Tallahassee

Tallahassee V-Lace Top by Kristen TenDyke

What is Being Made

The Tallahassee is a knitted lace top designed by Kristen TenDyke, featuring a flattering V-neckline and lace pattern details. This garment is a versatile cover piece suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone top during warmer seasons. The design showcases elegant lace motifs that create visual interest while maintaining breathability, making it an ideal project for those seeking a refined, wearable garment.

Craft and Primary Technique

This pattern is executed using the knitting craft, which involves interlocking loops of yarn with needles to create fabric. The Tallahassee employs lace knitting techniques, a specialized method that combines yarn overs and strategic decreases to create openwork patterns. Lace knitting requires attention to stitch placement and tension to ensure the decorative holes and motifs are clearly defined and evenly distributed throughout the garment.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The pattern incorporates several fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches and techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo) – increases that create the decorative holes characteristic of lace patterns
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) – a left-leaning decrease that removes one stitch
• Slip 2 stitches, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over (s2kp) – a centered double decrease used to shape the lace motifs
• Circular knitting – the garment is worked in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles (dpns), which allows for seamless construction
• Marker slipping (sl m) – stitch markers are used to track pattern repeats and shaping sections
• Right-side and wrong-side awareness – understanding RS and WS is essential for reading lace charts and maintaining pattern integrity

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The Tallahassee pattern specifies Louet Euroflax Sport 100% wet spun linen yarn, which offers excellent drape and breathability ideal for warm-weather garments. Each skein contains 270 yards and weighs 100 grams, classified as sport weight yarn – a medium-light yarn suitable for creating fabric with good stitch definition.

Needles required include a US 3 [3.25 mm] circular needle measuring 24 inches for ribbing and initial setup, and a US 4 [3.75 mm] circular needle measuring 32 inches for the main body, or one size smaller than needed to obtain proper gauge. Additionally, a set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles (dpns) in the appropriate size is needed for working the armholes and neckline in the round.

Supporting notions include 4 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, and 3 large stitch holders or waste yarn for temporarily securing stitches during construction. These notions are essential for managing the multiple sections of the garment during the knitting process.

Difficulty Level

The Tallahassee is rated as an intermediate difficulty project. This classification reflects the requirement to understand and execute lace knitting techniques, including yarn overs and multiple types of decreases, while also managing circular knitting construction. Knitters should be comfortable reading stitch patterns and maintaining consistent tension to achieve the intended lace effect.