Tahki Yarns Lavallette Tee Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Lavallette Tee

What Is Being Made

The Lavallette Tee is a classic knitted pullover sweater designed by Irina Poludnenko. This garment is a versatile, everyday tee available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 36 inches to 57 inches and lengths from 19¾ inches to 24¾ inches. The design features a simple, refined silhouette suitable for a range of body types and preferences.

Techniques Used

This sweater is constructed using the bottom-up method, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the neckline. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, requiring seaming to join the pieces together after all components are completed. The design incorporates stripes created through color changes in the yarn, adding visual interest to the finished piece.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Lavallette Tee is Stockinette stitch, which is created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. This classic stitch produces a smooth, flat fabric with a distinctive V-pattern appearance on the front and horizontal bumps on the back.

The pattern also incorporates stripe pattern work, which alternates between different colored yarns to create horizontal bands. Shaping is achieved through strategic decreases and increases: ssk (slip, slip, knit) decreases and k2tog (knit 2 together) decreases are used to shape the shoulders, while M1 (make 1) increases add stitches where needed for proper fit and shaping.

Materials

The Lavallette Tee is knitted using Tahki Yarns Skinny Jeans, a yarn blend of 70% cotton and 30% nylon. This fiber content creates a durable, breathable fabric ideal for a lightweight tee. The yarn comes in 1.75-ounce balls with 114 yards of yardage per ball.

The pattern calls for three coordinating shades of denim:

• Color #03 dark denim (A): The primary color, requiring 3 to 7 balls depending on size
• Color #02 denim (B): An accent color, requiring 1 to 2 balls
• Color #01 light denim (C): A secondary accent color, requiring 1 to 2 balls

Knitting needles required include one pair of size 7 (4.5mm) straight needles for the main body and one size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches long for working the neckband. Additional supplies include stitch markers to track pattern repeats and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together.

Gauge and Construction Details

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The pattern specifies 17 stitches and 24 rows equal 4 inches in Stockinette stitch, and 17 stitches and 26 rows equal 4 inches in the stripe pattern. Knitters should always swatch and check gauge before beginning to ensure their finished garment matches the intended dimensions.

The sweater is shaped through shoulder shaping worked at the armholes, with bind-offs distributed across multiple rows to create a gradual slope. The neckband is worked separately on the circular needle and then joined to the body, providing a neat, professional finish.