The Taurus Jumper

Work with multiple colors, but just one at a time.

#MyZodiacSweater

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Detailed PDF pattern

♉︎ Step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos

♉︎ Row tracker to help you keep track of your yoke increases and sleeve decreases

Difficulty level

♉︎ Advanced

Size-inclusive

♉︎ Pattern written for 10 sizes with instructions on customization

♉︎ Fits busts from 28″ to 68″

What you'll need

♉︎ The Yarn Collective Bloomsbury DK yarn or any DK weight yarn you can meet gauge with, in the amounts shown below.

♉︎ Your 4 mm (main gauge) and 3 mm (secondary) hooks; I like to use my Clover Amours.

♉︎ Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 6 locking and numbered stitch markers, 2 extra markers.

Pattern support

♉︎ For pattern related questions, please join my Facebook support group or contact me at thecrochethighway [at] gmail.com.

Join my Facebook support Group

I proud myself with writing ultra-detailed patterns for you, so that your crocheting experience is as smooth and seamless as possible. But whenever you have a pattern related question, my Facebook support group is the place to ask. There you can also share your WIPs and brag about your FOs with the community!

The Zodiac Collection

The Taurus Jumper is the third crochet sweater pattern published in the Zodiac Crochet Collection – a series of crochet garments and accessories that follow a common theme: colorwork made easy. Use hashtag #MyZodiacSweater when posting your makes on social media!

The designs in this collection use multiple colors for a contrasting effect, but the stitch patterns are carefully selected, so that you only have to work with one color at a time. The inspiration behind this collection is my original colorwork design, the Starry Yoke. Check out the other designs in the #MyZodiacSweater collection:

The story

I made the Taurus Jumper for my husband, a Taurean who really wanted a handmade crochet sweater for himself. The stitch design is something that has been hanging out in the back of my mind for a long time, and it was the perfect match for a unisex sweater. After a bunch of sketching, swatching, and a LOT of math, the Taurus Jumper was born, with the grid-like pattern perfectly aligned for all 10 sizes this pattern comes in.

Shop on LoveCrafts for the same yarn.

The Taurus

The Taurus Jumper is a unisex yoked sweater with a seamless, top-down construction. Using a combination of extended single crochet and tall stitches worked using at least two contrasting colors, it features an interesting grid-like effect that starts from the neck and continues seamlessly on the yoke, body and sleeves. Using a single color at a time, this advanced pattern walks you through each step from start to finish, providing customization ideas along the way to truly make the sweater yours.

Like most CrochetHighway patterns, the Taurus comes with step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos including on how to complete the yoke, how to add short rows, and how to split for sleeves. Included is also a detailed round tracker, laying out the stitch count for all yoke and sleeve rounds, in all of the 10 sizes. This is a handy tool that allows you to easily check your stitch count at any given point, for that peace of mind that you’re on track and haven’t missed anything!

The pattern calls for DK weight yarn (category 3), but some of my testers used sport weight (category 2) with great results. Check out the tester photo gallery where I share all the details on yarns and yardages from my testers!

Quick metrics from my testers:

Difficulty rating: 2.6 / 5
Average completion time: 42 hours

Designer sample

My sample uses The Yarn Collective Bloomsbury DK in color 111 Stormy Grey as MC, and 104 Indigo as CC (WPI=12).

The male model has a 99 cm (39″) bust and is wearing size 3 with 2.5 cm (1″) of positive ease. I also tried the sweater on for a photoshoot, and I’m showing a similar (5 cm or 2″) of positive ease around the bust. The upper arm fits looser on me than it does my husband.

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Tester highlights

Scroll down for the complete tester lookbook, where you can find photos, yarn & yardage info from all my testers, as well as certain modifications they made to their sweaters for the perfect, customized fit.

Materials and yardage

Hooks: 4 mm (main gauge) hk, 3 mm (secondary) hk, or sizes needed to obtain gauge. I’m a tight crocheter, so you may have to go down in hook sizes.

Notions: Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 6 locking and numbered stitch markers, 2 extra markers.

Yarn: You’ll need at least two colors. A main color (MC), and a contrasting color (CC) of any (CYC 3) DK weight or (CYC 2) sport weight yarn you can meet gauge with. The approximate yardages required for all 10 sizes are:

Main Color:

(935, 1040, 1200, 1415, 1520) (1695, 1800, 1950, 2115, 2270) m, or
(1020, 1140, 1310, 1550, 1660) (1855, 1970, 2135, 2315, 2480) yds
Contrast Color:

(575, 645, 745, 825, 885) (990, 1045, 1135, 1230, 1320) m, or
(630, 705, 815, 900, 970) (1085, 1145, 1240, 1345, 1445) yds

These yardages are estimate and reflect a full-length sweater with long, tapered sleeves. See the exact yardages from my testers in the lookbook below.

Sizing

All my garment patterns are #sizeinclusive up to at least a 60” bust circumference.

