Tahki Yarns Avalon Tee Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Avalon Tee Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

The Avalon Tee is a classic knitted sweater designed by Teresa Chorzepa, available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X. This garment features a crew neckline and is offered in two versions: a striped colorway using granite and smoky mountains, or a solid color option. The finished bust measurements range from 36 inches (91.5 cm) for Small through 56 inches (142 cm) for 3X, with corresponding lengths from 22 inches (56 cm) to 24.5 inches (62 cm).

Knitting Techniques Used

The Avalon Tee is constructed using bottom-up seamed construction, meaning the body and sleeves are knitted separately from the lower edges upward, then assembled together. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward shaping and color work. The design incorporates striped colorwork as a primary design element, with the pattern worked in two coordinating colors from the Tahki Yarns TANDEM yarn line. A knitted cast-on (also known as cable cast-on) is used to begin the piece, which creates a flexible, neat edge ideal for garments.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Avalon Tee employs two primary stitch patterns throughout its construction. The main fabric is worked in Cross stitch, which creates texture and visual interest while maintaining the garment's drape. Stockinette stitch (St st) is also used, particularly for sections requiring a smoother finish. The pattern includes essential shaping techniques such as knit 2 together (K2tog) decreases for armhole and neckline shaping. Stitch markers are used throughout to clearly identify key points where shaping occurs, such as the center front neck stitches and side seams.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Avalon Tee is designed to be knitted with Tahki Yarns TANDEM, a versatile blend yarn composed of 28% cotton, 28% viscose, 28% nylon, and 16% acrylic. This fiber composition creates a garment with excellent breathability, drape, and durability—ideal for a lightweight tee. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and yields 107 yards (98 meters). For the striped version, the pattern requires 5 to 9 balls of color #12 granite (A) depending on size, plus 1 to 2 balls of color #13 smoky mountains (B) for stripes. The solid color version requires 6 to 9 balls of color #13 smoky mountains exclusively.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires size 8 (5mm) straight needles for the main body and sleeve pieces. A size 8 (5mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 cm) is used specifically for the neck edging, allowing for seamless finishing around the neckline. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking shaping points and a yarn needle for seaming the finished pieces together and weaving in ends.

Gauge Information

Achieving proper gauge is essential for garment fit. The pattern specifies two gauge measurements: 16 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Cross stitch, and 16 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch. Knitters are strongly advised to knit and measure a gauge swatch before beginning the project to ensure their finished garment matches the intended dimensions.

Construction Overview

The Avalon Tee follows a logical bottom-up seamed construction method. After casting on using the knitted cast-on technique, the body is worked upward in the chosen stitch pattern with color changes creating the stripe design. Armhole shaping is incorporated by binding off stitches at regular intervals. The neckline is shaped by binding off center stitches and working both shoulders simultaneously with separate yarn balls, allowing for precise neck shaping. The pattern includes detailed instructions for neck and shoulder shaping, with decreases worked at the neck edges and bind-offs at the shoulders to create proper garment structure.