Today’s Free Pattern Friday is a serious stunner. This knitted tunic from Red Heart looks like the kind of thing you’d buy at a high-end department store, but there’s no need to spend money on that kind of cash when you can just make it yourself! The sequins make this top dressy enough to wear to a fancy occasion, but the casual tunic style also means it’s perfect for everyday. Best of all, the instructions allow for sizes small to 3x so it’s perfect for any body shape or size! Read on for the full, free knitting pattern!
Free Pattern Friday: Ribbon Tie Knitted Tunic from Red Heart!
Ribbon Tie Knitted Tunic
MATERIALS
RED HEART® Boutique Swanky™: 5 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8) balls 9101 Chiffon
Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 4mm [US 6]
Stitch holder, about 1½ yds [1.5 m] of 1½” [38 mm] ribbon, yarn needle
GAUGE
21 sts = 4” [10 cm]; 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side). CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit;
k2tog = knit next 2 sts together;
p = purl;
st(s) = stitch(es).
Directions are for size Small. Changes for sizes Medium, Large, 1X, 2X, and 3X are in parentheses.
Finished Bust:
37 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)” [94 (101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142) cm]
Finished Hip:
46 (48, 52, 56, 60, 64)” [117 (122, 132, 142, 152.5, 162.5) cm]
Finished Length:
27 (27½, 28, 28½, 29, 29½)” [68.5 (70, 71, 72.5, 73.5, 75) cm]
Notes
1. Tunic has an A-line shape and is worked in 4 pieces: Back, front, and two sleeves. All pieces are worked in Stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side), except for side slit edging which is worked in nh Garter stitch (knit every row).
2. Push all pailletes within the yarn from the WS to RS when garment is complete.
Special Stitches
M1 (make 1 – increase) = Lift strand between needles to left-hand needle and knit strand through the back loop, twisting it to prevent a hole.
ssk (slip, slip, knit) = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of stitches, knit these sts together through back loop – 1 st decreased.
Pattern
BACK
Cast on 120 (126, 136, 148, 158, 168) sts.
Work in Garter st (knit every row) until piece measures about 1” [2.5 cm] from beginning.
Next Row (wrong side): K4 (side slit edging), purl to last 4 sts, k4 (side slit edging).
Next Row (right side): Knit.
Repeat last 2 rows until piece measures about 4” [10 cm] from beginning, end with a wrong side row.
Shape Sides
Next Row (right side): Knit.Work in Stockinette st (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) for 9 rows.
Decrease Row (right side): K2, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, knit to end of row—118 (124, 134, 146, 156, 166) sts.
Repeat last 10 rows 10 (10, 9, 10, 10, 9) more times—98 (104, 116, 126, 136, 148) sts.
Work even in Stockinette st until piece measures about 20” [51 cm] from beginning, end with a wrong side row.
Shape Armholes
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts, knit to end of row—93 (98, 109, 118, 127, 138) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts, purl to end of row—88 (92, 102, 110, 118, 128) sts.
Row 3 (decrease row): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1—86 (90, 100, 108, 116, 126) sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat last 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) more times—78 (80, 88, 94, 100, 108) sts.
Work even in Stockinette st until armholes measure about 2 (2½, 3, 3½, 4, 4½)” [5 (6.5, 7.5, 9, 10, 11.5) cm], end with a wrong side row.
Divide for Back Neck Keyhole
Row 1 (dividing row – right side): K38 (39, 43, 46, 49, 53), join a 2nd ball of yarn and bind off 2 sts for keyhole, knit to end of row—38 (39, 43, 46, 49, 53) sts remain on each side of keyhole bind-off.
Work both sides at the same time using separate balls of yarn.
Row 2: Purl to last 2 sts of first side, k2; with other ball of yarn, k2, purl to end of 2nd side.
Row 3: Knit across sts of both sides using separate balls of yarn.
Repeat last 2 rows until armholes measure about 7 (7½, 8, 8½, 9, 9½)” [18 (19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24) cm].
Bind off all sts of both sides using separate balls of yarn.
FRONT
Work same as Back to armhole shaping.
Shape Armholes
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts, knit to end of row—93 (98, 109, 118, 127, 138) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts, purl to end of row—88 (92, 102, 110, 118, 128) sts.
Row 3 (decrease row): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1—86 (90, 100, 108, 116, 126) sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat last 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) more times—78 (80, 88, 94, 100, 108) sts.
Work even in Stockinette st until armholes measure about 5 (5½, 6, 6½, 7, 7½)” [12.5 (14, 15, 16.5, 18, 19) cm], end with a wrong side row.
Shape Neck
Row 1 (dividing row – right side): K24 (24, 27, 28, 30, 33), place center 30 (32, 34, 38, 40, 42) sts on a holder for front neck, join a 2nd ball of yarn and knit to end of row—24 (24, 27, 28, 30, 33) sts remain on each side of front neck.
