This basic knit tee pattern gets turned up a notch by the addition of a lace panel in the back for an extra fun knitting pattern.
Design Story and Inspiration for Knit Tee Pattern
I love a basic tee shape. I’ve always wanted to design a basic knit tee pattern, but the monotony of endless rows of Stockinette stitch just weren’t doing it for me.
I don’t know about you, but I love to have something to break up the monotony and add a little extra element to a design. The front of this tee is basic Stockinette, but the back has an added surprise – a lace panel at the top!
About the Yarn
I really love Berroco yarns and use them every chance I get. I don’t have a local yarn store that close to me, so I usually have to order online.
Every yarn I have received from them I have loved, and this Berroco Cotolana was no different. It is a chainette yarn and super soft.
I really liked the way the stitch definition shone in this yarn and the fact that it’s a cotton blend yarn was just the thing for a short sleeved knit tee pattern.
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Video Tutorial
Knitted Tee Pattern Details
This pattern is worked in separate pieces and seamed. The front and sleeves are made from basic Stockinette with a ribbing.
The back panel is worked in Stockinette to right above the bra area (I didn’t want that part of the bra showing!). Then it is worked in a lace pattern.
The chart for this pattern can be found in the Love.Life.Yarn resource library – which is totally free! Find out more about joining below.
If you prefer, you can purchase an ad-free PDF of this pattern including the three charts on Ravelry here!
Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
k – knit
p – purl
slip slip knit (ssk) – slip the first st knitwise, slip the second st purlwise, place the left hand needle into the back of the stitches and knit
knit 2 together (k2tog) – insert right needle into two stitches together and knit as one
slip 2, knit, pass slipped stitches over (s2kp) – slip 2 sts to the right needle, slipping them at the same time, knit the next st, pass the 2 slipped sts over the knit st
Check out the video tutorial for help with these stitches
Knit Tee Pattern
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Berroco Cotolana (47% Wool, 47% Cotton, 6% Nylon; 109 yards [100 meters]/50 grams): #3510 Maple, 7 (7, 8, 9, 10) skeins
Needles: US size 8 (5.0 mm): straight; 9 (5.5 mm): straight
Notions: Tapestry needle; stitch holders
Gauge
18 sts and 27 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after blocking
Skill Level: Intermediate
Finished Sizes
Finished Chest Size 37 (40, 44, 48, 52)” to fit sizes S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
2” positive ease recommended
Shown in size Small
Special Stitches
K2, P2 Rib
Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to end of row.
Rep Row 1 for patt.
Knitted Tee Pattern
Back
With smaller needles, CO 80 (88, 96, 104, 116) sts.
Work in K2, p2 Rib for 4”.
Next Row (Inc): Increase 4 (4, 6, 6, 6, 4) sts evenly across row – 84 (92, 102, 110, 120) sts.
Change to larger needles
Work even in St st until piece meas 14 (12, 10½, 11, 11)” from CO edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape Armholes
Row 1: BO 4 (5, 5, 6, 6), k9 (12, 14, 17, 16), work Chart to last 13 sts, k13 (17, 19, 23, 22) – 80 (87, 97, 104, 114) sts.
Row 2: BO 4 (5, 5, 6, 6), p to end – 76 (82, 92, 98, 108) sts.
Row 3: K9 (12, 14, 17, 16), work Chart to last 9 (12, 14, 17, 16) sts, k9 (12, 14, 17, 16).
Row 4: P1, p2tog, p to last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, p1 – 2 sts dec’d; 74 (80, 90, 96, 106) sts.
Row 5: K8 (11, 13, 16, 15), work Chart to last 8 (11, 13, 16, 15) sts, k8 (11, 13, 16, 15).
Row 6: Rep Row 4 – 72 (78, 88, 94, 104) sts.
Row 7: K7 (10, 12, 15, 14), work Chart to last 7 (10, 12, 15, 14) sts, k7 (10, 12, 15, 14).
Row 8: Rep Row 4 – 70 (76, 86, 92, 102) sts.
Row 9: K6 (9, 11, 14, 13), work Chart to last 6 (9, 11, 14, 13) sts, k6 (9, 11, 14, 13).
Row 10: Rep Row 4 – 68 (74, 84, 90, 100) sts.
Row 11: K5 (8, 10, 13, 12), work Chart to last 5 (8, 10, 13, 12) sts, k5 (8, 10, 13, 12).
Row 12: Rep Row 4 – 66 (72, 82, 88, 98) sts.
Row 13: K4 (7, 9, 12, 11), work Chart to last 4 (7, 9, 12, 11) sts, k4 (7, 9, 12, 11).
Row 14: Rep Row 4 – 64 (70, 80, 86, 96) sts.
Row 15: K3 (6, 8, 11, 10), work Chart to last 3 (6, 8, 11, 10) sts, k3 (6, 8, 11, 10).
Row 16: Rep Row 4 – 62 (68, 78, 84, 94) sts.
Sizes M (L, XL, 2XL) Only
Row 17: K5 (7, 10, 9), work Chart to last 5 (7, 10, 9) sts, k5 (7, 10, 9).
Row 18: Rep Row 4 – 66 (76, 82, 92) sts.
Sizes L (XL, 2XL) Only
Row 19: K6 (9, 8), work Chart to last 6 (9, 8) sts, k6 (9, 8).
Row 20: Rep Row 4 – 74 (80, 90) sts.
