Nele Shirt in Schachenmayr Cotton4Future - S10866DE - Downloadable PDF

Nele Shirt in Schachenmayr Cotton4Future – Knitting Pattern Summary (S10866DE)

The Nele Shirt is a relaxed, casual knitted top designed by Quail Studio and published by Schachenmayr as a free downloadable PDF pattern (reference S10866). It is worked in Schachenmayr Cotton4Future, a sustainably minded yarn, making it a thoughtful choice for knitters who care about eco-conscious materials. The pattern is rated Beginner difficulty, making it an excellent project for those who have mastered basic knitting techniques and are ready to tackle their first garment.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a pullover-style shirt featuring a classic construction with a front panel, a back panel, and integrated sleeve shaping. The design is clean and minimal, with a defined neckline and a relaxed silhouette. It is available in five sizes:

• XS – to fit bust 32/34 cm
• S – to fit bust 36/38 cm
• M – to fit bust 40/42 cm
• L – to fit bust 44/46 cm
• XL – to fit bust 48/50 cm

The overall length is a consistent 57 cm across all sizes, giving the shirt a neat, cropped-to-hip fit suitable for a wide range of body types. The lower body width ranges from 46 cm to 64 cm depending on size, while the width after sleeve increases ranges from 52 cm to 70 cm. The armhole height increases gradually from 19 cm to 23 cm across the size range, and the shoulder width spans 14 cm to 21 cm. The front neckline depth ranges from 14 cm to 16 cm, and the neckline width from 24 cm to 28 cm, creating a comfortable, open neckline.

Construction Method

The Nele Shirt is constructed in separate flat pieces that are later seamed together — a traditional approach well suited to beginner knitters. The back piece is worked first, followed by the front piece, each begun by casting on the required number of stitches and working upward in stockinette stitch. The body is worked straight until the armhole shaping begins, at which point sleeve increases are introduced to build out the upper body width. This method of integrating sleeve shaping directly into the body panels keeps the construction straightforward while still producing a polished, shaped garment.

The pattern instructions are written for all five sizes simultaneously, with size-specific numbers listed in sequence from smallest to largest, separated by slashes — a common convention in European knitting patterns that beginners should familiarise themselves with before casting on.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The primary stitch used throughout the Nele Shirt is stockinette stitch (referred to in the German-language pattern as glatt rechts), in which right-side rows are knitted and wrong-side rows are purled. This creates the smooth, classic fabric surface associated with most knitted garments and is one of the most fundamental stitch patterns in knitting.

The shaping technique featured in this pattern is a left-leaning make-one increase (M nach links geneigt zunehmen, abbreviated as 1 Mligenzun). This increase is worked by lifting the horizontal bar — the Querfaden — that sits between two stitches onto the left needle from the front, then knitting it through the back loop to close the hole and create a neat, directional increase. This technique is widely used in garment knitting to add stitches invisibly and with a specific lean, contributing to clean shaping lines at the sleeve and body junction.

Key Stitches and Techniques at a Glance

• Stockinette stitch (glatt rechts) – the foundational stitch used throughout
• Left-leaning make-one increase – used for sleeve and body shaping
• Flat knitting – pieces worked back and forth in rows
• Seaming – front and