INTRODUCTION

Greenstone

by Renee Kulling

While planning for an upcoming trip to Isle Royale National Park, I considered the ideal camping sweater. It should be warm to account for cold nights under the stars. It should be lightweight but sturdy for stowing in a pack. It should be adaptable and useful in changing weather and conditions. It should also be comfortable and look great when we return to civilization. Of those requirements, Greenstone was born! Detachable sleeves give options for all seasons and add design interest. The non-superwash wool is a workhorse that keeps its shape and insulating properties even in damp conditions. It is airy and light, and if you haven't tried a fingering-weight sweater yet, you may be a convert after this one!

model + photos Renee Kulling

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in size M with 7 inches/18 cm of ease at chest

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm:  34[38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66] inches/ 86.5[96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147.5, 157.5, 167.5] cm
Length:  20[20.5, 20.5, 21, 21, 21.5, 22, 22.5, 23] inches/ 50.5[51.5, 51.5, 53, 53, 54, 55.5, 57, 58] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Knit Picks Palette [100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 231yd/211m per 50g skein];
[MC] Tarragon; 4[5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] skeins
[CC] Ash; 1[1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a fingering weight, non-superwash wool that is light-weight, elastic, and 2-ply. Alternative 100% wools or virgin wools would also suit; for a non-wool fiber, consider using cotton.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #4/3.5 mm circular needle (for body)
1 US #3/3.25 mm circular needle (for body)
1 US #4/3.5 mm small circumference circular needle or double-point needles
1 US #3/3.25 mm small circumference circular needle or double-point needles

Notions
stitch markers
16 buttons, 0.5-0.75 inch/13-19mm diameter
yarn needle

GAUGE

28 sts/32 rows/rounds = 4 inches / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch using US #4/3.5mm needles.

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction Method: This pullover is worked in one piece in the round from the bottom to the armholes with optional short rows at the middle back. The front and back are worked flat separately. The shoulders are joined using a three-needle bind-off. Sleeves and collar ribbing are picked up and knit in the round. Lower sleeves are knit separately in the round.

K1, P1 Rib
Round 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep this rnd for patt.

Stripe Pattern
Rounds 1-10: Knit in MC.
Rounds 11-14: Knit in CC.
Rep these 14 rnds for patt.

Techniques:

• German short rows
• DS (Make double stitch; German short rows): Slip 1 st with yarn in front, pull yarn up and over needle to the back to create a double stitch. Move yarn into correct position for next stitch. When passing this stitch on following rows, work double stitches as 1 stitch (knitting or purling together both "stitches").

DIRECTIONS

Body
Using MC and smaller circ, CO 238[266, 294, 322, 350, 378, 406, 434, 462] sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts, and pm for beg of round.

Work in K1, P1 rib for 13 rnds.

Change to larger circ.

Joining CC when needed, work Rnds 1-14 of Stripe Pattern eight times. Break CC.

Next rnd: K 119[133, 147, 161, 175, 189, 203, 217, 231] , pm for left side, knit to end.

Optional Short Rows:
Note: Short rows elongate the back in relation to the front, and many people find this gives a better overall fit. If you choose to omit short rows, skip to Back.

Short row 1 [RS]: With MC, k to side m, k25, turn.
Short row 2 [WS]: DS, purl to side m, sl m, purl to beg of rnd m, sl m, p25, turn.
Short row 3 [RS]: DS, knit to 10 sts before last double st, turn.
Short row 4 [WS]: DS, purl to 10 sts before last double st, turn.
Repeat Short rows 3-4 three times more.

Knit 2 rounds, working double stitches as one stitch.

Back
Note: You will now continue on the first 119[133, 147, 161, 175, 189, 203, 217, 231] sts of rnd for Back only.

Row 1 [RS]: BO 0[3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14] sts, knit to side marker, remove m, turn.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 0[3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14] sts, purl to end. 119[127, 139, 151, 159, 169, 181, 191, 203] sts.

Work even in St st until Back measures 4.5[5, 5, 5.5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5] inches/ 11.5[12.5, 12.5, 14, 14, 15, 16.5, 18, 19] cm from underarm, ending after a WS row.

Next row [RS]: K 50[54, 59, 65, 68, 73, 78, 83, 89] , BO 19[19, 21, 21, 23, 23, 25, 25, 25] sts, knit to end. Cont on these 50[54, 59, 65, 68, 73, 78, 83, 89] sts only for left back neck and shoulder.

