Linda Lou

Linda Lou Knit Tunic by Taiga Hilliard Designs

Project Overview

Linda Lou is a versatile knit tunic designed by Taiga Hilliard Designs, suitable for wearing on its own during warmer months or layered over long sleeves for winter wear. This top-down knit construction makes it an excellent choice for adjustable fit and customizable length. The pattern is available in ten sizes ranging from newborn through 9-10 years, with chest measurements from 14 inches up to 28 inches, making it adaptable for growing children.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

Linda Lou employs a top-down design knit mostly in the round, a modern construction method that allows knitters to try on the garment as they work and easily adjust the final length. The pattern begins with a long tail cast on using smaller needles, followed by ribbed cuff rows worked flat before transitioning to circular knitting. The construction incorporates yarn overs and knit-two-together decreases for functional buttonholes, demonstrating intermediate-level shaping techniques. The pattern also features knit front and back (KFB) increases worked strategically to create shaping in the body of the garment, a technique commonly used to add fullness and definition to fitted knitwear.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – Created by knitting every row, forming the textured ribbed cuff
• Stockinette stitch – The primary fabric created when knitting in the round
• Yarn overs (YO) – Used to create decorative buttonholes
• Knit two together (K2tog) – A right-leaning decrease paired with yarn overs for buttonhole construction
• Knit front and back (KFB) – An increase stitch used for shaping the body

Materials and Gauge

Linda Lou calls for worsted weight yarn, though the pattern notes that DK weight yarn also works well, offering flexibility for yarn substitution. Yardage requirements vary by size from 300 yards for newborn up to 850 yards for the largest size (9-10 years). The pattern is worked on US size 8 (5.00 mm) needles for the main body and US size 6 (4.00 mm) needles for the ribbed cuff, or whatever needle size is needed to achieve the specified gauge. The gauge is 18 stitches over 4 inches, making this a standard worsted weight gauge. Two ¾-inch buttons are required as notions to complete the buttonhole details on the finished tunic.

Sizing and Customization

The pattern provides extensive sizing options across ten different measurements, allowing for precise fit across a wide age range. The instructions explicitly note that the tunic length can be customized by knitting the body a few inches longer if a dress length is preferred, making this a highly adaptable design for different styling preferences and seasonal needs.