The Wandering Sage Pullover: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Textured, Bohemian Yoke Sweater
Embrace Free-Spirited Style: The Wandering Sage Pullover
Embrace free-spirited style with this cozy, oversized pullover featuring a unique, textured yoke inspired by desert landscapes and woven tapestries. Knit in the round with a soft, heathered yarn, this pattern creates a garment that feels like a warm, artistic embrace. The Wandering Sage Pullover is a beginner-friendly, top-down sweater that combines a simple stockinette body with a stunning, slipped-stitch yoke pattern. The result is a relaxed, bohemian garment that is as enjoyable to knit as it is to wear. This free pattern will guide you through every step, from the textured yoke to the seamless body and sleeves.
Materials Needed
Before you begin, gather the following materials to ensure a smooth knitting experience.
- Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) yarn in two colors:
- Color A (Heathered Sage): 800 (900, 1000, 1100, 1200) yards. Sample uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease in 'Sage'.
- Color B (Creamy Sand): 200 (250, 300, 350, 400) yards. Sample uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease in 'Fisherman'.
- Needles:
- US 8 (5 mm) 16-inch circular needle (for yoke and neck).
- US 8 (5 mm) 32-inch circular needle (for body).
- Set of US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles (or a long circular for magic loop) for sleeves.
- Notions:
- Stitch markers (at least 8).
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
- Stitch holders or waste yarn for holding sleeve stitches.
- Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch on larger needles, after blocking. Always check your gauge for best fit.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This pattern is written for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL). Finished chest circumference: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) inches with 2-4 inches of positive ease. Choose the size that gives you the desired amount of ease.
Abbreviations
- CO: Cast on
- K: Knit
- P: Purl
- K2tog: Knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
- SSK: Slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- M1L: Make one left (increase)
- M1R: Make one right (increase)
- PM: Place marker
- SM: Slip marker
- St(s): Stitch(es)
- Rep: Repeat
- RS: Right side
- WS: Wrong side
- sl1 wyib: Slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in back
- sl1 wyif: Slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in front
Pattern Notes
The sweater is knit top-down in the round. The yoke features a textured pattern using slipped stitches and simple increases. Sleeves are worked in the round separately. The yoke pattern is worked over 16 stitches per repeat.
Yoke
With Color A and the shorter (16-inch) circular needle, CO 80 (84, 88, 92, 96) sts. Place a marker (PM) to mark the beginning of the round and join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Knit 4 rounds (this creates a simple rolled edge).
Increase Round 1: *K8 (9, 10, 11, 12), M1L, PM, K8 (9, 10, 11, 12), M1R*; rep from * to * around. (96 (100, 104, 108, 112) sts). You will now have 8 markers (including the BOR marker) that divide the work into 8 sections of 12 (12.5, 13, 13.5, 14) sts each.
Knit 1 round.
Begin Textured Yoke Pattern
Work the following 8-round pattern. The pattern is worked over 16 sts per repeat, but your stitch count will increase as you work the increase rounds. The pattern will naturally align as you increase.
Round 1 (RS): With Color B, *K1, sl1 wyib, K2, sl1 wyib, K2, sl1 wyib, K2, sl1 wyib, K1*; rep from * to * around.
Round 2: With Color B, *P1, sl1 wyif, P2, sl1 wyif, P2, sl1 wyif, P2, sl1 wyif, P1*; rep from * to * around.
Round 3: With Color A, Knit all sts.
Round 4: With Color A, Purl all sts.
Round 5: With Color B, *K2, sl1 wyib, K2, sl1 wyib, K2, sl1 wyib, K2, sl1 wyib, K2*; rep from * to * around.
Round 6: With Color B, *P2, sl1 wyif, P2, sl1 wyif, P2, sl1 wyif, P2, sl1 wyif, P2*; rep from * to * around.
Round 7: With Color A, Knit all sts.
Round 8: With Color A, Purl all sts.
Repeat these 8 rounds for the yoke pattern. While working the pattern, increase as follows every 4th round (after a knit round with Color A, i.e., after Round 3 or Round 7):
Increase Round (every 4th round): *K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, K1, M1L*; rep from * to * around. (8 sts increased per round). This means you are increasing one stitch on each side of every marker.
Continue until yoke measures 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9) inches from cast-on edge, ending after a purl round with Color A (Round 4 or 8). You should have approximately 200 (220, 240, 260, 280) sts.
Separate Body and Sleeves
Knit across the next 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) sts for the back. Place the next 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts on a holder for the left sleeve. Using the backward loop method, CO 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) sts for the underarm. Knit across the next 60 (66, 72, 78, 84) sts for the front. Place the next 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) sts on a holder for the right sleeve. CO 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) sts for the underarm. Join to work in the round. (132 (148, 164, 180, 196) sts for body)
Body
Continue in Stockinette stitch (knit every round) with Color A until body measures 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) inches from underarm, or desired length.
Knit 4 rounds of garter stitch (knit one round, purl one round, knit one round, purl one round). Bind off loosely in knit.
Sleeves
Transfer held sleeve sts to DPNs or a short circular needle. With Color A, pick up and knit 6 (8, 10, 12, 14) sts from the underarm cast-on. Place a marker (PM) in the center of these underarm sts. Join in the round. (46 (52, 58, 64, 70) sts)
Knit in Stockinette stitch (knit every round) with Color A, decreasing 2 sts every 6th round as follows: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts before marker, SSK. Continue decreasing until 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) sts remain.
Continue without decreasing until sleeve measures 16 (17, 18, 19, 20) inches from underarm, or desired length.
Knit 4 rounds of garter stitch (knit one round, purl one round, knit one round, purl one round). Bind off loosely in knit.
Repeat for the second sleeve.
Finishing
Weave in all ends using a tapestry needle. Block the sweater to measurements, gently stretching the yoke to open up the textured pattern. Lay flat to dry. Enjoy your Wandering Sage Pullover!
