Description

Overview of the pattern:

The Day Dancer Tee is a lightweight, short-sleeved top knitted seamlessly from the top down, combining the look of a cardigan with a modern, understated elegance. Alongside the beautiful lace, the standout feature of this design is the faux button band worked in double knitting, which is added to the front and neckline at the end—unlike a traditional cardigan, the body of this tee is worked entirely in the round!

The clean and repeating chevron lace pattern creates a soft, wavy texture, while rows of dropped stitches add rhythm and lightness to the fabric. The relaxed fit, dropped shoulders, and refined details give this summer piece an effortlessly stylish look.

The back is worked flat first down to the underarms. Then stitches are picked up from the cast-on edge of the back for the front pieces, which are worked one at a time before joining the body. A double-folded stockinette hem is worked and echoed at the sleeve cuffs. Stitches are picked up for the sleeves, which are worked in the round using the same lace pattern. Finally, stitches are picked up along the neckline for the faux button band, worked in double knitting—you can choose to add buttonholes or leave them out.

Difficulty level: Intermediate

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) 6  which correspond to approx. XS/S (M, L/XL, 2XL/3XL, 4XL) 5XL 

Recommended ease: approx. 10–15 cm / 4–6” of positive ease

Sample knitted with 15 cm / 6” of positive ease. 

Measurements for the finished knit:

• Bust circumference: approx. 86 (100, 122, 136, 165) 179 cm / 33.75 (39.25, 48, 53.5, 65) 70.5”
• Length from armhole to hem: approx. 28 (28, 28, 35, 45) 55 cm / 11.25 (11.25, 11.25, 13.75, 17.75) 21.75” – this can be adjusted
• Armhole circumference: approx. 29 (36, 43, 50, 61) 72 cm / 11.5 (14.25, 17, 19.75, 24.25) 28.5”

Gauge:

25 sts x 32 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4″ in lace pattern with 2,5 mm / US 1.5 needles (after blocking). The width of one 9-stitch pattern repeat is 3.6 cm / 1.4”. See the lace pattern chart at the end of the pattern. Change needle size if necessary to achieve the specified gauge.

Yarn:

Approx. 950 (1100, 1250, 1400, 1600) 1850 meters / 1040 (1200, 1370, 1530, 1750) 2020 yards of fingering-weight yarn. 

Sample knit: 4 (5, 5, 6, 7) 8 balls of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk (100% bourette silk, 250 m / 275 yds / 50 g), photographed in colorway Poppy Blue.

Other good yarn options (as an example):

Sandnes Garn Tynn Line, Isager Bomulin, Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino, Ritual Dyes Undine

Needles:

2,5 mm / US 1.5 40 cm / 16” and 60 cm / 24” or 80 cm / 32” circular needles and double pointed needle (or according to gauge)

Notions

Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle, scrap yarn or stitch holding cables, 6 buttons with approx. 1 cm / 0.4” diameter.