Yoke
The yoke is the top, shaped section of a sweater around the shoulders where the body and sleeves join, and is often where colorwork patterns are placed.
Explanation
The yoke is the area of a sweater that covers the shoulders and upper torso, where the body and sleeves join and are shaped toward the neckline. In top-down circular yoke construction, decreases or increases are distributed evenly around the entire circumference over just a few rounds, instead of along a raglan line. The yoke is traditionally where colorwork patterns like Fair Isle are placed on Nordic cardigans and sweaters, since the visible, shaped area gives the pattern plenty of room to stand out.
Also known as: Circular yoke, Round yoke
Shaping without visible lines
A yoke is the circular section over chest and shoulders worked in one piece in the round. Shaping happens through increases or decreases spread evenly across the whole round rather than gathered onto lines as in a raglan.
Because the shaping is spread out, no diagonal lines appear — which is exactly why the yoke is the standard construction for Nordic colourwork sweaters and Icelandic lopapeysur.
Pattern and shaping
The distribution of increases has to respect the pattern repeat. Put an increase round in the middle of a motif and it breaks. They are therefore almost always placed between pattern bands.
Most yokes have three or four increase rounds spread over the depth.
Common mistakes
- Placing increase rounds in the middle of a pattern band.
- Distributing increases unevenly, which makes the yoke sit crooked.
Keywords
- yoke
- circular yoke
- sweater yoke
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a yoke and a raglan?
A yoke increases evenly around the whole round with no visible lines. A raglan concentrates the shaping on four diagonal lines.
Why are yokes used for colourwork sweaters?
Because the round shape gives an unbroken surface for the motif, with no diagonal lines cutting it up.