Bowknot Blue Tee, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a textured short-sleeved tee with a boatneck and stockinette sleeves.

INTRODUCTION

Bowknot Blue

beauty shot by Merri Fromm

Tangy

How about a simple tee in a modern shape, but with a classic old-school overall pattern for texture? This top has a boat neck, a slightly A-line hip length shape, dropped shoulders and short, slim sleeves. Fun and easy to knit.

spacer model: Merri Fromm

spacer photos: Gaius Nelson

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X]
Shown in size L with 1.5 inches/4 cm of ease 

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/Bust: 31.25[35.25, 39.25, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55.25, 59.25, 63.25, 67.25] inches/ 78.5[89, 99, 109, 119.5, 129.5, 139.5, 150, 160, 170] cm
Length: 18.5[18.5, 20, 20, 21.5, 21.5, 22, 22.5, 23, 24] inches/ 47[47, 51, 51, 54.5, 54.5, 56, 57, 58.5, 61] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Kelbourne Woolens Mojave [60% cotton, 40% linen; 185yd/170m per 50 g skein]; color: Prussian Blue; 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 16-inch/40-cm US #5/3.75 mm circular needle
1 32-inch/80-cm US #5/3.75 mm circular needle
Spare circular needle of similar size as 32-inch/80-cm needle

Notions
yarn needle
stitch markers

GAUGE

24 sts/36 rows [or rounds, as applicable] = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

K1b: knit into the next stitch in the row below the stitch on the left needle
Sl1: Slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in back

Tiny Bowknot Stitch tutorial

Bowknot pattern knit flat, multiple of 6 sts
Row 1 [WS]: Purl.
Row 2 [RS]: Knit.
Row 3: *P3, k3; rep from * to end.
Row 4 (Bowknot Row): *P1, k1b, p1, k3; rep from * to end.
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: *K3, p3; rep from * to end.
Row 8 (Bowknot Row): *K3, p1, k1b, p1; rep from * to end.

Bowknot pattern in the round, multiple of 6 sts
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *P3, k3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 4 (Bowknot rnd): *P1, k1b, p1, k3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: *K3, p3; rep from * to end.
Rnd 8 (Bowknot rnd): *K3, p1, k1b, p1; rep from * to end.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Bottom Split Hem (make 2)
 Using long circular needle, CO 104[116, 128, 140, 152, 164, 176, 188, 200, 212] sts.
Row 1 [WS]: Sl1, *k1, p1; repeat from * to last st, k1.
 Row 2 [RS]: Sl1, *k1, p1; repeat from * to last st, p1. Repeat these 2 rows twice, ending with a RS row.  Break yarn. Place on spare needle.

Work second Bottom Split Hem but do not break yarn, pm, hold first Bottom Split Hem with RS facing and p1, knit to last st, p1, pm and join with second Bottom Split Hem in the round. The second marker is now the beginning of round, with markers placed between 2 purl side stitches. 208[232, 256, 280, 304, 328, 352, 376, 400, 424] sts.

Body 
Next rnd: *P1, work Bowknot Pattern to 1 st before marker, p1; repeat from * to end of round.
Work in patt as estab for 8 rounds (one pattern repeat).

Dec rnd: *P1, k1, k2tog, work in pattern to 4 sts before marker, ssk, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of round. 4 sts decreased.
Work Dec rnd every 10[10, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12] rnds 5 times total.
188[212, 236, 260, 284, 308, 332, 356, 380, 404] sts.

Continue in pattern as set until body measures 12[12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14] inches/ 30.5[30.5, 33, 33, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5] cm or desired length to underarm, ending with Rnd 4 or 8 of stitch pattern (the Bowknot rnd).

Separate for Back and Front:

Back
Next rnd: Work in pattern as set (Rnd 5 or 1 of stitch pattern) to 1 st before beginning of round marker, BO 2 sts, removing marker.
Place previous 94[106, 118, 130, 142, 154, 166, 178, 190, 202] sts on holder for front. Remove second marker. Cont on rem sts for back, knitting flat.

Next row [RS]: Work in pattern to end. 92[104, 116, 128, 140, 152, 164, 176, 188, 200] sts.
Next row [WS]: Work in pattern to end.
Work even until Back measures approx 6.5[6.5, 7, 7, 7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10] inches/  16.5[16.5, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 25.5] cm from split for armhole, ending with a Row 1 or 5 of stitch pattern (WS row).

