How is everybody coming along? That is ALOT of knitting on the body, isn’t it? But, I hope you are making some nice shapes, and getting things just the way you want them! I love my boxy, faded T, but there is something just super magical about the way the shaping is worked along the tank. It really makes a difference and when I want to dress up, or look cute, that’s what I grab!
I’ve also picked up some new teas to try this week, so I’ll be sharing those when I do. It’s finally fall, and we’ve actually had a few cool days here, so I’ll be pulling out the hot tea bags as well. (Of course, I have a Harvest Spice one that will be in constant rotation now that it is October!)
All right, so I don’t want to keep you waiting any longer, this week we are going to be talking about working the back yoke- the area from your underarm to the top of the shoulder, across the BACK, and looking at any variations we might want to make along the neckline (so that we are ready to dive into that next week!
Step 5:
If you don’t currently have 2 markers in your knitting (so, if you haven’t done any shaping, and just worked a boxy tee!), you are going to need to work this next step (if you do have 2 markers, just make sure that you have the same number of sts between both markers!):
Now, you are going to take your body sts and divide them in half so, basically, if you currently have 242 stitches, you will divide 242 by 2 (so 121).
Knit that number that you just got, place a marker that is different than your end of round marker, and then knit the rest of the way around.
So, now we should all be on the same page and we are going to work some increases to create the arms. You are going to work 2 increase rows over 2 rounds like this:
K1, k1f&b, knit to 2 sts before m, k1f&b, k1, sm, k1, k1, k1f&b, knit to 2 sts before the end of the round m, k1f&b, k1. You’ve increased 4 sts.
Knit 1 round.
Repeat the increase round, you have now increased 4 sts, for a total of 8 sts increased.
Knit 1 round.
Now is when you need to decide what shape you want your neck to be. Do you want a more scooped neck (like the child’s version), a higher ballet type neck (like the striped version) or a v-neck (like the fade), because each one will mean you need to work Step 7 (which will arrive next week) differently!
Step 6:
Now, because you might still be deciding about the front of your piece and the neckline, we are going to separate the front from the back and work the back by itself.
Knit across the front sts to the side marker, place the sts you just worked onto waste yarn. Knit across the back sts, turn and you will begin to work the sts flat.
Check the measurement that you took of the length from the underarm to the top of the back of the shirt (or have someone help you take your measurement to get this number). You are going to knit in your preferred style (faded/stripes, etc), until you reach this measurement.
That gives you a bit of time to decide on that front!
Once you get to that measurement, put the back sts onto waste yarn, cut the yarn, leaving a nice long tail (maybe about 18” or so?) and reattach the yarn to the side, ready to work the front.
Pour yourself your beverage of choice and start making those decisions about the neckline shaping you are going to want to use for next week! We’re almost there knitting friends!