Plain tunic

Another favourite in the plain-series. This short tunic is like an A-shaped vest. You can wear the buttons in the front or in the back.
Over: The garment is just warm enough with a combo of wool and cotton.
Under: For winter you can knit the tunic in one ply worsted wool.
Sizes
1 (2-3) 4-5 (6-7) 8-9 y
size 1 y for free this time. The rest can be bought here.

Yarn
For warmer days:
Pickles Thin Organic Cotton, 150 (200) 250 (300) 350 g
and Abuelita 3-ply, 100 (100) 200 (200) 200 g
For colder days:
Abuelita Baby Alpaca Merino or Worsted
(200) 200 (300) 300 (400) g

Needles
Circular needles 32” and 24”, and DP needles US 9
Crochet hook G or H

Gauge per 4”
14 s and 21 rows in stockinette

Measurement, lying flat:
Chest: 10.2 (11) 11.8 (13) 14.1”
Bottom: 16.5 (17.7) 18.9 (20.4) 22”

Garter stitch:
Back and forth: Knit
In the round: Knit 1 round, purl 1 round.

Knitted bottom-up in double strands for warmer days/single ply for warmer days (see under yarn above).
Cast on 120 s on circular needles US 9.

Knit garter stitch in the round. On the first round place markers (PM) like this:

K 15 s, PM, K 30, PM, K 30, PM, K 30, PM. Knit the rest of the round.

Continue in garter stitch until the piece is 1.6”
Start knitting in stockinette.

Decrease like this every 1”:

Round of decreasing:
(Note: The round starts where the neck opening will come, in the back/front of the tunic)
Knit until until you reach the first marker, K2tog. Knit until you´re 2 s away from the next marker, SSK.
Repeat this on the other side of the tunic.
You only decrease between the markers marking the sides of the tunic, and the stitches for the front and back remain the same.

Repeat this round every 1” until 6 s remain between the markers in the sides. You should have decreased 12 rounds in total (=72 s remain)
The piece should be about 13.3”
On the next round cast off the 6 s in each side.

On the next round make 18 new stitches for sleeves in each side (where you casted off for the stitches on the previous round).
Do this by making bakward loops.

Start knitting back and forth in garter stitch. You now have 96 s.

Decreasing:
On the next row decrease 16 evenly (K2tog).
Knit 3 rows.
On the next row decrease 12 s evenly.
Knit 3 rows.
On the next row decrease 12 s eveenly.
Knit 3 rows.
On the next row decrease 8 s evenly
Knit 2 rows.
Cast off loosely on the next row.
(48 s)

Single crochet along the neck opening and make small loops for the buttons. Crochet as many button holes as you want.

Comments

[Michelle]

What other yarns will substitute for Pickles? I, unfortunately, can't purchase this.

[Jennifer]

This is darling. Did you single crochet all the way around the neck opening, or just along the front edges where the buttons go?

[pickles]

We did all the way around the neck :)

[Heather]

I would love this in an adult size. I'd love to knit it for myself in handspun. If you ever adapt it to an adult size, please let me know. Thanks!

[pickles]

We get a lot of requests and cannot promise anything:) But we will write it on the wish list:)

[Jennifer]

No link for the other sizes. Looking for a 4/5. Thanks!

[pickles]

We´ve fixed the link now Jennifer, thanks for commenting!

[Audrey]

thanks for this its adorable - I love all your designs

[Carole]

I'm not an experienced knitter and I've reached the point in the pattern where I need to switch from circular knit to back and forth [or flat] and I'm not sure how to do this. Can you PLEASE help me with this? I just love your site and patterns! I would also like to know what type of yarn to substitute because I can't find your yarn where I live. Thank you so much. Carole from Canada

[pickles]

You knit back and forth by turning your needles and knitting the same stitches backwards in the opposite direction every time you reach the end of the needle. We ship world wide :)

[Cherie Thompson]

I am making matching plain tunics for a two year old and a 3 month old. What would the cast on beans the reducing ratio be for a t month old? I made the big sister tunic but would love help for the 3 month old pattern.
Cherie Thompson, Dorset, Vermont

[pickles]

sorry, we don't have other sizes available:)

[Deb]

I don't understand the instructions for the yoke. There seems to be part of the instructions missing.

After you cast on 18 sts on each side, for the yoke, do you rejoin the yarn, and knit in the round?

Or since you say to "knit back and forth," does this mean you knit a front yoke and then pick up stitches and knit a back yoke? And then join front and back at shoulder seam?

Or perhaps, is the yoke knit in one long piece that is only attached in the front and you seam the back yoke to the body?

[pickles]

You knit back and forth, from the button edge to the button edge on the other side :)

[Carol]

I purchased the simple tunic pattern and the cotton in caramel. I neglected to also order the alpaca-would the camel be the colour that would accompany the caramel?

I love your classic, simple designs and the instructions are easy to follow-a knitter's dream-thank you...Carol

[pickles]

That sounds like a nice combo:) Thanks for the nice comment!

[pintuk1@hotmail.com]

What colour of organic cotton and abuelita did you use in the photo above? Carol

[pickles]

We're sold out of the cotton right now. The cotton is called sand. The abuelita is called nature.