Sagebrush Tee

Sagebrush Tee by Kerry Bullock-Ozkan

What is Being Made

The Sagebrush Tee is an advanced-level knitted top designed by Kerry Bullock-Ozkan. This garment is a fitted pullover available in nine sizes, with finished chest circumferences ranging from 32 inches (81.5 cm) to 67 ½ inches (171.5 cm). The pattern is intended to be worn with 1-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) of positive ease in the upper chest, creating a comfortable yet tailored fit. The back shoulder length varies from 22 ½ inches (57.5 cm) in the smallest size to 26 ¾ inches (68 cm) in the largest size, accommodating a wide range of body proportions.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several advanced construction techniques. The garment features colorwork elements, incorporating a main color (MC) along with two contrast colors (CC1 and CC2). The design includes Chevron Rib patterning, which requires careful attention to stitch manipulation and shaping. Knitters working on the Sagebrush Tee must be comfortable with gauge-sensitive construction, as the pattern specifies different gauges for different stitch patterns used throughout the design.

Stitches Used

The primary stitches featured in the Sagebrush Tee include stockinette stitch (St st) and Chevron Rib. Stockinette stitch forms the foundation of much of the garment's fabric, creating a smooth, classic knit surface. The Chevron Rib stitch pattern adds textural interest and visual movement to the design. This combination of stitches requires knitters to work across different stitch patterns with precision, making gauge checking essential in both stockinette stitch and Chevron Rib before beginning the project.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Sagebrush Tee is designed to be knitted with fingering weight yarn, classified as 4-ply. The main color requires approximately 901 to 2,286 yards (824 to 2,090 meters) depending on the size selected, while each contrast color requires approximately 50 yards (45 meters). The pattern is shown worked in Knitpicks Bare Gloss Fingering and Knitpicks Gloss Fingering, both composed of 70% wool and 30% silk blends. The Bare Gloss Fingering yields 440 yards per 100 grams, while the Gloss Fingering yields 220 yards per 50 grams. The photographed version uses Kenai as CC1 and Masala as CC2.

Gauge and Needle Requirements

Achieving proper gauge is critical for this advanced pattern. The specified gauge is 30 stitches and 41 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on the larger needle. For the Chevron Rib pattern, the gauge is 27 stitches and 41 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) on the larger needle. Knitters must swatch and check their gauge in both stockinette stitch and Chevron Rib before beginning the project to ensure proper fit and finished dimensions.