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05/12/25 •

Spectrum Stitch Crochet Swoncho | Part 4 | Prism Make-Along 2025 Free Pattern

You’re flying through the Prism Make-Along—and Part 4 of the Spectrum Stitch Crochet Swoncho is here! 🎉 This week, we’re diving into Charts 4 and 5, adding even more colorful complexity to your yoke as the swoncho continues to grow.

These next two charts are where the pattern really starts to pop, and your color story begins to unfold in dramatic ways. Let’s keep those hooks moving and your fabric smooth and strong!

Colorful graphic with balls of yarn, knitting needles, and the text: "Prism Path Swoncho with Marly Bird." Perfect for the Prism Make-Along, this cream background bursts with vibrant geometric shapes for knitters and crocheters. -Marly Bird

🎨 Charts 4 & 5 – Time to Build the Drama

This week’s charts expand on your previous motifs with increased color interaction and visual weight. Don’t be surprised if this becomes your favorite section yet!

Here’s what to watch for as you work through Charts 4 and 5:

  • The colorwork patterns become more detailed and dynamic
  • Float management becomes even more important for smooth fabric
  • If using a custom color palette, double-check contrast as new color pairings emerge

💡 Split single crochet works best when stitches are stacked cleanly—don’t forget to insert your hook between the “legs” of the stitch, not under both loops like a regular single crochet.

📏 Keep Checking Your Gauge

As always with stranded colorwork, it’s important to stay consistent:

  • Your target gauge is 4 stitches per inch in split single crochet
  • Check your gauge around the full circumference—sometimes tension shifts slightly near the join
  • If your fabric is starting to pull or shrink, rip the work back and go up a hook size
  • Keep your floats loose and even behind longer color spans
  • Increase rounds are often crocheted a bit too tight–so make sure you keep those loose.

Tension consistency = a better fit and a swoncho you’ll love wearing!

💡PRO TIP: before continuing further, make sure your swoncho lays in a flat circle. This will help you quickly see if you’re making the stitches too tight. 

🚨If your swoncho doesn’t lay flat, you can try steam blocking a bit to help it flatten out (BUT BEFORE YOU DO SEE THE CAUTION ABOUT STEAM BLOCKING BELOW). Or you can rip out each round until it does lay flat then proceed with looser stitches. 

If your piece doesn’t lay flat, then it might look cone like when you put it on. Go ahead and try it on and see. 

It should look like this: 

A close-up of a colorful, circular knitted garment with blue, green, purple, black, and white patterns—perfect for a Prism Make-Along—displayed on a light surface next to a leafy green plant. -Marly Bird

💨 Light Blocking (While in Progress!)

As your yoke grows, we want to prevent any buckling or puckiner in the fabric. If you notice this happening to your project, don’t you worry that something’s wrong, try a gentle steam block while the piece is still in progress.

Here’s how to safely steam block your crochet colorwork:

  • Lay your swoncho flat on a towel or blocking surface
  • Hover a steamer or steam iron a few inches above the fabric—do not press down
  • Gently shape the fabric with your hands as you steam, focusing on areas with rippling
  • Let everything cool and dry before continuing

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Always test steam blocking on a swatch of the same yarn first. Some fibers—especially acrylic—can go limp if over-steamed. Natural fibers usually respond better, but caution is key.

If that does not allow the fabric to lay flat, then you can rip out each round until it does lay flat then proceed with looser stitches. 

✂️ Weave in Those Ends—Now’s the Time!

Don’t let all those color changes pile up into a yarn tail nightmare. Use this section as a reminder to:

  • Weave in your ends after each chart
  • Use your tails to close the join at the beginning of your round
  • Keep your wrong side neat and manageable—future you will thank you!
Close-up of colorful, textured knitting with alternating rows of blue, purple, green, white, gray, and burgundy yarn—forming curved stripes in a circular pattern inspired by the vibrant Spectrum Stitch Crochet style. -Marly Bird

🧶 New Here? How the Free Version Works

If you’re just hopping in—yay! You can absolutely join now. Here’s how the free version of the Prism Make-Along works:

✨ Every Monday and Thursday in May, a new part of the pattern is released
✨ Free versions are added directly to the blog—no downloads required
✨ You can find all pattern sections linked at the bottom of the Prism Make-Along blog post
✨ Want a direct link in your inbox? Sign up using the form on the blog post!

📬 Sign up here to stay in the loop and never miss a pattern release!

A close-up of a colorful knitted sweater, inspired by Spectrum Stitch Crochet Swoncho Part 4, featuring rows of patterns in blue, purple, green, grey, white, and turquoise yarn with a ribbed blue neckline. -Marly Bird

🌟 Looking for Part 3? Click Here.

Scroll down to get started with Part 4 of the Spectrum Stitch Swoncho! I can’t wait to see your stitches come to life—be sure to share your progress using #prismmakealong and tag me @themarlybird. 💛

Spectrum Stitch Crochet Swoncho

Designed by Marly Bird

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

MEASUREMENTS

To Fit Sizes

Extra-Small/Small/Medium 28-38” [71-96.5 cm] bust

Large/Extra-Large 40-46” [101.5-117 cm] bust

2/3 Extra-Large 48-54” [122-137 cm] bust

4/5 Extra-Large 56-62” [142-157.5 cm] bust

Sample made in size 2 / 3 Extra-Large

Gauge 

16 split sc by 16 rounds = 4” [10 cm] by 4” [10 cm] in split single crochet; use any size hook to obtain the gauge. 

