The Crew Tee- Free Knitting Pattern
Summer is just around the corner so it’s the perfect time to bust out all the gorgeous cotton yarns. The Crew Tee is sure to become a Summer staple with it’s easy pattern repeat and relaxed fit. Find the free pattern below or grab the digital PDF in my shop.
***The Crew Tee is featured in Lion Brand Yarn’s Summer Cotton Collection! You can grab a complete kit which comes with all the Comfy Cotton Blend yarn you’ll need (in the colorway of your choice) and a free digital copy of the pattern! Just head to the link below to grab yours today!***
I made my first knit garment pattern!!!
You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to say that! I’ve had to keep this baby a secret for far too long and I’m beyond thrilled to finally be able to share it with you. The Crew Tee is my very first knit garment design and it definitely won’t be my last.
This simple relaxed fit tee is the perfect thing to throw on during these warmer Summer months. It’s simple shapes work up quickly and the stitches used create a gorgeous ridged pattern. There is a bit of neckline shaping on the front and ribbing along the neckline, sleeves and bottom to give it a polished look.
It’s worked bottom up in two panels making this pattern perfect for the confident beginner or intermediate knitter. I’ve included a video tutorial for the stitches used which you can check out farther down. You can also check out how to do the bias bind off neckline by checking out this helpful tutorial from coco knits.
The Crew Tee Knitting Pattern
Materials:
700-1478 yards of Lion Brand Comfy Cotton in Chai Latte or similar weight 3 yarn
32” circular size 9 (5.5mm) knitting needles
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Stitch Marker
Abbreviations:
CO- cast on
st(s)- stitch(es)
sk- skip
RS- right side
WS- wrong side
sl- slip
K- knit
P-purl
K2tog- knit 2 together
BO- bind off
Kfb- knit front and back
wyif- with yarn in front
wyib- with yarn in back
Gauge:
20.5 sts and 27 rows in pattern repeat = 4” square
(use rows 9-12 of back panel for gauge)
Size:
XS: fits bust 28-30” (approx. 700 yards) 2 skeins
S: fits bust 32-34” (approx. 780 yards) 2 skeins
M: fits bust 36-38” (approx. 880 yards) 3 skeins
L: fits bust 40-42” (approx. 960 yards) 3 skeins
XL: fits bust 44-46” (approx. 1065 yards) 3 skeins
2X: fits bust 48-50” (approx. 1148 yards) 3 skeins
3X: fits bust 52-54” (approx. 1260 yards) 4 skeins
4X: fits bust 56-58” (approx. 1345 yards) 4 skeins
5X: fits bust 60-62” (approx. 1478 yards) 4 skeins
Notes:
1. Pattern is worked bottom up in two panels. The front and back panels are seamed at the shoulders and sides. Then stitches are picked up along the arm holes and the neckline to finish.
2. Pattern is made with 4-6” of positive ease. Size down for a tighter fit. It is made to be a bit oversized and boxy.
3. Model is wearing a size 2X and is 5’9”
4. To adjust the length of your tee add or subtract the four row pattern repeat at the end of the back panel and before the start of the neckline on the front panel.
5. An easy way to keep track of your rows is to count the “ridges” created from the stitch pattern. The back panel will have 40(40, 41, 41, 42, 42, 43, 43, 44) ridges. The front panel will have 36(34, 34, 35, 35, 36, 36, 37) before you start the neckline shaping.
Stitch Pattern Video Tutorial
Pattern:
Back:
CO 88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
Row 1-5(WS): *K1, P1, repeat from *. (88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
Row 6(RS): K all sts. (88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
Row 7: P all sts. (88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
Row 8: repeat Row 6.
Row 9: P, *K2tog, repeat from * until 1 st remains, P1. (45(50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 86)
Row 10: K1, *Kfb, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
Row 11: P all sts. (88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
Row 12: K all sts. (88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
Rows 13-172(172, 176, 176, 180, 180, 184, 184, 188): Repeat Rows 9-12. (88(98, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 170)
BO on last Row.
Front:
Repeat CO and Rows 1-154(147, 147, 147, 151, 151, 155, 155, 159)
On last row place st markers after st 33(38, 42, 47, 51, 57, 61, 66, 72) and after st 55(60, 66, 71, 77, 81, 87, 92, 98)
Neckline Shaping
We will now be separating the front to create the neck line.
Initial BO Row: K until st before marker, kfb into st before marker, then BO every st until you hit the next marker. Remove marker and BO one more st (23, 23, 24, 25, 27, 25, 27, 27,27 sts bound off), K across.
Right Side:
We will now be working the right side of the tee, working a biased bind off on the RS along the neckline.
XS(L, XL, 2X, 3X)
Row 1: P1, *K2tog, repeat from * until 4 sts remain, P 3, sl last st purl wise. (19(26, 28, 31, 33)
Row 2: wyib, sl first 2 sts purl wise to right needle, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, then K1, *Kfb, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K last st. (31(45, 49, 55, 59)
Row 3: P across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (31(45, 49, 55, 59)
Row 4: wyib, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, K across. (29(43, 47, 53, 57)
Row 5: P1, *K2tog, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, P1, sl last st purl wise. (16(23, 25, 28, 30)
Row 6: wyib, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, *Kfb, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (28(42, 46, 52, 56)
Row 7: P across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (28(42, 46, 52, 56)
Row 8: wyib, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, K across. (27(41, 45, 51, 55)
Repeat Rows 5-8 2(3, 3, 3, 3) more times. (23(35, 39, 45, 49)
Then Repeat Rows 5&6 1(1, 1, 1,1) more time. (22, 34, 38, 44, 48)
Continue in normal pattern (same as rows 9-12 of back panel) repeat until you have the same number of rows as the back panel. BO on last row leaving a long tail for seaming.
