Nanjing Cherry Tee is a simple minimalistic t-shirt. Knitted with thin yarn out of natural fibers Nanjing Cherry Tee is the ultimate summer garment appropriate for the hottest weather. Raglan construction with subtle lace motif makes this t-shirt very versatile. The length of the sleeves and of the body is easily adjustable. Choose your favorite color and knit yourself a t-shirt that will fit into wardrobe of your style.
This pattern is very beginner friendly – uses simple technique and has a complete video tutorial demonstrating all of them in great detail.

Difficulty level
Beginner, intermediate, experienced

Techniques used
Working flat, working in the round, knit and purl stitches, purl two together decreases, yarn over increases, crochet cast on (optional), backwards loop cast on, traditional bind off (optional), German short rows.

Sizes
(1, 2) (3, 4) (5, 6) (7, 8) (9, 10)
Chose a size with approximately 1 – 3’’ (2.5 cm – 7.5 cm) of positive ease at chest and 1.5 - 3’’ (3.5 – 7.5 cm) of positive ease at upper arm.

Yarn
Fingering weight
Preferably cotton, silk, linen

Gauge
26 sts and 33 rows = 4’’ (10 cm) on US 2 (3 mm) needles

Needles
US 1 (2.5 mm) 16’’ (40 cm) circular needle for neckband
US 2 (3 mm) 16’’ (40 cm) circular needle for sleeves and start of the yoke
US 2 (3 mm) 32-40’’ (80-100 cm) circular needle for body

Approximate yardage
Size1 – 617 yds (561 m)
Size 2 – 651 yds (592 m)
Size 3 – 688 yds (625 m)
Size 4 – 718 yds (653 m)
Size 5 – 770 yds (700 m)
Size 6 – 807 yds (734 m)
Size 7 – 865 yds (786 m)
Size 8 – 898 yds (817 m)
Size 9 – 932 yds (847 m)
Size 10 – 965 yds (877 m)

Notions
US B1 (2.5 mm) crochet hook for casting on (optional)
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle for weaving in of the ends
8 stitch markers to mark raglan lines + 1 visually different stitch marker for beginning of the round

Finished Measurements
A – chest circumference – (33.2, 35) (36.4, 38.8) (40.6, 42.4) (44.4, 46) (48, 49.8)’’ / (83, 87.5) (91, 97) (101.5, 106) (111, 115) (120, 124.5) cm
B – upper arm circumference – (12.6, 13.6) (14, 14.8) (15.4, 16) (16.6, 17.2) (17.8, 18.4)’’ / (31.5, 34) (35, 37) (38.5, 40) (41.5, 43) (44.5, 46) cm
C – length of sleeve from underarm – (2.4, 2.4) (2.6, 2.6) (2.8, 2.8) (3, 3) (3.2, 3.2)’’ / (6, 6) (6.5, 6.5) (7, 7) (7.5, 7.5) (8, 8) cm – This parameter is adjustable. Keep in mind that if you add length you will need more yarn.
D – length of body from underarm – (10.6, 10.6) (10.6, 10.4) (10.4, 10.2) (10.2, 10.2) (10, 10)’’ / (26.5, 26.5) (26.5, 26) (26, 25.5) (25.5, 25.5) (25, 25) cm – This parameter is adjustable. Keep in mind that if you add length you will need more yarn.

Pattern Notes
Nanjing Cherry Tee is worked top down in the round.
Crochet cast on used in this pattern will result in an edge that visually matches Traditional bind off at the hem and at the bottom of the sleeves. But you can swap them for other cast on and bind off methods if you like.
After cast on there is a border out of seed stitch and eyelets. This border will prevent the edge from rolling onto itself.
After the border the neck opening is shaped with German short rows, to create a deeper scoop in front. At the same time raglan shaping starts with simple yarn over increases. Short rows are worked flat. After short row shaping is done the work will continue in the round.
The body and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch. The length of both is adjustable. And the bottoms have the same seed stitch and eyelets border as the neck opening.
After binding off the tee-shirt is complete. No additional finishing techniques are required.
All the techniques used in this pattern are shown in great detail in a Complete Nanjing Cherry Tee video tutorial.
Watch Summer Knitting and Sewing project vlog if you want to know the origin of this design! And be entertained while working on long stretches of stockinette stitch.
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