Mock Turtleneck Sweater in Noro Cyochin

Mock Turtleneck Sweater in Noro Cyochin – Pattern Summary

This free downloadable knitting pattern, designated Sweater Y-967, guides intermediate knitters through the construction of a classic mock turtleneck sweater worked in the richly variegated Noro Cyochin yarn. The design is available in three sizes to fit bust measurements ranging from 32–34 inches (81–86 cm) up to 36–38 inches (91–96 cm), producing finished widths of 44–48 inches (112–122 cm) at the underarm. With a body length of 22–24 inches and a short sleeve seam of just 7½ inches, the silhouette is relaxed and wearable, making it a versatile addition to any handknit wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a pullover sweater with a mock turtleneck collar. The short sleeve seam measurement suggests a wide, cropped, or drop-shoulder-style sleeve, giving the garment a contemporary, relaxed fit. The mock turtleneck is a folded or standing ribbed neckband that provides warmth and a polished finish without the full height of a traditional turtleneck. This style is perennially popular for its combination of comfort and sophistication.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Noro Cyochin – a self-striping, hand-dyed yarn celebrated for its gradual colour transitions and natural fibre content. The pattern specifically calls for shade #7 as the primary colourway, with shade #4 also referenced. Quantities required are 480 g / 5 skeins for the smallest size, 500 g / 5 skeins for the middle size, and 520 g / 6 skeins for the largest size.
• Needles: A pair of straight US 10½ (6.5 mm) needles are used throughout the pattern for both the ribbing and the main body sections.

Tension

Achieving the correct tension is emphasised as very important in this pattern. The stated tension is 14 stitches × 22 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) measured over stocking stitch using US 10½ needles. Knitters are instructed to work a tension square before beginning and to adjust needle size accordingly — moving to a larger needle if the swatch is too small, or a smaller needle if it is too large. Working to the correct tension is essential to achieving the stated finished measurements.

Techniques Used

• Casting on – the back begins with a cast-on of 77, 81, or 85 stitches depending on size.
• Ribbing – the lower border is worked in a K1, P1 rib for 12 rows, creating a neat, stretchy edge that anchors the garment.
• Stocking stitch (st.st.) – the main body fabric is worked in standard stocking stitch: knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows. This produces a smooth, flat fabric that allows the colour gradients of Noro Cyochin to display beautifully.
• Armhole shaping – shaping is achieved through a structured sequence of decrease rows interspersed with plain stocking stitch rows. The pattern alternates decrease rows (worked as K2tog at each end) with groups of 7, then 5 plain rows, progressively tapering the armhole. Coloured markers are placed at the end of a specific row to indicate the armhole boundary — a helpful reference point during seaming.
• Decreasing (dec) – the primary decrease technique used is K2tog (knit two stitches together), worked at both ends of right-side rows to create symmetrical, inward-slanting shaping along the armhole edges.
• Seaming – as a traditionally constructed sweater worked in separate pieces, the pattern involves joining the back, front, and sleeves, making mattress stitch or backstitch seaming relevant finishing skills.

Stitches Used

• K1, P1 Rib – used for