S(M, 4X, 5X)
Row 1: P1, *K2tog, repeat from * until 3 sts remain, P 2, sl last st purl wise. (21(21, 35, 38)
Row 2: wyib, sl first 2 sts purl wise to right needle, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, then *Kfb, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K last st. (36(36, 64, 70)
Row 3: P across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (36(36, 64, 70)
Row 4: wyib, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, K across. (34(34, 62, 68)
Row 5: P1, *K2tog, repeat from * until 3 sts remain, P 2, sl last st purl wise. (19(19, 33, 36)
Row 6: wyib, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, K, *Kfb, repeat from * until 1 st remains, K1. (33(33, 61, 67)
Row 7: P across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (33(33, 61, 67)
Row 8: sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 2nd st over 1st st, K across. (32(32, 60, 66)
Repeat Rows 5-8 3(3, 4, 4) more times. (26(26, 52, 58)
Continue in normal pattern (same as rows 9-12 of back panel) repeat until you have the same number of rows as the back panel. BO on last row leaving a long tail for seaming.
Left Side
Starting on the wrong side of the tee at the neck line where the first BO st was worked, join new yarn.
XS(L, XL, 2X, 3X)
Row 1: P 2, *K2tog, repeat from * until 1 st remains, P1. (18(25, 27, 30, 32)
Row 2: K1, *Kfb, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, K1, sl last st purl wise. 33(47, 51, 57, 61)
Row 3: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, P across. (31(45, 49, 55, 59)
Row 4: K across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (31(45, 49, 55, 59)
Row 5: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, P1, *K2tog, repeat from * until 1 st remains, P1. (16(23, 25, 28, 30)
Row 6: K1, *Kfb, repeat from * until 2 sts remain, K1, sl last st purl wise. (29(43, 47, 53, 57)
Row 7: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, P across. (28(42, 46, 52, 56)
Row 8: K across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (28(42, 46, 52, 56)
Row 9: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, P1, *K2tog, repeat from * until 1 st remains, P1. (15(22, 24, 27, 29)
Repeat Rows 6-9 2(3, 3, 3, 3) more times. (23(35, 39, 45, 49)
Then Repeat Rows 6&7 1(1, 1, 1,1) more time. (22, 34, 38, 44, 48)
Continue in normal pattern (same as rows 9-12 of back panel) repeat until you have the same number of rows as the back panel. BO on last row leaving a long tail for seaming.
S(M, 4X, 5X)
Row 1: P1, *K2tog, repeat from * until 1 st remains, P1. (20(20, 34, 37)
Row 2: K1, *Kfb, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. 38(38, 66, 72)
Row 3: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, P across. (36(36, 64, 70)
Row 4: K across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (36(36, 64, 70)
Row 5: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, BO one more st, *K2tog, repeat from * until 1 st remains, P. (18(18, 32, 35)
Row 6: K, *Kfb, repeat from * until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (34(34, 62, 68)
Row 7: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, P across. (33(33, 61, 67)
Row 8: K across until 1 st remains, sl last st purl wise. (33(33, 61, 67)
Row 9: wyif, sl 2 sts purl wise, pull 1st st over 2nd st, *K2tog, repeat from * until 1 st remains, P1. (17(17, 31, 34)
Repeat Rows 6-9 3(3, 4, 4) more times. (26(26, 52, 58)
Continue in normal pattern (same as rows 9-12 of back panel) repeat until you have the same number of rows as the back panel. BO on last row leaving a long tail for seaming.
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Seaming:
Lay front and back together with RS facing each other. Seam along shoulders and sides leaving a 7(7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10) inch opening for arm holes. See blue lines below.
Sleeves:
Sleeves are made by picking up stitches along each armhole and working in rows and then seaming closed.
With RS facing and leaving a long tail of yarn, pick up stitches along arm holes starting at the seam of the under arm and going up one side and back down the other. Pick up approx. 5 sts per 8 rows for a total of 56(56, 56, 66, 66, 76, 76, 80, 80)
Row 1-5: *P1, K1, repeat from * across.
BO, then seam the sleeve closed and weave in ends.
Repeat on 2nd sleeve.
Neckline:
Neckline is made by picking up stitches along neck opening and working in rows, then seaming closed.
With RS facing and leaving a long tail of yarn, pick up stitches along neck opening, starting at the right shoulder seam. Along the back neck opening and front opening pick up stitches skipping every 6th st as you go. Along the sides of the neck opening, pick up sts in the ends of rows where you made the bias BO. Feel free to add or substract stitches to get desired neckline and to ensure you are able to fit it over your head.
Approx. 74(78, 84, 86, 88, 88, 88, 92, 92)
Row 1-4: *P, K, repeat from * across.
BO, then seam the neckline closed and weave in ends.
Block if needed.
Now you can go enjoy your brand new Crew Tee!
I couldn’t have made this pattern with out the help of my amazing testers. Check out their wonderful work in the gallery below. I’d linked to their Instagram accounts as well.
@junebugyarns, @leslieslakelife, @finger_lydia, @8leggedyogi, @lovingneedle
If you make a Crew Tee, I’d love to see it! Make sure to tag me @meghanmakesdo in your photos on social media and use #thecrewtee so I can see and share.
As always you can find a PDF version of this pattern in my shop, Etsy or Ravelry. And don’t forget you can also grab a complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn.
Happy Knitting,
Meghan
