purlJam

# Floral Foliage Pullover
**An Advanced Top-Down Crochet Pattern**

This pullover features a decorative circular yoke adorned with textured leaves and popcorn-stitch flowers. Worked from the top down, it allows for easy length customization and a seamless finish.

### I. MATERIALS
- **Yarn**: Lion Brand Mandala Ombre (Worsted Weight / 4); 150g/344yds per cake.
  - Small: 3 cakes
  - Medium: 4 cakes
  - Large: 4 cakes
  - XL: 5 cakes
  - 2XL: 6 cakes
- **Hook**: US I-9 / 5.5 mm (or size needed to obtain gauge).
- **Notions**: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, measuring tape.

### II. GAUGE & MEASUREMENTS
**Gauge**: 14 dc x 8 rows = 4" (10 cm). 
*Note: Always work a gauge swatch. If your swatch is smaller, use a larger hook; if larger, use a smaller hook.*

**Sizes (Finished Bust/Chest):**
- **Small**: 36" (91.5 cm)
- **Medium**: 40" (101.5 cm)
- **Large**: 44" (112 cm)
- **XL**: 48" (122 cm)
- **2XL**: 52" (132 cm)

### III. SPECIAL STITCHES
- **Popcorn (pc)**: Work 5 dc in indicated st. Drop loop from hook, insert hook into the first dc of the 5-dc group, pull dropped loop through.
- **Fpdc (Front Post Double Crochet)**: Work dc around the post of the stitch in the row below, inserting hook from front to back to front.
- **Leaf Cluster**: (Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops) 3 times in same st, yo, pull through all 4 loops on hook.

### IV. PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

#### 1. Neck Ribbing (Worked Flat then Joined)
Ch 11.
**Row 1**: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (10 sc)
**Row 2**: Ch 1, turn, sc in back loops only (BLO) across.
Repeat Row 2 until ribbing measures 20" (20", 22", 22", 24") slightly stretched. 
Sl st the short ends together to form a circle. Do not fasten off.

#### 2. The Yoke
**Rnd 1 (Set-up)**: Work 72 (72, 84, 84, 96) dc evenly around the edge of the ribbing. Join with sl st. 
*(Validation: S/M = 6 repeats of 12; L/XL = 7 repeats of 12; 2XL = 8 repeats of 12)*

**Rnd 2 (Flower Base)**: Ch 2 (does not count as st), *dc 5, pc in next st, dc 6; repeat from * around. Join.
**Rnd 3 (Increase)**: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, dc 1; repeat from * around. [108 (108, 126, 126, 144) sts]
**Rnd 4 (Leaf Base)**: Ch 2, *dc 8, Leaf Cluster in next st; repeat from * around.
**Rnd 5 (Leaf Growth)**: Ch 2, *dc in each dc to Leaf Cluster, 2 fpdc around Leaf Cluster post; repeat from * around.
**Rnd 6 (Increase)**: Ch 2, *dc 2, 2 dc in next st; repeat from * around. [144 (144, 168, 168, 192) sts]

**Continue Yoke Shaping**:
Repeat increase rounds and decorative floral rounds until yoke measures 8" (8.5", 9", 9.5", 10") from the neck edge. 
*Final Yoke Stitch Count Goal:* 180 (200, 220, 240, 260) sts.

#### 3. Separation (Body and Sleeves)
**Size Medium Math Check**: 200 total sts. 
- Front: 64 sts
- Back: 64 sts
- Sleeves: 36 sts each
- Underarm Ch: 6 sts each side. 
*(Total Body Circumference: 64 + 64 + 6 + 6 = 140 sts. 140 / 3.5 gauge = 40" - Verified.)*

**Separation Rnd**: 
1. Ch 2, dc across 64 (58, 70, 76, 82) sts for Back.
2. Ch 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) for underarm.
3. Skip 36 (42, 40, 44, 48) sts for Sleeve.
4. Dc across 64 (58, 70, 76, 82) sts for Front.
5. Ch 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) for underarm.
6. Skip 36 (42, 40, 44, 48) sts for Sleeve. Join.

#### 4. Body
**Rnds 1-Finish**: Ch 2, dc in each st and ch around. 
Continue in dc rounds until body measures 12" (or desired length) from the underarm.
**Bottom Ribbing**: Work 2" of sc-BLO ribbing (worked perpendicular to the body, joining with sl st as you go).

#### 5. Sleeves (Work both alike)
**Rnd 1**: Attach yarn at center of underarm. Ch 2, dc evenly around the armhole opening (including the underarm chains).
**Rnd 2-15**: Dc around.
**Rnd 16 (Decrease)**: Ch 2, dc2tog, dc to end of rnd.
Repeat decrease every 4th round until sleeve is 17" (or desired length).
**Cuff**: Work 2" of sc-BLO ribbing.

### V. FINISHING
- **Neckline**: Work 1 round of sc around the top edge of the neck ribbing for a clean finish.
- **Seaming**: Since this is top-down, only the small gap at the underarm (if any) and the ribbing join need to be secured with a tapestry needle.
- **Blocking**: Wet block the garment to open up the leaf and flower motifs.

**Math Verification for Medium**:
- Bust: 140 sts / 3.5 = 40"
- Armhole depth: 8.5"
- Total Length: 20.5"
- Underarm: 6 sts (approx 1.7") per side.