10 Best Summer Tee Knitting Patterns
Summer is here, and what better way to spend some quality knitting time than with a summer tee pattern! I've searched throughout Ravelry and found 10 of the most highly rated (4.7 or higher), popular tees to help you decide on the perfect pattern. All have been shared with the designer's permission.
A variety of yarn weights are used including lace, fingering, sport, DK and worsted weight. I've listed the patterns in alphabetical order.
This top-down sweater pattern comes in both long and short sleeved versions. Check out the project pages for many lovely short sleeved examples. Done in laceweight yarn, Adelaide would be light as a feather. Perfect for layering over a comfy little tee.
Adelaide has an outstanding overall rating of 4.9 and a clarity rating of 4.8. Sizes 38¼ to 57¾”. The pattern is available both from Brooklyn Tweed's Wool People Vol 12 as well as a Ravelry download.
Alanis
by Elizabeth Smith of elizabethsmithknits.com
Elizabeth describes her worsted weight design as "a cozy sweater tee/vest that’s perfect for layering, is an easy knit yet still features a few fun details, such as an icord edge split hem and an inset pocket (with contrasting color pocket lining!)." Hundreds of knitters agree!
This pattern has an overall rating of 4.8 with a clarity rating of 4.7. Sizes from XS to 5X. Ravelry download.
Anker's Summer Shirt
by Mette of PetiteKnit
Aside from being an adorable photo, isn't this a pretty tee? Mette describes her DK weight design as follows: "Anker’s Summer Shirt is worked from the top down. The yoke is worked in sections of rib with increases in the round, followed by classic raglan increases when the stockinette stitch section begins. The sleeves are worked at the end, either on double-pointed needles or on circular needles using the Magic Loop technique. Anker’s Summer Shirt has no finishing other than weaving in ends."
With an overall rating of 4.7 from almost 400 votes, it's clear that this pattern has resonated with knitters. Sizes XS to 3XL. Ravelry download.
Breezeway
by Laura Aylor of FogboundKnits
I just love the simplicity of this fingering weight tee. Laura writes, "A simple, body-skimming tee knit seamlessly from the top down with yoke and then raglan increases and an elliptical hem. You can choose to wear either the stockinette or reverse stockinette side facing out." Sounds perfect!
Breezeway has an amazing overall rating of 4.8 and a clarity rating of 4.9. Sizes from XXS to XXL. Ravelry download.
This is the second top 10 summer tee patterns from Isabell that made my list. Edie is a fingering weight sweater, described as follows: "a simple tee worked with raglan increases from the top down. First you have to work back and forth until V-Neck shaping is complete, then in the round to the end. Textured stripes will help to compensate the yarns tendency to bias. Short-row shaping for the rounded bottom gives a casual finish. Stitches for short sleeves are picked up after body is complete, to work the sleeves top down in the round. An optional neck finishing is provided."
This sweater has an overall rating of 4.8 from 692 votes (!) and a clarity rating also of 4.8. Sizes are XS to XXL. Ravelry download.
Mount Pleasant
by Megan Nodecker of pipandpin.ca
This little cutie is knitted with fingering weight yarn. Megan writes "Mount Pleasant is a light cropped top with a lacy hem. It is knit in the round from the bottom up with a bit of waist shaping, has dropped shoulders and a nice, wide crew neck. This top is perfect for wearing with high waisted jeans or skirts, or or over-top of longer tunics or collared shirts."
I particularly love the lace hem, so pretty!
Mount Pleasant has an excellent overall and clarity rating of 4.8 from hundreds of knitters. Sizes range from XS to 5X. Ravelry download.
Rift
by Jacqueline Cieslak of jacquelinecieslak.com
Rift is a super popular sport/DK weight tee on Ravelry. Jacqueline describes it as "Rift cracks open all your assumptions about what a “basic tee” pattern should be. This lightweight, bottom-up knit includes instructions for two necklines, optional bust darts, short or long sleeves, and a custom fit bicep. The design features a slightly cropped body and a split high-low hem in twisted rib, giving it enough detailing to be interesting while maintaining a timeless simplicity."
The project page has over 800 entries. You can use wool or linen and cotton yarns depending on how warm you want to be.
Rift has an outstanding overall rating of 4.9 and a clarity rating of 4.7. Sizes are inclusive, ranging from 40" to 72". Ravelry download.
Saona
by Natalie Pelykh of Knit for Sweet
Saona is a lovely summer tee knitted in lace or fingering. Happily, Natalie has included childen's sizes as well as adult. She writes: "The Saona girl’s top is worked top down from the neck entirely seamless. A stunning lace pattern decorates the circular yoke of this light, delicate top worked in stockinette stitch in the round. Matching lace parts can be found along the sides and the hemline."
It's gorgeous! The lace makes this pattern slightly more challenging than others in this list, but still rated quite easy on Ravelry.
Incredibly, the overall rating for this pattern is 5.0 from 77 knitters with a clarity rating also of 5.0. Sizes range from 12 months to 12-14 years for children, and adult 32" to 50". Ravelry download.
Tegna
by Caitlin Hunter of Boyland Knitworks
Tegna takes the prize for the most knitted tee in this list! At the time of writing, it was in almost 5400 projects. Caitlin describes it as follows: "Tegna is knitted seamlessly from the bottom up, starting with the slightly flared lace hem, then working up to the armholes, where you separate your work and work the front and back flat. Knit in fingering weight yarn, this design works equally well in wool, a wool/mohair blend or linen. Instructions are given to customize the body and sleeve lengths to your preference."
I love everything about this - the lace hem, the customizable sleeve length and the a-line shape.
Overall rating is 4.7 with a clarity rating of 4.6. Sizes from XS to 3XL. Ravelry download.
Walk Along
by Anke of Ankestrick
Walk Along has a simple shape jazzed up by the contrast colour. Anke writes "The summer tee is worked seamlessly top-down in one piece in stockinette stitch. Start shaping the neck by working short rows and then the yoke is joined to work in the round with raglan increases. Then the sleeve sts are placed on hold and the underarm sts are cast on and you continue to work the body in the round with a bit of A-shaping to the ribbing and first bind off. Pick up the stitches again to join the “second” shirt (color) to the second ribbing and bind off. After the body is completed the sleeve stitches are picked up again to work the sleeves top down in the round to the end."
Clever, and I love the surprise of the under shirt! This longer design would look great with leggings or jeans.
Overall rating of 4.7 from almost 300 votes, and a clarity rating also of 4.7. The contrasting bottom hem adds slightly more complexity, but the pattern is still rated fairly easy by knitters. Sizes XS to XXL. Ravelry download.
Honey Bee Stitch Markers by Pretty Warm Designs
These ring markers are my personal ode to the importance of these amazing little workers. After all, if we didn't have bees, there would be no chocolate-covered almonds. The set includes a honeycomb charm that makes a perfect beginning-of-round marker, as well as 5 different bee charms. Fits needle sizes up to 5mm (US 8).
Buy these stitch markers to mark the important places in your summer sweater projects!
Here is a short list of a few more summer tee patterns well worth looking at:
CineCittà by La Maison Rililie
Este by Justyna Lorkowska of Lete's Knits
Sugar Maple by Carina Spencer of CarinaSpencer.com
Vaara by Sachiko Burgin of Needle Leaf Knits
Please let me know if you decide to try one of these projects, I'd love see your work. I have a very friendly Facebook group called Pretty Warm Designs that you are welcome to join and share your creations. Happy knitting everyone!