About

The Colour Blockade is a colourful top down knit sweater. Inspired by the 80’s ski jackets, this knitted sweater is a creative outlet to show off your colour skills. Choose different coloured yarns to create your own knitted look, or keep it simple with some pops of colour.

Colour Blockade Knit Up Zip Up is worked from the top down, beginning with the collar, and then working the yoke down to the armholes. The fronts and back are then worked separately before joining at the underarms to continue the rest of the body. The hem is worked with an elastic installed, giving it that oversized puffer look that is popular with sports jackets. Sleeves are picked up and worked in the round to the cuffs, where the elastic is installed into the cuff. The zipper is sewn in from the collar and stitched down to complete the garment.

This pattern comes with a PDF sheet attached to figure out your colour work beforehand. There is also a guide to using stitch fiddle to create your design.

Skill Level

Intermediate/Advanced Level

Techniques

There are video tutorials throughout the pattern to assist with the following techniques:

* Introduction to stranded colourwork:
* Trapping Floats Colourwork
* Provisional CO
* Working the folded collar
* Installing Zipper Video
* Adding Elastic
* German Short Rows

Gauge

13 sts and 17 rows = 4 inches /10 cm in stockinette stitch on 6.5 mm [US 10.5] needles, blocked.

Materials

Suggested Needles

• 6.5 mm [US 10.5] circular needles, 16, and 32 or 40 inches / 40, and 80 or 100 cm for the cuffs, collar and hem. 
• 5.5 mm [US 9] circular needles 16, and 32 or 40 inches / 40, and 80 or 100 cm, for the neck, hem and cuffs. 
• 5.5 mm [US I-9] crochet hook for the provisional CO.

Suggested Yarn
Samples made in size XS.

Wool and the Gang Alpacino Merino (60% Merino 40% Baby Alpaca, 100 metres / 109 yards, 100g).

Sample 1: Magic Mint (2 skeins), Cameo Pin (1 skein)k, Bubblegum Pink (2 skeins), Chalk Yellow (1 skein).
Sample 2: Sahara Dust, Lime Sorbet.

Approximate Skeins Required: 6 (7) 7 (8) 9 (10) 11 (12) of one colour.

Take note that depending on your colour work design, you may use more skeins.

Yarn Alternatives
Wool and Works Merino Wool
Lionbrand Thick and Quick Yarn
Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky
MillaMia Naturally Soft Super Chunky
Cascade 128 Superwash
Malabrigo Mecha
LionBrand Hue and Me
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky 10 Ball Value Pack

Notions

• Yarn needle to weave in ends and work hem. 
• Stitch markers. Scrap yarn for a provisional CO. 
• Knitting barber or scrap yarn to place stitches on hold. 
• Scissors or cutters to cut yarn.
• Zipper 10 inches / 26 cm or 15 inches / 38 cm. (similar here and here). Note on zipper, these are the sizes I used in my sample, however because length is customisable, you can choose your desired zipper length. 
• Sewing thread in the same colour as the yarn used around the zipper. Use a colour that’s a close match, but don’t worry too much. 
• Sewing pins to hold the zipper in place while seaming.
• Elastic, 1.2 inches / 3 cm width. You will need enough length for your hem and cuffs.

To see more photos from other knitters, please have a look at my highlights on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18000757979213665/