Roots

Roots features a yoke with a stitch pattern that looks like tree roots.
The yoke is first worked bottom-up from the cast-on edge.
Then, pick up and knit stitches from the bottom of the yoke to work the body and sleeves seamlessly from the top down.

Published 2021-01-01|Updated 2026-07-31

Update History

2026-07-31 Full pattern text published on this page.

2021-01-01 Initial release.

Downloads at the bottom of the page

Yarn

Daruma Wool Mohair
[46m / 20g / 56% Mohair, 44% Merino]
col.5 approximately 552m / 240g

Zegna Baruffa Pura Lana 4 ply
[170m / 50g / 100% Merino]
col.323 approximately 748m / 220g

The two yarns are held together

Needles

6.6mm / JP15 circular needle

5.7mm / JP12 circular needle

Gauge

13 sts and 20 rows = 10cm
In Stockinette stitch with 6.6mm / JP15 needle

Notions

Stitch markers

Holders

Cable needle

Crochet hook (for Crocheted Provisional Cast-On)

Scrap yarn (for Crocheted Provisional Cast-On)

Measurements

a30cm

b4cm

c6cm

d20cm

e15cm

f7cm

g54cm

h60cm

i15cm

Finished body circumference approximately 120cm

Abbreviations

R: Round
RS: Right Side
WS: Wrong Side
CO: Cast on
BO: Bind off
BOR: Beginning Of Round
st(s): stitch(es)
[ ]: repeat [ ]
dec: decrease
M: Marker
SM: Slip Marker
PM: Place Marker
K: Knit
P: Purl
SSK: Slip, Slip, Knit 2 stitches together through back loop
K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
Sl: Slip
YO: Yarn Over
2/2 RT: Sl2 to cable needle hold in back, K2, K2 from cable needle
2/2 LT: Sl2 to cable needle hold in front, K2, K2 from cable needle
SR: Short Row
MDS: Make Double Stitch
DS: Double Stitch
KDS: Knit Double Stitch
PDS: Purl Double Stitch

Chart

Kineco WORKS - Free Knitting Patterns -|kinecoworks.com/patterns/roots/roots-en

Sec.1: Yoke

Use 6.6mm / JP15 circular needle

CO200 using scrap yarn and
Crocheted Provisional Cast-On method,
PM for BOR, Join to work in the round
> BOR is at the center of the back

SetUp: SM, K to M

Start Chart

R1-39: SM, [Chart] 8 times
> Work from R1 of Chart to R39 of Chart
> In R6, 16 sts dec, 184 sts in total
> In R11, 16 sts dec, 168 sts in total
> In R16, 16 sts dec, 152 sts in total
> In R22, 16 sts dec, 136 sts in total
> In R32, 16 sts dec, 120 sts in total
> In R39, 32 sts dec, 88 sts in total

Sec.2: Neck

Change to 5.7mm / JP12 circular needle

R1: K to M
R2-25: [K1, P1] to M
R26: BO all stitches knitwise

Fold the neck in half to the wrong side and sew in place

Sec.3: Lower Yoke

Use 6.6mm / JP15 circular needle

Remove Crocheted Provisional Cast-On stitches of Sec.1 and
Place it on the needle, PM for BOR, Join to work in the round
> 200 sts in total, BOR is at the center of the back

SetUp: SM, K to M

Start German Short Rows (Back Yoke shaping)

SR1(RS): SM, K30, Turn
SR2(WS): MDS, P to M, SM, P30, Turn
SR3(RS): MDS, K to M, SM, K to DS, KDS, K3, Turn
SR4(WS): MDS, P to M, SM, P to DS, PDS, P3, Turn
SR5-14: [SR3-4] 5 times
SR15(RS): MDS, K to M

End German Short Rows

R1: K to M (Knitting DS)

Sec.4: Body

Separate Sleeves and Body

SM, K36, Place 28 sleeve stitches on a holder, CO12,
K72, Place 28 sleeve stitches on a holder, CO12, K to M
> 168 sts in total

Start Body

Work in Stockinette stitch until body measures 15cm from underarm

Sec.5: Hem

Change to 5.7mm / JP12 circular needle

R1-15: SM, [K1, P1] to M
R16: BO all stitches knitwise

Sec.6: Sleeves

Use 6.6mm / JP15 circular needle

R1: Pick up and knit 6 sts beginning at center of underarm,
K28 from a holder, Pick up and knit 6 sts from underarm,
PM for BOR, Join to work in the round
> 40 sts in total

R2-60: SM, K to M