Stratus Tee

THE STRATUS TEE is my take on the perfect go-to, wear-anywhere wardrobe staple—light, versatile, and timeless. Inspired by the soft, horizontal layers of stratus clouds, this design carries that same sense of quiet presence and fluid movement. Wear it on its own in the shoulder seasons, or layer it under a cardigan when the air turns crisp—it’s meant to float effortlessly between moods and weather.

This design is flexible in every way—it works beautifully in both fingering and sport weight yarns and shines in a variety of fibers. Think breezy cotton for summer, soft suri alpaca for a touch of texture, or classic wool for all-season wear. To elevate the design, I’ve added thoughtful details: twisted ribbing drifts down the shoulders and center back like gentle currents, flowing seamlessly into the neckband, hem, and cuffs. Quarter-length sleeves and a softly curved hem echo the natural ease of cloud layers, rounding out the relaxed, boxy silhouette.

  • Design: The Stratus Tee is a modified drop-shoulder pullover featuring saddle shoulder construction and a relaxed, boxy silhouette. Twisted ribbing runs along the shoulders and center back, flowing seamlessly into the neckband, hem, and cuffs for a cohesive finish. The 1/4-length sleeves feature a relaxed fit, and the hem is gently curved—both details that offer an easy, wearable shape that’s comfortable and refined.

    Construction: This top is worked from the top down. It begins with provisional cast-ons for two shoulder panels. Stitches are then picked up along the sides of each of these panels to work the front and back yokes, which are knit flat and joined together at the underarm. From there, the remainder of the body is worked in the round. Once the body is complete, stitches are picked up to work the sleeves, followed by a final pickup to knit the neckband.

    Fit: This garment is designed to be worn with 6 to 10.5 in. (15 to 26.5 cm) of positive ease at the upper chest. To determine your ideal size, begin by measuring your upper bust (just under the arms, above the full bust). Then add your desired amount of ease and select the size with a finished upper chest circumference closest to that total. Testers making sizes at the upper end of the range generally preferred less positive ease, so consider your personal fit preferences when selecting a size. If you are new to choosing a garment size based on your upper bust, I’ve created a road map that walks you through the process.

    Length: This tee sits at the top of the hip for a modern, slightly-longer-than-crop length that moves with you and provides coverage when you lift your arms. The straight silhouette (no waist shaping) makes it simple to adjust the length—work the body shorter or longer to achieve your ideal fit. If you plan to lengthen, just be sure to account for additional yardage you may need to do so!

    Choosing Yarn: Choose your yarn weight based on the fabric and feel you want. This sweater is designed to be flexible and works beautifully in both fingering and sport weight yarns. Fingering weight yarn will give you a lighter, drapier fabric with more airflow—ideal for warm weather or easy layering. It creates a slightly sheer, relaxed look that moves fluidly with the body. If you go this route, I recommend choosing a yarn that blooms after blocking to help fill in the fabric—think suri alpaca, woolen spun wool, or something like The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Confluence Cotton. These yarns create a lovely texture when blocked that will result in a cohesive fabric without large gaps between stitches.

    On the other hand, sport weight yarn results in a denser, more structured fabric with crisp stitch definition—perfect for transitional seasons or when you want a bit more warmth and polish. This is a great option if your yarn is worsted spun wool or or a plant-based fiber that doesn’t bloom. Whichever you choose, be sure to check your gauge and swatch in pattern to ensure the final fit and drape match your vision.

    Yarn Estimates: The yarn estimates provided in this pattern are approximations, calculated to allow for both a sizable swatch and the sweater, with a small margin of error. Your actual yarn usage may vary based on factors such as your personal gauge, the yarn’s characteristics (e.g., fiber content, ply, thickness), and any modifications you make to the pattern.

  • SIZES
    (1, 2, 3)(4, 5, 6)(7, 8, 9)

    FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
    Finished Chest Circumference (Upper and Full)
    (37.5, 41.75, 46.25)(50.5, 53.5, 57.75)(62.25, 66.5, 69.5) in.
    (94, 104.5, 115.5)(126.5, 134, 144.5)(155.5, 166.5, 174) cm

    Finished Upper Arm Circumference
    (20, 20.75, 22.25)(23, 24.25, 25)(26.5, 27.25, 28.75) in.
    (50, 52, 55.5)(57.5, 60.5, 62.5)(66.5, 68, 72) cm

    This top is designed to be worn with 6 to 10.5 in. (15 to 26.5 cm) of ease at the upper chest. See the note above on fit for more information about choosing the right size for you!

  • YARN
    Fingering to sport weight

    The listed totals below assume a yarn weight of 100 g/437 yds or 400 m.

    (185, 205, 230)(250, 270, 295)(320, 345, 370) g/(810, 895, 1005)(1095, 1180, 1290)(1400, 1510, 1615) yds or (740, 820, 920)(1000, 1080, 1180)(1280, 1380, 1475) m

    SUGGESTED YARN
    Cotton Version
    Quince & Co. Willet (50 g/160 yds (146 m)) – 100% Texas Organic Cotton
    (6, 6, 7)(8, 8, 9)(9, 10, 11) skeins
    The brown sample tee is knit in the colorway Mast.

    Suri Alpaca Version
    Circus Tonic Cirrus Fingering (100 g/437 yds (400 m)) – 38% Baby Alpaca, 37% Pima Cotton and 25% non-superwash Merino
    (2, 3, 3)(3, 3, 3)(4, 4, 4) skeins
    The pink sample tee is knit in the colorway Winter Sunrise.

    Wool Version
    Purl Soho Good Wool (100 g/383 yds (350 m)) – 100% Andean Highland Wool
    (3, 3, 3)(4, 4, 4)(4, 5, 5) skeins
    The blue sample tee is knit in the colorway Teal Abyss.

  • Needle A (body): US 5 (3.75 mm)
    Needle B (ribbing): US 3 (3.25 mm)

    For each needle size, you will need circular needles measuring 24 in. (60 cm) to 50 in. (125 cm), depending on the finished chest circumference of your chosen size and your preferred method for smaller circumference knitting (such as magic loop, short circular needles, or double-pointed needles).

  • Measure gauge on Needle A, after blocking. Gauge is the same knit both flat and in the round.

    22 sts and 30 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stockinette

  • Knitting
    Purling
    Increasing
    Decreasing
    Knitting flat
    Knitting in the round
    German twisted cast-on
    German short rows
    Picking up stitches
    Twisted ribbing
    Backwards loop cast-on
    Mattress stitch
    Tubular bind-off

Purchase the Stratus Tee pattern on Ravelry