Follow Every Rainbow

Follow Every Rainbow Knit Pullover by Deb Hoss

What Is Being Made

Follow Every Rainbow is a color-blocked knit pullover sweater designed by Deb Hoss. This versatile pullover features a modern aesthetic created through strategic color placement across the bodice and sleeves. The design is available in seven sizes ranging from 31 inches to 55 inches in bust/hip circumference, accommodating a wide range of body types. The sweater shown in the pattern is worked in size 35 inches and is designed to be worn with minimal ease for a close, contemporary fit.

Design Philosophy and Yarn Usage

Follow Every Rainbow was created as a practical destashing project, utilizing multiple skeins in varying amounts of three colors left over from previous knitting projects. This approach makes the pattern particularly appealing to knitters with yarn stashes, as the color blocking technique allows for flexibility in yarn quantities. The designer encourages crafters to adjust color proportions based on their available yarn, opening up numerous creative possibilities while completing the project.

Construction Techniques

The sweater employs a primarily seamless construction method that streamlines the building process. The bodice and sleeves are worked bottom up and in the round using circular knitting techniques, which creates a continuous fabric and minimizes seaming. The main exception to the seamless construction occurs at the sleeve caps, which are briefly shaped using short row shaping before being set in to the bodice. This hybrid approach balances efficiency with tailored shaping for a polished garment.

Stitches and Techniques Required

This intermediate-level pattern requires a solid foundation in several knitting techniques:

• Long-tail cast-on for creating the initial stitches with a professional edge
• Circular knitting for working the body and sleeves in the round
• Decreasing methods including ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) for shaping and stitch reduction
• Increasing methods including m1L (make one left) and m1R (make one right) for adding stitches and creating shaping
• Three-needle bind-off for joining two sets of live stitches
• Short row shaping for sculpting the sleeve caps
• Setting in sleeve caps to attach shaped sleeves to the armholes
• Stitch pick-up for creating the collar from existing stitches
• Blocking to finish and set the garment's final shape and dimensions

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Follow Every Rainbow is designed for sport weight yarn, which provides a lightweight fabric suitable for layering or wearing across multiple seasons. The pattern accommodates knitters working with three different colors in varying amounts, making it an excellent choice for utilizing leftover yarn from previous projects. The use of circular needles appropriate for sport weight yarn and the techniques described ensure a finished sweater with excellent drape and wearability.

Skill Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this pattern is well-suited for knitters who have progressed beyond basic stockinette stitch projects and are comfortable with shaping techniques, circular knitting, and garment assembly. The combination of seamless construction and tailored sleeve cap shaping provides an excellent opportunity to build advanced skills while creating a contemporary, wearable garment.