Make a statement in Strikethrough, a beginner-friendly top-down, seamless circular yoke sweater with eye-catching two-color brioche stripes.

Two-color brioche is surprisingly simple to work—you only hold one strand of yarn at a time—and this is a great project for those new to the technique.

Strikethrough is knit at a relatively firm gauge, giving its fabric extra warmth and durability and making it a fantastic transition piece at either end of the winter season.

Construction
This sweater is knit seamlessly from the top down, beginning with the neckband. After working the neckband, you will work short rows to raise the back neck slightly for a more comfortable fit. You will then work four sets of increases to shape the circular yoke before separating the sleeves from the body, placing sleeve stitches on hold, and casting on additional stitches for the underarms. The body is then knit with no shaping until the desired length, finished with a ribbed hem, and bound off. The sleeves are returned to the needles and are worked with decreases to the wrists, finished with ribbed cuffs, and bound off.

Yarn
Yarn amounts are based on knitting full-length sleeves and the longer body. Cropped lengths will use less.

In general, my testers used their typical sweater quantity amounts for the main color. These estimates skew high and yarn use will vary based on how closely your gauge matches mine.

Main color: 1497 (1671, 1846, 2024, 2202, 2407, 2613, 2822) yd / 1369 (1528, 1688, 1851, 2014, 2201, 2389, 2580) m fingering weight yarn.
Contrast color: 91 (101, 111, 120, 130, 141, 152, 164) yd / 83 (92, 101, 110, 119, 129, 139, 150) m fingering weight yarn.

Sample knit using:
Six and Seven Fiber Alfalfa: 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere goat, 10% Nylon; 382 yd / 349 m per 100 g.
MC: Barista.
CC: Gorse.

Many of my testers used commercial, budget-friendly yarns to great effect! I have suggested some options in the “Suggested Yarn” section, above.

Gauge
26 sts and 42 rows per 4 in / 10 cm in St st using larger needles.
One full repeat of Brioche Pattern should measure 1 in / 2.5 cm in height using larger needles.

Needles – be sure to choose a needle size that lets YOU meet the gauge given above. The sizes listed here are those I used to knit the sample. I tend to knit loosely.
US 2 / 2.75 mm 32 in / 80 cm circular needle (for body), or size needed to obtain gauge.
US 2 / 2.75 mm set of DPNs (for sleeves), or size needed to obtain gauge.
US 1 / 2.25 mm 16 in / 40 cm circular needle (for neckline and start of yoke), or one size smaller than needle used to obtain gauge.
US 1 / 2.25 mm 32 in / 80 cm circular needle (for body hem), or one size smaller than needle used to obtain gauge.

Notions
Stitch markers, waste yarn in same weight as working yarn, tape measure, tapestry needle.

Sizing and Finished Measurements
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
Finished bust circumference: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62) in / 86.4 (96.5, 106.7, 116.8, 127, 137.2, 147.3, 157.5) cm.

Intended ease: 2-4 in / 5.1-10.2 cm in the full bust. Choose a size whose finished bust circumference is 2-4 in / 5-10 cm larger than your actual full bust circumference. Pictured in a size 2 on a 36 in / 91.4 cm bust with 2 in / 5.1 cm of positive ease.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knitted.