I am finally knitting the Lakeland tee pattern (link to pattern at bottom of page) with short sleeves and a slight v-neck. This wonderful, easy pattern comes from designer Heidi Kirrmaier (link goes to her Ravelry pattern page). The Lakeland sample is knit in big blocks of color, but color choice is up to the knitter. Some knitters have done the top in one solid color. Others have used variegated yarn, or created stripes.
Isager Palet Cotton Yarn
Also, I am using a yarn I have never used before. Isager Palet is a cotton yarn with a flat strand and comes in variegated colors. I am using Ocean blue (5 skeins) as my main color and plan to use brown – color “Dunes” (1 skein) – further down the body for thin stripes.
The Knitting Pattern
The pattern for the Lakeland top is very easy to follow. I have just separated the body and sleeves and will now continue down the body and add some brown color at some point.
The pattern begins with some back and forth, flat, knitting which raises the back of the top (there are no short rows), shapes the neck edge and marks out the sleeve areas. All directions are very easy to read and understand. I used four different color markers as the pattern suggested, which was helpful.
All increases made at the edges of the neck should be done carefully and correctly because this part of the top will be very noticeable when worn.
I’m going to do something different for the sleeves and make them shorter.
Knitting With Isager Yarn
I began knitting this top using metal needles and it made the Isager Palet too slippery. I changed to wooden needles and was happier. The yarn is very easy to knit with. I also went up a needle size, and my stitch gauge was exact, but the rows were short.
The fabric created by the Palet yarn is very nice. It is light, and will probably be fairly cool and comfy in the Florida heat. And let me tell you, it’s been hot!
One thing that I’m having trouble with is the way this yarn comes off the skein. If I pull from the outside, I tend to get a bunch of strands that fall off the skein and get tangled. If I pull from the inside, I can’t find the end easily, and there is a tangled mess. So, I’m not sure which is best.
I’m more used to using wool, and changing colors and skeins is a bit weird with this yarn. It seems like it won’t stay put when “tucked in”, but I guess it will.
Creating the Stripes
About five inches down the body I began to add stripes. I am doing two rows of “Dune” brown, and then seven rows of “Ocean” blue. I really didn’t know how I would do the stripes. All I knew for sure was that I wanted them to begin below the boob line. I’m carrying the brown by catching it on each blue row so I don’t have to break it every time.
The body rib is 2×2 with a split hem. This means that one half of the hem is knit first, then the other half will be knit to leave a split at each side. I like this look, but have never done it. I’m using a size 4 needle – one size smaller than the 5 used for the main part of the tee. The pattern directions were a little confusing here, when they say to go down one size, but the US sizes listed are 4 and 2. I used a size 5 for the main part of the sweater, then a size 4 for the ribbing.
Needle Problems
Unfortunately, I discovered that the Lykke blue needles that I bought were too rough to use! I ended up using the Chiao Goo metal needle for the ribbing. But, even after sanding down the Lykke needle (for the price this should not be a thing), it measures larger than a size 4! Hmmmm… I bought it on Amazon, so maybe it is not a real Lykke (Amazon is not to be trusted at times). I’ve never had problems before, but this was very disappointing.
July 4th… Happy Independence Day my fellow Americans! Yesterday I tried on my Lakeland tee, once the ribbing section (half of it) was done. The garment fits perfectly! This is exciting, and makes me want to finish up my project.
In The End…
Great pattern. I may use it to knit this top again using a wool yarn and making long sleeves. I love the shallow, v-neck. I’m not crazy about this yarn – for a shirt. The yarn color selection is a bit bland, and the end product is too heavy for wearing in summer in Florida. I wish I had NOT changed the sleeves and simply made them shorter.
Lakeland Tee Pattern Page
I already have a new sweater knitting project in the queue – this time back to using wool. The yarn order is in and the Blueberry Vodka Lemonade pattern is purchased!
New England's Narrow Road 