Shape left back neck:
Cont in St st, BO 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts at beg of next RS row, 3[3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6] sts at beg of foll RS row, and 2 sts at beg of next RS row. 41[45, 47, 53, 55, 60, 65, 69, 75] sts.

Purl 1 WS row.

Next RS row [RS]: Ssk, knit to end. 1 st decreased.
Next WS row [WS]: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 39[43, 45, 51, 53, 58, 63, 67, 73] sts.

Shape left back shoulder:
Short row 1 [RS]: Knit to last 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts, turn.
Short row 2 [WS]: DS, purl to end.
Row 3 [RS]: Knit to 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts before last double st, turn.
Row 4 [WS]: DS, purl to end.
Repeat Short rows 3-4 three times more.

Next row [RS]: Knit, working all double stitches as one stitch.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Shape right back neck:
Place 50[54, 59, 65, 68, 73, 78, 83, 89] sts held for right back neck to needle with RS facing. Join MC.

Cont in St st, BO 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts at beg of next WS row, 3[3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6] sts at beg of foll WS row, and 2 sts at beg of next WS row. 41[45, 47, 53, 55, 60, 65, 69, 75] sts.

Next row [RS]: Knit.
Next row [WS]: P2tog, purl to end. 1 st decreased.
Rep last 2 rows once more, then knit 1 more RS row. 39[43, 45, 51, 53, 58, 63, 67, 73] sts.

Shape right back shoulder:
Short row 1 [WS]: Purl to last 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts, turn.
Short row 2 [RS]: DS, knit to end.
Row 3 [WS]: Purl to 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts before last double st, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: DS, knit to end.
Repeat Short rows 3-4 three times more.

Next row [WS]: Purl to end, working all double sts as one st.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Front
Join MC to held 119[133, 147, 161, 175, 189, 203, 217, 231] held sts of Front with RS facing.

Row 1 [RS]: BO 0[3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14] sts, knit to end. 119[130, 143, 156, 167, 179, 192, 204, 217] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 0[3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14] sts, purl to end. 119[127, 139, 151, 159, 169, 181, 191, 203] sts.

Work even in St st until Front measures 3.5[4, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5] inches/ 9[10, 10, 11.5, 11.5, 12.5, 14, 15, 16.5] cm from underarm, ending after a WS row.

Shape right front neck:
Next Row [RS]: K 53[57, 62, 68, 71, 76, 81, 86, 92] , BO 13[13, 15, 15, 17, 17, 19, 19, 19] sts, knit to end. Cont on these last 53[57, 62, 68, 71, 76, 81, 86, 92] sts for right front neck only.

Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row [RS]: BO 3[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4] , knit to end. 50[54, 59, 65, 68, 73, 78, 82, 88] sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: BO 3, knit to end. 47[51, 56, 62, 65, 70, 75, 79, 85] sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: BO 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , knit to end.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. 41[45, 47, 53, 56, 61, 66, 70, 76] sts.
Next row: BO 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , knit to end. 39[43, 45, 51, 53, 58, 63, 67, 73] sts.
Next row: Purl.

Work 8 rows even in St st, ending after a WS row.

Shape right front shoulder:
Short row 1 [RS]: Knit to last 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts, turn.
Short row 2 [WS]: DS, purl to end.
Row 3 [RS]: Knit to 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts before last double st, turn.
Row 4 [WS]: DS, purl to end.
Repeat Short rows 3-4 three times more.

Next row [RS]: Knit, working all double stitches as one stitch.

With WS facing, join sts on needle to sts held for right front shoulder using three-needle bind-off.

Shape left front neck:
With RS facing, place 53[57, 62, 68, 71, 76, 81, 86, 92] sts held for left front back on working needles and join MC.

Next row [RS]: Knit.
Next row [WS]: BO 3[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4] , purl to end. 50[54, 59, 65, 68, 73, 78, 82, 88] sts.
Next row [RS]: Knit.
Next row [WS]: BO 3, purl to end. 47[51, 56, 62, 65, 70, 75, 79, 85] sts.
Next row [RS]: Knit.
Next row [WS]: BO 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , purl to end.
Next row [RS]: Knit.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. 41[45, 47, 53, 56, 61, 66, 70, 76] sts.
Next row [WS]: BO 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , purl to end. 39[43, 45, 51, 53, 58, 63, 67, 73] sts.
Next row [RS]: Knit.

Work 8 rows even in St st, ending after a RS row.

