Breezy Bloom Tunic Free Pattern – Knitted Summer Top with Airy Lace Panels

Embrace the season with this lightweight, open-knit tunic that drapes beautifully over swimwear or jeans. The delicate lace panels and soft cotton blend make it the ultimate warm-weather layering piece. Whether you're heading to the beach, a summer brunch, or simply enjoying a lazy afternoon in the garden, this tunic is designed to keep you cool, comfortable, and effortlessly chic.

This pattern is perfect for intermediate knitters who are comfortable with basic lace techniques like yarn overs and decreases. The construction is straightforward—worked in the round from the bottom up, then divided for the front and back—making it a rewarding project that you'll be proud to wear all season long.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following materials to ensure a smooth knitting experience:

• Yarn: DK weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn (approx. 800-1000 yards depending on size). The sample shown uses a soft, sun-bleached sage green for that fresh, summery vibe.
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) circular knitting needles, 24-inch or longer. You'll need the circular needle to accommodate the large number of stitches for the body.
• Notions: Stitch markers (at least 4), waste yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a tape measure.
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (after blocking). Always knit a gauge swatch first to ensure your finished measurements match the pattern!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Sizes and Measurements

This pattern is written for sizes S (M, L, XL). Finished chest measurements are 36 (40, 44, 48) inches, and the length is 26 (27, 28, 29) inches. Choose the size that best fits your body measurements, keeping in mind that this tunic is designed to have a relaxed, A-line fit.

Abbreviations

Familiarize yourself with these standard knitting abbreviations before starting:

• CO = cast on
• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = slip slip knit (left-leaning decrease)
• YO = yarn over (creates an eyelet hole)
• PM = place marker
• SM = slip marker
• BO = bind off
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side

Special Stitch Pattern – Lace Panel (multiple of 8 + 1)

This delicate lace pattern creates the beautiful eyelet diamonds that give the tunic its airy, blooming appearance. Work the following 4 rows repeatedly:

• Row 1 (RS): K1, *YO, SSK, K3, K2tog, YO, K1; repeat from * to end.
• Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches.
• Row 3: K2, *YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, K3; repeat from * to last 7 stitches, end YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, K2.
• Row 4: Purl all stitches.

Repeat rows 1-4 for the lace pattern. The yarn overs create the eyelets, while the SSK and K2tog decreases shape the delicate diamond motifs.

Body (Worked in the Round to Armholes)

This tunic is knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, which means minimal seaming and a beautiful, uninterrupted flow to the fabric.

1. Cast On: CO 180 (200, 220, 240) stitches. Place a marker and join in the round, being extremely careful not to twist your stitches.
2. Garter Edge: Knit 2 rounds of garter stitch (knit one round, purl one round) for a neat, rolled-free edge.
3. Set Up Pattern: Next round: *Knit 20 (22, 24, 26) stitches, PM, work 40 (44, 48, 52) stitches in Lace Panel pattern, PM; repeat from * once more. You will now have 4 markers: two for the lace panels (front and back) and two for the side seams.
4. Continue in Pattern: Work the stockinette stitches (knit every round) between the side markers, and work the lace panels as established between the panel markers. Continue until the piece measures 18 (18.5, 19, 19.5) inches from the CO edge, ending on an even-numbered round (a purl row of the lace pattern).

Divide for Front and Back

At this point, you'll separate the body into two sections to work the armholes and shoulders.

1. Next round: Knit to the first side marker, remove the marker, and place the next 90 (100, 110, 120) stitches (the front) onto waste yarn or a stitch holder. Remove the second side marker, and knit the remaining 90 (100, 110, 120) stitches (the back) onto your needle. You will now work back and forth on the back stitches only.

Back

Work the back section flat, shaping the armholes with decreases.

1. Row 1 (WS): Purl across.
2. Row 2 (RS): K1, SSK, work in pattern to the last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. (This decreases 2 stitches)
3. Repeat these 2 rows every RS row until 70 (78, 86, 94) stitches remain.
4. Continue even in stockinette (knit RS, purl WS) until the armhole measures 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5) inches from the divide.
5. Shape Shoulders: BO 8 (9, 10, 11) stitches at the beginning of the next 4 rows, then BO 7 (8, 9, 10) stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows. BO the remaining 20 (22, 24, 26) stitches for the back neck.

Front

Return the front stitches to your needle and work the same shaping, but with a deeper neckline.

1. With WS facing, join yarn and work the same as the back until the armhole measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5) inches from the divide, ending with a WS row.
2. Shape Neck: Next RS row: Work across 28 (32, 36, 40) stitches, place the center 14 (14, 16, 16) stitches on a holder, join a second ball of yarn and work to the end. You will now work both sides of the neck simultaneously.
3. Decrease 1 stitch at each neck edge every RS row 4 times. Then work even until the armhole measures the same as the back.
4. Shape the shoulders as for the back.

Finishing

The finishing touches are what elevate this tunic from handmade to heirloom quality.

1. Block: Block the pieces to the specified measurements. This is crucial for the lace to open up and drape beautifully.
2. Sew Shoulder Seams: Use a tapestry needle and yarn to sew the shoulder seams together with a mattress stitch or whip stitch.
3. Neckband: With RS facing, pick up and knit 80 (84, 88, 92) stitches around the neck edge, including the stitches on the holder. Knit 2 rounds of garter stitch (knit one round, purl one round). BO loosely.
4. Armhole Bands: Pick up and knit 70 (76, 82, 88) stitches around each armhole. Knit 1 round, purl 1 round, BO loosely. This creates a delicate rolled edge that complements the lace.
5. Weave in Ends: Carefully weave in all loose ends with your tapestry needle.
6. Final Block: Block the finished tunic again lightly to even out the stitches and set the shape.

And there you have it—your very own Breezy Bloom Tunic! This versatile piece is perfect for layering over a swimsuit at the beach or pairing with your favorite jeans for a casual summer look. The airy lace panels and soft cotton blend make it a joy to knit and even more delightful to wear. Happy knitting!