INTRODUCTION

Riverine

by Merri Fromm

A knitted tee is my favorite thing to wear in summer — dressy enough for work or an evening out, but still comfortable and just right over jeans.

This is a straight-forward knit with no shaping and a hemmed edge, because no one wants the bottom of their summer tee to pull in with ribbing. The classic Bridges stitch pattern is just knits and purls, put together in this strategic way to make a delicious texture. The neckline and cuffs are simple knit and purl rows. The 100% cotton yarn is soft, is easy on the hands to knit and has a little bit of sheen.

model: Merri Fromm

photos: Tamara Nelson-Fromm

SIZE

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

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm:  28.5[33, 37.5, 42.5, 47 51.5, 56.5 61, 65.5, 70.5, , ] inches/ 72.5[84, 95.5, 108, 119.5, 131, 143.5, 155, 166.5, 179] cm
Length:  19.5[20, 21.25, 23, 22.75, 23.5, 24, 24.75, 25, 26] inches/ 49.5[51, 54, 58.5, 58, 59.5, 61, 63, 63.5, 66] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Ella Rae Phoenix DK, 100% cotton; 3.52 oz/100 g; 273 yds/250 m
[MC] Hummus 1022; 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8] skeins
[CC1] Olive 1035; 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a soft, 100% 2-ply mercerized cotton, DK weight yarn. The yarn is smooth with a nice sheen. You'll only need between 20 and 40 yards of CC1.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 24-inch/60-cm, or longer for body
1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 16-inch/40-cm for working small circumferences in the round
Spare needle of similar size and length as long needle

Notions
4 removable markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

24 sts/36 rows = 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.]

Front and back are worked separately and flat, from the bottom up, beginning with a hemmed bottom edge, and seamed. Short rows are used to shape the shoulders, which are then seamed using a three-needle bind off. To complete the sweater the sleeves and neck collar stitches are picked up along the sleeve and neck edges and worked in the round.

CHARTS

Bridges Stitch Pattern Multiple of 14 sts + 1 (worked flat)
Row 1 [WS]: Knit.
Row 2 [RS]: Knit.
Row 3: K1, *p13, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 4: K1, *p1, k11, p1, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 5: P1, *k2, p9, k2, p1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 6: K1, *p3, k7, p3, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 7: P1, *k4, p5, k4, p1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 8: K1, *p5, k3, p5, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 9: P1, *k6, p1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Purl.
Row 12: K7, *p1, k13; rep from * until 8 sts rem p1, k7.
Row 13: P6, *k1, p1, k1, p11; rep from * until 9 sts rem k1, p1, k1, p6.
Row 14: K5, *p2, k1, p2, k9; rep from * until 10 sts rem p2, k1, p2, k5.
Row 15: P4, *k3, p1, k3, p7; rep from * until 11 sts rem k3, p1, k3, p4.
Row 16: K3, *p4, k1, p4, k5; rep from * until 12 sts rem p4, k1, p4, k3.
Row 17: P2, *k5, p1, k5, p3; rep from * until 13 sts rem k5, p1, k5, p2.
Row 18: K1, *p6, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1–18 for pattern.

DIRECTIONS

Back
Hemmed bottom edge
With scrap waste yarn, provisionally CO 87[101, 115, 129, 143, 157, 171, 185, 199, 213] sts.
Attach working yarn.
Next row [RS]: Knit.

Row 1 [WS]: Sl1 (with yarn in back), purl to end.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl1 (with yarn in back), knit to last st, purl.
Repeat Row 1–2 3 more times
Repeat Row 1 [10 rows stockinette total].

Next row [RS]: Repeat Row 1 once more (this is the turning row).

Next row [WS]: Sl1, work Row 1 of Bridges stitch pattern, p1.
Next row [RS]: Sl1, work Row 2 of Bridges stitch pattern, p1.
Continue in pattern as set until 10 rows of Bridges stitch pattern have been worked.
Remove waste yarn from provisional cast on and place stitches on extra needle. Fold yarn at turning row so that both needles line up.

Next row [WS]: Form the hem by purling 1 st from back needle together with 1 st from front needle; repeat to end of row.
Note: to make things easier, slip p st from back needle to front needle to p2tog.

Body
Next row [RS]: K1, work Row 12 of Bridges stitch pattern, k1.
Next row [WS]: P1, Row 13 of Bridges stitch pattern, p1.
Continuing to work 1 stockinette stitch on both side edges of piece, work in pattern as set until Back measures approx. 13[13.5, 14, 14.5, 14.5, 15, 15, 15.5, 15.5, 16] inches/ 33[34.5, 35.5, 37, 37, 38, 38, 39.5, 39.5, 40.5] cm, or desired length to underarm.

Place removable marker at each edge identifying armhole placement.

Work even until armhole measures approx 5.5[5.5, 6.25, 7.5, 7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.25, 8.5, 9] inches/ 14[14, 16, 19, 18.5, 19, 20.5, 21, 21.5, 23] cm from marker placement, ending on Rows 1 or 9 of Bridges stitch pattern.

Neckline & Shoulders
Next row [RS]: K 16[23, 28, 35, 42, 48, 52, 58, 63, 69] , BO 55[55, 59, 59, 59, 61, 67, 69, 73, 75] sts, knit until 5[5, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] sts rem, w&t.


Continue working the left shoulder only. Each shoulder will be worked separately.

