We are particularly excited to share with you the new spring design created by Japanese designer Noriko Ichikawa @noriko_ichikawa_ for our Alice yarn!
The Back Yoke Tee is the lightweight version of the Back Yoke Sweater we introduced last year, which we particularly loved for the way it combines elegance and comfort. Redesigned with a finer yarn and a revised cut to be worn as a T-shirt, this pattern retains the sweater’s signature construction details, including the two-piece upper back yoke and the interplay of knit direction between the yoke, sleeves, and the rest of the body.
The slightly loose fit creates a light, airy silhouette, while the delicately finished hem adds a touch of elegance and finesse.
With options for sleeve and body length and its easily adjustable construction, the Back Yoke Tee will be a perfect companion for sunny days and can extend its wear into the fall by layering it under a cardigan or jacket.
CONSTRUCTION
The work starts by knitting the shoulders and upper back yoke flat, beginning at the center back. Then stitches are picked up for the front and back before joining them under the arms and continuing to knit in the round until the bottom edge of the body, finishing with a neat hem.
The sleeve and collar stitches are also picked up from the body, then knitted in the round and finished with a folded hem, just like the bottom of the body.
This pattern is knitted from top to bottom, allowing you to easily adjust the length during fitting, and offers two lengths for the body and sleeves (short version and standard version).
TECHNIQUES USED AND SKILL LEVEL
This project is intermediate level and uses the following techniques: Cable cast-on method, Backward Loop Cast-On, increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round and picking up stitches, German short rows, two types of Folded Bind-Off.
The pattern includes links to video tutorials for each of the specific techniques used. The instructions are particularly detailed and precise, and are accompanied by diagrams to guide you through each technical step and help ensure you’re completely satisfied with the final result!
HOW TO PICK YOUR SIZE
The pattern is available in 9 sizes corresponding to the following finished measurements:
Bust circumference: 96.5 (101, 108, 112.5, 119) (127.5, 135.5, 145.5, 152) cm / 38 (39¾, 42½, 44¼, 47) (50¼,
53¼, 57¼, 59¾)”
Arm circumference: 41 (41, 42.5, 44.5, 50) (53, 55, 59, 60.5) cm
This design is intended to be worn with a slight positive ease. If you want it to fit similarly to the samples shown in the photos, you should choose a size that is 10–15 cm larger than your actual bust measurement.
« Back Yoke tee » by Noriko Ichikawa knitted in size 2 in standard version with 15 cm of positive ease at the chest, in Alice « café crème »
« Back Yoke tee » by Noriko Ichikawa knitted in size 2 in short version with 15 cm of positive ease at the chest, in Alice « porcelaine »
« Back Yoke tee » by Noriko Ichikawa knitted in size 3 in standard version for the body and short version for the sleeves with 13 cm of positive ease at the chest, in Alice « minuit »
GAUGE AND YARN CHOICE
For this soft, lightweight mid-season design, Noriko chose to explore the lovely texture of our Alice yarn!
Alice is a blend of 75% organic Arles Merino from sheep raised in Provence and 25% linen grown in northern France and Belgium, specially selected for this yarn for its exceptional fineness and softness. The natural springiness of Arles Merino gives the yarn beautiful elasticity, while the linen adds lightness and a touch that feels so pleasant against the skin.
These two very different materials are intimately blended and then combed to increase the strength and softness of the fibers. The yarn is then twisted into a three-ply strand with a tension calculated to create a balanced, round yarn while maintaining flexibility.
Finally, the yarn is dyed with eco-friendly dyes that comply with GOTS standards to minimize environmental impact. This unique yarn is manufactured for us in Italy, near Biella.
The colors from this range are accented by the lighter highlights of the linen fibers, which are blended to varying degrees, giving this yarn a unique texture with a very natural and pleasantly irregular appearance. This mottled effect is particularly noticeable in dark shades like “minuit.” Here and there, you may find longer fibers protruding from the yarn, which can be easily removed by hand.
With 216 m / 50 g, this is a light fingering-weight yarn that can be knitted very tightly for durable socks without synthetic materials, or more loosely for flowing sweaters and accessories that will benefit from the drape and softness of the linen.
It is knitted here with a gauge of 24.5 sts x 34.5 rows per 10 x 10 cm to achieve a soft, supple finish while maintaining a beautiful evenness that highlights the sophisticated details of the design.
To knit this pattern in Alice (75% organic Arles Merino [France] and 25% linen [grown in France and Belgium]; 216 m / 100 g), you will need:
Short version (body and sleeve): 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) (5, 5, 6, 6) balls OR 760 (800, 845, 890, 975) (1040, 1080, 1145, 1190) m / 827 (875, 922, 969, 1063) (1134, 1182, 1252, 1300) yds.
Standard version (body and sleeve): 5 (5, 6, 6, 6) (7, 7, 8, 8) balls OR 1015 (1060, 1145, 1190, 1275) (1380, 1470, 1575, 1620) m / 1111 (1158, 1252, 1300, 1394) (1512, 1607, 1725, 1772) yds.
Body extension: Approx. 35 (35, 40, 40, 40) (45, 50, 50, 55) m / 36 (37, 40, 42, 44) (47, 50, 54, 56) yds extra per 2.5 cm / 1” of additional length.
Sleeve extension: Approx. 15 (15, 15, 15, 20) (20, 20, 20, 25) m / 15 (15, 16, 17, 19) (20, 21, 22, 23) yds extra per 2.5 cm / 1” of additional length.
Noriko Ichikawa‘s Back Yoke Tee is available in French and English in our shop and in English, Japanese and Korean on Ravelry.
I hope you’ll love this lightweight, elegant design as much as we do, and that it will keep you company in the months ahead!
About the designer: After establishing a modern secondhand bookshop and publishing several books, Noriko resumed knitting, a skill my grandmother taught her, after having a child. She finds joy in creating simple, comfortable, and beautiful in-shape designs. She resides in the small coastal town of Kanagawa, Japan with her husband and daughter.
You can follow her on Ravelry and Instagram:
Ravelry: Norikoichikawa
Instagram: noriko_ichikawa_
Noriko is also the designer of the Back Yoke sweater, the Zakkuri cardigan and the Type-V cardigan, all three knitted in Gilliatt, and of the Minna no sweater knitted in Ulysse (all of them are available in French and English on our website):
Photo credits for the sample in Alice « café crème » and « porcelaine »: Noriko Ichikawa
Our Alice sample in « minuit » was knitted by the talented Déborah @georah—thanks to her!