Coloring Book Tee

The Coloring Book Tee is the quintessential summer tee. This polished tee comes with a short-row shaped neckline, and different shaping and length options in the sleeve and body. Along with the possibility of just knitting the pattern plain, there are at least 12 possible permutations in the pattern itself... and more if you’re willing to make some mods. 

The pattern includes various tips on how to customize different areas for your own perfect basic tee.

All versions have an underarm ribbing detail that runs from hem through the underarm to the end of sleeve. 

Sizes

Sizes A (B, C, D, E) (F, G, H, I) with finished measurements of 34 (38, 42, 46, 50) (54, 58, 62, 66)” / 85 (95, 105, 115, 125) (135, 145, 155, 165) cm. 

Recommended ease for full bust is 3-5” / 7½-12½ cm, and 7” / 17½ cm from upper bust. 

Model is wearing Size B with about 4” / 10 cm positive ease on 34” / 86½ cm full bust and 31” high bust. 

Gauge

24 sts and 32 rnds = 4 x 4” / 10 x 10 cm in stockinette stitch knit in the round with Needle A
26 sts and 37 rnds = 4 x 4” / 10 x 10 cm in half-twisted rib stitch knit in the round with Needle B

Views

View A is short sleeves and cropped body, worked with thin stripes at the edge of each ribbing section. 

View B is ¾ length sleeves and is knit to the full hip length, worked with stripes in the body and sleeves. 

This is the perfect opportunity to play with color. Try playing with the thickness of stripes (numbers of rounds knit) or large swaths of color blocking instead. Or, mix and match body and sleeve shaping and length. 

The planning pages included on another PDF with this pattern are there to help you play with the colors and choose your own combination! 

Yarn

View A

Knitting for Olive Pure Silk (100% silk, Oeko-Tex Standard 100), 50 grams / 1¾ oz, 273 yards / 250 meters 

Shown in colorways Plum Rose (MC) and Haze (CC) 

View B

Purl Soho Linen Quill (50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen), 100 grams / 3½ oz, 439 yards / 410 meters 

Shown in colorways High Tide (MC) and Pale Oats (CC)

Or any fingering weight yarn to obtain gauge. The samples were knit using ‘summer-blend’ type fibers. Suggest using anywhere from 15% to 100% cotton, linen, or silk fiber.

Yardage

VIEW A

MC: 613 (703, 795, 888, 965) (1068, 1160, 1240, 1321) yards / 560 (643, 727, 812, 882) (976, 1060, 1133, 1207) meters
CC: 50 yards / 45 meters

VIEW B

MC: 778 (863, 913, 998, 1081) (1155, 1255, 1335, 1425) yards / 711 (789, 834, 912, 988) (1056, 1147, 1220, 1300) meters
CC: 137 (152, 161, 176, 191) (204, 222, 236, 252) yards / 125 (139, 147, 161, 175) (186, 203, 216, 230) meters

Total: 915 (1015, 1074, 1174, 1272) (1359, 1477, 1571, 1677) yards / 836 (928, 982, 1073, 1163) (1242, 1350, 1436, 1533) meters

Needles

NEEDLE A (MAIN FABRIC) 

US4 / 3½ mm, or size to obtain gauge in stockinette stitch, in the following lengths: 

16” / 40 cm, 32” / 80 cm, and preferred method for working small circumferences in the round (such as DPN’s or small circular needles). 

Optional: use only 32” / 80 cm and magic loop anywhere the work is too small. 

NEEDLE B (RIBBING)

US2 / 2¾ mm, or needles to obtain half-twisted st gauge, in the following lengths: 

16” / 40 cm, 32” / 80 cm, and preferred method for working small circumferences in the round (such as DPN’s or small circular needles). 

Optional: use only 32” / 80 cm and magic loop anywhere the work is too small. 

Notions

4 markers, plus unique marker for BOR, waste yarn, tapestry needle