The Tendreil Tee is a casual drop shoulder t-shirt with a relaxed fit and a lightning motif across the shoulders. The back panel is worked first with some simple shaping to create sloping shoulders. Once the back panel is worked, the stitches are left to rest, and you will move on to work the shoulders. The left shoulder is worked first with the cable motif and some shoulder shaping, and you repeat this process for the right shoulder. Then you join the two shoulders together and work the front panel to the same depth as the back panel whilst continuing the lightning motif. Next, you will join the front and back panels together to be worked in the round until you are happy with the length, and then work the hem. Next, you pick up and knit the stitches for each sleeve, working decreases to give the sleeves a little bit more shape. To finish, you pick up and knit the collar.

Please also note that this is a digital download and not a physical knitting pattern. It has been formatted for A5 paper. For pattern support, please email me.

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Materials & Fit

Notions: You will need 3 mm / US 2.5 (40-cm / 16-in cord) and 4 mm / US 6 (40-, 60-, and/or a 80-/100-cm / 16-, 24-, and/or a 32-/40-in cord circular needles. You will also need at least a couple of stitch markers, one of which should be in a contrasting colour to indicate the beginning of the round, a darning needle, and either scrap yarn, spare circular needles, or stitch holders for the resting sleeve stitches.

Tension: 20 stitches x 29 rows/rounds in Stockinette stitch on 4 mm / US 6 = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in. Row gauge shouldn’t be too important for this project. You should wash and block your swatch before measuring for best results.

Yarn: I estimate that you will need approximately 540 (570) 620 (650), 680 (710) 760 (800), 850 (950) 1,050 (1,140) m / 590 (630) 670 (710), 740 (780) 830 (870), 930 (1,050) 1,150 (1,250) yds of a DK-weight yarn.

I have tried to be generous here, and these estimates are based on the quantity of yarn used to make the sample garment. To help with clarity, I have also rounded the quantities to the nearest 10 m and converted these figures into yards, which I have then rounded to the nearest 10 yards to ensure you will have enough yarn.

For the sample garment (Size D), I used Rauma Pelini in the shade Light Grey Green (#891) (50% cotton, 50% linen; 50 g = 102 m / 111.5 yds). If you want to use the same yarn, this works out to be 6 (6) 6-7 (7), 7 (7-8) 8 (8-9), 9 (10) 11 (12) balls of yarn.

Yarn alternatives: Any DK-weight linen blend yarn held single would be lovely here as an alternative. Both Sandnes Garn Line (53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen; 50 g = 110 m / 121 yds) and Drops Belle (53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen; 50 g = 120 m / 131 yds) would be great options. If you don’t like working with linen, a 100% cotton yarn would also be really nice here. I would recommend looking at Rauma Petunia (100% pima cotton; 50 g = 110 m / 121 yds).

Sizing and ease: The Tendreil Tee has a recommended positive ease of 15-20 cm 6-8 in around the chest (or the widest part of your torso) for Sizes A-H, and 10-20 cm / 4-8 in for Sizes I-L. If you want a tighter fit, you should feel free to pick a size with less positive ease relative to your body using the measurements given below, and vice versa. If in doubt, I recommend measuring a garment you already own that is also oversized and using that as a guideline to help you find your preferred fit.

Size: A (B) C (D), E (F) G (H), I (J) K (L)

Chest measurement (cm): 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95), 95-100, (100-105) 105-110 (110-115), 115-125 (125-135) 135-145 (145-155)
Chest measurement (in): 29.5-31.5 (31.5-33.5) 33.5-35.5 (35.5-37.5), 37.5-39.25 (39.25-41.25) 41.25-43.25 (43.25-45.25), 45.25-49.25 (49.25-53.25) 53.25-57 (57-61)

Actual circumference of garment (cm): 95 (100) 105 (110), 115 (120) 125 (130), 135 (145) 155 (165)
Actual circumference of garment (in): 37.5 (39.5) 41.25 (43.25), 45.25 (47.25) 49.25 (51.25), 53.25 (57) 61 (65)

Actual yoke depth at outer edges of the yoke (cm): 18 (18.5) 19.5 (20), 20.5 (21.5) 22 (22.5). 24.5 (26.5) 28 (30)
Actual yoke depth at the outer edges of the yoke (in): 7 (7.25) 7.75 (7.75), 8 (8.25) 8.5 (8.75), 9.5 (10.25) 11 (11.75)

Sleeve circumference at upper bicep (cm): 36.5 (37.5) 39 (40), 41 (42.5) 43.5 (45), 48.5 (52.5) 56 (60)
Sleeve circumference at upper bicep (in): 14.25 (14.75) 15.25 (15.75), 16.25 (16.75) 17 (17.75), 19 (20.75) 22 (23.5)

Recommended sleeve length (cm): 15
Recommended sleeve length (in): 6

Recommended body length from underarm to hem (cm): 31 (31) 32 (32), 32 (32) 33 (33), 33 (34) 34 (34)
Recommended body length from underarm to hem (in): 12.25 (12.25) 12.5 (12.5), 12.5 (12.5) 13 (13), 13 (13.5) 13.5 (13.5)

Techniques include working flat and in the round, working from a chart, working 2-stitch cables, working a tubular cast-off, picking up stitches along vertical and horizontal edges, and German short rows.