I’m a huge fan of traditional colorwork, but I also love bold variations on traditional knitting practices. With that in mind, I’ve used a new super bulky yarn from our fall/winter lineup to dream up a hip-length tunic in big, modern colors. Knit from the top down in a circular, seamless construction, my tunic is a cozy layering piece that will pair perfectly with jeans and a long-sleeve tee. And because it’s sleeveless, it can be worn from fall through spring and still fit under winter coats, so style doesn’t have to be sacrificed to stay warm. Perhaps the best part is the near-instant gratification—all you need is an open schedule and approximately 11 hour-long episodes of your favorite show on Netflix to knit the entire sweater.

Finished Size 33 (37, 41, 45, 49, 54)“ bust circumference. Sweater shown measures 45”.

Yarn Berroco Macro, 50% wool, 40% acrylic, 10% alpaca; 112yds/250g: #6734 Moose (MC), 3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins; #6746 Puffin Beak (CC1), #6753 Great Auk (CC2), #6715 Polar Night (CC3), and #6744 Snowy Owl Eyes (CC4), 1 skein each.

Needles Size 15 (10 mm) circular needle (see note on choosing a length). Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Markers; tapestry needle.

Gauge 8 sts and 10.5 rows = 4” (10 cm) in colorwork pattern st; 7 sts and 10 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St st

Notes If you’ve never knit a circular yoke sweater before, choosing a size can be tricky. Personally, I tend to knit mine to fit with negative ease. I wrote a blog post on choosing sizes here (http://www.knittingdaily.com/how-to-knit/fitting-measurin...) but a general rule is to choose a size with 0-2” positive ease at most.
Choose a circular needle length that’s slightly shorter than the finished bust circumference—you’ll have a lot of bulky stitches on the needle before binding off the arms, and you want to make sure they’ll all fit comfortably on the cable without pushing each other off. I’d recommend using a 24” length for the three smallest sizes, and a 36” length for the three largest sizes.