What you need
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL · To fit chest 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52 inches · Finished chest 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60 inches (about 8 inches of positive ease — boxy and relaxed) |
|---|---|
| Yarn | Chunky weight, about 120 yd / 109 m per 100 g skein, in one colour — 805 to 1525 yards (7 to 13 skeins) by size. A plain, slightly woolly, matt yarn suits it best; buy one dye lot. The sample is a soft sage green. |
| Needles | US 11 / 8 mm throughout — straights or a circular for the two pieces, and a 16 inch / 40 cm circular in the same size for the neckband and both sleeve bands. |
| Gauge (tension) | 12 sts and 17 rows = 4 inches in stockinette; 14.4 sts and 20 rows = 4 inches in k1 p1 rib, relaxed. Both on US 11, measured after blocking. |
Skills you’ll use
- Knit
- Purl
- K2tog
- Ssk
- Casting on mid-row
- Picking up stitches
- Mattress stitch
- Suitable for a beginner — no body shaping, no increases, no charts.
What’s in the PDF
- 20-page PDF, fully written out for six sizes
- Both the front and the back of the sample photographed, plus close-ups of the body-to-sleeve junction, the neckband, the hem and the fabric
- A diagram of the T shape showing exactly where the cap sleeve is cast on, and a diagram of the one rib used at three edges
- A full schematic of both pieces drawn to scale, and a seam diagram including the one corner that needs reinforcing
- Row-by-row neck shaping with a stitch count after every shaped row
- Yarn quantities in yards, metres, grams and skeins for every size
- A "How the Numbers Close" page so you can see the maths adds up, and a twelve-point troubleshooting page
- Every stitch count, row count and measurement checked against the design before release — 708 separate checks across all six sizes
Questions about this pattern
Is this really a beginner pattern?
Yes — there is no armhole to shape, no sleeve cap to set in and no shaping on the body at all. The skills are knit, purl, two simple decreases at the neck, casting on mid-row, picking up stitches and mattress stitch for the seams.
How are the sleeves made?
They are part of the body: at the underarm a few stitches are cast on at each side and the piece carries straight on to the shoulder, so each piece is a simple T. The little cap sleeve is never knitted separately.
How long does it take to knit?
It is chunky yarn at 3 stitches to the inch, plain stockinette, in two flat pieces — a quick, relaxing knit. For most knitters it is a weekend-to-one-week project.
Can I sell tops I knit from this pattern?
You can knit it for yourself or as gifts and sell finished garments in small quantities, crediting Knit And Thread Studio as the designer. The pattern itself may not be copied, shared or resold.
