INTRODUCTION

Kikyo

by Amy Gunderson

Though I do far more knitting these days than crochet, crochet was my first needlework love. I learned how to do the basic stitches from a craft store booklet, but then let my imagination take over while I did much “unventing”. In those early days, I had a ton of fun experimenting. Crochet is seemingly limitless compared with knitting, whose stitches are restricted to their place on a needle. Crochet can move this way and that, stitches can be short or tall or bobbly and they can be placed whereever one darn well pleases. This tee aims to bring the best of both worlds together. Knitters and crocheters: it’s time to get along.

Worked in fingering-weight linen, this tee is breathable and wearable even in the dead of summer. It is worked seamlessly from the top down, beginning with the circular crochet yoke. Knitting takes over for awhile with simple stockinette stitch. Once the hem is reached, crochet steps back in to finish things up.


model: Amy Gunderson

photos: Rachel Brockman

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X]
shown in size S with 2.5 inches/6.5 cm of ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/Bust: 32[36.5, 41.25, 45.75, 48.75, 53.25, 58, 62.5] inches/ 81.5[93, 104.5, 116, 124, 135.5, 147, 158.5] cm
Length: 22[22.25, 22.75, 23.25, 23.75, 24.25, 24.75, 25.25] inches/ 56[56.5, 58, 59, 60.5, 61.5, 63, 64] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Fibra Natura Flax Lace [100% linen; 500m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]; color: 111 Purple; 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #4/3.5mm 24-inch/60cm or longer circular needle
US #4/3.5mm needles for small circumference in the round
crochet hook US #B-1/2.25mm

Notions
yarn needle
stitch holders
stitch markers

GAUGE

21 sts/29 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in Stockinette stitch
21 sts/10.5 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in double crochet

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Crochet Abbreviations
Ch: chain
Dc: double crochet
Dc2tog: double crochet 2 together
Dc3tog: double crochet 3 together
Dc4tog: double crochet 4 together
Fphdc: front post half double crochet
Fpsc: front post single crochet
Hdc: half double crochet
Sc: single crochet
Sk: skip
Sl st: slip stitch
Sp(s): space(s)

CHARTS

Yoke

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 chs, ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in next 3 chs, ch 5, sk 2 chs, *dc in next 3 chs, ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in next 3 chs, ch 5, sk 2 chs; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc2tog), dc in next 2 dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 3, 2 dc in ch-5 sp, ch 3, *dc2tog, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 3, 2 dc in ch-5 sp, ch 3; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of first dc.
Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc2tog), dc in ch-1 sp, dc2tog, ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3, *dc2tog, dc in ch-1 sp, dc2tog, ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, 2 dc in next dc, ch 3; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of first dc.
Rnd 4: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc3tog), dc2tog, ch 3, 3 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, *dc3tog, ch 3, 3 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of dc2tog.
Rnd 5: Sl st in next 3 chs and dc, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in next 4 dc, ch 5, *dc in next 4 dc, ch 2, dc in next 4 dc, ch 5; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
Rnd 6: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc2tog), dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, dc2tog, ch 4, dc in ch-5 sp, ch 4, *dc2tog, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, dc2tog, ch 4, dc in ch-5 sp, ch 4; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of first dc.
Rnd 7: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc2tog), dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, ch 5, *dc2tog, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, ch 5; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of first dc.
Rnd 8: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc2tog, dc in next dc, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, dc2tog, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, ch 5, *dc2tog, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, dc2tog, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, ch 5; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of first dc.
Rnd 9: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc4tog), dc3tog, ch 5, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, ch 5, *dc4tog, ch 5, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, ch 5; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of dc3tog.
Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 3, *sc in dc4tog, ch 3, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 3; rep from * to end, join with sl st to beg sc.
Rnd 11: Sl st in next 3 chs and next dc, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next dc, ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 4] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4, *dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 4] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, ch 4; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
Rnd 12: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next dc, ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 5] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, *dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 5] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc; rep from * to end, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
Rnd 13: Ch 2 (counts as last leg of dc2tog), dc in next dc, ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 6] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, dc2tog, *dc in next dc, ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 6] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next dc, dc2tog; rep from *, ending with dc in last dc, join with sl st to top of beg ch-2.
Rnd 14: Sl st in next dc, ch 2 (counts as last leg of dc3tog), ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 8] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc3tog, *ch 2, [dc in next 2 dc, ch 8] 2 times, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc3tog; rep from *, ending with dc2tog in last 2 dc, join with sl st to top of beg ch-2.

Hem

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), working through top loops of bound-off sts, dc in next st and each st around, join with sl st to top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), 2 dc in same st, ch 4, sk 7 dc, *[2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc] in next dc, ch 4, sk 7 dc; rep from *around, dc in same st as beg ch-4, join with sl st to third ch of beg ch-4.
Rnd 3: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2; rep from * to last dc, 2 dc in last dc, join with sl st to third ch of beg ch-4.
Rnd 4: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in next 3 dc, ch 2, *dc in next 3 dc, ch 1, dc in next 3 dc, ch 2; rep from * to last 2 dc, dc in last 2 dc, join with sl st to third ch of beg ch-4.
Rnd 5: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 3, sc in ch-2 sp, ch 3, *dc2tog, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 3, sc in ch-2 sp, ch 3; rep from * to last 2 dc, dc2tog, join with sl st to third ch of beg ch-4.
Rnd 6: Ch 2 (counts as last leg of dc2tog), dc in ch-1 sp, dc2tog, ch 4, sc in sc, ch 4, *dc2tog, dc in ch-1 sp, dc2tog, ch 4, sc in sc, ch 4; rep from * to last dc2tog, dc in last st, join with sl st to top of beg ch-2.
Rnd 7: Ch 3 (counts as first leg of dc3tog, dc2tog, ch 6, sc in sc, ch 6, *dc3tog, ch 6, sc in sc, ch 6; rep from * to beg cch-3, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3.
Rnd 8: Ch 1, [fpsc, ch 4, sl st in side of fpsc] in same st, ch 7, sc in sc, ch 7, *[fpsc, ch 4, sl st in side of fpsc] in dc3tog, ch 7, sc in sc, ch 7; rep from * to beg fpsc, join with sl st to beg fpsc.

