Clue #2 - The yoke

Now that we have a neck for our sweater, the next step it’s giving it a yoke!

Follow this clue to add Santas or Christmas trees to your yoke - just make sure to follow the correct diagrams!

EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:

INCREASE/DECREASE TIP for children (evenly spaced):
To work out how to increase/decrease evenly, count the total number of stitches on needle (e.g. 60 stitches), and divide by the number of increases/decreases to be made (e.g. 6) = 10. In this example, increase by making 1 yarn over after each 10th stitch. On the next round knit the yarn overs twisted to avoid holes. When decreasing, knit together each 9th and 10th stitch.

INCREASE TIP for women/men (evenly spaced):
To work out how to increase evenly, count the total number of stitches on the needle (e.g. 80 stitches) and divide by the number of increases to be made (e.g. 16) = 5.
In this example, increase by making 1 yarn over after each 5th stitch. On the next round knit the yarn overs twisted to avoid holes.

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1, A.2 and A.3 (Santa pattern) and diagrams A.4, A.5 and A.6 (Christmas tree pattern). The pattern is worked in stockinette stitch. Follow the diagram for your size.

KNITTING TIP:
To avoid the knitting tension losing its elasticity when working the pattern it is important that the strands at the back are not tight. Use a size larger needle when working the pattern if the piece becomes tight.

Let’s start knitting

Children:

Insert 1 marker at the beginning of the round; the yoke is measured from this marker! Change to short circular needle size 5 MM = US 8. Knit 1 round where you increase 6-8-14-10-16-12-14 stitches evenly spaced – read INCREASE/DECREASE TIP children = 66-72-78-78-84-84-90 stitches.

Now work according to diagram A.1 (Santa = 6 stitches) or A.4 (Christmas tree = 6 stitches) repeat diagram 11-12-13-13-14-14-15 times around the yoke.

NOTE! Choose the diagram for your size. Read KNITTING TIP! REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION! When A.1 or A.4 is finished in height there are 176-192-208-208-224-224-240 stitches. Knit 1 round with the main color where you decrease 4-8-12-8-12-4-8 stitches evenly spaced = 172-184-196-200-212-220-232 stitches.

Continue with stockinette stitch and the main color until the yoke measures 15-15-16-17-18-19-20 cm = 6"-6"-6 1/4"-6 3/4"-7"-7 1/2"-8" from the marker.

Diagram (Children's size)

	=	main color: medium grey (sweater with Santas), pearl grey (sweater with Christmas Trees)
	=	off white (sweater with Santas) or yellow (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	raspberry (sweater with Santas) or moss green (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	wheat (sweater with Santas)
	=	black (sweater with Santas) or brown (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	between 2 stitches make 1 yarn over, on next round, knit the yarn over twisted to avoid a hole

Women:

Insert 1 marker at the beginning of the round, mid-back; the yoke is measured from this marker! Change to short circular needle size 5 MM = US 8. Knit 1 round where you increase 8-16-18-26-28-30 stitches evenly spaced – read INCREASE TIP women = 84-96-102-114-120-126 stitches.

Work according to diagram A.2 (Santas = 6 stitches) or A.5 (Christmas trees = 6 stitches) repeat diagram 14-16-17-19-20-21 times around the yoke.

NOTE! Choose the diagram for your size and read KNITTING TIP! REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION! When A.2 or A.5 is finished in height there are 224-256-272-304-320-336 stitches on the round. Knit 1 round with the main color where you increase 8-0-0-0-4-8 stitches evenly = 232-256-272-304-324-344 stitches. Continue with stockinette stitch and the main color until the yoke measures 20-22-23-25-27-29 cm = 8 3/4"-9"-9 3/4"-10 5/8"-11 3/8" from the marker.

Diagram (Women's size)

	=	main color: medium grey (sweater with Santas), pearl grey (sweater with Christmas Trees)
	=	off white (sweater with Santas) or yellow (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	raspberry (sweater with Santas) or moss green (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	wheat (sweater with Santas)
	=	black (sweater with Santas) or brown (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	between 2 stitches make 1 yarn over, on next round, knit the yarn over twisted to avoid a hole

Men:

Insert 1 marker at the beginning of the round, mid-back; the yoke is measured from this marker! Change to short circular needle size 5 MM = US 8. Knit 1 round where you increase 16-18-26-28-30-34 stitches evenly spaced – read INCREASE TIP men = 96-102-114-120-126-138 stitches.

Work according to diagram A.3 (Santas = 6 stitches) or A.6 (Christmas trees = 6 stitches) repeat diagram 16-17-19-20-21-23 times around the yoke.

NOTE!Choose the diagram for your size and read KNITTING TIP! REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION! When A.3 or A.6 is finished in height there are 256-272-304-320-336-368 stitches on the round. Knit 1 round with the main color where you increase 0-0-0-4-8-0 stitches evenly = 256-272-304-324-344-368 stitches. Continue with stockinette stitch and the main color until the yoke measures 26-28-29-31-33-35 cm = 10 1/4"-11"-11 3/8"-12 1/4"-13"-13 3/4" from the marker.

Diagram (Men's size)

	=	main color: medium grey
	=	off white (sweater with Santas) or yellow (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	raspberry (sweater with Santas) or forest green (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	wheat (sweater with Santas)
	=	black (sweater with Santas) or brown (sweater with Christmas trees)
	=	between 2 stitches make 1 yarn over, on next round, knit the yarn over twisted to avoid a hole

And that’s all for the yoke!

Here you see how we measure from the marker in the size we are knitting (Women’s XS)

Now we are done with the yoke and the second clue in this KAL has been solved. Are you ready to continue? Then click below on Next > to get to the next step of the sweater.

Remember to send pictures of your progress to our gallery. Click here to submit a link!

Need some help?

Below you'll find a list of resources to help you with the yoke of your Christmas sweater.

Still have doubts? You can leave questions using the form at the bottom of the page and one of our knitting experts will then try to help you!: