The Olive Sweater was created during a time when I was nurturing a love of plants, knowing that blue skies meant clear sunny days and growth for nature’s little ones. Olive plants are a reminder that during the colder months of the year, it is ok to hibernate and rest, adapting resiliency that speaks to my heart.

Once spring starts arriving, new leaves will sprout, and oftentimes pruning some older branches will encourage a stronger, healthier growth. The front colourwork motif on this pullover represents the elegant olive tree branches, and the back holds three olives in growing sizes that symbolize strength and growth. May you be enveloped in this garment of peace and hope for a stronger future.

Pattern Notes
The Olive Sweater is a cropped, drop-shoulder colourwork motif pullover with a cozy cowl-like turtleneck, and a discreet elegant eyelet hem. For those interested in a more traditional crew neck, this pattern includes the option for this. The sleeves are ¾ length and slightly puffed for those who like a roomy fit while keeping busy with your sleeves up! It is worked from bottom up in the round until the armholes, then split to work back and forth for the front and back separately.

Experience Level
Intermediate to advanced

Gauge
23 sts x 27 rows in stockinette stitch (knit flat) = 4” x 4” using size 3.5mm (US 4) needles after blocking

Sizes
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) to be worn with about 4-6”/ 10-15 cm positive ease. Shown in size M with 4” of positive ease. See finished measurements below.

Finished Bust Measurements

Bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)” / 81 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152.5, 162.5) cm

Yarn

MC - Emily C Gillies (sport weight; 100% non-superwash BFL, Bluefaced Leicester); 255yds/ 233m per 115g / 4 oz (pattern sample knit in the colour Slate) ~ 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins, 305 (346, 380, 416, 461, 507, 548, 599, 649) g, 677 (767, 843, 922, 1022, 1124, 1216, 1330, 1440) yds/619 (701, 771, 844, 935, 1028, 1112, 1216, 1317) m

CC1 - Emily C Gillies (sport weight; 100% non-superwash BFL, Bluefaced Leicester); 110yds/ 101m per 50g / 1.8 oz (pattern sample knit in the colour Cat’s Eye) ~ 1 skein, 12 g, 30 yds/ 27.5 m (all sizes) CC1 is the contrasting colour for front and back colourwork motifs

CC2 - Emily C Gillies (sport weight; 100% non-superwash BFL, Bluefaced Leicester); 110yds/ 101m per 50g / 1.8 oz (pattern sample knit in the colour Nimbus) ~ 1(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) skeins, 37 (38, 42, 45, 46, 49, 50, 53, 54) g, 82 (84, 93, 100, 102, 108, 110, 117, 119) yds/ 75 (77, 85, 91, 93, 99, 101, 107, 109) m
CC2 is the contrasting colour for the turtleneck portion
Note: optional to choose this as a third colour, you may also use the same CC1

Needles
3.5mm (US 4) circular 32”/ 80cm for body
3.5mm (US 4) circular 16”/ 40cm for neckline
3.5mm (US 4) circular 12”/ 30.5cm for sleeves
3.25mm (US 3) DPNs for sleeve cuffs
or needle size to obtain correct gauge