DIRECTIONS

YOKE
With crochet hook, ch 99[108, 117, 126, 135, 144, 153, 162] , join with sl st to beginning ch, being careful not to twist.

Work Yoke pattern from written or charted instructions as you prefer, working repeat 10[11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] times across rnd, for a total of 11[12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18] motifs.

S, L, 2X, 4X Sizes only:
Final rnd: Ch 1, *sc in ch-2 sp, [sc in next 2 dc, 8 sc in ch-8 sp] 2 times, sc in next 2 dc, sc in ch-2 sp, sc in dc3tog; rep from * to end, join with sl st to beg sc. 300[-, 350, -, 400, -, 450, ] sc.

XS, M, 1X, 3X Sizes only:
Final Rnd: Ch 1, *sc in ch-2 sp, [sc in next 2 dc, 8 sc in ch-8 sp] 2 times, sc in next 2 dc, sc in ch-2 sp, sc in dc3tog; rep from * to end, working 2 sc in final ch-1 sp instead of 1, join with sl st to beg sc .  276[-, 326, -, 376, -, 426, -] sc.

With circular knitting needle, working through both top loops of sc, pick up and knit 1 st for each sc along Rnd 15 of crochet. Place marker and join to work in the rnd. Work even in Stockinette stitch until piece meas 8[8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, ] inches/ 20.5[21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28, ] cm from CO edge.

Separate Body and Sleeves:
Rnd 1: K 40[45, 50, 55, 59, 64, 70, 75] Back sts, place next 58[60, 63, 65, 70, 72, 73, 75] sts on holder for Sleeve, CO 4[6, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 14] sts for underarm, k 80[90, 100, 110, 118, 128, 140, 150] Front sts, place next 58[60, 63, 65, 70, 72, 73, 75] sts on holder for Sleeve, CO 4[6, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 14] sts for underarm, knit rem 40[45, 50, 55, 59, 64, 70, 75] Back sts. 168[192, 216, 240, 256, 280, 304, 328] sts rem for Body.

Work even in Stockinette st until piece meas 11 inches/ 28 cm from underarm. BO all sts loosely. Do not break yarn. Switch to crochet hook.

Hem
Work Hem pattern from written or charted instructions as you prefer, working repeat 20[23, 26, 29, 31, 34, 37, 40] times across rnd, for a total of 21[24, 27, 30, 32, 35, 38, 41] motifs.

Fasten off.

Sleeves
Return held Sleeve sts to needles for small circumference in the round.
Beginning at center of underarm, pick up and knit 2[3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7] sts along first half of CO sts, knit across 58[60, 63, 65, 70, 72, 73, 75] held sts, pick up and knit 2[3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6] sts along other half of CO sts. 62[66, 71, 75, 80, 84, 85, 89] sts. Join to work in the rnd, distributing sts as you prefer and marking start of round.
Knit 2 rnds. BO all sts loosely. Do not break yarn.

Sleeve Edging
Rnd 1: Ch 1, hdc in each st around, join with sl st to beg hdc, turn.
Rnd 2 (WS): Ch 1, fphdc in each st around, join with sl st to beg fphdc. Fasten off.
Note: this post stitch round creates a look similar to an I-Cord bind-off.

Neck Edging
Rnd 1: Join yarn with sl st to any ch from beg-ch edge, ch 1, work 92[96, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120] hdc evenly distributed around the first round of the yoke.

Note: You’ll pick up at a ratio of roughly 9 sts in every 10 hdc[8 sts in every 9 hdc, 5 sts in every 6 hdc, 5 sts in every 6 hdc, 4 sts in every 5 hdc, 7 sts in every 9 hdc, 3 sts in every 4 hdc, 3 sts in every 4 hdc], noting that some of the “sts” in the edge are hdc, and some are ch-sp. Each ch-sp counts for 2 sts.

When all sts picked up, join with sl st to beg hdc, turn.

Rnd 2 [WS]: Ch 1, fphdc in each st around, join with sl st to beg fphdc. Fasten off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Wet block, running blocking wires through ch-4 picots from Rnd 8 of Hem Edging and pinning out points to enhance lace.

A: Body Circumference: 32[36.5, 41.25, 45.75, 48.75, 53.25, 58, 62.5] inches/ 81.5[93, 104.5, 116, 124, 1335.5, 147, 158.5] cm
B: Neck Circumference: 17.5[18.25, 19, 19.75, 20.5, 21.25, 22, 22.75] inches/ 44.5[46.548.5, 50.5, 52.5, 54, 56, 58, ] cm
C: Yoke Depth: 7.75[8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches/ 19.5[20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm
D: Knit Length from Underarm: 11 inches/28 cm
E: Crochet Hem Length: 3.25 inches/8.5 cm
F: Upper Arm: 11.75[12.5, 13.5, 14.25, 15.25, 16, 16.25, 17] inches/ 30[32, 34.5, 36.5, 38.5, 40.5, 41, 43] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Amy Gunderson is creative director for Universal Yarn by day and dog cuddler by night. She also does a variety of freelance knit and crochet design, tech editing, and design work. Amy also loves to sew, weave, and do other assorted crafty and arty things and is constantly frustrated by the lack of time in which to do all of them.

She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, Kirk, and their adorable dogs Suzy and Charli. Find her on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2019 Amy Gunderson.