Bleideag: an easy yoke sweater that beginners can tackle

Choosing a size to knit

To get the best fit you'll want to know what size you are, and how to read the sizing information provided in your pattern.

Alternating cable cast on

An alternating cable cast on is a useful, stretchy cast on for ribbing that’s less fussy to work than a tubular cast on. It’s worked like a regular cable cast on, but instead of casting on each stitch knitwise stitches are alternately cast on knitwise and purlwise.

This tutorial includes both step by step photos and videos so you can use whichever suits you better.

Construction

Bleideag is worked in the round seamlessly from the bottom up. Starting off a bottom-up sweater is generally very simple, since you cast on all the stitches for the body and don’t need to worry about working any immediate shaping (increases or decreases). Instead you can just get your stitches situated and settle in comfortably by working some ribbing before beginning the first stranded colourwork chart.

The bit of colourwork detail around the hem and cuffs is a gentle warmup for the yoke pattern. The main part of the body and sleeves are worked in stockinette in one colour, perfect for taking your knitting on the go (or just watching something engrossing).

Joining the body and sleeves can be a bit confusing if you haven’t worked this style before. Stitches on the sleeves and body are placed on holders for the underarm gusset, and the remaining stitches are all worked onto one needle.

Joining sleeves and body on a seamless bottom up sweater

When you’re knitting a bottom up sweater and reach the directions for ‘joining the body and sleeves’ do you find it difficult to visualise how the pieces fit together? This tutorial talks you through the process, with helpful pictures.

This tutorial discusses how to decide how to hold the 2 colours in your colourwork and why being consistent is important

There are a few places where short rows are used in Bleideag. Optional short row darts create more fabric at the front of the chest, which keeps the front hem of your sweater from riding up. There are three options for C/D, E/F and G/H cups - or you can just work straight up to the underarm.

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Once the sleeves and body are joined, a few raglan decrease rows are worked along with short rows, to raise the back neck for a comfortable fit.

A great advantage of working bottom-up is saving the best for last! Working stranded colourwork is great fun once you’re in the swing of it, especially with a beautiful yarn such as Einrúm. And since you’re decreasing throughout the yoke, the rounds go faster and faster. The yoke decreases on Bleideag are worked in pattern for a subtle, clean look. A bit more ribbing for the neck and you’re done!

Armed with all this knowledge, are you ready to knit Bleideag?