Willa

Willa Lightweight Knit Tee by Annie Haas

What is Being Made

Willa is a breezy lightweight knitted tee designed by Annie Haas for warm weather wear. This quick-knit top features a simple lace and garter stitch motif throughout, making it an ideal project for both beginners and experienced knitters. The finished garment is intended as a staple piece for hand-knit summer wardrobes, offering a comfortable and stylish option for everyday wear.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Willa pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for knitters of all skill levels. The construction utilizes circular needles for seamless knitting, with the garment worked from the top down. The pattern incorporates live stitch management, requiring knitters to hold sleeve stitches on waste yarn or spare needles during construction. This approach allows for easy adjustments and modifications to sleeve length or fit.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch work in Willa combines two fundamental knitting stitches:

• Garter stitch – created by knitting every row, providing a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges
• Lace stitch – an openwork motif that adds visual interest and breathability to the lightweight tee

The combination of these stitches creates a simple yet elegant design that is visually appealing while remaining accessible to beginner knitters.

Yarn and Materials

Willa is designed to be worked in lightweight fingering weight yarn, specifically recommended for this pattern. Two yarn options are provided:

• Autumn & Indigo Local Light Fingering Weight Yarn – 320 yards per 56g skein, requiring 2 to 3 skeins depending on size, for a total yardage of approximately 540 to 840 yards
• Purl Soho Linen Quill – 439 yards per 100g skein, requiring 2 skeins for all sizes

The pattern is shown worked in Lomah colorway with Autumn & Indigo yarn. Both yarn options are appropriate for creating the light, breathable fabric suitable for a summer tee.

Needles and Additional Materials

The Willa pattern requires the following tools and materials:

• US Size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles with a minimum 16-inch cord for ribbing and initial construction
• US Size 8 (5.0 mm) circular needles with a minimum 30-inch cord for the main body of the garment
• Stitch marker for tracking pattern repeats and construction points
• Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends
• Waste yarn or spare needles to hold live sleeve stitches during construction

Difficulty Level

Willa is classified as a beginner-friendly pattern, making it an excellent introduction to top-down seamless knitting construction. The straightforward combination of garter and lace stitches, along with clear pattern instructions, ensures that knitters new to garment construction can successfully complete this project while also providing interest for more experienced knitters seeking a quick, satisfying make.