In the Pines Tee

In the Pines Tee by Shannon Larson

Project Overview

The In the Pines Tee is a beginner-friendly knitted top designed by Shannon Larson of Justlivin Designs. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a classic tee suitable for knitters new to garment construction, combining straightforward techniques with a two-color colorwork design that adds visual interest without excessive complexity.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted short-sleeved tee featuring a fitted silhouette worked in the round from the bottom up. The design incorporates a contrast color accent, as evidenced by the sample garment which uses a primary color inspired by pine tones paired with a blue contrast element. The finished piece is designed to be worn as a lightweight, everyday top suitable for various seasons depending on yarn fiber content.

Yarn and Materials

The In the Pines Tee is worked using fingering weight yarn in both 3-ply and 4-ply constructions. The main color (MC) requires 153–372 grams of fingering weight yarn, with the sample garment utilizing Spun Right Round Classic Sock yarn in the colorway 'Wool and Pine' (438 yards per 100 grams). The contrast color (CC) requires a smaller quantity of 15–30 grams, demonstrated in the sample with Blue Savannah MCN mini yarn (150 yards per 40 grams). The yardage range accommodates multiple sizes within a single pattern.

Needles required include:

• US #4/3.5mm circular needles (32–40 inches) in the primary size for working the body
• US #3/3.0mm circular needles (32–40 inches) one size smaller for ribbed edgings and establishing gauge
• US #4/3.5mm needles for small circumference knitting using the knitter's preferred method (double-pointed needles, magic loop, or short circulars)
• US #3/3.0mm needles for small circumference knitting in the same preferred method
• US #3/3.0mm circular needles (16–24 inches) for neckline and finishing work

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The In the Pines Tee employs circular knitting worked in the round, a technique that eliminates seaming and creates seamless garments. This method is ideal for beginners as it reduces finishing work and allows knitters to try on the garment as it progresses. The pattern uses two-color colorwork to create visual design elements, introducing knitters to working with multiple yarns while maintaining the beginner difficulty level.

The construction begins at the body and works upward, with ribbed edgings created using the smaller needle size to provide elasticity and structure at the hem, cuffs, and neckline. Gauge is established using the US #3/3.0mm needles, ensuring proper fit across the size range.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for a beginner project:

• Knit (k) – the basic stitch forming the primary fabric
• Purl (p) – used primarily in ribbed edgings for elasticity
• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the main fabric stitch, created by knitting on right-side rounds and purling on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic appearance
• Yarn over (yo) – creates decorative eyelet or lace elements
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) – a left-leaning decrease used for shaping

The pattern also incorporates ribbing, a combination of knit and purl stitches worked in alternation to create stretchy, fitted edges that hold the garment close to the body at the hem, sleeves, and neckline.

Pattern Structure and Abbreviations

The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations for clear, concise instructions:

• MC/CC – Main Color and Contrast Color
• st/sts – Stitch or stitches
• rnd