Looking for a free child knit tee pattern that’s stylish, comfortable, and perfect for warm weather? The Youth Deborah Tee is finally here! After so many requests, I’ve sized up the much-loved Baby Deborah Tee so that your little ones—big and small—can enjoy a matching summer knit.
It’s Here! The Free Child Knit Tee Pattern You’ve Been Waiting For
It’s here! It’s here! It’s finally here! The Youth Deborah Tee is officially joining the lineup, and I couldn’t be more excited. Ever since I designed the Baby Deborah Tee and the Adult Deborah Tee, these lightweight summer knits have been my family’s go-to tops for the season. And now, my fourth-born finally has her own, just in time to soak up those last warm days of the year.
If you’ve been searching for the perfect free child knit tee pattern, this is the one. It’s light and airy, with a simple yet stylish look that works for everything from playdates to church outings. Plus, since it’s a free child knit summer tee pattern, there’s no reason not to cast on right away!
Do My Kids Love Matching? Not Really…
One of the questions I get all the time is, “Do your kids love wearing their matching sweaters together?” The answer? Not really. If they end up matching, it’s usually by accident.
I know a lot of big families love to coordinate outfits (and I totally admire that level of organization!), but my crew likes to express their own styles. The only time I get them all in matching knits is for family photos—because, let’s be honest, those pictures turn out adorable.
That’s one of the reasons I love designing knitwear for them. They each have their own preferences, and homeschooling gives them the freedom to embrace their personal styles. But when they see a design they really love? Oh, they’ll wear it nonstop. And that’s exactly what happened with the Youth Deborah Tee, the newest addition to my free child knit tee pattern collection.
A Tee Born from My Own Wardrobe
Here’s a little secret: most of my kid’s knitwear designs actually come from them. They have an idea in their heads, tell me about it, and I bring it to life. That’s how designs like the Judah Zipped Cardigan and the Noah Sweater were born—straight from my kids’ imaginations.
But every now and then, I design something that’s totally me—something that reflects my own style first. And that’s how the Deborah Tee came to be. I originally designed it for myself, never expecting it to become a family favorite. But the moment my girls saw mine, they wanted their own. And really, how could I say no? That’s how this free child knit tee pattern was born.
The Perfect Yarn for a Knit Tee For Summer
Let’s talk about the yarn. A great free child knit tee pattern deserves a soft, breathable yarn that feels good against the skin. For this one, I used KnitPicks Samia (affiliate link)—a lightweight, summery yarn that drapes beautifully. It’s one of those yarns that knits up like a dream and is perfect for warm-weather knits.
I love how KnitPicks Samia (affiliate link) gives this tee just the right amount of stretch while keeping it soft and comfortable. Plus, the colors are absolutely stunning! If you’ve never worked with KnitPicks Samia (affiliate link) before, trust me—you’re in for a treat.
Why You’ll Love This Free Child Knit Tee Pattern
If you’re still on the fence about casting on, here are a few reasons why this free child knit tee pattern is a must-knit:
✅ Breathable and lightweight – Perfect for summer days when you want a little coverage but don’t want to overheat.
✅ Quick and easy knit – If you’re looking for a simple project that won’t take forever, this is it.
✅ Mommy & Me matching – Whether you knit one or all three sizes, the Deborah Tee is perfect for matching moments.
Where to Get This Free Child Knit Tee Pattern
I know you’re eager to get started, and I can’t blame you! You can grab the free child knit tee pattern right now on my blog. Just keep scrolling down, and you’ll find everything you need to get started.
If you decide to knit one, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram with your finished projects so I can admire your work. There’s nothing better than seeing this pattern come to life in different colors and styles!
Final Thoughts on This Free Child Knit Tee Pattern
I hope you love this free child knit tee pattern as much as my family does. Whether you knit it for your little one or pair it with the Baby Deborah Tee and Adult Deborah Tee for a matching set, I know it’s going to be a staple in your summer wardrobe.
So grab your needles, pick out your favorite shade of KnitPicks Samia (affiliate link), and cast on today. Happy knitting!
