Thank you, Hu Made, for collaborating with me on Bittersweet Raglan! The Made Pop Linen, the cotton and linen blend, inspired the direction of this design. I wanted something that would have an airy drape while having a classic tee silhouette. As I love textures, I wanted to design with stitches that make the classic tee more interesting as well. Classic tee as the canvas with the slip stitches and striping as the paint.

The name Bittersweet for this design came after knitting. With the segmentation of the design, I was thinking about how humans can contain multitude of feelings at the same time. It sometimes feels like an internal contradiction or existing in an oxymoron. I thought about names that would convey these feelings and the visual this design has. And so Bittersweet Raglan was named. Bittersweet definition is containing the mixture of happiness and sadness. This design shows a half and half color mix that represented exactly how I was feeling at the time.

In honor of my grandmother who passed away on March 18th, 2021, I dedicate this pattern design to her, releasing this on March 18th, 2024, the 3 year anniversary of her passing. It’s bittersweet to honor her on this day, one being that she was the one who taught me how to knit and I would not have the talent and passion for crafts and clothes and textiles if it wasn’t for her, and second, realizing that she is gone from this physical world away from being able to reach her. Bittersweet moments. Cherish the ones you love.

CONSTRUCTION: cropped, top-down scoop neck raglan top with slip stitch striping, stockinette short sleeves and tubular hems.

SKILLS: provisional cast on, knitting in the round, slip stitches, striping, increases/decreases, picking up stitches, short rows.

NEEDLES: Body: US 6 / 4.0 mm, or any size to obtain gauge with circular needles long enough for your chest circumference. Neck Collar, Bottom Hem, Sleeve Cuffs: US 4/3.5mm, to keep trims from flaring.

NOTIONS: contrast scrap yarn, stitch markers, tapestry needle/latch hook/crochet hook for ends, measuring tape, gauge ruler if needed

GAUGE: 21 sts & 34 rows/rnds per 4”/10 cm in stitch pattern, knitting in the rnd, after steam or wet blocking.

SIZES: 1, 2, 3, 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) {9, 10, 11, 12}

SEE TABLE FOR FINISHED MEASUREMENTS.

Worn with 0”/0 cm to 2”/5 cm of positive ease at chest.

SEE TABLE FOR YARN USAGE.

YARN: fingering weight

Sample knit with: Hu Made Yarn “Made Pop Linen”, 4 ply, 60% org cotton, 40% linen, 383 yds/ 100g, MC: Jade (light green), CC: Persimmon (orange)

Sample photographed is Size 4 worn with 1”/2.5 cm of positive ease at chest and Cropped Length with 12”/30 cm at side seam from underarm to bottom hem.

Pattern has been test knitted. Examples of other knitters who have knit this pattern during test knit are in the Blog.

Look up hashtags on Instagram with #BittersweetRaglanTee and #tinatseknits to share your progress and FOs and to find other projects! Also tag me @tina.say.makes.