Shape left front shoulder:
Short row 1 [WS]: Purl to last 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts, turn.
Short row 2 [RS]: DS, knit to end.
Row 3 [WS]: Purl to 6[7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] sts before last double st, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: DS, knit to end.
Repeat Short rows 3-4 three times more.

Next row [WS]: Purl to end, working all double sts as one st.

With WS facing, join sts on needle to sts held for right front shoulder using three-needle bind-off.

SLEEVES (Make 2)
With smaller needles for working short circumference in the round and MC, CO 80[94, 96, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150] sts. Join to work in the round and pm for beginning of rnd.

Work in K1, P1 rib for 15 rnds.

Change to larger needles.

Note: Read ahead; the Stripe Pattern is worked at the same time as sleeve shaping. Join a new strand of CC for each stripe and break CC after each one is completed.

Work Rnds 1-14 of Stripe Pattern 10 times (or until SLEEVE measures 3 inches/7.5 cm shorter than total desired length), then work Rnds 1-9 once more; AT THE SAME TIME, work Decrease round (below) on the first rnd, then every foll 21[10, 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, 4, 3] rounds 6[13, 13, 15, 19, 24, 28, 33, 38] times more, working Decrease round as foll:

Decrease round: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, ssk. 2 sts decreased.

 66[66, 68, 68, 70, 70, 72, 72, 72] sts after all shaping has been completed.

Cuff
Next round: *K 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10] , k2tog; rep from * 5 times more, k 6[6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 6, 6, 6] to end. 60[60, 62, 62, 64, 64, 66, 66, 66] sts.

Change to smaller needles.

Work in K1, P1 rib for 15 rnds.

BO all sts in pattern.

FINISHING

Neckband
With MC and smaller needles for working short circumference in the round, attach MC at right shoulder seam. Evenly pick up and knit 37[37, 45, 45, 49, 49, 51, 53, 53] sts across back neck bind-off, 7 sts to front neck BO, 41[41, 49, 49, 53, 53, 55, 57, 57] sts across front neck bind-off, and 7 sts down to back neck BO. Pm and join to work in the round. 92[92, 108, 108, 116, 116, 120, 124, 124] sts.

Work in K1, P1 rib for 14 rnds.

BO all sts in pattern.

Armhole Bands
Starting at center of underarm and using smaller needles for working short circumference in the round, join MC and pick up and knit 80[94, 96, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150] sts around armhole. Pm and join to work in the round.

Work in K1, P1 rib for 7 rnds.

Buttonhole round: Work in K1, P1 rib as est'd for 5[5, 7, 9, 7, 11, 9, 7, 11] sts, *yo, k2tog, patt 8[10, 10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14, 16] sts; rep from * 6 times more, yo, k2tog, patt to end.

Work in K1, P1 rib for 7 rnds.

BO all sts in pattern.

Repeat for second armhole.

Weave in all ends. Wash and block gently to measurements. Attach buttons at the top of the sleeve ribbing in line with the armhole buttonholes.

Note: Neckband and armhole bands not shown.
A – Chest circumference: 34[38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66] inches/ 86.5[96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147.5, 157.5, 167.5] cm
B – Back body length: 17 inches / 43 cm
C – Front body length: 15.75 inches / 40 cm
D—Armhole length: 6.25[6.75, 6.75, 7.25, 7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25] inches / 16[17, 17, 18.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21, 22, 23.5] cm
E—Neck depth: 3 inches / 7.5 cm
F—Back neck width: 5.75[5.75, 7, 7, 7.5, 7.5, 7.75, 8.25, 8.25] inches / 14.5[14.5, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19.5, 21, 21] cm
G – Cross back width: 17[18.25, 19.75, 21.5, 22.75, 24.25, 25.75, 27.25, 29] inches / 43[46.5, 50, 54.5, 58, 61.5, 65.5, 69, 73.5] cm
H – Upper arm circumference: 11.5[13.5, 13.75, 14.25, 15.75, 17.25, 18.5, 20, 21.5] inches/ 29[34, 35, 36, 40, 44, 47, 51, 54.5] cm
I – Sleeve length: 21 inches / 53.5 cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Renee Kulling lives, works, and plays in Michigan, USA. She’s a runner and wannabe cyclist, and loves to be outside and active with her dogs, daughter, and husband. Her favorite color is yellow.

You can find her on Ravelry as OhSoFancy and on Instagram as ohsofancyknits.

Pattern & images © 2025 Renee Kulling