 102cm
• L 44" / 112cm
• XL 48" / 122cm
• 2X 52" / 132cm
• 3X 56" / 142cm

Designed ease: approx 2" / 5cm positive ease. Adjust if you prefer close-fitting or roomy.

Gauge

22 sts and 30 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch (in pattern round) using main needle (see needles below). Check your gauge in stranded colourwork if you will be working many colours—dominant yarn tension affects gauge.

Materials

• Yarn: DK / Light Worsted weight. Suggested fibre: 100% wool or wool blend for bloom and elasticity.
• Sample yardage (total, all colours combined): XS 900yd / 823m, S 1050yd / 960m, M 1200yd / 1097m, L 1350yd / 1235m, XL 1500yd / 1372m, 2X 1650yd / 1509m, 3X 1800yd / 1646m.
• Typical skein size (example): 100g = 225yd / 206m per skein. Buy in proportions below.
• Colour amounts (approx, in skeins of 100g / 225yd (206m) each): Main colour (A): XS 4 (900yd), S 5, M 6, L 7, XL 8, 2X 9, 3X 9; Contrast B (delta colour): XS 1, S 1, M 2, L 2, XL 2, 2X 2, 3X 2; Accent colours for borders/panel (C,D): small amounts usually 50-200yd each depending on motif.

Suggested colours

A = Charcoal or Navy (background); B = Federation Gold; C = Insignia Red; D = White or Light Grey (highlights).

Needles and notions

Use smooth, round needles for stranded colourwork. You will need circular needles and double-pointed needles (or magic loop) for sleeves.

• Ribbing needle (smaller): US 5 / UK 9 / 3.75 mm
• Main needle (body & colourwork): US 6 / UK 8 / 4.00 mm
• Optional larger circular for loosened yoke if you knit tightly: US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm for yoke only
• DPNs or short circulars for sleeves: same as main needle (US 6 / UK 8 / 4.00 mm)
• Notions: stitch markers (4 raglan markers + 1 beginning-of-round), tapestry needle, waste yarn for provisional cast-on (optional), stitch holders or scrap yarn.

Abbreviations

k knit, p purl, st(s) stitch(es), yo yarn over, k2tog knit two together (right-leaning decrease), ssk slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease), m1 make one increase (lift loop from below and knit), CO cast on, BO bind off, RS right side, WS wrong side, rnd round.

Special techniques

• Stranded colourwork: carry floats behind work; catch long floats every 4-5 sts; maintain even tension by letting non-dominant colour float behind but not too tight.
• Yarn dominance: consistent whether you carry main colour in front or back—try a swatch and choose which gives the cleaner motif edge.
• Top-down raglan increases: increase at each raglan marker every other round until yoke length met, see instructions.

Chart: Delta motif (key below)

Chart is read from bottom to top; each row is a round (worked in the round). Use letters to represent colours. The chart block is 24 sts wide and 24 rounds high; repeat horizontally as needed. Legend: A = Background (Main), B = Delta (Gold), C = Accent (Red), D = Highlight (White).

Row24: A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row23: A A A A A A A A A B B A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row22: A A A A A A A A B C B B B A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row21: A A A A A A A B B C C B B A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row20: A A A A A A B B C C C C B B A A A A A A A A A A A
Row19: A A A A A B B C C C C C B B B A A A A A A A A A A
Row18: A A A A B B C C C C C C C B B A A A A A A A A A A
Row17: A A A B B C C C C C C C C C B B A A A A A A A A A
Row16: A A B B C C C C C C C C C C C B B A A A A A A A A
Row15: A B B C C C C C C C C C C C C C B B A A A A A A A
Row14: A A B B C C C C C C C C C C C B B A A A A A A A A
Row13: A A A B B C C C C C C C C B B A A A A A A A A A A
Row12: A A A A B B C C C C C C B B A A A A A A A A A A A
Row11: A A A A A B B C C C C B B A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row10: A A A A A A B B C C B B A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row9 : A A A A A A A A B B A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row8 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row7 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row6 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row5 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row4 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row3 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row2 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Row1 : A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

Notes: The above schematic shows a stylised delta so the shape reads when repeated around the yoke. Adjust chart width to match the number of sts between raglan markers; you may need to trim or expand pattern repeats to fit evenly.

Pattern

Neckband and yoke setup

With smaller needle (US5 / 3.75mm), provisional cast-on 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) sts using waste yarn, or use a stretchy long-tail cast-on and join in the round carefully. Work 1x1 rib (k1,p1) for 1.25" / 3 cm. Change to main needle (US6 / 4.0mm). Remove provisional cast-on and place live sts on needle so you have a neat cast-on edge. Place marker at beginning of round.

Work 4 rounds even in stocking stitch with Main colour A to establish the base round. Set four raglan markers spaced as follows: work 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27) sts, place marker (M), work 8 (8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9) raglan corner stitch (we'll increase each side), place M, repeat to have 4 markers dividing the round into 4 front/back/sleeve segments.

Yoke increases with colourwork

Begin working the stranded colourwork chart over the body and sleeve sections as you increase the raglans. Increase round: *M1R (increase to right of marker), k to 1 st before next marker, M1L (increase to left of next marker), slip marker; repeat across round.* Alternate increase round with a plain round in background colour to keep rows even. Continue working chart from Row1 upward and continue raglan increases every 2nd round until you have 120 (132, 144, 156, 168, 180, 192) sts total or until yoke depth (from under-chin) measures approx 8.5" / 21.5cm for XS, add 1/4" per size up to 10.5" / 27cm for 3X, OR until chart completes the top motif. (If using larger needle for yoke, switch now if desired.)

Separate body and sleeves

When total stitch count reached and motif placement is complete, place sleeve sts onto holders: transfer sleeve stitches (the two sleeve sections between markers) onto waste yarn or holders. Join body for working in the round by knitting across front stitches and back stitches, being careful at markers. Body st count after removal of sleeves: 72 (80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120) sts; adjust for size as necessary.

Body

Work in stockinette (knit every round) in main colour A until body measures 14.5" / 37cm from underarm (or desired length). For waist shaping, you can do decreases: for a tapered fit remove 4 sts evenly on the next round and repeat every 6th inch once. When desired length reached, work 1x1 rib for 2.5" / 6.5cm and bind off loosely in pattern. Block gently.

Sleeves

Place sleeve sts onto needles and pick up 2 extra sts at underarm to avoid gaps; you will have approx 36 (38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) sts per sleeve. Join to knit in the round and knit even in stockinette decreasing 0-8 sts evenly for tapered sleeve: for a tapered sleeve, decrease 8 sts evenly every 2.5" until sleeve is 14" / 36cm from underarm or desired length. Work 1x1 rib for 2.5" / 6.5cm and bind off loosely. Repeat for second sleeve.

Finishing

• Weave in all ends from colourwork on WS; do not pull tight—give a gentle block to even floats.
• Steam or wet block garment to final measurements: pin flat, matching seams and rounds. Allow to dry fully.
• Sew in any loose ends and pick up any missed floats to neaten inside.

Troubleshooting & tips

• If your colourwork looks scrunched, try a needle one size larger for the yoke and switch back for body/sleeves.
• Keep floats loose where crossing colours—use your left thumb to tension floats evenly.
• To adjust motif placement run a sample of your charted repeat and measure stitches between raglan markers; add or remove background stitches before starting to make the chart line up neatly.

Difficulty

Advanced-beginner to intermediate: requires comfort in knitting in the round, basic stranded colourwork and top-down raglan shaping.

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