Materials and Info
Size: 3, 4 (5, 6) 7, 8 (9, 10) 11, 12 (13, 14)
Materials: Approximately 4, 4 (4, 4) 5, 5 (5, 6) 6, 7 (7, 7) balls of KnitPicks Samia (50g/188y), needle, stitch markers
Needle Size: 1(US) 2.5mm & 2(US) 3mm straight and dpn
Gauge (tension): 32sts & 36 rows to make 10cm square, using size 2(US) 3mm needles
Chest Measurement: 55, 57, (59, 61) 63, 66 (69, 72) 75, 78 (81, 84) cm
METHOD
This pattern is a top-down raglan that is worked in the round with 10cm of ease.
Deborah Lace Stitch Patten
In the Round
Rounds 1-3 – knit across
Round 4 – [yo, k1, K2tog, k1] repeat [to] across
Rounds 5-7 – knit across
Round 8 – [k2tog, k1, yo, k1] repeat [to] across
Worked Flat
Row 1 – purl across
Row 2 – knit across
Row 3 – purl across
Row 4 – [yo, k1, K2tog, k1] repeat [to] across
Row 5 – purl across
Row 6 – knit across
Row 7 – purl across
Row 8 – [k2tog, k1, yo, k1] repeat [to] across
Youth Deborah Tee Pattern
NECK
Cast on 66, 62 (68, 64) 66, 68 (70, 72) 74, 74 (76, 78) sts in using larger needles
Join in the round
SET-UP ROUND
Purl 2 (front), pm,
Purl 8, 6 (8, 6) 6, 6, (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) (sleeve), pm,
Purl 11, 11 (12, 12) 11, 12 (13, 14) 13, 13 (14, 15) (back), pm,
Purl 24, 24 (24, 24) 28, 28 (28, 28) 32, 32 (32, 32) (lace panel), pm
Purl 11, 11 (12,12) 11, 12 (13, 14) 13, 13 (14, 15) back), pm
Purl 8, 6 (8, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) (sleeve), pm,
Purl 2 (front)
Begin Deborah Lace Stitch pattern now within marked panel now. Set up row counts as row 1.
RAGLAN SHAPING
Raglan shaping and neck shaping are worked AT THE SAME TIME so be sure to read both Raglan Shaping and Neck Shaping sections before continuing.
Shape raglan seams by increasing 1 st each side of each marker, a total of 8 sts increased per round
Work each raglan round as follows:
Inc round – [k1, m1l, work to 1 st before marker, m1r, k1, sm] repeat across
Work raglan increases as described above on every round/row 2, 4 (2, 4) 2, 2 (0, 2) 2, 4 (2, 2) then every other round/row 22, 22 (24, 24) 27, 27 (30, 30) 31, 31 (34, 35) times.
Work 0, 0 (0, 0) 0, 0 (1, 0) 0, 0 (0, 0) rounds without any shaping.
NECK SHAPING
Stitches are increased at the beginning and end of each row to shape the front neck.
Start front neck shaping after working 1, 3 (2, 2) 2, 3 (3, 6) 5, 5 (6, 6) rows after the set-up row:
Cast on 1st at each end of front neck.
Work 3 more rows without neckline shaping.
Cast on 1 st at each end of front neck each following 2 rows.
Work 1 more row.
Cast on 1 st at each end of front neck each following 4, 4 (5, 5) 5, 6 (6, 5) 6, 6 (7, 7) rows.
Cast on 2 sts at each end of front neck each following 2 rows.
Cast on 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (4, 5) 5, 5 (5, 5) sts at each end of next row.
Cast on 7, 7 (7, 7) 8, 8 (8, 9) 9, 9 (9, 10) sts at each end of next row.
