WOODLAND TEE

by Rebecca Newman

» photos: Rebecca Newman

I was inspired by the tall trees of Eastwoodhill Arboretum, New Zealand, to design a
practical textured tee and wee owl for endless entertainment hidden in the front pocket.
Perfect for distracting your wee one while you lounge around in the shade of a dappled tree
on long summer days.

Sizes
Newborn [3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2T]
Owl softie 2½ x 3 inches
Shown in size 6 months
Finished Measurements
Chest: 17 [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23] inches
Length: 8 [9½, 10½, 11, 12¼, 12¾, 13¼] inches
Materials
Blue Sky Alpacas, Skinny Cotton [100% Organic cotton; 150yards / 137 meters per 2.25
ounce / 65 gram hank];
#313 Basil; 1[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] hanks
Recommended needle sizes
US #5 (3.75 mm) 12 inch and 16 inch circular needles
Notions
Woodland Tee
Four stitch markers, one different for the start of round marker
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Owl Pocket Friend
Wool felt scraps of various colors
Tapestry floss in coordinating colors
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Gauge
21 sts and 44 rnds = 4 inches in Seed st
Gauge is critical for this design.
Pattern Notes
Woodland tee is a raglan worked from the top down in the round with seed stitch and
waffle stitch details. The pattern also includes a waffle stitch pocket sewn on with
whipstitch or preferred method, and contains a hand sewn owl softie made from wool felt
scraps.
Seed St: On first row, (k1, p1) around; on second row, (p1, k1) around. Repeat these 2
rows for pattern. After the first rnd, always knit the purl sts and purl the knit sts.
M1: Lift bar from row below with left needle from the front and place on left needle, knit
into the back of the stitch with right needle
Sm: Slip marker
K2tog: Knit two stitch together, decreasing by one stitch
Skills Required
Seed Stitch, Waffle stitch and whipstitch

Instructions

* Cast on 13[14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19] sts, pm, cast on 19[20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25] sts, pm: repeat from
* once more, making sure last marker placed is unique to mark end of rnd. Join to work in rnds, being
careful not to twist sts: 64[68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88] sts.
Rnd 1: * (K1,p1) to marker, sm; repeat from *around.
Rnd 2: * K1, m1, work in Seed st to marker, m1, sm; repeat from * around: 72[76, 80, 84, 88, 92,
96] sts.
Rnd 3: * K1, work in Seed st to marker, sm; repeat from * around.
Rnds 4-11: Repeat Rnds 2 and 3, 4 times: 104[108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128] sts.
Rnd 12: * K1, m1, work in Seed st to next marker, m1, sm, k1, m1, knit to next marker, m1, sm;
repeat from * once more: 112[116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136] sts.
Rnd 13: * K1, work in Seed st to next marker, sm, knit to next marker, sm; repeat from * once
more.
Repeat Rnds 12 and 13, 7[8, 9, 9, 11, 11, 12] times more: 168[180, 192, 196, 216, 220, 232] sts.
You should have 39[42, 45, 46, 51, 52, 55] sts for each sleeve (first and third sections) and 45[48,
51, 52, 57, 58, 61] sts for back and front (second and fourth sections)
Sleeve Separation Rnd: Bind off first 39[42, 45, 46, 51, 52, 55] sts loosely, removing marker when
binding off the last st, knit to next marker, m1, remove marker, bind off next 39[42, 45, 46, 51, 52,
55] sts loosely, knit to next marker, remove stitch marker 90[96, 102, 104, 114, 116, 122] sts

Body

For sizes 3 months, 9 months and 18 months Only – Next Rnd: M1, knit to last st of front, m1,
k2tog, joining front and back sections, m1, knit to last st of back, m1, k2tog, joining back and front
sections, place start of round marker.
For All Other Sizes – Next Rnd: Knit to last st of front, m1, k2tog, joining front and back sections,
knit to last st of back, m1, k2tog, joining back and front sections, place start of round marker.
Your stitch count will be 90[98, 102, 106, 114, 118, 122] sts.
Knit around until piece measures 6½[7, 8, 8½, 9, 9½, 10] inches from the top of the shoulder.
Knit one rnd decreasing 2 sts for all size as follows: k2tog at the start of the rnd, then knit 43[47, 49,
51, 55, 57, 59] sts, k2tog, and knit to the end of the rnd: 88[96, 100, 104, 112, 116, 120] sts.
Lower Band
Work in Waffle stitch for approx.
Rnd 1: Purl around.
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Rnds 3 and 4: (K2, p2) around.
Repeat Rnds 1-4 for 2½[2½, 2½, 2½, 3¼, 3¼, 3¼] inches, ending with Rnd 3.
Bind off all sts loosely. Weave in ends.
Pocket
Cast on 20 sts.
Row 1: Knit across.
Rows 2 and 3: (K2, p2) across
Rows 4 and 5: Knit across.
Repeat Rows 2-5, 5 times.
Bind off all sts loosely. Cut yarn leaving long end for sewing.

Finishing

Pin pocket to center of Tee or preferred placement and, using long end, whipstitch or duplicate stitch
to attach to Tee.

Owl Pocket Friend

Cut out pattern pieces from template provided in desired bright colors of felt.

Place the eye pieces on the front body piece and put the beak between and underneath the eye
pieces.
Using an 8 inch length of embroidery floss, sew the eye to body using blanket stitch catching the beak
at the same time. Blanket stitch all the way around the eye and knot at the back. Repeat for the
second eye.

Using black floss. work a cross stitch pupil in each eye.

Take the back body section and position the wing pieces, then place the feet piece on top. Lay the
assembled front piece over back piece with WS together. Starting at the top left corner and using
floss, join together using blanket stitch.
Attach each wing and the feet piece as they are reached. When the top right corner is reached, stuff
owl with scrap wool roving till quite full, then continuing the blanket stitch around. Knot firmly and
thread end through the middle and trim thread.

Check that there are no loose threads on the Owl Softie and pop in the pocket of the Woodland Tee or
give to the wee person wearing the Woodland Tee.