Earthy Diamond Yoke Pullover: Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

The Earthy Diamond Yoke Pullover is a cozy, straight-tube sweater made for little ones who love to move. Knitted in the round from the bottom up in soft bamboo cotton, it has a gentle drape and a breathable, skin-friendly feel that works beautifully for spring and fall. The rich chocolate body is brightened by a single row of simple caramel intarsia diamonds that circles the upper chest, giving the sweater a handmade, earthy charm without any fussy shaping. It is a wonderful project for intermediate knitters ready to try a small colorwork band, and the finished pullover looks just as sweet with jeans as it does over a dress.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Sport weight (CYC 2) bamboo cotton, 50% bamboo / 50% cotton, 150 yd (137 m) per 50 g skein.
  • MC (chocolate): 3 (4, 5) skeins
  • CC (caramel): 1 skein, all sizes
• Needles: 3.75 mm (US 5) circular needle, 16" and 24" lengths, plus a set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) for small circumferences — or the size needed to obtain gauge.
• Notions: Stitch markers (at least 8), stitch holders or scrap yarn, a tapestry needle, and a pair of scissors.
• Finished size: Chest circumference 24 (26, 28)" / 61 (66, 71) cm; length 14 (15, 16)" / 35.5 (38, 40.5) cm; sleeve length to underarm 8 (9, 10)" / 20 (23, 25.5) cm. Shown in size 2 (chest 26").

Abbreviations

• CO — cast on
• BO — bind off
• k — knit
• p — purl
• St st — stockinette stitch (knit every round when working in the round)
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• pm — place marker
• sm — slip marker
• m1 — make one (lift the bar between stitches and knit it through the back loop)
• k2tog — knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
• ssk — slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together (a left-leaning decrease)
• MC — main color (chocolate)
• CC — contrast color (caramel)
• rep — repeat

Gauge

24 sts and 32 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch in the round. Knit a swatch in the round (or work a flat swatch and measure between the edges), then wash and dry it as you will the finished sweater before checking your stitch and round counts.

Tips Before You Start

• Wind separate bobbins for the diamond band. Because the four chart sections are separated by plain MC sections, use small bobbins or butterflies of caramel for each diamond group so the strands don't tangle as you work around.
• Keep the colorwork loose. Bamboo cotton has little stretch, so carry the CC gently across the back of the band and avoid pulling the floats tight, or the yoke will pucker.
• Try the sweater on as you go. Slip the body onto scrap yarn after the diamond band to check the length against your child before dividing for the armholes.
• Match your raglan lines. Count your decrease rounds carefully — the yoke narrows quickly, and keeping an accurate tally keeps the neck opening the right size.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body

Rnd 1: With MC and 24" circular needle, CO 144 (156, 168) sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist, and pm for beg of rnd.

Rnds 1–8: [k2, p2] rep to end (144 (156, 168) sts).

Change to St st (knit all rnds).

Next rnds: Work even until piece measures 8 (8.5, 9)" from CO edge, ending with an even-numbered rnd (144 (156, 168) sts).

Diamond Band

Set-up rnd: k9 (12, 15) MC, pm, work Chart Rnd 1 over next 18 sts, pm, k9 (12, 15) MC, pm, work Chart Rnd 1 over next 18 sts, pm, k9 (12, 15) MC, pm, work Chart Rnd 1 over next 18 sts, pm, k9 (12, 15) MC, pm, work Chart Rnd 1 over next 18 sts, pm, k9 (12, 15) MC (144 (156, 168) sts). You now have 4 chart sections of 18 sts each, separated by MC sections of 9 (12, 15) sts.

Chart Rnds 1–12: Work Chart Rnds 1–12 as established, changing colors as indicated (144 (156, 168) sts). The chart is 18 sts wide and 12 rnds tall; each diamond is 6 sts wide and 6 rnds tall, with 2 MC sts between diamonds.

After Chart Rnd 12, break CC and continue with MC only.

Divide for Armholes

Next rnd: k to first marker, remove marker, BO 6 sts, k to next marker, remove marker, BO 6 sts, k to next marker, remove marker, BO 6 sts, k to next marker, remove marker, BO 6 sts, k to end (120 (132, 144) sts on needle for body; 4 armholes of 6 sts each). Place body sts on holder.

Sleeves (make 2)

Rnd 1: With MC and DPNs, CO 36 (40, 44) sts. Join to work in the round, pm.

Rnds 1–6: [k2, p2] rep to end (36 (40, 44) sts).

Change to St st.

Rnds 7–10: Knit (36 (40, 44) sts).

Inc rnd: k1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1 (38 (42, 46) sts).

Next rnds: Knit 7 rnds even, then rep inc rnd every 8th rnd 4 (5, 6) times total (46 (52, 58) sts).

Next rnds: Work even until sleeve measures 8 (9, 10)" from CO edge (46 (52, 58) sts).

Next rnd: BO 6 sts, k to end (40 (46, 52) sts). Place sts on holder. Make the second sleeve the same way.

Join Body and Sleeves

Joining rnd: With 24" circular needle and MC, k across body sts, pm, k across first sleeve sts, pm, k across body sts, pm, k across second sleeve sts, pm (240 (264, 288) sts total). Join to work in the round.

Raglan Decreases

Rnd 1: [k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk] rep to end (232 (256, 280) sts).

Rnd 2: Knit (232 (256, 280) sts).

Next rnds: Rep Rnds 1–2 until 8 (9, 10) decrease rnds have been worked (176 (192, 208) sts).

Neck Shaping

Change to the 16" circular needle when the stitches no longer fit comfortably on the longer needle.

Next rnd: [k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk] rep to end (168 (184, 200) sts).

Next rnd: Knit (168 (184, 200) sts).

Next rnds: Rep these 2 rnds until 12 (13, 14) decrease rnds total have been worked (144 (156, 168) sts).

Neckband

Rnds 1–6: [k2, p2] rep to end (144 (156, 168) sts).

Next rnd: BO all sts in pattern.

Assembly and Finishing

There is no seaming to do — the body and sleeves are joined in the round, so the only finishing is the underarm gaps. Using the tails left at each underarm, close the small holes where the body and sleeve bound-off edges meet with a few stitches and secure them on the inside. Weave in all ends, working the caramel ends along the back of the diamond band so they don't show. Block the pullover to the finished measurements: soak it in cool water, gently squeeze out the excess, roll it in a towel, then lay it flat to dry, patting the ribbing and the diamond band into shape. Do not hang the wet sweater, as bamboo cotton stretches under its own weight.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the palette: Swap the caramel for mustard, sage, or dusty rose to suit the season — a single skein of CC is enough for any size.
• Add a second band: Work a second 12-round diamond band just above the hem for a bolder look, keeping the same 18-stitch chart sections.
• Lengthen the body or sleeves: Add 1–2" of plain stockinette before the armhole divide or before binding off the sleeve underarm, remembering to buy extra MC yarn.