Jon in the round
STITCH COUNT CHECK
Total stitches: 300, 312 (320, 332) 336, 348 (360, 380) 392, 408 (420, 432)
Front/Back: 94, 98 (100, 104) 106, 110 (114, 120) 124, 128 (132, 136)
Sleeve: 56, 58 (60, 62) 62, 64 (66, 70) 72, 76 (78, 80)
DIVIDE FOR BODY AND SLEEVES
Work across 47, 49 (50, 52) 53, 55 (57, 60) 62, 64 (66, 68) front stitches, remove raglan marker,
place 56, 58 (60, 62) 62, 64 (66, 70) 72, 76 (78, 80) sleeve stitches on stitch holder,
cast on 8, 8 (8, 8) 8, 10 (10, 10) 10, 10 (12, 12) sts, remove raglan marker,
work across 94, 98 (100, 104) 106, 110 (114, 120) 124, 128 (132, 136) back stitches, remove raglan marker,
place 56, 58 (60, 62) 62, 64 (66, 70) 72, 76 (78, 80) sleeve stitches on stitch holder,
cast on 8, 8 (8, 8) 8, 10 (10, 10) 10, 10 (12, 12) sts, remove, raglan marker,
Work across remaining 47, 49 (50, 52) 53, 55 (57, 60) 62, 64 (66, 68) front stitches.
[204, 212 (216, 224) 228, 240 (248, 260) 268, 276 (288, 296) sts]
BODY
Continue in pattern as established for 21.5, 22 (23.5, 25) 26.5, 27.5 (29, 30) 31.5, 32 (34, 35.5) cms
Switch to smaller needles.
Work in k1p1 ribbing for 2cms
Bind off in pattern.
SLEEVE (REPEAT FOR BOTH SLEEVES)
Using larger needles (you may need to use dpn or magic loop),
pick up and knit 5, 5 (5, 5) 5, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (7, 7) sts from underarm,
work the 56, 58 (60, 62) 62, 64 (66, 70) 72, 76 (78, 80) sts from stitch holder,
pick up and knit 5, 5 (5, 5) 5, 6, (6, 6) 6, 6 (7, 7) sts from underarm, pm.
[66, 68 (70, 72) 72, 76 (78, 82) 84, 88 (92, 94) sts]
Knit 1, 3 (3, 3) 3, 3 (3, 3) 3, 5 (3, 5) rounds.
Next round – decrease 1 stich at each side of marker on next then every following 0, 0 (6th, 0) 0, 8th (0, 6th) 10th, 0 (6th, 6th) rounds 0, 0 (1, 0) 0, 1 (0, 2) 1, 0 (2, 2) times. 64, 66 (66, 70) 70, 72 (76, 76) 80, 86 (86, 88) sts
Then decrease each side of marker every following 8th, 4th (4th, 6th) 14th, 6th (8th, 4th) 8th, 6th (4th, 4) rounds 1, 2 (1, 2) 1, 1 (2, 1) 1, 3 (2, 2) times to 62, 62 (64, 66) 68, 70 (72, 74) 78, 80 (82, 84) sts.
Knit 4 more rounds.
Change to smaller needle.
Work in k1p1 ribbing for 1, 1 (1.5, 1.5) 1.5, 1.5 (1.5, 1.5) 1.5, 1.5 (1.5, 1.5) cms.
Bind off in pattern.
NECK
With right side facing, using smaller needle, beginning at the back left raglan, pick up and knit:
8, 6 (8, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts from left sleeve,
14, 16 (16, 16) 16, 17 (17, 19) 19, 19 (20, 20) sts down left front,
14, 14 (14, 14) 16, 16 (16, 18) 18, 18 (18, 20) sts along center front,
14, 16 (16, 16) 16, 17 (17, 19) 19, 19 (20, 20) sts up right front,
8, 6 (8, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) 6, 6 (6, 6) sts, from right sleeve,
46, 46 (48, 48) 50, 52 (54, 56) 58, 58 (60, 62) sts from back.
[104, 104 (110, 106) 110, 114 (116, 124) 126, 126 (130, 134) sts]
Join in the round and place beginning of round marker.
Work for 2cms.
Bind off in pattern.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and block accordingly.
Abbreviations
K – knit
P – purl
PM – place marker
SM – slip marker
STS – stitches
YO – yarn over
K2tog -knit 2 stitches together
SSK – slip, slip, knit the slipped sts together
M1R – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from back to front, then knit this strand
M1L – Insert the left needle under the strand that runs between two stitches from front to back, then knit this strand through the back loop
Download Youth Deborah Tee PDF
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