Begin Short Row Shoulder shaping:
Working in Stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS), begin Short Row Shaping: 
Row 1 [RS]: Knit until 8 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 2 [WS]: Purl until 8 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 3: Knit until 16 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 4: Purl until 16 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 5: Knit until 24 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 6: Purl until 24 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 7: Knit all sts, pick up wraps and knit them with st they wrapped. 
Row 8: Purl all sts, pick up wraps and purl them with st they wrapped. 
Break yarn. Transfer live sts to holder or waste yarn.

Front
With right side facing, attach yarn. BO 2 side sts, continue to work in pattern as set (on Row 6 or 2 of stitch pattern).

Next row [WS]: Work in pattern to end.

Work even until Back measures approx 6.5[6.5, 7, 7, 7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5 9, 10, ] inches/  16.5[16.5, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 25.5] cm from split for armhole, ending with Row 1 or 5 of stitch pattern (WS row).

Begin Short Row Shoulder shaping:

Working in Stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS), begin Short Row Shaping: 
Row 1 [RS]: Knit until 8 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 2 [WS]: Purl until 8 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 3: Knit until 16 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 4: Purl until 16 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 5: Knit until 24 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 6: Purl until 24 sts rem, w&t. 
Row 7: Knit all sts, pick up wraps and k them with st they wrapped. 
Row 8: Purl all sts, pick up wraps and p them with st they wrapped. 

Neckline

To join Shoulders, transfer back and front sts to spare circular needle.
Holding RS of fronts and back together and using 3-Needle BO, BO 22[28, 32, 37, 41, 47, 52, 56, 61, 67] first shoulder sts.

Working on front sts only, BO center 48[48, 52, 54, 58, 58, 60, 64, 66, 66] sts.
Using 3-Needle BO, 22[28, 32, 37, 41, 47, 52, 56, 61, 67] second shoulder sts.

Reattach yarn at back neck, BO 48[48, 52, 54, 58, 58, 60, 64, 66, 66] back neck sts.

Sleeves

With RS facing, using 16-inch/40 cm circ and starting at center of underarm, pick up
42[42, 45, 45, 48, 48, 51, 55, 58, 63] sts evenly to shoulder seam, then pick up and knit 42[42, 45, 45, 48, 48, 51, 55, 58, 63] sts to center of underarm BO.

Place marker and join to work in the rnd. 84[84, 90, 90, 96, 96, 102, 110, 116, 126] sts.

Knit 1 rnd.
Dec Rnd: K1, k2tog, knit until 3 sts remain, ssk, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Work Decrease Rnd every 3[3, 3, 6, 9, 8, 0, 0, 0, 14] rnds 12[11, 13, 8, 5, 0, 0, 0, 0, 3] more times. 58[60, 62, 72, 84, 94, 100, 108, 114, 118] sts.

Work even until sleeve measures 4.5[4.5, 5.5, 5.5, 5.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5] inches/ 11.5[11.5, 14, 14, 14, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5] cm.

Next rnd:*K1, p1; repeat from * to end of rnd.
Work in rib pattern as established for 3 more rnds.

BO all sts in pattern.  Repeat for other sleeve.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Block to measurements.

A - Back neck width: 8[8, 8.75, 9, 9.75, 9.75, 10, 10.75, 11, 11] inches/ 20.5[20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5, 28] cm

B - Bust circumference: 31.25[35.25, 39.25, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55.25, 59.25, 63.25, 67.25] inches/ 78.5[89, 99, 109, 119.5, 129.5, 139.5, 150, 160, 170] cm

C - Hem circumference: 34.75[38.75, 42.75, 46.75, 50.75, 54.75, 58.75, 62.75, 66.75, 70.75] inches/ 84[94, 104, 114.5, 124.5, 134.5, 145, 155, 165, 175.5] cm

D - Body length to underarm: 12[12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14, 14] inches/ 30.5[30.5, 33, 33, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5] cm

E - Armhole depth: 6.5[6.5, 7, 7, 7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10] inches/ 16.5[16.5, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 25.5] cm

F - Sleeve length: 5[5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7] inches/ 12.5[12.5, 15, 15, 15, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Merri lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she designs hand knits while also working as a wellness coach and graphic designer.

You'll find more of her work on Ravelry.