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Welcome to the fifth instalment of the Yoke Meditation Series—a collection designed to give knitters a peaceful escape from the busyness of everyday life. This series is all about finding calm, focus, and creative flow, and Yoke Meditation Series No. 5 is yet another mesmerising addition.

Inspired by the intricate beauty of Buddhist mandalas, this top-down round yoke sweater turns knitting into a meditative experience. The stranded colourwork begins at the neckline and flows seamlessly through the body, even past the sleeve separation.

To help with those tricky long floats, I’ve included step-by-step guidance for the Ladderback Jacquard method, making sure your work looks neat and polished inside and out. Whether you’re working with a light or dark main colour, the pattern includes charts for both to make things easier.

You can choose between a straight or shaped waist to customise the fit to your style. Knit in sport weight yarn, this design combines delicate, intricate patterns with bold, chunky blocks, creating a rhythm that’s as enjoyable to knit as it is to wear. For the best effect, pair a solid main colour with a colour-changing gradient yarn as your contrast—it’ll really make the mandala-inspired motif come to life.

This sweater is featured in a detailed knitting tutorial designed to help knitters make their very first colourwork sweater. The tutorial includes close-up demos of all the basic techniques you’ll need to create it.

The Yoke Meditation Series isn’t just about making sweaters; it’s about taking a moment for yourself, enjoying the process, and embracing mindfulness through colourwork. Let this sweater be a creative escape and a beautiful addition to your wardrobe.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished chest circumference:

• 91.5 (101.5, 110, 121.5, 130, 141.5, 150, 161.5, 170) cm
• 36½ (40½, 44, 48½, 52, 56½, 60, 64½, 68)”

Designed to be worn with 10-15 cm / 4-6” positive ease around the chest.
To choose the most appropriate size, measure the wearer’s chest and add the preferred ease. Or measure the circumference of an already-owned sweater that fits well. Then find the closest finished chest circumference.

Yarn: Sport weight, depending on the length of the sweater, allow approximately:
Main colour (MC):

• 835 (920, 985, 1070, 1145, 1235, 1305, 1410, 1480) m
• 915 (1005, 1080, 1170, 1250, 1350, 1430, 1540, 1615) yds

Contrast colour (CC):

• 255 (275, 295, 315, 335, 360, 390, 410, 445) m
• 280 (300, 325, 345, 370, 395, 425, 445, 485) yds

Yarns used in sample (size 2) is Dundaga Wool from Paces Vilnas Fabrika Merino Singles (~420 m 460 yds / 100 g), 1 skein of colour-changing gradient as contrast colour and 2 undyed skeins as main colour.

Gauge: 26 sts & 32 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette stitch and colourwork in the round on larger needles, blocked.

Suggested needles:

• 2.75 mm (US 2) circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting
• 2.25 mm (US 1) circulars 60 cm / 24” long and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting

Notions: Stitch markers, locking stitch markers or bobby pins, row counter, stitch holder, tapestry needle, tape measure.

Techniques used: Knitting in the round, short rows, Ladderback jacquard, lifted increases.

Notes: The sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down.