Merging Shades Sweater by Becky Baker

Craft: Knitting

The Merging Shades Sweater captures the essence of gentle transformation with its contemporary silhouette and thoughtful design details. This updated pullover features an open neckline and cropped profile that perfectly frames the subtle color shifts of Transitions yarn. The modern fit creates a flattering shape while showcasing the yarn’s natural color evolution through carefully considered slip stitch patterns that pair beautifully with a coordinating solid shade of Cumbria Fingering.

Crafted in The Fibre Co.’s Transitions, this 50/50 blend of alpaca and Peruvian Highland wool delivers exceptional softness with reliable structure. The alpaca’s smooth surface creates luminescence that enhances color depth, while the Highland wool provides essential shape retention and resilience. As you knit, watch the gentle color gradations unfold across simple stitches, creating dynamic fabric without the complexity of yarn switching. This sweater embodies the beauty of constant, gentle change—perfect for capturing autumn’s shifting palette in a piece you’ll treasure for seasons to come.

Yarn

The Fibre Co. Transitions (50% alpaca, 50% Peruvian Highland wool, 300 m (328 yd) per 100 g cake)

Stratum Shift (A) – 2 (2: 2: 2: 2: 3: 3: 3: 3) cakes.

The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering (60% Merino wool, 30% Masham wool, 10% mohair, 300 m (328 yd) per 100 g hank)

Catbells (B) – 2 (2: 2: 2: 2: 3: 3: 3: 3) hanks.

Gauge

23 stitches and 52 rows = 4 inches in Two-color loop st

Needle size

US 2 - 2.75 mm

US 3 - 3.25 mm

US 4 - 3.5 mm

Yardage

1312 - 1968 yards (1200 - 1800 m)

Construction Notes

The Merging Shades Sweater is knit from the bottom up, seamlessly in the round up to the underarms. It showcases an all over two-color loop stitch pattern, adding rich texture and tonal depth to the fabric. After reaching the underarms, the body is divided and worked flat to shape the front and back separately. Armhole and neckline shaping are incorporated using carefully placed decreases, and shoulder shaping is refined with short rows for a smooth, tailored finish. Once the front and back are complete, the shoulder seams are joined using the Three-Needle Bind-Off for a clean and sturdy finish. Sleeves are worked separately, from the bottom up with decreases used to shape the sleeve cap. The sleeves are then sewn to the body. The neckband is finished with a neatly structured, 1x1 ribbing.

Sizes and Measurements

1 (2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8: 9)

The given sizes are called Sizes 1–9 and are recommended to fit a chest circumference of: 76–81 (86–91: 97–102: 107–112: 117–122: 127–132: 137–142: 147–152: 157–162) cm (30–32 (34–36: 38–40: 42–44: 46–48: 50–52: 54–56: 58–60: 62–64) in)

Chest circumference (at underarm): 91.5 101.5: 113: 122.5: 132: 142.5: 152: 162.5: 172 cm (36.5 40.75: 45.25: 49: 52.75: 57: 60.75: 65: 68.75 in)

Total length (from shoulder neck edge): 44.5 (45.5: 47: 47: 49: 50.5: 50.5: 52.5: 54) cm (17.5 (18: 18.5: 18.5: 19.5: 20: 20: 21: 21.25) in)

Recommended Ease

Designed with 10–16 cm (4–6.25 in) of positive ease at chest circumference.

Photographs show the garment in Size 1 on a model with a chest circumference of 84 cm (33 in).