My Favorite Type Of Sweater

I have been knitting steadily for four and a half years. I have knitted and created many-a-sweater in that time. Sweaters of all types. Some were successful. Some were not. I've knitted sweaters in pieces and seamed them together, top down raglans, cabled cardigans, etc. I have found that one of my most favorite sweaters and technique is the seamless yoke sweater, knitted from the bottom up. I can't really say why, for sure. I think the yoke sweater flatters most body shapes, it doesn't matter what size. Another positive aspect of a yoke sweater is the "seamless" part. I am one of those knitters that dislikes too much sewing. Seaming is annoying, if anything. I have found a way to cheat and make neat seams.

More on that later...just as an extra tip.

Most knitters thank Elizabeth Zimmermann for creating this type of sweater with her books and "pithy" instructions. She is the godmother of seamless knitting. Seamless Yoke Sweaters are wonderful, easy and constructed without seams. There is less finishing for the knitter who finds seaming tedious. This type of sweater is knitted in the round and decreases are evenly distributed around the yoke of the sweater, until the neckline is reached. Except for the decreases on the yoke section, it's pretty much a straight stockinette stitch knitting project. It's easy to knit in the round, from the bottom up. The yoke is great for showing color work, stripes, textures, or even just plain. These sweaters are also great for layering in the winter time, to keep warm.

Here is a basic Seamless Yoke Sweater I knitted, last Winter, out of all leftover yarns. To date, this is one of my favorite sweaters to wear. I wear it layered with a turtleneck or t-shirt in place of a coat, when it's cold outside. You can clearly see that I knitted my "three tubes" (body and the two sleeves) in a lighter blue, up to the armholes. The yoke, where the "tubes" connect, I knitted in the navy blue and variegated yarn.

The yoke sweater construction is pretty basic. You begin at the bottom of the sweater with the hem, in the round. You choose the ribbing, seed stitch, garter, or whatever bottom trim you'd like to use for a few inches. You then switch to whichever stitch you would like for the body of the sweater, usually stockinette stitch until the armholes. You end up with a tube that spans from waist/hips to your underarms. Usually, the body is set aside, for a time, and the two sleeves are knitter in the round until reaching the underarms, as smaller tubes. When the sleeves are completed you connect all three tubes by knitting the left sleeve, front of yoke, right sleeve, back of yoke, onto a large set of circular needles. You have one very large tube that will be knitted up to the neck. The yoke is shaped by decreasing evenly upon certain rounds at regular intervals. After you have decreased a certain amount of stitches and arrive at the neckline...you can then do a ribbing, or whatever trim you'd like at the neckline. You bind off and its done. All that's left is the minimal finishing. Sewing in the yarn ends, underarm holes, and blocking, if desired. Easy Peasy!

Cardigans can also be knitted in the same manner, except you do not connect the sweater in the round. You would knit the body back and forth on circular needles, add a button band on each front side.

Some cute yoke-type sweaters:

Here are but a few links to some sweater patterns available online. There are plenty more, just search Google, or your favorite engine. Ravelry is another fabulous resource to find yoke type sweaters.

Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan Pattern
Yoke Percentage Sweater
Neiman, from Knitty
Caitlin Pullover
97-24 Jumper
Baby Seamless Yoke Sweater
Striped Raglan From The Bottom Up

Some Informational books on Yoke Sweaters and Techniques that I recommend:

If you are interested in seamless yoke sweaters, you should add these books to your knitting library.

The Knitter's Handy Book Of Sweater Patterns
Knitting Without Tears

In closing...I will tell you how I cheat, a bit, while seaming sweater pieces together. If it's absolutely necessary for me to sew a seam or seam pieces of knitting together...I don't sew. I suck at it. I can't sew an even straight line to save my life. So, I crochet the seams. It's neat and even, and looks more professional than my sloppy sewing. What I do...I pin the pieces of knitting together that need seaming. I attach the yarn and use a crochet hook and slip stitch my way all long the seam line. Slip Stitch in crochet is one of the most basic and easiest stitches to learn and it makes the seam sewing painless. It's quicker too. Trust me.