purlJam

# Avian & Flora: Crew Neck Pullover with Colourwork Yoke

**Difficulty:** Intermediate  
**Method:** Worked flat in pieces, seamed, with stranded colourwork (Fair Isle) worked flat.

## Sizing
**To Fit Chest:**
*   **Small:** 81-86 cm (32-34")
*   **Medium:** 91-97 cm (36-38")
*   **Large:** 102-107 cm (40-42")
*   **XL:** 112-117 cm (44-46")
*   **2XL:** 122-127 cm (48-50")

**Finished Garment Chest Measurements (approx. 5-10 cm positive ease):**
*   **S:** 96.5 cm
*   **M:** 107.5 cm
*   **L:** 116.5 cm
*   **XL:** 127.5 cm
*   **2XL:** 136.5 cm

## Materials
*   **Yarn:** Worsted weight wool (approx. 200m/100g).
    *   **MC (Main Colour - Cream/Grey):** 5 [6, 6, 7, 8] skeins
    *   **CC1 (Stems/Leaves - Green):** 1 skein
    *   **CC2 (Flowers - Red/Pink):** 1 skein
    *   **CC3 (Birds - Blue/Slate):** 1 skein
*   **Needles:**
    *   4.5 mm (UK 7) straight needles for ribbing.
    *   5.0 mm (UK 6) straight needles for main body.
    *   5.5 mm (UK 5) straight needles (optional, for colourwork section if your tension tightens).
    *   4.5 mm (UK 7) circular needle (40cm) for neckband.
*   **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch holders, stitch markers.

## Tension (Gauge)
18 stitches and 24 rows = 10 cm square in Stocking Stitch on 5.0 mm needles.
*Check your tension carefully. If you have too many stitches per 10cm, use larger needles.*

## Abbreviations (UK Terminology)
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **inc:** increase (knit into front and back of stitch)
*   **dec:** decrease
*   **k2tog:** knit 2 together
*   **ssk:** slip, slip, knit (slip 2 sts knitwise one at a time, knit them together through back loops)
*   **p2tog:** purl 2 together
*   **RS:** Right Side
*   **WS:** Wrong Side
*   **MC/CC:** Main Colour / Contrast Colour

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### 1. BACK
**Ribbing:**
Using 4.5 mm straight needles and MC, cast on **86 [98, 106, 114, 122]** sts.
*   **Row 1 (RS):** K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
*   **Row 2 (WS):** P2, *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Work in rib for 6 cm, ending with a WS row.

**Change to 5.0 mm needles.**
*   **Next Row (Inc Row):** Knit across, increasing **1 [decrease 1, decrease 1, increase 1, increase 1]** st at the centre of the row to balance the pattern count.
*   **Stitch Count:** **87 [97, 105, 115, 123]** sts.

**Body:**
Work in Stocking Stitch (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures 41 [42, 43, 44, 44] cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armholes:**
*   **Next 2 rows:** Cast off **5 [5, 6, 7, 8]** sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
*   [Math Check: S: 87-10=77 | M: 97-10=87 | L: 105-12=93 | XL: 115-14=101 | 2XL: 123-16=107 sts remain]
*   **Next 2 rows:** Cast off **0 [0, 2, 2, 2]** sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
*   [Math Check: S: 77 | M: 87 | L: 89 | XL: 97 | 2XL: 103 sts remain]

**Colourwork Section:**
*   Work **2 [4, 4, 6, 6]** rows straight in MC.
*   **Begin Chart A (Row 1 is a RS row):**
    *   **Size S (77 sts):** K2 (MC), work 12-st repeat 6 times, k3 (MC).
    *   **Size M (87 sts):** K1 (MC), work 12-st repeat 7 times, k2 (MC).
    *   **Size L (89 sts):** K2 (MC), work 12-st repeat 7 times, k3 (MC).
    *   **Size XL (97 sts):** K6 (MC), work 12-st repeat 7 times, k7 (MC).
    *   **Size 2XL (103 sts):** K3 (MC), work 12-st repeat 8 times, k4 (MC).
*   Work rows 1–21 of Chart A. If your colourwork tension is tight, use 5.5mm needles for this section.
*   When Chart is complete, break CC yarns and continue in MC only on 5.0mm needles.

**Shape Shoulders:**
Continue straight in MC until armhole measures 20 [21, 22, 23, 24] cm.
*   Cast off **7 [9, 9, 10, 11]** sts at beg of next 4 rows.
*   Cast off **8 [8, 9, 10, 11]** sts at beg of next 2 rows.
*   Cast off remaining **33 [35, 35, 37, 37]** sts for back neck.

