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8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults
Our 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults pattern was born from a desire to explore what happens when you add more spokes to a raglan… Turns out you get all the graphic appeal of a raglan and all the easy fit of a circular yoke! For a truly special sweater, cast on with Vinter Wool, our small-batch hand-dyed yarn made in Norway with all Norwegian wool, including fiber from one of the world’s oldest sheep breeds.
You knit the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover in the round from the top down, starting with a stockinette rolled neckband. Paired increases in eight spokes shape the sweater’s yoke, creating sculptural lines that radiate outward from the neckline… Simply beautiful!
Once you divide the body and sleeves, you continue increasing at the front and center back to maintain the spokes, while decreasing at the sides of the body to keep the stitch count even. Similarly, when you knit the sleeves, you’ll keep increasing along the spokes at the tops of the sleeves while decreasing at the underarms. This clever shaping creates an organic contour at the rolled hem and lovely details all around!
Warm enough for frozen Oslo winters and full of rich natural beauty, Vinter Wool is made entirely by one very small artisanal mill in Norway from a mix of 70% Norwegian white sheep wool and 30% Norwegian wildsheep wool, a thoughtful balance of softness and wild, woolly character.
Norwegian wildsheep, who grow the fiber for our Vinter Wool yarn | Photo credit: Hilde Buer
These wildsheep are Old Norwegian sheep who are reared the same way they have been for thousands of years, living outside year-round on the heathered moorlands of the Norwegian coast. Our partner mill sources the wool from local farmers to transform into yarn, with every step honed to bring out the wool’s natural luster and preserve its toothy feel, distinctive elasticity, and rich lanolin content. This same mill hand-dyes the yarn with rich colors shaded by the varying blacks, browns, and grays of the wildsheep… A truly rare and remarkable yarn!
Vinter Wool’s lofty spin makes it super versatile, knitting up beautifully anywhere from a DK to worsted weight. We knit the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover right in the middle of that range, for a surprisingly airy fabric with enough structure to stand away from the body, a key part of that relaxed fit.
We chose Vinter Wool’s enchanting undyed color, River Birch, for our delightfully sheepy 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover… Do the same to experience the stunning variation of the Norwegian wildsheep wool as you knit your own pullover, or pick from a hand-dyed palette full of colors straight from a Norwegian wood.
P.S. Want to knit this sweater for a little one? We also offer the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Babies + Toddlers pattern, knit in our super soft, machine-washable Morning yarn!
Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Materials
- 8 (9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19) skeins of Purl Soho’s Vinter Wool, 70% Norwegian white sheep wool and 30% Norwegian wildsheep wool. Each skein of this DK- to worsted-weight yarn is 120 yards/ 50 grams; approximately 910 (1045, 1190, 1345, 1480, 1650, 1785, 1905, 2080, 2195) yards required. We used the undyed color, River Birch.
- US 4 (3.5mm), 16-inch circular knitting needles
- US 4, 32- or 40-inch circular needles
- US 5 (3.75mm), 16-inch circular needles
- US 5, 32- or 40-inch circular needles
- A set of US 4 double pointed needles
- A set of US 5 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- An 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults Pattern PDF
GAUGE
21 stitches and 29 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on larger needles
SIZES
NOTE: For help picking a size, please check out our Understanding Ease + Selecting Your Size Tutorial!
33¾ (37¼, 41, 44½, 48¼, 51¾) (55, 58, 61½, 65)
To fit actual chest circumference of 28–31 (32–34, 35–37, 38–41, 42–44, 45–48) (49–51, 52–54, 55–57, 58–61) inches, with approximately 3–7 inches of ease
- Finished Chest Circumference: 33¾ (37¼, 41, 44½, 48¼, 51¾) (55, 58, 61½, 65) inches
- Finished Length from Front Neck to Bottom Edge: 20 (20¾, 21¼, 22¾, 23½, 24¼) (24½, 25, 26, 26) inches
- Finished Length from Underarm to Bottom Edge: 9¾ (9¾, 9¾, 10½, 10½, 11¼) (11¼, 11¼, 12, 12) inches
- Finished Length from Underarm to Cuff: 15 inches
Sample: The sweater shown here is size 37¼, worn with 5 inches of ease.
PATTERN
The 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults Pattern is available for purchase as a PDF download only.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Learn About Vinter Wool + All Our Beautiful Yarns
This project gets its lustrous depth of color, appealingly natural feel, and warmth from our Vinter Wool yarn, a very special small-batch light worsted/DK-weight to worsted-weight yarn spun and hand-dyed in Norway. The hand-dyed colors are enhanced by mixing two kinds of Norwegian wool: the Norwegian white sheep and the Old Norwegian wildsheep, a 3,000 year-old breed raised outdoors year-round on the Norwegian coast. Experience this spectacular wool yarn rooted in the knitting traditions of Norway!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our free Vinter Wool knitting patterns and cast on!
