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Sophisticated Free Knit Tee Pattern

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July 31, 2020 By amanda 8 Comments

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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.

Knit Tee Pattern Back

In this article...

  • Design Story and Inspiration for Knit Tee Pattern
  • About the Yarn
  • Before we begin… let’s get Social!
  • Video Tutorial
  • Knitted Tee Pattern Details
      • If you prefer, you can purchase an ad-free PDF of this pattern including the three charts on Ravelry here!
  • Stitch Descriptions and Abbreviations
  • Knit Tee Pattern
    • What You’ll Need
    • Gauge
    • Finished Sizes
    • Special Stitches
  • Knitted Tee Pattern
    • Back
      • Shape Armholes
      • Shape Neck (work both sides at same time)
    • Front
      • Shape Armholes
      • Shape Neck (work both sides at same time)
    • Sleeve (make 2)
      • Shape Cap
    • Finishing
    • Collar
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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.

Before we begin… let’s get Social!

I would love for you to come follow me on Instagram, My Facebook Page follow me on Pinterest for all kinds of yarn goodness and Join my Facebook group! Also, if you’re on Ravelry you can add this pattern to your favorites and make a project!

Video Tutorial

How to Knit a Lace Back Tee

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

Check out the crochet cast on

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 Front

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.

Knit Tee Pattern Flat Lay Photo

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

Filed Under: Free Knitting Patterns

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. debbie

    August 1, 2020 at 11:06 am

    this is beautiful, but I can’t knit do you have plans to do in crochet please

    Reply
  2. LILY

    September 1, 2020 at 12:18 am

    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

    Reply
    • Jill Wandrag

      July 2, 2022 at 4:19 pm

      Oh No I think it’s lovely that way.

      Reply
  3. Linda Ford

    October 24, 2020 at 9:21 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • amanda

      October 28, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      Hi Linda!

      I hope you were able to get into the resource library. I got a little behind checking my comments 🙂

      Reply
  4. Linda Ford

    October 24, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    What do I have to do to get into the resource library?

    Reply
  5. Carol Cripps

    March 31, 2021 at 5:28 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • amanda

      April 1, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      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. 😀

      Reply

Bloggers: Seeking designs for your upcoming roundup? I’d love for you to feature my work! You have my permission to use one photo in your roundup post as long as a link is provided back to the associated pattern page. Please let me know when your post is published so I can share it on my social media, too. Thank you!

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