Blue Sky Fibers London Tunic PDF

Blue Sky Fibers London Tunic PDF – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Blue Sky Fibers London Tunic is a knitting pattern designed by Elinor Brown and published by Blue Sky Fibers (formerly Blue Sky Alpacas). Despite the word "tunic" in the name, this pattern is classified as a vest — specifically a sleeveless, tunic-length layering piece that falls longer than a traditional vest, making it versatile enough for the office or a night out. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF.

Described as preppy and poised, the design features a modern, updated silhouette with a geometric stranded colorwork pattern worked across the body. The tunic length and lofty, airy fabric make it an ideal companion to denim or tailored separates. The skill level is listed as Advanced Beginner, making it accessible to knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to explore colorwork and simple shaping.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a sleeveless tunic-length vest worked in two colors. The garment features a wide, scooped neckline with a generous center bind-off, shoulder shaping, waist shaping for a tailored fit, and armhole shaping. The tunic is designed to be worn as a standalone top or layered over shirts and blouses. It is offered in seven sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL, with stitch counts and shaping instructions adjusted for each size throughout the pattern.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the cast-on edge upward, beginning at the hem and progressing through the body to the shoulders.
• Worked flat: The pieces are knitted back and forth on straight or circular needles, meaning the front and back are worked as separate flat panels rather than in the round.
• Seamed finishing: Because the pieces are worked flat, the finished garment is assembled by seaming the front and back panels together at the shoulders and sides.
• Stranded colorwork: A two-color geometric pattern is introduced in the body of the vest using the stranded knitting technique, in which both the main color (MC) and contrast color (CC) are carried across the row and the non-working yarn is stranded along the wrong side of the fabric.
• Waist shaping: Decreases and increases are worked to create a fitted silhouette through the waist.
• Armhole shaping: Bind-offs and decreases shape the armhole openings on both the back and front pieces.
• Neckline shaping: A center bind-off divides the work for left and right shoulders, with additional decreases worked along the neckline edge for a clean, finished curve. Shoulder stitches are placed on a holder while the opposite side is worked.

Stitches Used

• 1x1 Ribbing: Worked over a multiple of 2 stitches by alternating knit 1, purl 1 across every row or round. This stitch pattern is used for the hem band, which measures approximately 3¾ inches before the body begins.
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary body fabric, worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. This smooth, flat fabric forms the background of the garment and the sections above and below the colorwork panel.
• Stranded colorwork (Color Chart): A charted geometric pattern worked in stockinette using both the main color and contrast color. The chart is read from right to left on right-side rows, with knitters beginning and ending at positions indicated for their specific size. The colorwork section runs through row 21 of the Color Chart.
• Decreases: Specifically ssk (slip, slip, knit) is referenced for neckline shaping, creating left-leaning decreases along the neckline edge.

Materials

• Yarn: Blue Sky Techno by Blue Sky Fibers, a chunky weight yarn sold in 50 g / 120-yard hanks. The pattern requires 4 (4, 5, 5,