This casual summer tee with colorblock details provides a fun opportunity to play with color. Simple stockinette and garter are spiced up with a unique construction that will have you wearing this hand-knit garment all summer long.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished bust measurement 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)”
2-4” positive ease recommended
Shown in size 36
Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows = 4” in St st worked flat on larger needle after blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima Fine (100% Cotton; 136 yards [125 meters]/50 grams): 3718 Natural (MC), 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins; 3752 Coral (CC), 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins.
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm): 40” circular needle, or size to obtain gauge; US size 3 (3.25 mm): 24” circular needle or needles 1 size smaller than gauge needle; Set US size 3 (3.25 mm) DPNs, two 24” circular needles, or one 40” circular needle for magic loop
Notions: Stitch markers; removable stitch markers; tapestry needle, stitch holder or scrap yarn
Special Stitches
Garter Stitch (in the round)
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rep these 2 rounds for pattern.
Pattern Notes
The front and back of this piece are worked flat from the bottom up and seamed. The sides are then picked up from the right and left edges and seamed. Sleeves are shaped with short rows. Garter trim is picked up and knit around the bottom hem, neck and armholes.
Pattern
Front
With larger needle and MC, CO 84 (96, 108, 120, 132, 144) sts.
Work in St st for 15 (15, 15, 15, 14½, 14)”.
Switch to CC. Work in St st for 2 (2¼, 2¼, 2½, 2¾, 3)”.
Switch to MC. Work in St st for 2 (2¼, 2¼, 2½, 2¾, 3)”.
Switch to CC. Work in St st for 2 (2¼, 2¼, 2½, 2¾, 3)”.
At the same time, when piece measures 17 (17¼, 17¼, 17¾, 17¾, 18¾)” from CO edge, begin neck shaping.
Neck Shaping
Row 1: K29 (33, 38, 42, 48, 52), BO next 26 (30, 32, 36, 36, 40) sts, k to end.
Place Left Front sts on holder or scrap yarn and continue to work Right Front sts.
Right Front
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: BO 4 (4, 6, 6, 8, 10) sts, k to end – 25 (29, 32, 36, 40, 42) sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: BO 2 (3, 4, 4, 6, 6) sts, k to end – 23 (26, 28, 32, 34, 36) sts.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K1, ssk, k to end – 22 (25, 27, 31, 33, 35) sts.
Row 8: Purl.
Rep Rows 7-8, 12 (13, 15, 15, 15, 13) times more – 10 (12, 12, 16, 18, 22) sts.
Place remaining sts on holder or scrap yarn.
Return held Left Front sts to needles and join yarn with WS facing.
Left Front
Row 2: BO 4 (4, 6, 6, 8, 10) sts, p to end – 25 (29, 32, 36, 40, 42) sts.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: BO 2 (3, 4, 4, 6, 6) sts, p to end – 23 (26, 28, 32, 34, 36) sts.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 22 (25, 27, 31, 33, 35) sts.
Row 8: Purl.
Rep Rows 7-8, 12 (13, 15, 15, 15, 13) times more – 10 (12, 12, 16, 18, 22) sts.
Place remaining sts on holder or scrap yarn.
Back
Work as for Front.
Return held Left Front and Left Back sts to needles and join using 3-needle BO. Rep for Right Front and Right Back sts.
Left Side
With RS facing, using MC and larger needle, pick up and knit 90 (90, 90, 90, 87, 84) sts up to bottom of first contrast color stripe, PM using a removable marker, pick up and knit 72 (82, 82, 90, 100, 108) sts to bottom of first contrast color stripe on back, PM using a removable marker, pick up and knit 90 (90, 90, 90, 87, 84) sts to end – 252 (262, 262, 270, 274, 276) sts.
Work 7 more rows in St st.
Switch to CC. Work 4 rows in St st.
Short-Rows 1-2: K to 1 st before 2nd m, w&t, purl to 1 st before m, w&t.
Short-Rows 3-4: K to 10 (11, 11, 13, 14, 16) sts before last wrapped st, w&t, purl to 10 (11, 11, 13, 14, 16) sts before last wrapped st, w&t.
Rep Short-Rows 3-4 twice more.
Next Row: Knit to end, picking up wraps and working them with their stitches.
Next Row: Purl, picking up wraps and working them with their stitches.
Work 2 rows in St st.
BO, leaving markers in place.
Right Side
Work as for Left Side.
Finishing
Left side: Fold piece at shoulder seam with RS facing out so that bound off edges at sides are parallel. Using horizontal mattress stitch, seam bound off edges together up to markers. Remove markers.
Repeat for Right Side.
Armholes (work both the same)
With RS facing, using MC and DPNs, pick and up knit 76 (86, 86, 94, 104, 112) sts around armhole, PM and join to work in the round.
Work 3 rounds in Garter stitch.
BO.
Neck
With RS facing, beginning at right shoulder seam and using smaller circular needle and MC, pick up and knit 2 sts for every 3 rows down back right side, 38 (44, 52, 56, 64, 72) sts across bound off stitches at center back, 2 sts for every 3 rows up back left side and down front left side, 38 (44, 52, 56, 64, 72) sts across bound off stitches at center front and 2 sts for every 3 rows up right front side, PM and join to work in the round
Work 5 rounds in Garter stitch.
BO.
Bottom Hem
With RS facing, beginning at side seam and using smaller circular needle and CC, pick up and knit approximately 216 (240, 264, 288, 312, 336) sts around bottom edge of tee, PM and join to work in the round.
Work 5 rounds in Garter stitch.
BO.
Weave in ends. Wash and block to finished dimensions.