Taurus Jumper bust and upper arm sizing:

Size 1: 32″ (81 cm) bust, 11.25″ (29 cm) upper arm
Size 2: 36″ (91 cm) bust, 12.75″ (32 cm) upper arm
Size 3: 40″ (102 cm) bust, 14″ (36 cm) upper arm
Size 4: 44″ (112 cm) bust, 15.25″ (39 cm) upper arm
Size 5: 48″ (122 cm) bust, 16.75″ (43 cm) upper arm
Size 6: 52″ (132 cm) bust, 18″ (46 cm) upper arm
Size 7: 56″ (142 cm) bust, 19.25″ (49 cm) upper arm
Size 8: 60″ (152 cm) bust, 20.75″ (53 cm) upper arm
Size 9: 64″ (163 cm) bust, 22″ (56 cm) upper arm
Size 10: 68″ (173 cm) bust, 23.25″ (59 cm) upper arm

The measurements above reflect finished bust and upper arm measurements.

This unisex sweater is designed to be worn with up to 10 cm (4″) of positive ease around the bust. When choosing a size, find the bust measurement in this table that is closest to 10 cm (4″) larger than your actual bust measurement depending on your desired amount of ease and make this size. If in between sizes, size up. Also check your upper arm circumference and go up in size if needed in order to have a comfortable fit.

Tried & tested substitution yarns

My testers used a variety of yarns for their sweaters, in a truly amazing variety of color combinations. Here’s a list of yarns recommended by them. The list is sorted alphabetically. If you’re looking for inspiration or a quick yarn substitution idea, this is the place to start!

Tester lookbook

My patterns would not be so smooth without the input of my team of talented testers. Swipe left & right for more photos of your favorite versions!

Want to test my future patterns? Check out how you can become a pattern tester for CrochetHighway!

Jessica @vibrant_viola

Size 2, bubble sleeves
Using Kelbourne Woolens Scout, 1210 yds MC and 680 yds CC
Mods: I added 3 extra stitches on each underarm

Eleanor @theaccidentalknitter

Size 3, bubble sleeves
Using DROPS Merino Extrafine, 1596 yds MC and 861 yds CC
Mods: None

Priadarshni @thread_n_sew

Size 2, short sleeves
Using Magic Needles Hobby Store DK, 766 yds MC and 400 yds CC
Mods: I made short sleeves

Jaz @jazhandzy

Size 7, short sleeves
Using Berroco Ultra Wool DK, 1320 yds MC and 785 yds CC
Mods: I made short sleeves

Alex @muscrocheteer

Size 5, bubble sleeves
Using Nako Estiva, 2009 yds MC and 723 yds CC
Mods: I added one more body repeat so that the color arrangement matched my idea

Andrea @ndrainwooldeland

Size 1, tapered sleeves
Using 918 yds of The Fibre Co. Road to China Light (MC) and 636 yds of Stolen Stitches Nua Sport (CC)
Mods: None

Lucia @crochetwithlu

Size 2, bubble sleeves
Using 1079 yds of Stenli Candy (MC) and 623 yds of 4 Seasons Flinders 8 ply (CC)
Mods: None

Naomi @madebydrnome

Size 6, tapered sleeves
Using Patons Totem Merino, 1870.1 yds MC and 1142.8 yds CC
Mods: I added 2 extra yoke pattern repeats to add yoke depth, and 1 extra body repeat to add body length

Lydia @folded.moth

Size 5, bubble sleeves
Using 1766.2 yds of Paintbox Cotton DK (MC) and 960 yds of Rico Fashion Cotton Spray DK (CC)
Mods: I added an extra set of short rows

Swarna @threadsoflife20

Size 1, bubble sleeves
Using Nako Calico, 965 yds MC and 510 yds CC
Mods: I shortened the body length by 2″

Tania @crochetwithtan

Size 2, bubble sleeves
Using Sirdar Hayfield Bonus DK, 1226 yds MC and 766 yds CC
Mods: I added 6 extra stitches on each underarm and one extra set of short rows

Khushbu @crochetrainbows

Size 3, bubble sleeves
Using Blackwattle Yarn & Fibre hand-dyed yarn in Blue Gum (55% BFL, 45% silk), 1249.6 yds MC and 727.7 yds CC
Mods: I made the bubble sleeve option and omitted the last 2 repeats, making the ribbed cuff longer

Pam @loveit_hookit

Size 1, short sleeves
Using Crocheted by Carisse yarn in Red Moon and Mystic Sky , 1032 yds MC and 654 yds CC
Mods: I added one extra set of short rows

Karen @crochetdahlia

Size 1, bubble sleeves
Using 996 yds of Stylecraft Highland Heathers DK (MC) and 678 yds of Stylecraft Special DK (CC)
Mods: I added 6 extra stitches on each underarm

Sarah @sarahamalia_design

Size 3, tapered sleeves
Using Rusta Coco, 1200 yds MC and 804 yds CC
Mods: None

Nicole @nikkid875

Size 4, tapered sleeves
Using Estelle Superwash Merino DK, 1640 yds MC and 820 yds CC
Mods: None

Claudia @the_cotswold_crochet_lounge

Size 4, bubble sleeves
Using 1810 yds of Elements Simple Satin (MC) and 930 yds of Stylecraft Bamboo + Cotton (CC)
Mods: None

Nidhi @nidhis_needle_fun

Size 4, short sleeves
Using Vardhaman Cotone, 850 yds MC and 420 yds CC
Mods: I made short sleeves

I’d LOVE to see your work, so be sure to shout out to me @CrochetHighway on Instagram and use the #CrochetHighway hashtag for a chance to be featured on my stories!