More Light Worsted/ DK-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- Shop our entire collection of worsted/aran-weight yarn (What is worsted-weight yarn? Our guide to worsted-weight yarn will answer your questions and more!)
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop wool yarn
- Shop hand-dyed yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 55 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 1,000s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
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Hi you all,
What a nice and pretty sweater is this! I am trying to use my stash yarns and before buying the pattern I would very much like to know if I might make the sweater with ONION Silk + Kid mohair. Their gauge is 20 stitches and 34 rounds with needle 3.5 mm.
Have a nice day and thank you.
Elsje
Hi Elsje,
Thank you so much for reaching out about the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults! We’re thrilled you’re as excited to get started with this pattern as we were, and I’m happy to help you consider a yarn substitute.
The gauge listed for this pattern is: 21 stitches and 29 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US 5 needles. I’d recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch to see if you can adjust your needles to meet the listed gauge. If you don’t meet the gauge (listed for blocked swatches), your finished sweater will be a different size than our sample, and in rather unpredictable ways.
I hope this helps point you in the right direction! Please feel free to reach back out with any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Hi Hills,
Thank you for the quick reply to my question.
What I meant, however, is whether I could use a silk and a kid mohair yarn for this pullover, because I am not sure if the nice pattern with increases and decreases and the rolled hems will show in this kind of yarn.
Hi Elsje,
Thanks so much for the clarification!
Anytime you use a kid mohair in a project, it will add a bit of a halo that may take away from some of the definition as you pointed out. I think that pairing it with the silk yarn you have should help counteract that effect if it’s a yarn that has strong stitch definition on its own. I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch that includes make 1 right and left stitches to mimic the spokes of the pullover so you can get a better idea of how they will look in your knitted fabric.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Mia
Hi Mia, thank you for the clear answer!
Have a nice day,
Elsje
What a beautiful pattern! I have two questions:
1. Is this a soft yarn, or will it be somewhat scratchy even after blocking?
2. Is there an easy way to make the neckline somewhat lower – maybe by casting on the number of stitches indicated for a larger size, and then modifying the decreases of the yoke section so that I end up with the correct number of stitches for my size (probably the second size, or possibly the third)?
Many thanks,
Debby
Hi Debby,
I’m so glad you reached out about the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults today, and I’m happy to help!
It looks like the easiest way to lower the neckline would be to skip the neckband section entirely. You’ll want to cast on with your larger needles for the same stitch count as the original cast-on, and jump straight into the set-up from the yoke. If you want, you can cast on with a provisional cast-on, or simply pick up stitches later to work a different neckline finish if you like!
I hope this helps you get started! We can’t wait to see what you make!
Happy knitting,
Hills
A lovely pattern. Can you recommend a yarn that would be next to skin soft?
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much for writing in with this question! I’m very glad to recommend some super soft yarn to substitute for this project.
I would suggest checking out Cashmere Merino Bloom or Note. I would always suggest knitting and blocking a gauge swatch, as our gauges are listed for blocked swatches. This is the best chance to see if you need to adjust your needles to match the pattern’s gauge and ensure you love the look and feel of the finished fabric.
I hope this helps! Please feel free to reach back out anytime!
All the best,
Hills
Hello All,
I am very much looking forward to making this sweater. I have made a number of Raglan sweaters with success, but would be new to making changes to a pattern to lengthen the neck. This is a top down sweater. Would lengthening the neck be difficult and how would I go about that?
Thanks,
Dawna
Hi Dawna,
Thank you so much for reaching out about the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults! I’m so glad it caught your eye, and I’m happy to help you consider lengthening the neck.
If you’d like the rolled edge to come up higher on the neck than it does in the sample, it shouldn’t be too tricky. You’ll want to work the neckband for longer than 2.5″ before moving on to the yoke.
I hope this helps, and please feel free to reach back out with any other questions you might have!
Happy knitting,
Hills
I love this new pattern and would like it for my granddaughters who are aged 9 and 5. Do you think I could make the smallest adult size with finger weight yarn and come close to fitting them?
Hi Jill,
Thank you so much for reaching out about the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults. We’re so glad it caught your eye, and we completely understand your desire to make it for your granddaughter.
We will be releasing a pattern designed just for Kids to complement the baby and adult sizes. Since grading isn’t directly proportional as the body changes, the pattern requires a bit of reworking. It should be out this winter, so stay tuned!
We can’t wait to see what you make!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Thanks so much. Can’t wait for the kids pattern!
