Are you ready for a super easy summer tee pattern? Are you ready for it to be mostly untested?

Because that is how I’d describe this pattern: mostly untested. I’ve designed it with a total of five sizes ranging from x-small/32-inch bust to x-large/46-inch bust. But I’ve only knitted it in one size. Those other four sizes exist only in my brain. No one yet has actually made them. I admit to feeling a little uncertain about that.

But its a simple pattern. There is no shaping to the body, no nipping in for the waist. I let the “V” shape and the color work provide an illusion of waist shaping instead. Also the top of the front is exactly the same as the top of the back. This is a reversible tee. The straps are just nice, wide garter stitch strips (and btw if you want to lower/raise the neck line, knit more/less rows in the straps).

Its a basic shape with only one frill; the “V” down the center. Therefore the pattern is a simple one. In fact its about as simple as things get when it comes to knitted garments.

Still, I fell a bit uncertain about throwing a garment pattern out into the world that hasn’t been fully tested. If I hadn’t been asked for the pattern to this tee by about a dozen people, I probably would have just left the “pattern” on sticky notes and stuffed it into a drawer somewhere. But there has been some interest so I’ll take a chance and run with it.

After all its a free pattern. The knitting world seems pretty forgiving about boo-boos and revisions when it comes to free patterns, right? Right. So as long as you consider yourself my test knitter, here is a summer tee that you can totally feel free to charge ahead and make! (But if you find any boo-boos you are morally obligated to come back and let me know.)

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The Vee Tee – a summer weight t-shirt pattern

Sizes: The sizing for this pattern is based on bust size but as I mentioned above, there is no body shaping. The tee is the same width throughout so go with the diameter that works best for your comfort and body type.

• x-small = 32 inch (81 cm) bust
• small = 35 inch (89 cm) bust
• medium = 39 inch (99 cm) bust
• large = 42 inch (107 cm) bust
• x-large = 45 inch (114 cm) bust

Yarn: I used Cotlin DK by KnitPicks in colors Sagebrush, Lichen, and Whisper. Its a soft summer weight yarn and I’m very pleased with it.

• x-small = 120 yds of each color (360 yds total)
• small = 150 yds of each color (450 yds total)
• medium = 180 yds of each color (540 yds total)
• large = 210 yds of each color (630 yds total)
• x-large = 240 yds of each color (720 yds total)

Needle and Gauge: I used a US size 7 (4.5 mm) and my gauge after washing and blocking was 18 sts = 4 inches/13 rows = 4 inches. When working with a plant based yarn (and trying to make garments that fit) you really should check your after-blocking gauge. All plant fibers expand when they get wet. 

Stitch Key

• k = knit
• p = purl
• M1L = make one left (an increase)
• M1R = make on right (an increase)
• cdd = centered double decrease (a… you guessed it, double decease)
• ssk = slip slip knit (a decrease)
• k2tog = k 2 together (a decrease)

 

With Color A, cast on 142(158, 174, 190, 206) stitches and join to work in the round.

Bottom Garter Stitch Edge

Round 1: k5(7, 9, 11, 13), M1L, k29(31, 33, 35, 37), cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37), M1R, k10(14, 18, 22, 26), M1L, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37) cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37) M1R, k5 (7, 9, 11, 13)

Round 2: p

Work Rnds 1 & 2 a total of 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) times.

Body of the Tee

Round 1: k5(7, 9, 11, 13), M1L, k29(31, 33, 35, 37), cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37), M1R, k10(14, 18, 22, 26), M1L, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37) cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37) M1R, k5 (7, 9, 11, 13)

Round 2: k

Work Rnds 1 & 2 a total of 10(12, 14, 16, 18) times.

Join in Color B but do not cut Color A. With Color B…

Work Rnds 1 & 2 once.

Drop Color B and cut. Continue with Color A…

Work Rnds 1 & 2 a total of 3(3, 4, 4, 5) times.

Cut A. Join in Color B…

Work Rnds 1 & 2 a total of 10(12, 14, 16, 18) times.

Join in Color C but do not cut Color B. With Color C…

Work Rnds 1 & 2 once.

Drop Color C and cut. Continue with Color B…

Work Rnds 1 & 2 a total of 3(3, 4, 4, 5) times.

Cut B. Join in Color C…

Work Rnds 1 & 2 a total of 2(2, 3, 3, 4) times.

((Now things change a bit. You’ll be putting small garter stitch sections were the arm openings will go.))

Round 3: same as round 1

Round 4: p2, k67(75, 83, 91, 99), p4, k67(75, 83, 91, 99), p2

Work Rnds 3 & 4 a total of two times.

 

Finishing the Top

The rest of the tee is worked flat, in rows. The front and back are exactly the same. Place ½ of the stitches on a holder/waste yarn. Work these instructions on the remaining stitches.

 

Continue with Color C…

Row 1: k1, ssk, k2 (4, 6, 8, 10), M1L, k29(31, 33, 35, 37), cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37), M1R, k2 (4, 6, 8, 10), k2tog, k1

Row 2: k2, p until 2 sts left, k2

Row 3: k1, ssk, k1 (3, 5, 7, 9), M1L, k29(31, 33, 35, 37), cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37), M1R, k2 (3, 5, 7, 9), k2tog, k1

Row 4: same as Row 2

Row 5: k1, ssk, (k2, 4, 6, 8), M1L, k29(31, 33, 35, 37), cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37), M1R,  (k2, 4, 6, 8), k2tog, k1

Row 6: same as Row 2

Row 7: k2(4, 6, 8, 10), M1L, k29(31, 33, 35, 37), cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37), M1R, k2(4, 6, 8, 10)

Row 8: same as Row 2

Work Rows 7 & 8 a total of 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) times

Top Garter Stitch Edge

Row 1: k2(4, 6, 8, 10), M1L, k29(31, 33, 35, 37), cdd, k29 (31, 33, 35, 37), M1R, k2(4, 6, 8, 10)

Row 2: k1, ssk, k until 3 sts left, k2tog, k1

Row 3: k2(4, 6, 8, 10), M1L, k28(30, 32, 34, 36), cdd, k28 (30, 32, 34, 36), M1R, k2(4, 6, 8, 10)

Row 4: same as Row 2

 

The Bind Off (leaving live stitches for the straps)

Bind off Row: k14, bind off 33, k13

Place both sets of live stitches on holders and complete the top of the second half.

 

The Straps

With Color C, continue at stopping point from top edge. Turn to Wrong Side and…

Knit 40 rows.

Break yarn and leave long tail for grafting. Then return to other set of 14 live stitches and make second strap. Be sure to start second strap on Wrong Side!

 

Graft the straps to the other top half of the tee using Kitchener stitch.

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I hope this knits up nice and easy for you. Its very straight forward and once the increases/decreases get established, it practically knits itself. I hope you like yours as much as I like mine.

P.S. You may have noticed… this is a sleeveless knit tee that hides your bra, should you choose to wear one. Me? I never walk out my front door without a bra so bra-hiding qualities are and absolute MUST HAVE in every shirt I own. I know there are 18 scientific reasons why women should stop wearing bras. I’ve read those articles too. But as long as males young enough to be my kid and/or old enough to be my father keep checking the front on my shirts to see what my particular mounds of fat look like, I’ll be wearing a bra. And any shirt I knit up has to take that into account.