Valley Yarns Carina Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Carina Lace Hem Tee

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Carina is a seamless, lace-trimmed short-sleeve tee designed by Julie Turjoman. This warm-weather knit features a delicate lace hem at the bottom, an A-line silhouette that widens from the bust to the hips, and cap sleeves with matching lace edging. The design includes a high boat neckline and is worked primarily in stockinette stitch for a modest, breathable garment suitable for warm days and nights. Available in sizes XS through 4XL, the finished length hits at mid-hip and can be customized for additional length if desired.

Techniques Used

The Carina employs several advanced knitting techniques that make it suitable for advanced beginner knitters. The garment is worked in the round from the lace border up to the armholes, utilizing circular needles to create a seamless construction. The body transitions from circular knitting to flat knitting (back and forth) at the armholes through the boat neck, with minimal seaming required at the shoulders only. The design incorporates A-line shaping achieved through strategic decreases marked with stitch markers to narrow the silhouette from hip to bust. Lace stitch work creates the decorative hem border and the matching lace-edged cap sleeves, adding visual interest and breathability to the design.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch forms the main body fabric, providing a smooth, classic knit surface
• Lace stitch patterns create the delicate hem border and cap sleeve edging
• Ribbed stitch is used for the neckband, which is worked in the round after stitches are picked up from the boat neck
• A-line decrease shaping is worked throughout the body to create the fitted-to-flared silhouette

Materials and Specifications

The Carina is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Granville, a breathable blend of 90% Pima Cotton and 10% Merino Wool. The yarn is worked at a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when blocked. Yarn requirements range from 7 hanks for the smallest sizes (XS, S, M) to 12 hanks for the largest size (4XL), with each hank containing 50 grams and 167 yards.

Needles required include US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths, plus double-pointed needles (DPNs) for working the cap sleeves and neckband. Additional materials include stitch markers (with 4 in a unique color to distinguish decrease shaping), and a tapestry needle for finishing. The pattern uses the Long-Tail cast-on method to begin the garment with 222 to 390 stitches depending on size.

Construction Details

The Carina is constructed from the bottom up, beginning with a cast-on edge that is worked into a lace hem. The body is knitted in the round on circular needles, maintaining the seamless construction while the A-line shaping gradually decreases stitches to narrow from the hips toward the bust. Once the armholes are reached, the knitter transitions to flat knitting (working back and forth) to complete the body and boat neckline. Cap sleeves are then worked downward from the shoulder edges, incorporating the same lace stitch pattern used for the hem. Finally, stitches are picked up around the neckline to work a ribbed neckband in the round, completing the garment with minimal seaming required only at the shoulder joins.