Mayflower Tee in Rowan Four Seasons  - Downloadable PDF

Mayflower Tee in Rowan Four Seasons – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Mayflower Tee is a knitted top designed by Quail Studio and worked in Rowan Four Seasons Cotton yarn. It is a relaxed, wearable tee-style garment that combines a clean silhouette with subtle surface interest, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are ready to move beyond the very basics while still working at an accessible level.

Garment Overview

The Mayflower Tee is a pullover top shaped at the armholes and shoulders, with a defined back neck shaping worked by leaving stitches on a stitch holder and completing each side of the neck separately. The pattern is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements ranging from 86 cm (33¾ in) to 166 cm (65¼ in), offering generous positive ease across all sizes.

Techniques Used

• Armhole shaping – Decreases are worked at each end of right-side rows, with the pattern specifying decreases on the next row and then on a series of following alternate rows. The number of decrease rows varies by size, ranging from 6 to 23 following alternate rows after the initial decrease row.
• Shoulder and back neck shaping – Stitches are cast off at the shoulder edge on a right-side row, and the remaining stitches are divided, with each side of the neck worked separately. Remaining stitches are placed on a stitch holder while the first side is completed, a classic technique for achieving a neat, symmetrical neckline.
• Textured eyelet pattern – The body of the tee features a textured eyelet pattern, which is maintained throughout the armhole shaping. Knitters are instructed to keep the pattern correct while working decreases, which requires attention to stitch count and pattern placement — a key skill-building element of this design.
• Working in the round vs. flat – Sections are worked flat, with wrong-side purl rows used to maintain the fabric between pattern rows.

Stitches Used

• Textured eyelet stitch pattern – The signature stitch of the Mayflower Tee, this pattern creates a delicate, open texture through the use of yarn-overs and decreases arranged in a repeating sequence across the fabric.
• Stocking stitch – Standard knit and purl rows are used in combination with the eyelet pattern and for foundational sections of the garment.
• Cast off – Used at the shoulder edges to shape the finished garment.

Materials

The Mayflower Tee is knitted in Rowan Four Seasons Cotton, a worsted weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. The pattern calls for 9 to 12 balls depending on size. As a cotton-based yarn, Rowan Four Seasons Cotton is well suited to a tee-style garment, offering breathability and stitch definition that allows the textured eyelet pattern to show clearly. Appropriate knitting needles for a worsted weight yarn would typically be used; knitters should refer to the tension/gauge section of the pattern for the recommended needle size.

Difficulty Level

The Mayflower Tee is rated as advanced beginner. The inclusion of a textured eyelet pattern that must be maintained through shaping rows adds a layer of complexity beyond a plain stocking stitch project, making this an ideal next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and are ready to practice working a stitch pattern alongside increases and decreases. The wide size range and clear stitch holder instructions make this pattern both practical and educational.