INTRODUCTION

Between the Trees

by Amy Gunderson

Inspired by the beautiful forestry of the Sierra Nevadas, Between the Trees blends three colors in a gradient fashion. The Twisted Trees stitch pattern is worked with a single color in some instances, and in two colors during the blending sections. During these "blending sections", hold both colors together throughout the round, changing colors using the stranded method. And don't worry – there are no color changes done flat – only in the round!

model: Amy Gunderson

photos: Justin Reed

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in size S with 4 inches/10 cm of ease at chest

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm:  32.75[35.25, 40.5, 45.5, 48, 53, 55.5, 60.75, 63.25] inches/ 83[89.5, 103, 115.5, 122, 134.5, 141, 154.5, 160.5] cm
Length: 21[21.25, 22, 22.75, 23.5, 24, 24.5, 25.25, 25.5] inches/ 53.5[54, 56, 58, 59.5, 61, 62, 64, 65] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Premier Yarns Stitch Please Wool Worsted [100%; 220 yd/200 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]
A: 1134-41 Kale Yeah 2[2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4] skeins
B: 1134-40 Holly Jolly 2[2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4] skeins
C: 1134-22 Whoopsie Daisy 2[2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a non-superwash worsted-weight 2-ply wool. The worsted 2-ply construction gives medium stitch definition to the crossed stitches. Similarly spun superwash wool, wool blends (with a high wool content), acrylic, or Merino wool would all make great substitutes.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]

1 US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 24-32 inches / 60-80cm length or longer
1 set US #7/4.5mm needles for working short circumference in the round

Notions
stitch holder
stitch markers (including two removable)
yarn needle

GAUGE

19 sts/27 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in Twisted Trees patt

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction method: Body is worked bottom-up in the round to the armholes. After binding off underarm stitches, Front and Back are worked separately, flat. Sleeves are worked in the round to the armholes. After binding off underarm stitches, Sleeve cap is worked flat. Collar is worked in the round and is bound off using the tubular method.

Sloped bind-off: On the row before the bind-off, slip the last st pwise wyif. On the bind-off row, sl the first 2 sts wyib, pass the first slipped st over the second, bind off remaining sts as usual.

CHARTS

A RT: With A, k2tog but do not remove st from needle, knit the first st again, sl both sts from needle.
A LT: With A, knit the second st on the left needle tbl, knit the first st, sl both sts from needle.
A/B RT: With A, k2tog but do not remove st from needle, with B, knit the first st again, sl both sts from needle.
A/B LT: With B, knit the second st on the left needle tbl, with A, knit the first st, sl both sts from needle.
B RT: With B, k2tog but do not remove st from needle, knit the first st again, sl both sts from needle.
B LT: With B, knit the second st on the left needle tbl, knit the first st, sl both sts from needle.
B/C RT: With B, k2tog but do not remove st from needle, with C, knit the first st again, sl both sts from needle.
B/C LT: With C, knit the second st on the left needle tbl, with B, knit the first st, sl both sts from needle.
C RT: With C, k2tog but do not remove st from needle, knit the first st again, sl both sts from needle.
C LT: With C, knit the second st on the left needle tbl, knit the first st, sl both sts from needle.

Twisted Trees, Body/Sleeve (multiple of 6 sts)
Note: Where "A”, "B” or "C” appears before an instruction to "k1”, "k2”, etc., simply work the number of stitches in the yarn color designated.
Rnd 1: *A LT, A k2, B RT; rep from * to end.
Even Rnds 2-24: A knit.
Rnd 3: *A k1, A LT, A RT, A k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 5: *A k2, A RT, A k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 7: *A k1, A RT, A LT, A k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 9: *A k1, A LT, A RT, A k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 11: *A k2, A RT, A k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 13: *A k1, A RT, A LT, A k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 15: *A RT, A k2, A LT; rep from * to end, ending 1 st before end of rnd.
Rnd 17: *A LT (removing marker and replacing between 2 resulting sts), A k4; rep from * to end.
Rnd 19: *A LT, A k2, B RT; rep from * to end.
Rnd 21: *A RT, A k2, A LT; rep from * to end, ending 1 st before end of rnd.
Rnd 23: Rep Rnd 17.
Rnd 25: *A/B LT, B k2, A/B RT; rep from * to end.
Rnd 26: *B k1, A k1, B k2, A k1, B k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 27: *B k1, A/B LT, A/B RT, B k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 28: *B k2, A k2, B k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 29: *B k2, A RT, B k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 30: *B k2, A k2, B k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 31: *B k1, A/B RT, A/B LT, B k1; rep from * to end.
Rnds 32-34: Rep Rnds 26-28.
Rnd 35: *B k2, A/B RT, B k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 36: *B k2, A k1, B k3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 37: *B k1, A/B RT, B LT, B k1; rep from * to end.
Rnds 38-48: With B instead of A, rep Rnds 14-24.
Rnds 49-72: With B instead of A, rep Rnds 1-24.
Rnd 73: *B/C LT, C k2, B/C RT; rep from * to end.
Rnd 74: *C k1, B k1, C k2, B k1, C k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 75: *C k1, B/C LT, B/C RT, C k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 76: *C k2, B k2, C k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 77: *C k2, B LT, C k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 78: *C k2, B k2, C k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 79: *C k1, B/C RT, B/C LT, C k1; rep from * to end.
Rnds 80-82: Rep Rnds 74-76.
Rnd 83: *C k2, B/C LT, C k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 84: *C k3, B k1, C k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 85: *C k1, C RT, B/C LT, C k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 86: C knit.

