Campside Pullover

Campside Pullover by Alicia Plummer

What is Being Made

The Campside Pullover is a knitted sweater designed as a beginner-friendly pullover with a classic construction. This garment features a fitted silhouette with raglan sleeves and is available in six sizes, with finished bust measurements ranging from 33 inches to 53 inches (84 to 135 centimeters). The sweater is designed to be worn with 3 to 4 inches of positive ease at the full bust, allowing for comfortable layering and movement.

Construction and Techniques

The Campside Pullover employs a hybrid construction method that combines flat and circular knitting techniques. The sweater is worked flat initially to establish the body and neck shaping, then joined in the round at the front once the neck shaping is completed. This approach allows for precise shaping while maintaining the efficiency of circular knitting for the body sections.

The pattern incorporates raglan sleeve increases, a classic shaping technique that creates diagonal lines from the underarm to the neckline. The design includes four raglan markers to track these increases throughout the garment. For knitters who prefer a refined finish, the pattern offers the option to close yarnovers on the raglan increases by working through the back loop on the following wrong-side row, eliminating visible holes in the fabric.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in the Campside Pullover is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat face and reverse texture on the back. Stockinette is achieved by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side when working flat, or by knitting every round when working in the round. This fundamental stitch provides an excellent canvas for showcasing yarn qualities and is ideal for beginner knitters developing their tension and technique.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Campside Pullover is designed to be knitted in DK weight yarn, a versatile medium weight that works well for garments requiring drape and structure. The pattern specifies Julie Asselin Leizu DK, a luxury blend composed of 90% merino wool and 10% silk, which provides softness, breathability, and a subtle sheen. Each 115-gram skein yields 260 yards (238 meters) of yarn.

Yardage requirements vary by size: the smallest size (33 inches finished bust) requires 920 yards, while the largest size (53 inches finished bust) requires 1,475 yards. This range allows knitters to select the appropriate yardage based on their desired finished measurements and positive ease.

The pattern calls for US 8 (5.0mm) circular needles for the main fabric, which are used to achieve the working gauge of 18 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch. US 6 (4.0mm) circular needles are used for ribbed sections and edge finishing, creating a tighter gauge that provides elasticity and structure. Both circular needles should be 32 inches or longer to accommodate the full circumference of the sweater body. Coordinating double-pointed needles (DPNs) are optional and used only if the knitter prefers not to use the magic loop method for working small circumferences such as the neckline and sleeve caps.

Additional notions include five place markers—four for tracking raglan increases and one for marking the beginning of round—and a darning needle for weaving in yarn ends after completion.

Difficulty Level

The Campside Pullover is classified as a beginner-level pattern, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to garment construction. The straightforward stockinette stitch, clear marker placement for raglan shaping, and detailed instructions provide a supportive framework for developing fundamental knitting skills while completing a wearable finished object.