I love this sweater, but I’m a crocheter. Is there anything similar pattern-wise in crochet that would look like this sweater? I love how the collar and sleeves finish with the curl. Thanks.
Hi Susan,
Thank you so much for reaching out about the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adult, and I’m happy to help!
Sadly, this pattern is only available as a knit pattern currently. I do love the idea, though, and I’ll be sure to pass your suggestion along to our team! In the meantime, please feel free to check out all of our other crochet patterns!
I hope you find the perfect next project, and feel free to reach out anytime!
All the best,
Hills
Hills, thanks so much for your suggestions about the neckline. Can you comment on the softness of the yarn once blocked? I like the description of it so much, but don’t want something too scratchy.
Hi Debby,
Thanks so much for your reply!
Vinter Wool should soften when blocked, but I wouldn’t call it our softest yarn! You might consider taking a look at Note or Cashmere Merino Bloom for the softness you’re after! (I would always suggest knitting and blocking a swatch to check your gauge and get a feel for the finished fabric!)
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Hills
There is no indication anywhere for the skill level of this sweater. Can a just barely intermediate knitter handle this pattern?
Hi Christine,
Thanks so much for writing in! We don’t generally rate our patterns by difficulty. We know that everyone learns new skills at different times in their journey, so what one beginner has mastered another beginner may have never heard of! We also see a lot of people underestimate their skills, and we don’t want to discourage anyone from trying a new pattern!
The 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover includes k2togs and SSKs, make 1 right and left, make 1 purlwise, Backward Loop, and German Short Rows. I have linked all of our tutorials, so you can take a look and see how you feel about these skills! I would say all of them are pretty basic and well-used techniques that are great to have in your toolbox!
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Mia
Thanks, Hills. Maybe I will just order one skein of the Vinter to see how it feels – there is a color that I particularly like, so hope it works! Thanks again, Debby
Hi –
I enjoyed knitting the toddler sweater in Note and am happy that the adult pattern is available!
I am drawn to Daily Wool Worsted or Plenty for the 8-spoke pullover adult sweater. Would either yarn be a good substitute for Vinter Wool? The machine wash and dry aspects of Daily Wool Worsted are a plus as is the “un-scratchy” description of Plenty. I understand that I would need to work a swatch before beginning a project but am interested in your advice regarding softness and drape if alternate yarns are used.
Thanks again for your help!
Hi Mary,
We’re happy to see that you’re excited about making an 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for yourself!
I think that Daily Wool Worsted would definitely be a good alternative for this project. Although Plenty has a bit of a larger gauge, you might want to take a look at Note which is equally as soft and plush as Plenty.
I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Mia
Thanks, Mia!
Since I used Note for the toddler 8-spoke sweater, I was impressed with hand of the knitted fabric. I might try Daily Wool Worsted since it would be a “new” yarn for me.
Mary
Hi Mary,
After thinking over this some more, we think you’ll have a better time trying Knitting Yarn DK, Ochre, Cashmere Merino Bloom, or Plein Air for this pattern. The gauge is closer, and any of those yarns will be much softer than Vinter Wool! We recommend giving those a try and will amend our previous suggestion in just a bit.
All the best,
Sylvie
I am wondering if the Daily Wool Worsted color “guinea hen” or the “salt and pepper” Note would be too busy for this pattern? And also, is the guinea hen black and white? It’s hard to tell from the color shown on the computer? Many thanks!
Hi Debby,
Thanks for your interest in the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults! I think the Salt and Pepper color of Note would look really fun in this pattern! The sweater has such an elegant and minimalist style that I think it can handle a more dramatic yarn with no problems.
Daily Wool Worsted is a little too thick to match the gauge of the pattern comfortably, but for future reference, I’d describe Guinea Hen as a charcoal and cream marl.
All the best,
Sylvie
Thanks, Sylvie, that’s really helpful!
Debby
How many skeins of Note would I need for the third size and if I made the sweater about two inches longer? And also, will this yarn go on sale again any time soon? Thanks, Debby
Hi Debby,
Thanks so much for reaching out about the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults… I’m happy to help you consider lengthening this pullover!
I’d suggest picking up an extra skein (or 2, to be extra cautious…any unwound yarn can be returned or exchanged). We can be reached at [email protected]…we’re always happy to honor the sale price!
All the best,
Hills
So to be clear, I should go by the yardage, which would mean I think 6 skeins of Note, plus two for the extra length? Is there a time limit on the return/exchange?
Hi Debby,
Thanks so much for your reply! My apologies for not clarifying more… Yes! That’s perfect. If you’re able to match the gauge, you’ll need 6 skeins of Note to reach 1,190 yards, so I would recommend picking up an extra skein or two for the additional yardage. You could make the next size up, at the same gauge, with 1 additional skein, and it is about an inch and a half longer than size 3 (with other grading modifications).
