Espenson is an insouciant caftan style tee knit in one easy piece. Each finished tunic will have a completely unique stripe.

Shown in size Small

Sizes

Directions are for women’s size X-Small.  Changes for sizes Small, Medium, Large, 1X and 2X are in parentheses

Finished Measurements

Bust – 60(64-68-72-76-80)”

Length – 24(24-25-25½-26½-27)”

Note:  This garment was designed to be very oversized and drapey.  Please take this into consideration when selecting your size.  If you do not want as much fullness as shown in photo, make a smaller size.

Materials

7(8-9-10-11-11) Balls Berroco Linsey (50 grs), #6502 Edgartown (MC) and 1 ball #6508 Chilmark (CC)

29” Length circular knitting needle, size 8 (5.00 mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

1 St marker

Gauge

16 sts = 4”; 22 rows = 4” in St st

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE

Note

This garment is made in one piece, worked from side to side( right edge to left edge).  Start with MC and work until that first ball is gone (always tie on a new ball at beg or end of a row).  Change to CC and work until that ball is gone, then change back to MC and work to end.  The width of the CC stripe will vary from one size to the next.

Caftan

With circular needle, using MC, cast on 192(192-200-204-212-216) sts using long-tail method.

Row 1 (WS):  P96(96-100-102-106-108), place marker, p to end.

Pattern Stitch:  Row 1 (RS):  Sl 1 knitwise WYIB, (k1, p1) twice, k to last 5 sts, (p1, k1) twice, end k1.

Row 2:  Sl 1 purlwise WYIF, (k1, p1) twice, p to last 5 sts, (p1, k1) twice, end p1.  Work even in pat as established (changing colors as in note) until piece measures 11(12-13-14-15-16)” from beg, end on WS.

Divide for Neck:  Next Row (RS):  Work to marker, sl remaining sts to a piece of scrap yarn for back – 96(96-100-102-106-108) sts.  Turn.  Note: From here, continue to work in pat as established over 5 sts at beg of RS rows and at end of WS rows.  Work remaining sts in St st.

Front:  Shape Neck:  Row 1 (WS):  Bind off 8 sts, work to end – 88(88-92-94-98-100) sts.

Row 2:  Work even.

Row 3:  Rep Row 1 – 80(80-84-86-90-92) sts.

Dec Row (RS):  Work to last 4 sts , k2 tog, k2 – 79(79-83-85-89-91) sts.

Next Row:  Work even.  Rep the last 2 rows 7 times more – 72(72-76-78-82-84) sts.  Work even for 2”, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  Work to last 2 sts, M1k, k2 – 73(73-77-79-83-85) sts.

Next Row:  Work even.  Rep the last 2 rows 6 times more, then rep Inc Row once more, end on RS – 80(80-84-86-90-92) sts.  Cast on 8 sts at beg of the next 2 WS rows, end on WS – 96(96-100-102-106-108) sts.  Sl these sts to a piece of scrap yarn.

Back:  With RS facing, sl 96(96-100-102-106-108) sts from first piece of scrap yarn to circular needle.  Join MC.  Note:  From here, continue to work 5 sts at end of RS rows and at beg of WS rows in pat as established.  Work remaining sts in St st.

Shape Neck:  Dec Row (RS):  K2, SSK, work to end – 95(95-99-101-105-107) sts.

Next Row:  Work even.  Rep these 2 rows 3 times more – 92(92-96-98-102-104) sts.  Work even until neck measures approximately 6¾”, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS): K2, M1k, work to end – 93(93-97-99-103-105) sts.

Next Row:  Work even.  Rep these 2 rows 3 times more, end on WS – 96(96-100-102-106-108) sts.

Joining Row (RS):  With RS facing, sl 96(96-100-102-106-108) sts from scrap yarn to beg of circular needle.  Join MC and k these sts, then k remaining sts of back – 192(192-200-204-212-216) sts.  Working 5 sts at beg and end of rows in pat as established and remaining sts in St st, work even until piece measures 11(12-13-14-15-16)” from end of neck, end on WS.  Bind off.

Finishing

Fold piece in half widthwise.  Sew cast-on edge together, leaving 8(8-8½-9-9½- 10)” open below fold for armhole.  Repeat on bound-off edge.