The Illusionist is a top-down, yoked sweater, featuring stranded colourwork throughout the yoke, upper body and sleeves. The design explores how colourwork can be combined with a fade and the impact that the fade can have on the appearance of the colourwork. The colourwork pattern has a strong, geometric theme, but the overall impact of the pattern is lessened by the way in which it blends and combines with different background colours, creating a sense of illusion or mirage throughout. Short row shaping, plus guidance on adjusting sleeve and body lengths, helps to ensure that your finished garment fits beautifully to your personal preferences.

Gauge
On 3.25mm / US size 3 needles, working in stockinette in the round, 28 stitches over 38 rounds creates a 4x4” square.

Yardage
Yarn choices are essential to creating the illusionist effect in the garment’s colourwork. Please also see below for guidance on yarn choices.
Colour 1: 323 (343: 368: 398: 436) (468: 501: 528: 553) metres / 81 (86: 92: 100: 109) (117: 125: 132: 138) grams
Colour 2: 328 (358: 378: 424: 469) (502: 550: 591: 608) metres / 82 (89: 94: 106: 117) (125: 137: 148: 152) grams
Colour 3: 283 (314: 335: 375: 416) (443: 489: 525: 543) metres / 71 (78: 84: 94: 104) (111: 122: 131: 136) grams
Colour 4: 114 (123: 130: 143: 157) (167: 182: 194: 200) metres / 28 (31: 32: 36: 39) (42: 45: 49: 50) grams
Colour 5: 138 (157: 164: 182: 200) (211: 230: 247: 253) metres / 34 (39: 41: 46: 50) (53: 58: 62: 63) grams

Yarn
The sample uses Black Elephant 100% Merino Sock Yarn, which is available in a wide range of speckled and variegated yarns - perfect for this project. In the sample, C1 is Indian Summer, C2 is Hummingbird, C3 is Thunderstorm, C4 is Pecan Pie and C5 is Daryl.
In order to achieve a similar effect to the sample, please consider the following points:
C1, C2 and C3 should be close in colour to one another, so as to fade seamlessly from one to the next. These three yarns are the main colours of the garment.
C4 and C5 should also be close in colour to one another, but with a stronger contrast to C1, C2 and C3. These two yarns work the contrast colours in the colourwork.
Try to select colourways that are tonal, variegated and speckled to increase the illusionist effect.

Sizing Guide
The pattern is written for sizes XS (S: M: L: XL) (2XL: 3XL: 4XL: 5XL) with intended ease of 0-4” at the chest and slim-fitting sleeves. Yoke, body and sleeve length are customisable.
Chest Circumference of finished garment - 32” (36”: 39.5”: 44”: 48.5”) (51”: 56.5”: 60”: 63”) / 81.25cm (91.5cm: 100.25cm: 111.75cm: 123cm) (129.5cm: 143.5cm: 152.5cm: 160cm)