Unwound yarn and Purl Soho-brand needles, tools, and notions in their original condition may be returned for a refund within 30 days of purchase. After 30 days and before 6 months, you may return these products for store credit. You can read more about our returns if you’d like!
I so hope this is helpful! Please let us know if there’s anything else we can do!
All the best,
Hills
Thanks, Hills. And would I need to make any other alterations to add length – I haven’t read through the pattern yet, so is there a spot where I could just keep knitting (as in the Top Down Fundamental sweater, for example, where I just knitted more rows before the short row shaping for the bottom)? Or would I need to do extra grading, and if so, can you help with that?
Hi Debby,
Thanks so much for your reply! I would recommend adding the length before the bottom edging.
You can knit for longer after the last decrease round! You might consider adding a single purl round 2 inches before your desired edge/before starting your additional length to stop the curling :). Decreases are shaping the sweater down towards the hem, but you shouldn’t really need to touch them to add length!
I hope this helps! We can’t wait to see what you make!
All the best,
Hills
Thanks so much! The idea of adding a purl row is new to me – do you mean adding it 2″ before the desired length, or after the last decrease row? Thanks again, Debby
Hi Debby,
Thanks for your reply! You’ll want to consider stopping the curling somewhere between 1 and 2 inches from the bottom of the sweater.
You’ll work your decrease row, then the 2 inches of length as called for in the pattern. From there, you would like to add 2 inches of length.
I would recommend adding a purl row anywhere from the beginning of your additional length to the end of your intended bottom edge, depending on where you want to stop the curling edge. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting!
Hills
I will definitely give a try to adding a purl row before the bottom. I have never done this to prevent curling, and it sounds interesting. I am curious why this is not written into the original pattern? Thanks, Debby
Hi Debby,
Thanks so much for your reply! I’m happy to clarify.
The original sweater features shaping as it approaches the edge, and this also works to keep the curled edge from curling too far. Since you’ll be working beyond this point, it might be helpful to add this row. This is really just a personal hack I’ve noticed helps with garments with stockinette running straight into a rolled edge, with no shaping.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Hills
Thanks so much, Hills, for clarifying. I will give this hack a try!
Debby
Would your Knitting Yarn DK 100% Merino (on a cone) work as an acceptable substitute for this pattern, or would I need to adjust it?
Hi Suzanne,
Thank you so much for reaching out about the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover for Adults!
Knitting Yarn DK on a Cone should be a great choice! I would always recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch, though. It’s the best chance to see if you might need to adjust your needles to meet the pattern’s gauge and to ensure you love the finished fabric you’re making!
I hope you love the project, and please feel free to reach back out with any other questions you might have along the way!
All the best,
Hills
I was attracted to this pattern the minute I saw it. It is just was I had in mind for my next project.
I have a question regarding the pattern instructions in the Yoke “Shape Neckline + Yoke” section beginning in “Short Row 4 (Increase Row). I am unsure about the meaning of “end-of-round” Do you mean to knit to the very beginning cast on spot or to the end of the next marker? I would think it would be the complete round but want to clarify before I go further.
Thank you very much.
Kate
Hi Kate,
We’re so glad you love the 8-Spoke Yoke Pullover as much as we do!
You’re exactly right, the end-of-round marker here lines up with the beginning of your cast on. This marker gets placed in the Neckband section when you join in the round.
At this point, you should have 8 stitch markers on your needle, and the one at the center back (which lines up with the start of your cast on) should look different from the other markers. Whenever the pattern says to knit or purl to the end of the round (EOR), they’re referring to that marker! Sometimes you’ll knit or purl past other markers to get to the EOR marker, and that’s totally okay.
Happy knitting,
Sylvie
I have a question about the short row shaping of the neckline as well. In row three it says: “Short Row 3: Knit to end of round, sm, knit to double stitch, knit double stitch as single stitch
(see Special Instructions), k1, make double stitch.” I am assuming that after slipping the end of round marker, you knit to next marker and slip marker 3 times, before reaching the double stitch. Am I correct, or are my double stitches not placed properly?
Thanks,
Debby
Hi Debby,
You’re exactly right! After passing the end of round marker, you’ll knit past 3 more markers to reach the double stitch you created in Short Row 1.
In this part of the pattern, we’re using short rows to make the back of the neck slightly longer than the front, which keeps it from digging in and makes the sweater more comfortable. The short rows are starting near one collar bone and traveling around the back of the neck to the other collar bone, so they’ll all cross over the End of Round marker.
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Sylvie