Fields of Gold by Rachel Illsley

Fields of Gold

Knitting
May 2026
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
26 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette / stranded colourwork
US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 2 - 2.75 mm
1375 - 2279 yards (1257 - 2084 m)
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
English
This pattern is available for £6.50 GBP buy it now

Fields of Gold is a top-down yoke sweater featuring stranded colourwork. The design is inspired by golden fields of ripened wheat in summer.

The sample has used two contrast colours for the stranded knitting, but the pattern includes charts for either one or two contrast colours, so you can choose your personal preference.

CONSTRUCTION
This garment is worked top-down, in the round. After the neckband, short row shaping is incorporated to optimise fit. The majority of the yoke features a stranded colourwork pattern. Once the yoke is completed, stitches are separated into body and sleeves, which are each worked separately and in the round. The colourwork pattern continues in the upper body and sleeves, after which each are finished with stockinette and ribbing.

SIZING GUIDE
This garment is graded into sizes 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Recommended positive ease is 6” / 15 cm at the chest circumference.

Finished Garment Chest Circumference:
37.25 (40.5, 44, 47.5, 50.75) (54.25, 57.5, 61, 64.25, 67.75)“
93 (101.5, 110, 118.5, 127) (135.5, 144, 152.5, 161, 169) cm

GAUGE
Using 3.25 mm / US size 3 needles, or needle size required to meet gauge, 26 stitches over 34 rounds in both stockinette stitch and colourwork, wet blocked, creates a 4x4” / 10x10 cm square.

YARN
The sample has been worked using Yama Yarn’s Merino Linen Singles base (90% South African Merino / 10% Linen; 360 m / 394 yds per 100 g) in the following colourways:
Main Colour: Barely There Khaki
Contrast Colour 1: Caramel
Contrast Colour 2: Spice Hunter

YARDAGE (includes ~10% excess)
Main Colour:
938 (1002, 1109, 1158, 1219) (1307, 1359, 1475, 1531, 1579) metres
1026 (1096, 1213, 1267, 1334) (1429, 1486, 1613, 1675, 1727) yards
261 (278, 308, 322, 339) (363, 377, 410, 425, 439) grams

Contrast Colour 1:
120 (133, 145, 153, 159) (162, 166, 178, 182, 189) metres
131 (146, 159, 168, 174) (177, 182, 195, 199, 207) yards
33 (37, 40, 43, 44) (45, 46, 49, 50, 53) grams

Contrast Colour 2:
199 (222, 242, 256, 266) (270, 277, 297, 303, 316) metres
218 (243, 265, 280, 291) (295, 303, 325, 331, 345) yards
55 (62, 67, 71, 74) (75, 77, 82, 84, 88) grams

TOOLS & NOTIONS
2.75 mm / US size 2 circular needles (to work neckband, cuffs and waistband; varying cable lengths would be helpful)
3.25 mm / US size 3 circular needles (to work yoke, body and sleeves; varying cable lengths would be helpful)
1 marker
scrap yarn
tapestry needle to weave in ends

SKILLS REQUIRED
-long tail cast on
-joining and working in the round
-working 2x2 ribbing
-working left and right lifted increases
-German short row shaping
-reading colourwork charts
-working stranded colourwork with two or three colours
-long tail cast on with two or three colours
-working a repeating pattern of decreases
-decreasing using K2tog and SSK
-standard bind off