Work both sides at the same time using separate balls of yarn.
Row 2: Purl all sts of first side; with other ball of yarn, purl all sts of 2nd side.
Row 3 (decrease row): Knit to last 3 sts of first side, k2tog, k1; with other ball of yarn, k1, ssk, knit to end of 2nd side—23 (23, 26, 27, 29, 32) sts on each side.
Rows 4–11: Repeat last 2 rows 4 more times—19 (19, 22, 23, 25, 28) sts on each side.
Work even in Stockinette st on both sides, using separate balls of yarn, until armholes measure same as Back. Bind off all sts of both sides using separate balls of yarn.
SLEEVES
(make 2)
Cast on 60 (62, 66, 68, 72, 74) sts.
Work in Garter st (knit every row) until piece measures about 1” [2.5 cm] from beginning.
Sizes L(1X, 2X, 3X) Only:
Beginning with a wrong side (purl) row, work in Stockinette st for 3 rows.
Increase Row (right side): K1, M1, knit to last st, M1, k1—68 (70, 74, 76) sts.
Repeat last 4 rows 0 (4, 5, 6) more times—68 (78, 84, 88) sts.
All Sizes
Beginning with a wrong side (purl) rows, work even in Stockinette st for 5 rows.
Increase Row (right side): K1, M1, knit to last st, M1, k1—62 (64, 70, 80, 86, 90) sts.
Repeat last 6 rows 6 (7, 7, 5, 5, 5) more times—74 (78, 84, 90, 96, 100) sts.
Work even in Stockinette st until piece measures about 8 (8½, 9, 9½, 10, 10½)” [20.5 (21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5) cm] from beginning, end with a wrong side row.
Shape Cap
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts, knit to end of row—69 (72, 77, 82, 87, 90) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts, purl to end of row—64 (66, 70, 74, 78, 80) sts.
Row 3 (decrease row): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1—62 (64, 68, 72, 76, 78) sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat last 2 rows 18 (19, 19, 20, 21, 21) more times—26 (26, 30, 32, 34, 36) sts.
Next Row (right side): Bind off 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, knit to end of row—23 (23, 26, 28, 29, 31) sts.
Next Row: Bind off 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts, purl to end of row—20 (20, 22, 24, 24, 26) sts.
Repeat last 2 rows—14 (14, 14, 16, 14, 16) sts.
Bind off.
FINISHING
Sew right shoulder seam.
Neckband
With right side facing, pick up and k84 (88, 92, 96, 100, 104) sts evenly spaced across neck edge.
Work in Garter st for 3 rows.
Bind off.
Sew left shoulder seam, including edges of neckband.
Sew in sleeves. Sew sleeve seams. Sew side seams from underarms down to top of side slits.
Weave in ends.
Cut ribbon into two equal lengths. If needed, fold ends of lengths over and sew down to hem. Sew one end of each length to top of back keyhole at neck edge.
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I notice the hips are 8″ larger than the bust. Regarding size M 36″ bust, would the finished size 37″ fit me comfortably as the tunic is A-line. My hips and bust are both 36″ with an ample waistline. I am also petite (5′ 2″) so would require less yarn or have long instead of bracelet sleeves.
Thank you for your advice.
Ann E. Mouse
Gosh, this is seriously beautiful! I am finishing a project and then I will try this.
Thanks
Really love this,when I have finished the shawl I will make this thank you very much x
This is beautiful – I know exactly the person for it and can’t wait to look for the yarn and start it — oh my list of things to knit before Christmas is getting out of hand!!
QUESTION: I am a relatively novice knitter and am attempting this pattern. I finished the back and am nearly done with the front. But I have a question. On the front, the pattern tells me (shape the neck) to capture the center 32 (for medium) stitches on a stitch holder. Then I work the two sides up with separate balls of yarn. I’ve done that. BUT, I’m looking ahead to see what I do with those live stitches on the stitch holder. I am assuming that, when I finish, and I pick up 88 (for medium) stitches, that they include those still on the holder? In other words, I’d pick up 28 on one side, retrieve those 32 held on the holder, then pick up 28 more on the other side? Am I correct? I love the pattern, but as a novice, I would have liked to have had a more obvious note about what to do with those live stitches. Thanks.
I am a novice at knitting—–just basic simple things with the basic stitches. So I would really love to try this sweater. It is outrageously beautiful!!! My mother, now deceased was a master knitter wonderfully skilled seamstress. She could have gone to Paris in her day and WOWED all of them. Unfortunately, I never inherited her talents. Thank you for sharing this beautiful pattern. I will attempt to knit it a little longer as I have lost 100#. Use to be 5’5″ but at age 74 down to 5’2″.
Hi Helen,
There are lots of free beginner patterns on AllFreeCrochet.com that you can try!