KIRSTEN SHIRT is part of the Isager Archives collection. Learn more about the collection HERE

Helga Isager writes about her inspiration to KIRSTEN SHIRT:
The starting point for my contribution to the Isager Archives Collection was Åse Lund Jensen’s pattern ‘Skjorte’ with stripes lengthwise and crosswise and knitted in one strand of Isager Jensen Yarn.
My own version, Kirsten Shirt, is knitted in one strand of Isager Tvinni with garter stitch ridges worked in one strand of Isager Silk Mohair. I wanted to make a Springlike lightweight garment and Tvinni is perfect for this. At the same time, I love knitting on fine needles and that knitting takes time and involve techniques that make a beautiful finish. The garments I spent a long time making often stay in my wardrobe the longest.
The front and back body are worked sideways. Short rows are worked so the space between the garter ridges is narrower closer to the yoke. When the body has been completed, stitches are picked up and knitted along the top of it, and the yoke with the front placket is worked from these stitches. Short rows are worked at the shoulders and the shoulders are knitted together.
The design has a rib collar and little cap sleeves, which are worked separately and sewn on.

CONSTRUCTION
The front and back body are worked sideways in a pattern of stockinette stitch with garter ridges (worked as 2 knitted rows in Silk Mohair). Short rows are worked so the space between the garter ridges is narrower closer to the yoke. When the body has been completed, stitches are picked up and knitted along the top of it, and the yoke with the front placket is worked from these stitches. Short rows are worked at the shoulders and the shoulders are knitted together.
The design has a rib collar and little cap sleeves, which are worked separately and sewn on.

SIZES
XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL)

MATERIALS
Colour A: 150 (150) 200 (200) 250 (250) g Isager Tvinni in colour 58 (ivory)
Colour B: 50 (50) 50 (50) 50 (50) g Isager Silk Mohair in colour 64 (orange)
4 small shirt buttons– approx. 12 mm diameter
Try-it-on tubing stitch holder

MEASUREMENTS
Half bust circumference: 46 (50) 52 (56) 60 (62) cm
18 (19¾) 20½ (22) 23½ (24½) inches
Yoke - half circumference front: 33,5 (36,5) 36,5 (39,5) 39,5 (39,5) cm 13¼ (14½) 14½ (15½) 15½ (15½) inches
Yoke - half circumference back: 33 (36) 36 (39) 39 (39) cm
13 (14¼) 14¼ (15¼) 15¼ (15¼) inches
Total length: 59 (60.5) 60.5 (62) 62 (62) cm 23¼ (23¾) 23¾ (24½) 24½ (24½) inches
Length to armhole: 35 (35) 35 (35) 35 (35) cm
13¾ (13¾) 13¾ (13¾) 13¾ (13¾) inches
Armhole depth: 22 (23.5) 23.5 (25) 25 (25) cm
8¾ (9¼) 9¼ (9¾) 9¾ (9¾) inches

GAUGE
Body
In pattern (stockinette stitch with garter ridges) on a 3 mm US2½ needle:
10 cm 4 inches = 24 sts
10 cm 4 inches = 40 rows

Yoke and sleeves
In pattern (stockinette stitch with garter ridges) on a 2.5 mm US1½ needle:
10 cm 4 inches = 26 sts
10 cm 4 inches = 42 rows

In ribbing (k1, p1) on a 2.5 mm US1½ needle – un-stretched:
10 cm = 42 sts
10 cm = 42 rows

NEEDLES
3 mm US2½ and 2.5 mm US1½