Let's Picnic Tee

The Let's Picnic Tee is named for Little Lionhead Knits' iconic red/orange colorway called Let's Picnic (which is featured in the stripes of the tee). This tee is inspired by the playfulness of this lively colorway, the fun that is picnicking, and the energy of spring and summer. The Let's Picnic Tee uses slipped stitches to create a richly textured stripe sequence, perfect for stash-busting, leftover yarns, and mini skeins. Because the texture is created entirely with slipped stitches, only one color is worked at a time so there is no stranded colorwork, making this a deceptively simple knit. This tee is worked seamlessly from the top down using raglan increases. The yoke is worked using a compound raglan shape, creating a gentle curve along the raglan lines that follows the contours of your body. 

NEEDLES:

- Main Fabric Needle: US 6/4.00 mm (or size needed to obtain gauge) - 40 in/100 cm circular needles for the body and 16 in/40 cm circular needles or DPNs for the sleeves.

- Ribbing Needle: US 4/3.50 mm (or 2 sizes smaller than the larger needle) - 40 in/100 cm circular needles for the hem, 24 in/60 cm circular needles for the collar, and DPNs or your preferred length for working small circumferences in the round for the sleeve cuffs. 

TOOLS: Tapestry needle, scrap yarn or stitch holders, 7 stitch markers plus 1 unique stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round. 

GAUGE:

- 20 sts & 36 rnds = 4 in/10 cm in the round after blocking, using the main fabric needle.

- 23 sts & 36 rnds = 4 in/10 cm slightly stretched in (k1, p1) rib in the round after blocking, using the ribbing needle. 

TECHNIQUES: German short rows, knit, purl, make 1 left & right, slipped stitches, stripes, backwards loop cast on, tubular bind off (optional), picking up stitches. 

YARN

The Let's Picnic Tee was designed in collaboration with Little Lionhead Knits, using DK Weight Sock Yarn (85% Superwash Merino, 15% Nylon; 246 yds/225 m per 100 g skein) and DK Weight Mini Skeins (85% Superwash Merino, 15% Nylon; 49 yds/45 m per 20g skein). 

Shown in the following colorways:

MC: Mossy Forest DK Weight Sock Yarn

CC: Gold, Cozy, Let's Picnic, Earl Gray and Lavender, Sixties Blue, Oat, and Honey DK Weight Mini Skeins (listed in order as shown in the sample from the top down) 

For my sample, I used 7 mini skeins in contrasting colors for the stripes. However, feel free to use as many or as few contrast colors as you would like. 

YARDAGE

Yardages are approximate. Exact yardage will depend on the yarn you use, your gauge, and any modifications you make. 

MC:

625 [730, 820, 880, 985] [1065, 1175, 1235, 1360] yds

570 [670, 750, 805, 900] [975, 1075, 1130, 1245] m

CC:

120 [140, 160, 170, 190] [205, 230, 240, 265] yds

110 [130, 145, 155, 175] [185, 210, 220, 240] m

The CC yardage above is the total CC yardage required to knit the tee. To get the required yds/m for each CC, divide the total CC yds/m by the number of different colors to be used. If using the same number of colors (7) as the sample, approx 18 [20, 23, 25, 28] [30, 33, 35, 38] yds / 16 [19, 21, 23, 25] [27, 30, 32, 35] m of each CC color will be required. 

Additional MC & CC yardage required for every additional 1 in/2.5 cm added to the lower body: 

MC:

29 [33, 37, 40, 44] [48, 51, 55, 59] yds

25 [30, 35, 35, 40] [45, 45, 50, 55] m

CC:

6 [6, 7, 8, 9] [9, 10, 11, 11] yds

5 [5, 5, 5, 10] [10, 10, 10, 10] m

SIZES

1 [2, 3, 4, 5] [6, 7, 8, 9] - Sizes correspond to your actual chest circumference. 

28-30 [32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46] [48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62] in

71-76 [81-86, 91.5-96.5, 101.5-106.5, 111.5-117] [122-127, 132-137, 142-147, 152-158] cm 

A vigorous attempt was made to have this pattern tested in every size. Unfortunately, however, I was unable to procure testers for size 8. If you are interested in test knitting the pattern in size 8, please email me: sandmadeknits@gmail.com.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

- Please note that these are the measurements of the completed garment.

- The sample is shown in Size 2 and worn with 4 in/10 cm of positive ease. The Let's Picnic Tee is designed to be worn with 2-6 in/5-15 cm of positive ease, but you can choose the size that gives you your desired amount of ease. If you are between sizes, you can size up or down depending on how much ease you would like. 

Chest Circumference of the Completed Garment:

32 [36, 40, 44, 48] [52, 56, 60, 64] in

81.5 [90, 101.5, 112, 122] [132, 142, 152.5, 162.5] cm

Click here for more pattern details, including a comprehensive list of finished measurements and a schematic diagram.