There’s something especially fun about a project with lots of color. Loop staffer Alli knit the Color Quadrant Crop by James N Watts in MODE at Rowan Softest Alpaca, pairing the pattern’s bold geometric color blocking with a yarn that gives the finished sweater an unexpectedly soft, fuzzy finish.
The Color Quadrant Crop is designed around four contrasting blocks of color, making it a great opportunity to put together a palette that feels completely your own. Knit in Softest Alpaca, those crisp sections take on a softer look thanks to the yarn’s beautiful brushed halo.
About the Yarn
MODE at Rowan Softest Alpaca is a worsted-weight blend of 70% alpaca, 23% nylon, and 7% wool, with 142 yards in each 50-gram ball.
True to its name, it’s exceptionally soft and light, with a fluffy brushed texture that creates plenty of warmth without a heavy feel. For a simple stockinette project like the Color Quadrant Crop, that halo adds another dimension to the fabric while still allowing the blocks of color to take center stage.
And because the Softest Alpaca palette was designed to coordinate, it’s especially well suited to a project that calls for choosing several colors at once.
Design Details
The Color Quadrant Crop by James N Watts is a cropped, color-blocked top available in sizes XS through 5X. The pattern can be made as either a classic short-sleeved tee or a sleeveless tank.
The body is worked flat using simple intarsia, and you’ll never work with more than two colors at the same time. That makes this a fun introduction to intarsia if you’ve admired color-blocked projects but haven’t tried the technique before.
The pattern is written for four colors, but the individual sections also give you plenty of room to experiment. Keep the palette subtle and tonal, go for strong contrast, or use each quadrant as an excuse to play with a different favorite shade.
The sweater is designed to be worn with approximately 2 inches of negative ease for a close, cropped fit.
What You’ll Need
Pattern: Color Quadrant Crop by James N Watts
Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (XXL, 3X, 4X, 5X), designed to fit bust measurements of 30 (34, 38, 42, 46) (50, 54, 58, 62) inches.
Yarn: MODE at Rowan Softest Alpaca, worsted weight, 142 yards per 50g ball; Alli used Eucalyptus, Bliss, Willow, and Cloud.
Needles:
- US 7 (4.5 mm) needles long enough to accommodate the body
- US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle for the sleeves if making the short-sleeved version
Notions:
- Ring stitch marker
- Locking stitch marker or progress keeper
- Darning needle
Gauge: 16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette.
Always choose your size and purchase yarn according to the pattern’s measurements and yardage requirements. We also recommend buying a little extra when your required yardage falls close to the total yardage in your balls.
How Much Yarn Do I Need?
The quantities below convert James N Watts’ yarn requirements to 142-yard balls of MODE at Rowan Softest Alpaca and round up to whole balls. These quantities are for the short-sleeved version; the sleeveless version requires slightly less of Colors B and D.
| Size | Designed to fit bust | Color A | Color B | Color C | Color D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 30" | 1 ball | 1 ball | 1 ball | 1 ball |
| S | 34" | 1 ball | 1 ball | 1 ball | 1 ball |
| M | 38" | 1 ball | 1 ball | 1 ball | 1 ball |
| L | 42" | 1 ball | 2 balls | 1 ball | 1 ball |
| XL | 46" | 1 ball | 2 balls | 2 balls | 1 ball |
| XXL | 50" | 1 ball | 2 balls | 2 balls | 1 ball |
| 3X | 54" | 1 ball | 2 balls | 2 balls | 2 balls |
| 4X | 58" | 1 ball | 2 balls | 2 balls | 2 balls |
| 5X | 62" | 1 ball | 2 balls | 2 balls | 2 balls |
Why You’ll Love It
- A great introduction to intarsia — you’ll only manage two colors at a time.
- Endless color possibilities — choose four closely related shades or go for bold contrast.
- A quick, satisfying garment — the cropped silhouette keeps the knitting manageable.
- Two ways to wear it — make the short-sleeved tee or sleeveless tank version.
- Extra-soft in Softest Alpaca — Alli’s yarn choice turns a graphic design into something wonderfully cozy and plush.
Make Your Own Color Quadrant Crop
The hardest part may be choosing your four colors! Browse MODE at Rowan Softest Alpaca online or stop by Loop, and we’ll be happy to help you put together a combination.
And if you make your own Color Quadrant Crop, tag us @loopyarn - we’d love to see it!