### 2. FRONT
Work as for Back until **Armhole Shaping** is complete.
*   [Stitch Count: 77 (87, 89, 97, 103) sts remain]

**Colourwork Section:**
Work Chart A placement exactly as described for Back.
*   *Critical Note: The neck shaping will begin shortly after the colourwork is finished. Ensure you complete the full chart before starting the neck shaping instructions below.*

**Shape Neck:**
When Front measures approximately 7 cm *less* than the total Back length (approx. 14 [15, 16, 17, 18] cm from start of armhole):
1.  **Next Row (RS):** K26 [30, 31, 35, 38], turn. Place remaining sts on holder.
2.  Work on this side only. Decrease 1 st at neck edge on every row 4 times, then every RS row 0 [1, 1, 1, 1] times.
    *   [Math Check S: 26 - 4 = 22 sts remain for shoulder]
3.  Continue straight until armhole matches Back depth.
4.  **Shape Shoulder:** Cast off **7 [9, 9, 10, 11]** sts at armhole edge twice, then remaining sts.

Return to held sts. Slip centre **25 [27, 27, 27, 27]** sts onto a holder for front neck. Join yarn to remaining sts and work as for first side, reversing shaping.

### 3. SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using 4.5 mm needles and MC, cast on **42 [44, 46, 48, 50]** sts.
Work in k2, p2 rib for 6 cm.
Change to 5.0 mm needles.
**Increase Row:** K across, inc 2 sts evenly. (44 [46, 48, 50, 52] sts).

**Shape Sleeve:**
Work in Stocking Stitch. Increase 1 st at each end of the 5th row, then on every following 6th [6th, 6th, 4th, 4th] row until there are **72 [76, 80, 84, 88]** sts.
Continue straight until sleeve measures 46 [47, 47, 48, 48] cm.

**Shape Cap:**
*   Cast off **5 [5, 6, 7, 8]** sts at beg of next 2 rows.
*   Decrease 1 st at each end of next 3 rows, then every following alternate row until 38 sts remain.
*   Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows.
*   Cast off remaining sts.

### 4. ASSEMBLY & NECKBAND
1.  Block pieces to measurements, paying special attention to the colourwork yoke to ensure it lies flat.
2.  Join right shoulder seam.

**Neckband:**
1.  Using 4.5 mm circular needle and MC, pick up and knit 16 sts down left front neck, k across **25 [27, 27, 27, 27]** sts from front holder, pick up and knit 16 sts up right front neck, k across **33 [35, 35, 37, 37]** sts from back neck cast off.
2.  Join in the round. Work in k2, p2 rib for 3 cm.
3.  Cast off loosely in rib.

**Finishing:**
1.  Join left shoulder and neckband seam.
2.  Set in sleeves.
3.  Sew side and sleeve seams.
4.  Weave in all ends.

---

## CHARTS

**Chart Notes:**
*   Read chart from **bottom to top**.
*   Read RS rows (odd numbers) from **Right to Left**.
*   Read WS rows (even numbers) from **Left to Right**.
*   Catch floats (weave yarn behind) every 3-4 stitches to prevent long loose strands on the inside.

### CHART A: Bird & Flower Motif
**Repeat:** 12 stitches wide x 21 rows high.

**KEY:**
□ = MC (Cream/Background)
■ = CC1 (Green - Stem/Leaves)
● = CC2 (Red/Pink - Flower)
▲ = CC3 (Blue/Slate - Bird)

```text
Row 21:  □□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 20:  □□□▲▲▲▲▲□□□□
Row 19:  □□▲▲▲▲▲▲▲□□□
Row 18:  □□□▲▲▲▲▲□□□□
Row 17:  □□□□□▲▲▲□□□□
Row 16:  □□□□□□▲□□□□□
Row 15:  □□□□□□▲□□□□□ (Bird Feet/Legs)
Row 14:  □□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 13:  □□□□●●●□□□□□
Row 12:  □□□●●●●●□□□□
Row 11:  □□●●●□●●●□□□ (Flower Bloom)
Row 10:  □□□●●●●●□□□□
Row 9:   □□□□●●●□□□□□
Row 8:   □□□□□■□□□□□□
Row 7:   □□□□■■■□□□□□
Row 6:   □□□■■■■■□□□□
Row 5:   □□■■□■□■■□□□ (Leaves)
Row 4:   □□□□□■□□□□□□
Row 3:   □□□□□■□□□□□□
Row 2:   □□□□□■□□□□□□
Row 1:   □□□□□■□□□□□□
         [ 12 sts ]
```