MATERIALS

Crochet Yarn 

WeCrochet Swish DK  (100% Superwash Merino Wool, 123 yds / 113 m, 1.76 oz/ 50 g, CYCA# 3 DK) — crochet

  • 7 (8, 10, 12) balls: #24957 Gulfstream (A)
  • 2 (2, 2, 2) balls: #24636 Marble Heather (B)
  • 2 (2, 2, 2) balls: #c25578 Marina (C)
  • 1 (2, 2, 2) balls: #28643 Throne (D)
  • 1 (1, 1, 2) balls: #28632 Haze Heather (E)
  • 2 (2, 2, 2) balls: #24313 Cobblestone Heather (F)
  • 1 (2, 2, 2) balls: #c26062 Wonderland Heather (G)
  • 1 (1, 1, 1) ball: #24064 White (H)
  • 1 (1, 1, 1) ball: #c25585 Rainforest Heather (I)
  • 1 (1, 1, 1) ball: #24951 Peapod (J)

Hook

Size U.S. H/8 [5 mm]  or size required for gauge. 

Notions 

Tapestry needle, Stitch Markers

ABBREVIATIONS

Ch – Chain(s) 

PM – Place Marker

RS – Right Side 

Sc – Single Crochet

Sl st – Slip Stitch

Sp(s) – Space(s) 

St(s) – Stitch(es)

Tch – Turning Chain

WS – Wrong Side

SPECIAL STITCHES 

⭐Back Loop Only: This is the furthest loop to you of the top 2 loops of the stitch indicated, regardless if you are on the RS or WS.

⭐️Chain (Ch): With slip knot or free loop on hook, yarn over hook and pull through loop on hook.

⭐️Single Crochet (Sc): Insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook.

⭐️Slip Stitch (Sl st): Insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop and draw through loop on hook. 

⭐️Split Single Crochet (split sc): Insert hook into indicated stitch between the two legs of the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook. 

NOTES

  • Project is worked in joined rounds of split single crochet.  Join is made by removing hook from free loop, insert hook under top 2 loops of first st from back to front, replace free loop and pull through. 
  • Place marker in first stitch throughout project.
  • Change color when there are 2 loops left on the hook of the previous color.
  • Sweater is stranded color work not tapestry colorwork.  Be sure to keep your floats loose and not too tight.  If they are tight you will reduce the elastic nature of the fabric and your project might not fit you.  
  • Do not crochet over the floats or the fabric will become too thick! 
  • It is easy to tighten up your split single crochet stitches, be sure to pull up a longer loop to keep your stitches from getting too small.  If your stitches are too tight, you will not see the colorwork as clearly and it will be difficult to insert your hook. You can always go up a hook size or two to keep your stitches from getting too small.  

VIDEO TUTORIAL

Colorful graphic with geometric shapes and a yarn ball illustration. Text reads: "Marly Bird’s PRISM Make-Along. Spectrum Stitch Crochet Swoncho Part 4. Chart 4. -Marly Bird
CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW VIDEO
A mannequin displays a colorful, hand-knitted yoke with bold stripes and intricate patterns in blue, green, red, black, purple, and white. Yarn skeins are visible on shelves—perfect inspiration for your Prism Make-Along 2025 project!. -Marly Bird

SPECTRUM STITCH CROCHET SWONCHO PATTERN – PART 4

CHART 4

Split sc 7 rounds in Chart 4, reading rounds from right to left. The 8-st repeat will be worked 18 (20, 26, 30) times around.

A knitting color chart with an 8x8 grid and four colors: gray, teal, purple, and green—perfect for your next Crochet Swoncho or Prism Make-Along Free Pattern. Each row and column is numbered, with a color key listing yarn names and codes. -Marly Bird

With color A

Next Round:  Split sc in next 2 sts, *2 split sc in next stitch, split sc in next 7 sts; repeat from * around to last 6 sts, 2 split sc in next st, split sc in last 5 sts — 162 (180, 234, 270) sts. 

CHART 5

Split sc 11 rounds in Chart 5, reading rounds from right to left. The 9-st repeat will be worked 18 (20, 26, 30) times around.

A color-coded grid with 11 rows and 11 columns shows a knitting pattern using shades of blue, teal, purple, gray, and green. A key on the right links each color to yarn names and numbers—perfect for creating your own Spectrum Stitch Crochet swoncho. -Marly Bird

With color A

Next Round:  *Split sc in next 8 sts, 2 split sc in next stitch, repeat from * around — 180 (200, 260, 300) sts. 

🎯 Keep Going!

You’re building something vibrant and wearable—and we’re cheering for every stitch. Don’t forget to:

  • Share your photos and progress with #PrismMakeAlong and #MarlyBird
  • Join the conversation in the BiCrafty Community on Facebook
  • Be kind to your yarn, your hands, and your pace—this is about joy, not perfection!

📅 The next part of the pattern will be released on Thursday, May 15 at 12:00 pm ET—so mark your calendar and keep those hooks moving!

Let me know if you’d like a matching email or social posts to go with this release!

Marly Bird

The One and Only, Marly

Marly is a knitwear and crochet designer (and yarn addict) that is here to help you learn how to knit and crochet in a way that's fun and approachable.

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