Mesa Dreams Tee knitting pattern by Briana Arlene

Mesa Dreams Tee

Jack rabbits lope in predawn haze

desert mallow greet sun’s first rays

ravens croon a chortling song

above the sagebrush, circling on

mesa dreams are crimson red

knitted out of swirling thread

THE MESA DREAMS TEE STARTED as a short poem that I scribbled in a notebook one morning—a half vision of dawn in Utah’s southeastern desert, amidst the traditional territories of the Nuwuvi, Pueblo, and Timpanogos peoples. Later I revisited the poem, this time envisioning the viewer of its scene and what she might be wearing. I sketched out a design involving allover colorwork and small-scale southwestern motifs.

By the time I had yarn in hand to begin knitting, I had moved on to Santa Fe, New Mexico, the traditional territory of Pueblo and Ute peoples. I spent my time there visiting friends, climbing in Diablo Canyon, learning about traditional Navajo weaving, wandering the colorful desert city, and—of course—knitting!

I photographed Mesa Dreams in Arizona in Mount Lemmon’s Upper Sonoran ecotone, an area characterized by sparse oak woodlands and chaparral and traditionally occupied by the Hohokam people. The spring vegetation was surprisingly lush this year thanks to early season rain that encouraged every tree, shrub, and grass to burst forth in an array of vivid greens.

As the Mesa Dreams Tee came to life across Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona, it unintentionally became a textural ode to the southwest, with the desert’s sparse beauty and muted hues knitted into every stitch.

Design: The Mesa Dreams Tee is a lightweight colorwork top with cap sleeves and circular yoke construction. This tee features allover small-scale southwestern-influenced motifs. The neckband, hem, and cuffs are composed of 2x2 ribbing with a rolled edge and eyelets for a breezy spring feel.
Construction: This tee is worked from the top down in the round. Stitches are initially cast on at the top of the neckband. After the neckband is complete, short rows are worked to create back neck shaping. The yoke and body are knit in stranded colorwork in 3 colors with no more than 2 colors worked at a time. Once the yoke is complete, sleeve stitches are put on hold while the lower body is worked. Stitches are then returned to the needles to complete the sleeves.
Fit: This garment is designed to fit with 1 to 6 in. (2.5 to 15 cm) of positive ease in the chest. To pick the best size for you, measure your upper bust circumference and add your preferred ease of between 1 to 6 in. (2.5 to 15 cm). Make the size with a finished chest circumference closest to that number. If you are unfamiliar with choosing garment size based on your upper bust measurement, One Wild Designs has a great blog post about this.
Length: This pattern includes yarn requirements and instructions for two lengths: crop and full length. Crop length is intended to hit at the waist, and full length is intended to hit at the hip. Because every body is different, your torso length will affect exactly where each length hits on your body. See the Schematic on page 14 for finished measurements of each length to help you decide which is right for you.
Stitch Patterns: The stranded colorwork stitch patterns in this sweater are only charted, so you should be confident in your chart reading skills—or be open to learning!
SIZES
(1, 2, 3)(4, 5, 6)(7, 8, 9)
FINISHED CHEST CIRCUMFERENCE
(32, 36.25, 40.25)(44.5, 48.75, 52.75)(57, 59.75, 64) in.
(80, 90.5, 100.5)(111.5, 122, 132)(142.5, 149.5, 160) cm
This sweater is intended to be worn with 1 to 6 in. (2.5 to 15 cm) of positive ease. Please see the note above on fit!
YARN
Fingering weight
Crop Length
MC: (115, 130, 150)(165, 180, 205)(225, 240, 270) g/(505, 570, 660)(725, 790, 900)(985, 1055, 1185) yds or (460, 520, 605)(665, 720, 825)(900, 965, 1085) m
CC1: (20, 20, 25)(30, 30, 35)(40, 40, 45) g/(90, 90, 110)(130, 130, 155)(175, 175, 195) yds or (80, 80, 100)(120, 120, 140)(160, 160, 180) m
CC2: (40, 45, 55)(60, 65, 75)(85, 90, 100) g/(175, 195, 240)(265, 285, 330)(375, 395, 440) yds or (160, 180, 220)(240, 260, 300)(345, 360, 400) m
Full Length
MC: (125, 145, 165)(185, 200, 230)(250, 265, 295) g/(550, 635, 725)(810, 875, 1010)(1095, 1160, 1295) yds or (505, 580, 665)(740, 800, 925)(1000, 1060, 1185) m
CC1: (20, 25, 30)(30, 35, 40)(40, 45, 50) g/(90, 110, 130)(130, 155, 175)(175, 195, 220) yds or (80, 100, 120)(120, 140, 160)(160, 180, 200) m
CC2: (45, 50, 60)(70, 75, 85)(90, 95, 110) g/(195, 220, 265)(305, 330, 375)(395, 415, 480) yds or (180, 200, 240)(280, 300, 345)(360, 380, 440) m
SUGGESTED YARN
The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Confluence Cotton (57 g/250 yds (229 m)) – 80% targhee/rambouillet, 20% cotton
Crop Length
MC: (3, 3, 3)(3, 4, 4)(4, 5, 5) skeins
CC1: 1 skein
CC2: (1, 1, 1)(2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2) skeins
Full Length
MC: (3, 3, 3)(4, 4, 5)(5, 5, 6) skeins
CC1: 1 skein
CC2: (1, 1, 2)(2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2) skeins
The sample garment is knit in the colorways Love Me Like You Used To (MC), Lil’ Wappitti (CC1), and Be Still Young Heart (CC2).
Needle A (body and sleeves): US 4 (3.5 mm)
Needle B (ribbing): US 2 (2.75 mm)
For each needle size, you will need 24 in. (60 cm) to 50 in. (125 cm) circular needles and your preferred needles for smaller circumference knitting.
Measure gauge knit in the round on larger needles, after blocking.
23 sts and 31 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stranded colorwork
Twisted German cast-on, German short rows, knit increases, stranded colorwork, backwards loop cast-on, chart reading, Jeny’s stretchy bind-off

Purchase the Mesa Dreams Tee pattern on Ravelry