The Balsamroot Tee

Arrowleaf Balsamroot is one of the happiest flowers west of the Mississippi. It is found in mountain meadows and conifer forests in late spring to early summer. Coincidentally, that is also where I want to be found during those times.

When we lived in Montana, Balsamroot made it feel like the earth was sprouting literal joy. It’s a member of the Sunflower family, and if there was any other family I wanted to be a part of besides my own, it would be the Sunflower family.

It doesn’t just look magical, by the way. It absolutely is. Everyone loves it. From bighorn sheep to elk, to cattle, it’s a treat munched by all. Even humans. She’s not just a snack though, this girl can heal. Balsamroot is used to help restore land after shady human activities such as mining. Is there anything she can’t do? Native plants for president, am I right?

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This Balsamroot, however, is a compound raglan, boxy tee, knit from the top down seamlessly (so you can try that thing on as you go!). A compound raglan is a fancy way of saying that the yoke is shaped at different rates (front/back and sleeves are increased at different times) to get a better fit. I particularly chose some interesting raglan shaping to get a more classic t-shirt look rather than the typical raglan line!

You will cast on the back neck, sleeves, and part of the front, and knit flat for a wee bit while you shape the neck line. Then you will join in the round and keep working on that raglan shaping. When you finish the yoke, you will put the sleeves on hold while you knit the body and jump into some yummy colorwork. You will finish the body with a folded hem. Then you put the sleeves back on the needles, knit to your desired length and finish with a folded hem. Finally the collar is picked up and finished with a beautiful 1x1 rib.

When you are done, everyone will be in awe of your knitting talent and your fabulous garment. Soak it in.

Gauge
27 sts & 42 rnds = 4”/10cm using US 3 (3.25 mm)
↠ worked in plain stockinette in the round

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4)(5, 6, 7, 8) 9
Finished sweater chest circumference:
↠ 37 (41.5, 45.5, 50)(54, 58, 62, 66.5) 70.5”
↠ 94 (105.5,115.5,127)(137,147.5,157.5, 169) 179 cm
Meant to be worn with approx. 7-10”/18 - 25.5 cm positive ease. Sample shown in size 3 with approx. 8”/20.5 cm positive ease on a 5’3”/160 cm tall woman.
#sizeinclusive

Suggested Needles
↠ Main Fabric: US 3/3.25 mm - 32-40”/80-100 cm circular and preferred needles for small circumference knitting for the sleeves.
↠ Cuffs and Collar: US 1/2.25 mm- 32-40”/80-100 cm circular and preferred needles for small circumference knitting for cuffs and collar.
⇶ Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge, going down 2 US sizes for the cuffs and collar.

Yarn Requirements and Suggested Yarn
Use any fingering weight yarn that allows you to get gauge, though I would not recommend a 100% plant fiber yarn or 100% silk, since there are some longer floats in the pattern and having the bounce of wool will be helpful.

MC: North Bay Fiber Elemental Fingering (Jack Pine in sample) 465 yd / 425 m per 100 g
↠ 232 (260, 288, 316)(350, 382, 414, 452) 488 grams
↠ 1079 (1210, 1336, 1468)(1628, 1778, 1926, 2104) 2268 yards
↠ 986 (1106, 1222, 1341)(1488, 1624, 1760, 1924) 2072 meters
↠ 3 (3, 3, 4)(4, 4, 5, 5) 5 skeins

CC: Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool (Salty Dog in sample) 200 yds per 50 g
↠ 41 (46, 52, 55)(60, 64, 68, 73) 78 grams
↠ 164 (183, 200, 219)(237, 256, 274, 292) 310 yards
↠ 150 (167, 184, 200)(217, 234, 250, 267) 284 meters
↠ 1 (1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2, 2) 2 skeins

Notions
↠ Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holder or scrap yarn.

Professionally tech edited by Lois of Knits by Lois