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# Brioche Leaf Yoke Pullover
**Designer:** Pattern Designer & Technical Editor Persona
**Difficulty Level:** Advanced
**Construction:** Top-Down Seamless Circular Yoke

### DESCRIPTION
An elegant, seamless pullover featuring a sophisticated brioche-style texture. The yoke is adorned with raised leaf motifs created using front-post stitches, which flow beautifully into a simple double-crochet body. Designed specifically for the long color transitions of Lion Brand Mandala Gradient yarn.

### SIZING & MEASUREMENTS
*Pattern is written for Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL).*
*   **To Fit Chest:** 34-36 (38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52)" / [86-91 (96-101, 106-111, 117-122, 127-132) cm]
*   **Finished Bust:** 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)" / [91 (101.5, 112, 122, 132) cm]
*   **Yoke Depth:** 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)" / [20 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5) cm]

### MATERIALS
*   **Yarn:** Lion Brand Mandala Gradient (Weight 3/DK, 100% Acrylic, 290 yds/150g).
    *   S: 4 cakes
    *   M: 5 cakes
    *   L: 5 cakes
    *   XL: 6 cakes
    *   2XL: 7 cakes
*   **Hook:** US H/8 (5.0 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
*   **Notions:** 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, measuring tape.

### GAUGE
16 dc x 9 rows = 4" (10 cm) after light blocking.
*Check gauge to ensure proper fit. If you have fewer stitches than required, move to a smaller hook. If you have more, move to a larger hook.*

### ABBREVIATIONS (US Terms)
*   **ch:** chain
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **sc:** single crochet
*   **dc:** double crochet
*   **sc-blo:** single crochet back loop only
*   **FPdc:** front post double crochet
*   **BPdc:** back post double crochet
*   **FPdc2tog:** front post double crochet 2 together (decrease)
*   **sl st:** slip stitch
*   **rep:** repeat

### SPECIAL STITCHES
*   **Brioche Increase (Leaf Base):** [FPdc, ch 1, FPdc] around the same post.
*   **Leaf Edge:** FPdc around the post of the stitch from the previous row to create a raised rib.

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### INSTRUCTIONS

#### 1. NECK RIBBING
Ch 11.
**Row 1:** Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, turn. (10 sc)
**Row 2:** Ch 1, sc-blo in each st across, turn.
**Rows 3-72 (72, 84, 84, 96):** Repeat Row 2. 
*Math Validation: 72 (72, 84, 84, 96) rows will provide the base for the yoke repeats.*
Join last row to Row 1 with sl st to form a circle. Do not fasten off.

#### 2. CIRCULAR YOKE
Work in rounds. 
**Rnd 1 (Set-up):** Ch 2 (does not count as st), work 72 (72, 84, 84, 96) dc evenly around the edge of the ribbing (1 dc per row). Join with sl st to first dc. 
*Stitch Count: 72 (72, 84, 84, 96) dc.*

**Rnd 2 (Leaf Setup):** Ch 2, *FPdc in next st, BPdc in next 5 sts; rep from * around. Join. 
*Note: This establishes 12 (12, 14, 14, 16) leaf panels.*

**Rnd 3 (Increase):** Ch 2, *[FPdc, ch 1, FPdc] in FPdc of prev row, BPdc in next 5 sts; rep from * around.
**Rnd 4:** Ch 2, *2 FPdc in first FPdc, ch 1, 2 FPdc in next FPdc, BPdc in next 5 sts; rep from * around.
**Rnd 5:** Ch 2, *FPdc in next 2 sts, [FPdc, ch 1, FPdc] in ch-1 sp, FPdc in next 2 sts, BPdc in next 5 sts; rep from * around.

*Technical Note: Continue increasing within the leaf sections (FPdc areas) and the "brioche" ground (BPdc areas) following the leaf motif logic until the yoke reaches the required depth.*

**Final Yoke Round:** Total sts should be 184 (208, 232, 256, 280) sts. 
*Math Validation for Size M: 208 total yoke sts.*

#### 3. SEPARATE BODY AND SLEEVES
**Rnd 1:** Ch 2, work dc in next 60 (68, 76, 84, 92) sts for Back, ch 12 (12, 12, 12, 12) for underarm, skip 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) sts for Sleeve, dc in next 60 (68, 76, 84, 92) sts for Front, ch 12 (12, 12, 12, 12) for underarm, skip remaining 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) sts for second Sleeve. Join.
*Body Stitch Count: 144 (160, 176, 192, 208) sts.*

#### 4. BODY
**Rnd 1:** Ch 2, dc in each dc and each underarm ch around. Join.
**Rnd 2 - End:** Ch 2, dc in each st around. 
Repeat until body measures 12 (12, 13, 13, 14)" from underarm, or 2" less than desired total length.

**Bottom Ribbing:**
Ch 11.
**Row 1:** Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 9 chs. Sl st into next 2 sts of Body. Turn.
**Row 2:** Skip 2 sl sts, sc-blo in 10 sc, turn.
**Row 3:** Ch 1, sc-blo in 10 sc, sl st into next 2 sts of Body. Turn.
Repeat around the entire bottom edge. Join with sl st and fasten off.

#### 5. SLEEVES (Work 2)
Join yarn at the center of the underarm chain.
**Rnd 1:** Ch 2, dc 12 (12, 12, 12, 12) across underarm, dc 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) around sleeve opening. Join. (44 (48, 52, 56, 60) sts).
**Rnd 2-5:** Dc around.
**Rnd 6 (Decrease):** Ch 2, dc2tog, dc to last 2 sts, dc2tog. Join.
Repeat decrease round every 6th row until 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts remain.
Continue in dc until sleeve measures 16" (or 2" less than desired length).
**Cuff Ribbing:** Work as for Bottom Ribbing using 10 sc-blo rows.

### FINISHING
Weave in all ends. Steam block lightly, paying attention to the brioche leaf yoke to open up the post stitches and reveal the leaf definition.

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**Technical Editor Notes:** 
- The leaf motif consumes width rapidly; if the yoke feels too tight for size XL/2XL after Round 10, add 1 additional BPdc between leaves.
- Mandala Gradient transition is slow; to maintain sleeve symmetry, you may need to wind yarn to find matching color start points for the second sleeve.