Oliver Toddler Tee free pattern

Oliver Toddler Tee - Free Pattern

The Oliver Toddler Tee is a beginner-friendly knit packed with fun construction details that make it both engaging to make and comfortable for little ones to wear. Worked in two colors of soft KnitPal GentleBliss yarn, this tee features elongated armholes for easy movement (as highlighted on page 3), no-seam construction, and a clever neckline shaped with simple decreases and cable cast-ons. Knit flat and then joined in the round for the body, it’s an approachable garment project perfect for confident beginners ready to try something new.

Download a printable pattern PDF

What You’ll Need

  • Yarn:

    KnitPal GentleBliss (weight #3 - 100% acrylic, 110 yds per 50 g)
    Color A: Light Grey, 110 yards
    Color B: Navy Blue, 220 yards
    (order extra if you don’t wish to play yarn chicken)

  • Needles: 
    US 8/ 5mm circular needles; 16-24" length 
    Or size needed to obtain gauge

  • Notions: 
    Cable needle or extra needle
    Tapestry needle
    Measuring tape

    Stitch marker

Details

  • Skill Level: Easy - advanced beginning

  • Gauge: 4x4”/10x10cm = 20.5 stitches x 22 rows in stockinette st
  • Sizes: Chest: 26 inches / 66 cm
    Armhole depth: 6.5 inches / 16.5 cm
    Length: 16.5 inches / 42 cm

Abreviations

  • k: knit
  • p: purl
  • RS: right side of work
  • ssk: slip slip knit
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • WS: wrong side of work

Special Stitches

Cable Cast On Video Tutorial

SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit)
Left-leaning decrease: slip next 2 sts separately, then knit them together

 

Notes

  • Worked from the back yoke up over the shoulders, splitting for the neck, and then joined to work in rounds once the armhole length is complete. No seaming, minimal finishing.

  • The Oliver tee is designed with elongated armhole openings for warm weather comfort or additional spacing if worn as an extra layer over another shirt.

Pattern

Oliver tee on mannequin from front

Download a printable pattern PDF

Back Yoke

With A, cast on 66 stitches. If using the Longtail method, this is considered Row 1 (RS). If using a different method, then complete Row 1 (RS) as Knit all stitches. 
Row 2 (WS): K6, P54, K6.
Row 3: Knit all stitches.
Rows 4 - 31: Repeat Row 2 and 3.

Shape Back Neck / Shoulders:
Row 32 (WS): K6, P19, k16, P19, K6.
Row 33 (RS): Knit all stitches.
Row 34: K6, P19, k16, P19, K6. 
Row 35: K25, drop the working yarn (Do Not Cut) and join new yarn and Bind Off the next 16 stitches, then complete the row with K25 (NOTE: sample project was completed by joining the other end of the same skein of yarn, and continuing by working from both ends of the skein at the same time). 

You will continue working both front sides at the same time, keeping the armhole edges in garter stitch and decreasing the neckline edges, as follows:

Row 36: K6, P19 (left front) ... P19, K6 (right front) (remember that you are using two

Oliver toddler tee on mannequin from side

different yarn ends, do NOT join them together)
Row 37: K23, K2tog (right front) ... ssk, K23 (left front)
Row 38: K6, P18 (left front) ... P18, K6 (right front)
Row 39: K22, K2tog (right front) ... ssk, K22 (left front)
Row 40: K6, P17 (left front) ... P17, K6 (right front)
Row 41: K21, K2tog (right front) ... ssk, K21 (left front)
Row 42: K6, P16 (left front) ... P16, K6 (right front)
Row 43: K22 (right front) ... K22 (left front)
Row 44: K6, P16 (left front) ... P16, K6 (right front)

Shape Front Neckline:
Row 45 (RS): K22, cable cast on 14 sts (right front) ... cable cast on 14 sts, knit back across the 14 new sts, K22 (left front)
Row 46 (WS): K6, P16, K14 (left front) ... K14, P16, K6 (right front)
Row 47: K36 (right front) ... K36 (left front)
Row 48: K6, P16, K14 (left front) ... K14, P16, K6 (right front)

Front Yoke (continuing with working both sides at same time):

Row 49 (RS): K36 (right front) ... K36 (left front)
Row 50 (WS): K6, P24, K6 (left front) ... K6, P24, K6 (right front)
Rows 51 - 74 : Repeat Row 49 - 50.

 

Close Neckline Flap:

Change to Color B. You will be working across the full row, joining both front side pieces. 
Row 75 (RS): K30, slip next 6 stitches to an extra needle or a cable needle, overlap these stitches with the next 6 stitches on the main needle, by holding them behind the other needle, so that the next stitch on main needle lines up with what would have been the next stitch on the stitches you moved (in other words, they should lay flat with each other, no twisting). Knitting through BOTH the main needle stitches and the extra needle stitches at same time, knit the next 6 stitches. Drop the extra needle and continue across as K30.
Row 76 (WS): K6, P24, K6, P24, K6.
Row 77 (RS): K66.
Row 78: K6, P24, K6, P24, K6.
Row 79: K66.

At the end of Row 79, fold the piece at the shoulders so that the beginning cast on edge of Back Yoke lines up with the working needle edge, with WS together. Using the 2nd skein of Color B, “continue” your Row 79 by picking up 66 stitches from the bottom of your original cast on row. While the pieces are not actually Joined, since the back is using a different yarn, this is preparing you for joining in the round after the armhole length has been reached, so be sure your piece is not twisted or backward.

Row 80 (WS): K6, P54, K6 (Front piece) ... K6, P54, K6 (Back piece) (remember that you are using two different yarn ends, do NOT join them together)
Row 81 (RS): K66 (Back piece) ... K66 (Front piece)
Rows 82 - 91: Repeat Row 80 - 81.

 

Body (front and back joined):

Round 92 (formerly called RS): Cable cast on 6 stitches to the right needle, continue across K60, place a marker, K6, cable cast on 6 stitches to right needle, join to front piece by continuing with same yarn (and cutting the other yarn with a long tail for weaving in later), K60, place a marker, K6, place a different colored marker as end of round.

Round 93: P12, K to Marker, P18, K to Marker, P6.
Round 94: K all stitches.
Rounds 95 - 98: Repeat Round 93 - 94.
Round 99: Remove the End of round marker, K6, put back the End of round marker (you just altered your “end of round” place). P6, K to next marker, remove next marker, K6, put back the next marker, P6, K to next marker, remove next marker and do not put it back, K6. You should now only have TWO markers on your needles, one for End of Round and one for halfway across. These are marking the Underarms/body seam garter ridges.
Round 100: K all stitches.
Round 101: P6, K to Marker, P6, K to end.
Rounds 102 - 140: Repeat Round 100 - 101.
Round 141: P all stitches.
Round 142: K all stitches.
Round 143: P all stitches.
Round 144: Bind off in purl. Break yarn and weave in ends.

Download a printable pattern PDF

Share Your Finished Piece!

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If you post your tee on Instagram, please tag @knitpalusa so we can cheer you on!

And if you’d like more soft, gentle yarns perfect for charity crafting, KnitPal has so many beautiful options to keep your hooks busy and your heart full.

 

 

With permission of the designer, this pattern and photos are property of KnitPal and may not be altered, shared, or sold. Do not rewrite any part of this design and sell as your own design. You’re welcome to sell finished products made with this pattern, but please credit the design to KnitPal https://knitpal.com/

 

Anna Rainous
Posted on December 22, 2025
Anna Rainous
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