Tahki Yarns Monterey Tee Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Monterey Tee

What Is Being Made

The Monterey Tee is a knitted pullover top designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This intermediate-level garment is worked flat on straight needles and then seamed together. It features a classic tee silhouette available in four sizes ranging from Small to XL, with finished bust measurements of 35 to 46 inches and a length of approximately 22 to 23.5 inches. The design is intended to be worn with 1–3 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Techniques Used

The Monterey Tee employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished appearance:

• Intarsia: A specialized color-work method used to incorporate multiple colors within individual rows without floating unused yarn across the back of the fabric. This technique requires careful yarn management—when transitioning between colors, the new color is brought up from underneath the dropped color to wrap the yarns together and prevent holes in the finished piece.
• Worked Flat: The garment is constructed on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional row-by-row construction before pieces are joined.
• Seamed Construction: Individual pieces are knitted separately and then seamed together to create the complete garment, providing clean, finished seams.
• Striping: A detailed stripe sequence alternates between two colors (smoky mountains and granite) across 116 rows, creating visual interest and texture throughout the piece.

Stitches Used

The Monterey Tee incorporates fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches:

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st): The primary stitch used for the main fabric, worked at a gauge of 17 stitches and 25 rows per 4 inches on US size 8 needles.
• Twisted Rib: Used for ribbed sections, this stitch is worked over an even number of stitches, alternating knit through the back loop (K1 tbl) with purl (p1) to create a textured, elastic edge.
• Decreases: The pattern includes K2tog (knit 2 together) and ssk or ssp (slip, slip, knit or purl) decreases for shaping.

Materials and Specifications

The Monterey Tee is designed to be worked with Tahki Yarns TANDEM, a blend of 28% cotton, 28% viscose, 28% nylon, and 16% acrylic. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces and yields 107 yards. The pattern requires 4 to 6 balls depending on size: 4 (5, 5, 6) balls in color #13 smoky mountains for the primary color and 4 (4, 5, 5) balls in color #12 granite for contrast. The yarn is worked on US size 8 (5mm) needles to achieve the specified gauge. Additional materials include a 16-inch US size 8 circular needle, stitch markers, a cable needle, and a yarn needle for finishing and seaming.

Pattern Overview

This intermediate-level design combines classic construction methods with modern color-work techniques. The intarsia method allows for sophisticated two-color patterning without the bulk created by floating yarn, making it ideal for a lightweight summer tee. The detailed stripe sequence spanning 116 rows creates a complex, visually dynamic fabric while remaining accessible to knitters with intermediate skills. The combination of Tahki Yarns TANDEM's breathable fiber content—featuring cotton and viscose for comfort—makes this an excellent choice for warm-weather wear.