Mauritius Shirt in Adriafil Cheope and Snappy Ball - Downloadable PDF

Mauritius Shirt Knitting Pattern – Free Downloadable PDF by Adriafil

The Mauritius Shirt is a vibrant, colourwork knitted top designed for a women's size 44. This free downloadable PDF pattern from Adriafil combines two of the brand's own yarns — Cheope and Snappy Ball — to create a striking striped shirt with a structured silhouette, shaped armholes, and a split neckline. The design is worked in sections and features a richly coloured stripe sequence using a palette of up to seven distinct shades, making it an excellent project for knitters who enjoy working with colour.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a short-sleeved or sleeveless striped shirt with a fitted body, shaped sleeve holes, and a divided neckline. The garment is constructed in two main sections — a bottom section and a top section — for both the front and the back. The bottom section features the multicolour stripe sequence, while the top section, including the yoke and shoulders, is worked primarily in aviation blue. The neckline is shaped by casting off centre stitches and finishing each shoulder section separately, giving the shirt a clean, tailored finish.

Colourwork and Stripe Design

One of the most distinctive features of the Mauritius Shirt is its carefully sequenced multicolour stripe pattern. The stripe repeat cycles through the following shades in a specific row-by-row order:

• Old-rose no. 29 (Cheope)
• Ecru no. 12 (Cheope)
• Military green no. 98 (Cheope)
• Yellow no. 34 (Cheope)
• Blue no. 75 (Cheope)
• Sunny yellow no. 82 (Snappy Ball)
• Aviation blue no. 84 (Snappy Ball)

The stripe sequence alternates between one and two rows per colour, creating a rhythmic, visually dynamic pattern. Knitters carry or break yarns as needed and follow the prescribed colour order throughout the bottom section of the garment, which measures approximately 28 cm in total length. This type of narrow-stripe colourwork is a well-established technique in hand knitting and is particularly effective when worked in stockinette stitch, where the smooth fabric surface allows each colour band to read clearly.

Techniques Used

• Multicolour stripe knitting — alternating yarns every one to two rows following a set sequence
• Armhole shaping — casting off stitches at each side every two rows to create a neat sleeve opening
• Neckline shaping — casting off centre stitches and working each shoulder section independently
• Picking up stitches — the top section is begun by picking up stitches along the upper border of the bottom section, with evenly spaced increases to adjust stitch count
• Binding off — used at the end of the stripe section and at the shoulders
• Crochet finishing — the pattern references chain stitch, slip stitch, and single crochet, suggesting crochet is used for edging or joining details

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (stockinette / stocking stitch) — used throughout the main body of the shirt for a smooth, flat fabric
• Chain stitch — a basic crochet stitch used in finishing
• Slip stitch — a crochet technique used for joining or edging
• Single crochet — used in the finishing or border details of the garment

The combination of knit stitch for the main fabric and crochet stitches for finishing is a practical approach that allows for neat, stable edges without the need for complex knitted borders. Single crochet in particular is commonly used around necklines and armholes to prevent stretching and add a polished appearance.

Materials Required

The pattern calls for two