Row 21: Rep Row 19.
Row 22: Rep Row 4 – 72 (78, 88) sts.
Row 23: Rep Row 19.
Row 24: Rep Row 4 – 70 (76, 86) sts.
Size 2XL Only
Row 25: K2, work Chart to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 26: Rep Row 4 – 84 sts.
Row 27: K2, work Chart to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 28: Rep Row 4 – 82 sts.
Row 29: K2, work Chart to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 30: Rep Row 4 – 80 sts.
All Sizes
Work even following Chart for 35 (38, 38, 38, 42) rows, working an edge of 2 (4, 3, 6, 2) sts on each side in St st..
Shape Neck (work both sides at same time)
Row 1: Work 19 (20, 21, 23, 24) sts, place next 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts on holder, join new ball of yarn, work 19 (20, 21, 23, 24) sts.
Row 2: Cont in patt, dec 1 st at neck edge – 18 (19, 20, 22, 23) sts.
Row 3: Cont in patt, dec 1 st at neck edge – 17 (18, 19, 21, 22) sts.
BO all sts.
Front
Work same as Back to armholes.
Shape Armholes
BO 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 76 (82, 92, 98, 108) sts.
Cont in patt, dec 1 st each side every other row for 14 (16, 22, 22, 28) rows until 62 (66, 70, 76, 80) sts remain.
Work even in St st for 16 (18, 16, 16, 12) rows.
Shape Neck (work both sides at same time)
Row 1: K24 (26, 27, 29, 31) sts, place next 14 (14, 16, 18, 18) sts on holder, join new ball of yarn, k24 (26, 27, 29, 31) sts.
Row 2: Cont in patt, dec 1 st at neck edge – 23 (25, 26, 28, 30) sts.
Row 3: Rep Row 2 – 22 (24, 25, 27, 29) sts.
Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 21 (23, 24, 26, 28) sts.
Row 5: Rep Row 2 – 20 (22, 23, 25, 27) sts.
Row 6: Rep Row 2 – 19 (21, 22, 24, 26) sts.
Row 7: Rep Row 2 – 18 (20, 21, 23, 25) sts.
Row 8: Rep Row 2 – 17 (19, 20, 22, 24) sts.
Sizes M (L, XL, 2XL) Only
Rep Row 2, 1 (1, 1, 2) times more – 18 (19, 21, 22) sts.
All Sizes
Work even in St st for 12 (14, 13, 13, 14) rows.
BO all sts.
Sleeve (make 2)
With smaller needles, CO 48 (52, 56, 60, 64) sts.
Work in K2, P2 Rib patt for 1 ½”.
Next Row (Inc): Increase 4 (6, 6, 6, 6) sts evenly across row – 52 (58, 62, 66, 70) sts.
Change to larger needles.
Work even in St st for 5 rows.
Next Row (Inc): Cont in St st, increase 1 st each side – 2 sts inc’d; 54 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts.
Work even in St st for 6 rows.
Next Row (Inc): Cont in St st, increase 1 st each side – 2 sts inc’d; 56 (62, 66, 70, 74) sts.
Rep last 7 rows – 2 sts inc’d; 58 (64, 68, 72, 76) sts.
Work even in St st for 6 rows.
Shape Cap
BO 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 50 (54, 58, 60, 64) sts.
Cont in St st, dec 1 st each side every 2nd row 3 (5, 5, 6, 8) times – 44 (44, 48, 48, 48) sts.
Dec 1 st each side every 3rd row 10 (8, 10, 8, 6) times – 24 (28, 28, 32, 36) sts.
Dec 1 st each side every 2nd row 3 (5, 4, 6, 8) times – 18 (18, 20, 20, 20) sts.
BO all sts.
Finishing
Block all pieces.
Sew Front to Back at left shoulder seam.
Collar
Row 1: With RS facing, pick up and work 3 sts from Right Back neck edge, 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts from Back neck holder, 3 sts from Left Back neck edge, 18 (21, 21, 21, 22) sts from Left Front neck edge, 14 (14, 16, 18, 18) sts from Front neck holder, 18 (21, 21, 21, 22) sts from Right Front neck edge – 80 (88, 92, 96, 100) sts.
Rows 2-6: Work even in K2, P2 Rib patt.
BO all sts.
Sew right shoulder seam. Set in Sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams.
Weave in ends.
See all my Free Knitting Patterns here.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this free knitting pattern for the knit tee pattern!
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
This pattern originally appeared in I Like Knitting
this is beautiful, but I can’t knit do you have plans to do in crochet please
I don’t understand why the pattern is just on the back???? The front would be better. Very strange. I like the pattern but definitely not just on the back. It’s unbalanced to me
Oh No I think it’s lovely that way.
to get into the resource library, I’m supposed to enter my email address, I’m hoping this will work. I really love the sophisticated tee but sure need the chart for the lace.
Hi Linda!
I hope you were able to get into the resource library. I got a little behind checking my comments 🙂
What do I have to do to get into the resource library?
I checked Berroco’s website, and sadly, Cotolana has been discontinued. Do you have any other yarn suggestions? I absolutely love that the lace is on the back. It’s such a different design feature! I think it would be a really great midseason sweater.
Hi Carol! When I need to find a good yarn substitution I check out yarnsub.com – they will pull the information from the yarn you’re looking for (so enter Berroco Cotolana) and it will tell you all the yarns that are similar. 😀