Twisted Trees, Yoke (multiple of 6 sts)
Note: This chart is worked entirely in yarn C.
Rnd 1: *C LT, C k2, C RT; rep from * to end.
Even Rnds 2-24: C knit.
Rnd 3: *C k1, C LT, C RT, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 5: *C k2, C RT, C k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 7: *C k1, C RT, C LT, C k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 9: *C k1, C LT, C RT, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 11: *C k2, C RT, C k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 13: *C k1, C RT, C LT, C k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 15: *C RT, C k2, C LT; rep from * to end, ending 1 st before end of rnd.
Rnd 17: *C LT (removing marker and replacing between 2 resulting sts), C k4; rep from * to end.
Rnd 19: *C LT, C k2, C RT; rep from * to end.
Rnd 21: *C k1, C LT, C RT, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 23: *C k2, C LT, C k2; rep from * to end.

DIRECTIONS

BODY
Hem
With yarn A and longer circ, cast on 156[168, 192, 216, 228, 252, 264, 288, 300] sts. PM and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist.
Rnds 1-12: *K1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl; rep from * to end.

Main Body
Work Rnds 1-86 of Body/Sleeve Chart, ending 4[5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts before end of last rnd (Rnd 86).

Separate Front and Back:
Note: You will now be changing from the Body/Sleeve Chart to the Yoke Chart. Keep the consistency of the chart pattern when working underarm bind-offs and raglan shaping; Row 15 of the Yoke Chart will maintain the cable pattern as established by the Body/Sleeve Chart.

Row 1 [RS]: BO 8[10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24] sts for left underarm, work Row 15 of Yoke Chart as est'd over 70[74, 84, 94, 98, 108, 112, 122, 126] Front sts, BO 8[10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24] sts for right underarm, work Row 15 of Yoke Chart as est'd over rem 70[74, 84, 94, 98, 108, 112, 122, 126] Back sts. Place Front sts on holder and cont to work back and forth on Back sts only.

Back
Row 2 [WS]: Work Row 16 of Yoke Chart as est'd to end.
Note: In the following rows, work through Row 24 of Yoke Chart, then rep Rows 1-24 of Chart for remainder of Back. Maintain sts in patt, working 1 st at each end of every row in St st.

Dec row [RS]: K1, p2tog, work in patt to last 3 sts, ssp, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Repeat Dec row every foll 4 rows 3[3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] times, then every RS row 14[15, 23, 24, 27, 26, 28, 28, 28] times. 34[36, 36, 44, 42, 54, 54, 64, 68] sts.

Work 1 WS row even in patt.

Sizes -[-, -, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X] only:
Work Dec row [RS].
Dec row [WS]: P1, ssk, work in patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1. 2 sts decreased.
Rep last 2 rows -[-, -, 1, 0, 3, 3, 5, 6] times more. -[-, -, 36, 38, 38, 38, 40, 40] sts.

All Sizes:
Bind off all sts.

FRONT
Note: Read ahead: Raglan and neck shaping happen at the same time.

Join yarn C to 70[74, 84, 94, 98, 108, 112, 122, 126] sts held for Front with WS facing and work Raglan shaping as for Back; AT THE SAME TIME, when 22[24, 28, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 52] rows have been worked from division for Front and Back (22 fewer rows than Back to BO), shape front neck as foll:

Shape front neck:
Place removable markers on either side of center 10[12, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14, 16, 16] sts of Front.
Row 1 [RS]: Work as est over Left Front to marked sts, attach new ball of yarn and BO center 10[12, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14, 16, 16] neck sts, work as est over Right Front sts to end.
Note: You will now be working Left Front and Right Front at the same time with separate balls of yarn. Join new ball to Left Front on next row. Instructions for each Front are divided by a semi-colon (;).
Row 2 [WS]: Work in patt over Right Front sts; BO 3 sts, work in patt to end.
Row 3: Work in patt over Left Front sts; BO 3 sts, work in patt to end.
Row 4: Work in patt over Right Front sts; BO 2 sts, work in patt to end.
Row 5: Work in patt over Left Front sts; BO 2 sts, work in patt to end.
Row 6: Work in patt over Right Front sts; work in patt over Left Front sts.