Work Left shoulder short rows:
Next row [WS]: Purl to end.
Next row [RS]: Knit until 8[11, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Purl to end.
Next row: Knit until 11[17, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Purl to end.
Next row: Knit all sts, picking up wraps and knitting them with the stitch they wrapped.

Break yarn and place left shoulder sts on a separate holder.

Work Right shoulder short rows:
Attach yarn to WS.
Next row [WS]: Purl until 5[5, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] sts rem, w&t.

Next row [RS]: Knit to end.
Next row: Purl until 8[11, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Knit to end.
Next row: Purl until 11[17, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Knit to end.
Next row: Purl all sts, picking up wraps and knitting them with the stitch they wrapped.

Break yarn and place shoulder sts on a separate holder.

Front
Work as for Back until armhole measures approx 4.5[4.5, 5.25, 6.5, 6.25, 6.5, 7, 7.25, 7.5, 8] inches/ 11.5[11.5, 13.5, 16.5, 16, 16.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 20.5] cm from marker placement, ending on Rows 1 or 9 of Bridges pattern.

Neckline
Next row [RS]: Work in pattern for 26[33, 38, 45, 52, 58, 62, 68, 73, 79] sts, BO 35[35, 39, 39, 39, 41, 47, 49, 53, 55] sts, work in pattern to end.

You will now be working Right shoulder only.

Right shoulder
BO 2 sts at the beginning of every RS row until 16[23, 28, 35, 42, 48, 52, 58, 63, 69] shoulder sts remain.

Continue in pattern for 1 inch/2.5 cm, ending on Rows 1 or 9 of Bridges pattern.

Work Right shoulder short rows:
Next row [RS]: Knit until 5[5, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] sts rem, w&t.

Next row [WS]: Purl to end.
Next row: Knit until 8[11, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Purl to end.
Next row: Knit until 11[17, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Purl to end.
Next row: Knit all sts, picking up wraps and knitting them with the stitch they wrapped.

Break yarn and place shoulder sts on a separate holder.

Left Shoulder
Attach yarn to WS, BO 2 sts, and work pattern as set to end of row.
As you continue in pattern on left shoulder BO 2 sts at the beginning of every WS row until 16[23, 28, 35, 42, 48, 52, 58, 63, 69] shoulder sts remain.

Continue in pattern for 1 inch/2.5 cm, ending on Rows 1 or 9 of Bridges pattern.

Work Left shoulder short rows:
Next row [WS]: Purl until 5[5, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] sts rem, w&t.

Next row [RS]: Knit to end.
Next row: Purl until 8[11, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Knit to end.
Next row: Purl until 11[17, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24] sts rem, w&t.

Next row: Knit to end.
Next row: Purl all sts, picking up wraps and knitting them with the stitch they wrapped.

Break yarn and place shoulder sts on a separate holder.

FINISHING

Block front and back to measurements.

Join Shoulders:
Transfer back and front shoulder sts to needle.
Holding RS of fronts and back together and using 3-Needle BO, BO 16[23, 28, 35, 42, 48, 52, 58, 63, 69] shoulder sts.

Seam Sides:
Beginning at the row above the hemmed bottom edge, seam sides up to armhole marker. Crochet seams work very well, but mattress stitch is fine too.

Sleeve Cuffs:
Begin at the armhole edge and using shorter needle, with RS facing, pick up and knit approximately 1 st for every row around the armhole. 120[120, 132, 156, 152, 156, 164, 168, 172, 180] sts.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnds 2–3: Purl.
Rnd 4: Knit.
BO off all sts.

Collar
Begin at the center back and using shorter needle, with RS facing, pick up 55[55, 59, 59, 59, 61, 67, 69, 73, 75] back neck sts, 21[21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21] (approx 3 sts for every 4 rows) along left neck, 35[35, 39, 39, 39, 41, 47, 49, 53, 55] front neck sts, 21[21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21] (approx 3 sts for every 4 rows) along right neck, and 1 st for every back neck st to center back. 132[136 140, 140, 142, 150, 158, 164, 170, 117, ] sts.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnds 2–3: Purl.
Rnd 4: Knit.
BO off all sts.

Weave in any remaining ends. Block to measurements.

A - Back neck width: 9.25[9.25, 9.75, 9.75, 9.75, 10.25, 11.25, 11.5, 12.25, 12.5] in/ 23.5[23.5, 25, 25, 25, 26, 28.5, 29, 31, 32] cm
B - Chest circumference at underarm:  28.5[33, 37.5, 42.5, 47, 51.5, 56.5, 61, 65.5, 70.5] in/ 72.5[84, 95.5, 108, 119.5, 131, 143.5, 155, 166.5, 179] cm
C - Body length:  13[13.5, 14, 14.5, 14.5, 15, 15, 15.5, 15.5, 16] in/ 33[34.5, 35.5, 37, 37, 38, 38, 39.5, 39.5, 40.5] cm
D - Armhole length: 6.5[6.5, 7.25, 8.5, 8.25, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 10] in/ 16.5[16.5, 18.5, 21.5, 21, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25.5] cm
E - Sleeve cuff: 0.5 in/1.5 cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Merri lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she works as a WW Wellness Coach and graphic designer and spends loads of time looking at the river. She lives with her husband and the sweet cats Twister and Quigley.

You'll find more of her work on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2022 Merri Fromm