Taro Tee by Kiyomi Burgin

Taro Tee

Knitting
July 2020
Light Fingering ?
23 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette Stitch
US 4 - 3.5 mm
615 - 1760 yards (562 - 1609 m)
1 [2, 3, 4, 5]{6, 7, 8, 9}
English
This pattern is available for C$9.00 CAD
buy it now or visit pattern website

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5){6, 7, 8, 9}

Finished bust circumference: 91.5 (102, 112, 122, 132){143, 154, 163, 173} cm / 36 40¼, 44, 48, 52{56¼, 60½, 64, 68}”.

To be worn with approx 10 - 20 cm / 4 - 8” positive ease. I don’t recommend wearing this design with less than 5 cm / 2” of positive ease, but really that’s for you to decide! It looks really cute worn oversized too.

Samples shown are in size 1 (Cork Tree) and 2 (Pale Aster) with approx 10 - 20 cm / 4 - 8” positive ease respectively on models who are 155 cm / 5’1” tall with approx 81 cm / 32” chests.

Recommended Yarn
Purl Soho Cattail Silk (Light fingering weight; 100% silk; 565 m / 618 yds per 100 g / 3½ oz)
1* (2, 2, 2, 2){3, 3, 3, 3} skein(s) shown in colour Pale Aster and Cork Tree (discontinued unfortunately)
OR
approx 565* (735, 825, 900, 1040){1150, 1265, 1430, 1600} m / 615* (800, 900, 980, 1140){1260, 1390, 1570, 1760} yds of a similar light fingering / fingering weight yarn

size 1 requires the full skein of yarn. Please keep this in mind, especially if modifying the design!

Budget Yarn Substitution Ideas ($-$$$)
(Cellulose fibres and blends suggested, but not limited to)

  • Sandnesgarn Tynn Line
  • Knit Picks Lindy Chain
  • Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Fingering Lion
  • Brand LB Collection Merino Silk Cotton
  • Yarn Lana Grossa Meilenweit Solo Cotone Solid / Uni
  • Katia Lino 100%
  • Knitting For Olive Pure Silk
  • Berroco Remix
  • Quince & Co Sparrow

Needles & Notions

  • 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle, 80 cm / 32” (or 100 cm / 40” for sizes 4 and up)
  • 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle, 40 cm / 16” for sleeves and neckband (or use Magic Loop technique with longer circular needle) or needle size needed to obtain correct gauge
  • Spare needle for 3-needle bind off
  • Stitch holders or waste yarn
  • Stitch marker
  • Yarn needle

Gauge
23 sts x 32 rows = 10 cm / 4” on 3.5 mm (US 4) needles in Stockinette stitch / Stocking stitch, blocked
Adjust needle size if needed to obtain correct gauge.

Construction
This tee is knit in the round from the bottom up to the armholes, then stitches are divided and the back and front are worked flat separately. Shoulders are shaped using wrap and turn short rows and are joined with a 3-needle bind off. Sleeves are picked up around armhole edges and worked in the round. Lastly, stitches are picked up around neck edge and are bound off immediately for a very minimalist neckline.

Notes
The bottom hem and sleeve edges are “unfinished”, meaning there are no edging stitches such as rib or garter stitch that are normally used to help stockinette stitch lay flat. With blocking, most silk yarn like the Cattail Silk will lay flat. If substituting with another yarn of a different fibre content, be sure to block your swatch before beginning to make sure it holds a nice flat horizontal edge when completely dry. If not, perhaps try working a couple rows of garter stitch, a short border of 1x1 rib, or another edging of your choice at bottom hem and sleeve edges. Or maybe you want it to curl at the edges! That can look quite good too. I hope you’ll experiment and make this design unique and special to you.

100% silk yarn may not be available to all knitters, but other fibres will work for this design too. Fibres I recommend are linen, cotton, or blends of either. Wool can be used too of course, however working a border for the edges is encouraged, as wool likes to curl. Whatever fibre you use, please swatch! Also, please see a list of substitute yarns (above) for some alternate ideas.

This garment is meant to be fairly cropped in length. The models (Kiyomi & Sachiko) are 155 cm / 5’1” tall, and the size 1 of this top sits just slightly below their natural waist. For a less cropped fit or for a taller person, length can be added to the body, but please be aware that you will need more yarn than the stated yarn amounts required. To estimate how much length to add, use a soft tape measure, and measure straight down from the top of your shoulder to where you would like the hem to start. Subtract the armhole depth found in the schematic (C) from this measurement, and the remaining number is the length you need to knit before dividing for the armholes.

Left and right shaping instructions (ie. “Shape Front Left Neck”) refer to the orientation of the garment when it is worn, not to the left or right side of the garment when it is facing you during construction.

During the test knit of this garment, some test knitters found that using a regular bind off for the neck produced a neckline that was too tight to get their heads through. Please use the “Stretchy” bind off method found below under “Techniques”.