Ruth

Ruth – Slim Fitting Knit Tee by Deb Hoss

What Is Being Made

Ruth is a redesigned slim-fitting knit tee featuring a high crew neckline and short cap sleeves. This intermediate-level knitting project has been reimagined for bottom-up, in-the-round construction, making it mostly seamless except for set-in sleeves. The garment is designed for layering and versatile all-season wear, with eight size options ranging from 33¼ inches to 56¾ inches in finished bust circumference.

Construction Technique

Ruth is worked primarily in the round from the bottom up, which streamlines the knitting process and minimizes seaming. The bodice shaping has been simplified in this redesigned version, allowing the garment to be worked evenly for most of its length. Back ribbing is incorporated to snug the waist, providing shaping without complex decreases in the body. Set-in sleeves are added after the body is complete, requiring sleeve cap shaping and careful stitch pick-up for a polished finish. A 3-needle bind-off technique is used to secure seams where necessary.

Stitches and Lace Pattern

Scroll Lace is the signature stitch pattern featured throughout Ruth. This lace repeat measures 10 stitches by 18 rows and is worked overall across the garment. The pattern is described as easily mastered, making it accessible for intermediate knitters who may be newer to lace work. The designer has carefully considered gauge and partial repeat sets to ensure the lace pattern integrates seamlessly across all eight sizes without awkward incomplete repeats.

Additional stitches required include:

• Cast-on: Long-tail cast-on for a sturdy, elastic edge
• Decreases: Ssk (slip, slip, knit), k2tog (knit two together), ssp (slip, slip, purl), and p2tog (purl two together) for shaping and lace decreases
• Increases: Yarn overs (yo) and make one right (m1R) for lace openwork and waist shaping
• Bind-off: 3-needle bind-off for seaming sleeves and collar finishing
• Advanced techniques: Short row shaping for sleeve cap fit and stitch pick-up for the collar trim

Materials

Ruth is worked in sport weight yarn, a lightweight yarn category that creates a delicate drape ideal for a fitted tee. The pattern requires circular needles for the in-the-round construction and set-in sleeves. The sport weight yarn combined with lace patterning produces an elegant, breathable fabric suitable for layering across seasons.

Skill Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the Scroll Lace pattern itself is described as easily mastered, the overall construction demands familiarity with circular knitting, multiple decrease and increase techniques, short row shaping, and the precision required for setting in sleeve caps. Knitters should be comfortable reading lace charts and managing stitch counts across pattern repeats.