Brooks Cardigan & Pullover by Kristin Drysdale Scandiwork

BROOKS CARDIGAN

Designed in two versions: Top down or bottom up (download whichever pattern you prefer on Ravelry)
Seamless construction in the round with a Steek

'Top-down and bottom-up knitting both have advantages and things to love about the process. The process is similar but, um… different. Here are some of the things I love about both ways to knit a yoke sweater.
Top-down knitting is a modern way to knit. It starts with the neckband and moves quickly to the colorwork yoke and is knit from top to bottom. I love to jump right to the colorwork. Top down knitting is really a great project for a colorwork class. The yoke is shaped with increases. Once the yoke is completed, the stitches are divided into the sleeves and the body. This method makes it easy to try on your cardigan as you go and tailor-fit the yoke depth and length of the body and sleeves. It also is easy to seamlessly pick up the underarm stitches for the sleeves. It is also very rewarding to have the beautiful yoke smiling at you the whole time you knit the body. It encourages you to finish because you can’t wait to wear it. There is minimal finish work in top-down knitting.
Bottom-up knitting is the traditional way to knit a yoke sweater. It’s super portable and quick to knit. It starts with knitting the body, then you knit the sleeves separately. If this is your first bottom-up yoke sweater, you will be pleasantly surprised how quickly the sleeves knit up! . As soon as you finish each sleeve, you will connect it to the body. Once the body is joined to both sleeves, you knit a few rounds, then the fun part starts. I like saving the colorwork for last, the anticipation of working the yoke is motivational to me, It’s like dessert. The yoke is shaped with decreases. The longtail cast-on has the perfect stretch for the cuffs and waistband. I love the traditional V shape of the stitch, especially in colorwork. And you can’t underestimate the bonus it is to be able to tailor fit the neckband. Bottom-up knitting also has minimal finishing work, but you do have to finish the underarms. I have tricks that makes this a snap.

Both patterns have instructions for short rows. I loved this sweater so much, that I wanted you to be able to knit it your favorite way. I knit it both ways and loved every minute of it.'

- Kristin Drysdale

KNITTING TECHNIQUES

Long-tail cast on
Knitting
Purling
Knitting and purling
Knitting in colorwork
k2tog
SSK
Backward loop
Stranded knitting in colorwork
Catching floats
k2, p2 rib
Securing and cutting a Steek
Single Crochet
Binding off (Casting off)
Duplicate Stitch
Picking up and knitting Stitches
Making my new favorite buttonhole
Sewing on buttons
German short rows
Paying attention to gauge



BROOKS PULLOVER

'Brooks is a yoke pullover with seamless construction designed with a patterns for top-down and bottom-up so that you can knit it the way you like to work.
I wanted to design this sweater so that you can knit it the way you love to knit. Top-down and traditional bottom-up knitting is similar but a little different, and each way has its unique little advantages.
The top-down construction starts at the yoke and ets you begin with the fun colorwork part. I also like that after you have completed the colorwork, it’s rewarding to look at while you are finishing the sweater. This construction also makes it easy to try on your sweater as you knit so you can tailor fit the yoke depth and length of your body and sleeves. I also love easy way to pick up and knit the sleeve stitches. Brooks has a magical fit that is super comfortable and flattering.
Bottom up knitting is the traditional way to knit a yoke sweater. I love this efficient and beautiful way to knit. First you knit the body, then quickly you will knit the sleeves (if this is your first bottom-up yoke sweater, you will be pleasantly surprised how quick sleeves are to knit up). As soon as you finish a sleeve, you will connect it to the body. After both sleeves are done, you will knit a few rounds, then the fun part starts. I like saving the colorwork for last. It’s like dessert. Another thing I love about bottom-up sweaters is that you can tailor fit the size of the neckline. I love the traditional Vs for the stitch orientation.
Both versions are knit with one size needle throughout. Brooks has magical fit that is super comfortable and flattering. I hope it becomes your favorite!'

- Kristin Drysdale

KNITTING TECHNIQUES

Long-tail cast-on
Knit
Purl
2x2 rib
Knitting in stranded colorwork
Catching floats
Colorwork chart reading skils
Knitting in the round
DPN / Magic loop skills
Traveling loop for the neckband
SSK
K2tog
German short rows
Bind off
Backward loop
Duplicate stitch

BROOKS CARDIGAN

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)

Biches & Bûche Le Lambswool
Main Color: Mustard Yellow
5 (5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9) skeins
Contrasting Color: Off White
Approx. 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins


BROOKS PULLOVER

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

Biches et Bûches Le Lambswool
Main Color: Blue Green
Approx 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 , 7) skeins
Contrasting Color: Off White
1 skein for each size

BROOKS CARDIGAN

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) with a 7.50 - 15cm / 3 to 6-inch positive ease
Sample sweater (in photos) is size 3 with a 7.50cm - 3” positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest circumference
78.75 (83.75, 90.75, 96.50, 102.75, 108.50, 115, 121.25, 127.00, 132.75, 139.75, 145.50, 151.75, 157.50) cm
31(33, 35.75 ,38, 40.5, 42.75, 45.25, 47.75, 50, 52.25, 55, 57.25, 59.75, 62) inches
Body length from cast on edge to underarm
29.25 (30.50, 31.75, 31.75, 33.50, 35, 36.25, 36.25, 38.75, 40.75, 40.75, 40.75, 43.25, 43.25) cm
11.5 (12, 12.5, 12.5, 13.25, 13.75, 14.25, 14.25, 15.25, 16, 16, 16, 17, 17) inches
Sleeve length
40.50 (42, 43.25, 43.25, 43.25, 44.50, 45.75, 45.75, 45.75, 45.75, 48.25, 48.25, 49.50, 49.50) cm
16 (16.5, 17, 17, 17, 17.5, 18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19.5, 19.5)”
Yoke depth without neckband
20.25 (20.25, 21, 21.50, 21.50, 22.25, 23, 24.25, 25.50, 26.50, 26.50, 26.50, 27.25, 27.25) cm
8 (8, 8.25, 8.5, 8.5, 8.75, 9, 9.5, 10,10.5 ,10.5, 10.5 ,10.75,10.75) inches
Total length
53.25 (53.25, 56.50, 57.25, 59.50, 61.50, 63.50, 64.75, 68.50, 69.75, 69.75, 72.25, 73, 73) cm
21 (21, 22.25, 22.5, 23.5, 24.25, 25, 25.5, 27, 27.5 ,27.5, 28.5, 28.75, 28.75) inches


BROOKS PULLOVER

GAUGE & SWATCH

Brooks Cardigan
20 stitches and 23 rows = 4 inches colorwork
20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in single color
Please swatch in the round, to determine needle size
Note swatch in both one color and in colorwork to determine needle size

Brooks Pullover
20 stitches and 23 rounds = 4 inches in colorwork
17.25 stitches and 23 rounds= 4 inches in single color
Swatch in colorwork, in the round, to determine needle size

NEEDLES

Brooks Cardigan
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 4 - 3.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm

Brooks Pullover
US 7 - 4.5 mm

• Handwash, 30°C
• Dry flat on a towel
• Manipulate with care while wet so your knit doesn't get stretched