Row 7: Work in patt over Left Front sts to last 3 sts, ssp, k1; k1, p2tog, work in patt over Right Front sts to end.
Row 8: Work in patt over Right Front sts to last st, p1; p1, work over Left Front sts to end.
Rows 9-14: Rep Rows 7-8 three more times.

Rows 15-22: Cont to work without neck shaping until raglan shaping (as for Back) has been completed. 3 sts rem for each front.

Next row [RS]: K3tog; k3tog. Fasten off each Front.

SLEEVES (make 2)

Cuff
With yarn A and needles for working short circumference in the round, cast on 42[42, 42, 48, 48, 48, 54, 54, 54] sts. PM and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist.
Rnds 1-12: *K1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl; rep from * to end.

Main Sleeve
Note: Work Rnds 1-24 of Body/Sleeve chart once, then rep Rnds 1-86 of chart for remainder of Sleeve.
Beg with Rnd 1 of Body/Sleeve chart, work 4 rnds even in patt.

Inc rnd: P1, m1p, work in patt to last st, m1p, p1. 2 sts increased.

Rep Inc rnd every 6[4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 2] rnds 5[2, 8, 8, 14, 5, 3, 7, 13] times more, then every 8[6, 6, 6, 0, 4, 4, 4, 4] rnds 3[8, 4, 4, 0, 12, 13, 11, 8] times, working increased sts into patt. 60[64, 68, 74, 78, 84, 88, 92, 98] sts.

Cont to work even in patt until Rnd 86 of chart is complete (110 chart rows worked in total), ending last rnd 4[5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts before end.

Shape raglan:
Note: You will now be changing from the Body/Sleeve Chart to the Yoke Chart. Keep the consistency of the chart pattern when working underarm bind-offs and raglan shaping; Row 15 of the Yoke Chart will maintain the cable pattern as established by the Body/Sleeve Chart.

Row 1 [RS]: BO 8[10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24] sts, work Row 15 of Yoke chart to end. 52[54, 56, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70, 74] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: P1, work Row 16 of Yoke chart to last st, p1.
Note: Keep 1 st at each edge in St st. Maintain sts in patt as much as possible.

Dec row [RS]: K1, p2tog, work in patt to last 3 sts, ssp, p1. 2 sts decreased.

Cont in patt, repeating Dec row every 4 rows 2[2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 5] times more, then every RS row 16[17, 17, 19, 19, 21, 21, 21, 24] times. 14 sts rem.

Bind off all sts.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Block pieces to finished measurements. Sew Raglan seams using mattress stitch.

Collar
With needles for working short circumference in the round and yarn C, pick up and knit 32[34, 34, 34, 36, 36, 36, 38, 38] sts along Back Neck, 12 sts along top of Left Sleeve, 48[50, 50, 50, 52, 52, 52, 54, 54] sts along Front Neck (picking up 1 st in every row and 1 st in ever BO st), and 12 sts along top of Right Sleeve. Pm and join to work in the rnd. 104[108, 108, 108, 112, 112, 112, 116, 116] sts.

Rnd 1: *K1 tbl, p1; rep from * to end.

Rep Rnd 1 until collar measures 2.75 inches/7 cm.

Tubular Bind-Off
Rnd 1: *K1 tbl, sl 1 pwise wyif; rep from * to end.
Rnd 2: *Sl 1 pwise wyib, p1; rep from * to end.
Rnds 3-4: Rep Rnds 1-2.
Place all of the knit sts on one circular needle while placing all of the purl sts on a second needle held behind the first. Bind off all sts with Kitchener st/sewn bind-off.

Weave in any remaining ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Amy has been crazy for yarn ever since she had some down time in between pizza making back in Iowa. She's been the creative director for Universal Yarn, yarn director for Jimmy Beans Wool, and has done knit and crochet designs for most major magazines. She is currently the senior creative manager for Premier Yarns. She also does freelance design work, technical editing, crochet chart making, and many other assorted yarny things. When she's not busy with fiber, she's probably playing tennis, at the dog park, or sitting in the corner being antisocial.

Pattern & images © 2025 Amy Gunderson