Siwani

Siwani Tee by TeoMakes

What is Being Made

The Siwani Tee is a cropped summer knit top designed by TeoMakes. This garment features a boxy fit with just-above-the-elbow sleeves and a decorative lace pattern at the bottom hem. The tee is available in three sizes: Small (bust 106cm, length 50cm, sleeve 28cm), Medium (bust 126cm, length 56cm, sleeve 32cm), and Large (bust 146cm, length 62cm, sleeve 37cm). The cropped length and lace detailing make this an ideal lightweight garment for warm weather wear.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Siwani Tee employs a strategic construction method that combines circular and flat knitting. The garment is knitted in the round from the bottom edge up to the underarm, allowing for seamless construction through the body. Once the underarm is reached, the front and back pieces are separated and knitted flat to accommodate shaping and neckline placement. The neckline is picked up from either scrap yarn or a bind-off edge, depending on the knitter's preference. The sleeves are worked in the round and picked up directly from the body of the tee, eliminating the need for seaming. This hybrid approach combines the efficiency of circular knitting with the control offered by flat knitting where shaping is needed.

Stitches and Lace Pattern

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques. Core stitches include knit (k), purl (p), and slip stitches (sl). Decreases are worked using slip, slip, knit (ssk), knit 2 together (k2tog), and slip 2, knit 1, pass slipped stitches (s2kp) to create the lace motifs. The lace pattern is inspired by Japanese design aesthetics and appears at the bottom of the garment. These stitch decreases create the characteristic openwork and eyelets typical of lace knitting, adding visual interest and breathability to the summer tee.

Materials and Gauge

The Siwani Tee is knitted using fingering weight yarn, requiring between 700 and 1400 meters depending on the size chosen. Knitting is worked on 3.5mm circular needles, which accommodate the in-the-round construction. Additional materials include a stitch marker for tracking the beginning of round, four stitch holders for managing stitches during construction, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scrap yarn for provisional cast-on or neckline options, and scissors. The pattern specifies a gauge of 23 stitches and 33 rows over a 10x10cm swatch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. Proper gauge is particularly important in this design to ensure the boxy fit and sleeve length are accurate across all three sizes.