Charcoal Pocket Entrelac Tee: Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This charcoal-trimmed pocket tee is a relaxed, boxy men's pullover that looks just as good with jeans as it does with linen trousers. It's designed for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready for a few satisfying new skills: working in the round, shaping a crew neck, and picking up stitches for sleeves. The body is knit in smooth oatmeal stockinette, while charcoal ribbing at the hem, neck, and cuffs gives it a crisp, mid-century modern feel. The little applied square pocket on the chest is the finishing touch that makes it special, and the soft sport-weight cotton makes it light enough to wear all summer.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Sport weight (CYC 2) cotton, approx 1000 yd (914 m) total. MC oatmeal: 900 yd (823 m). CC charcoal: 100 yd (91 m). Sample: Knit Picks Comfy Sport (75% Pima cotton, 25% acrylic; 136 yd/50 g) — 7 balls Oatmeal, 1 ball Charcoal.
• Main needles: 3.75 mm (US 5) circular needle, 80 cm (32") long, plus a set of 3.75 mm (US 5) DPNs for small circumferences.
• Ribbing needles: 3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle, 80 cm (32") long, plus a set of 3.25 mm (US 3) DPNs.
• Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, tapestry needle, tape measure.
• Finished size: Men's M (L, XL, 2XL). Chest circumference 96.5 (106.5, 117, 127) cm / 38 (42, 46, 50)". Length from shoulder 68.5 (70, 71, 73.5) cm / 27 (27.5, 28, 29)". Sleeve length from underarm 20.5 cm / 8". Pocket 9 cm / 3.5" square.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on
• BO: bind off
• k: knit
• p: purl
• St st: stockinette stitch (knit all rounds in the round; knit RS rows, purl WS rows when working flat)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rnd(s): round(s)
• pm: place marker
• RS / WS: right side / wrong side
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
• ssk: slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together (a left-leaning decrease)
• p2tog: purl 2 stitches together
• ssp: slip, slip, purl the two slipped stitches together
• MC / CC: main color (oatmeal) / contrast color (charcoal)

Gauge

22 sts and 30 rnds = 10 cm (4") in stockinette stitch with larger needles, blocked. Knit a swatch, block it, and measure a 10 cm section in the middle; if you have more stitches, go up a needle size, and if fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Cotton has little stretch, so swatch and block before you begin — the blocked gauge is what determines your finished fit.
• Try the body on as you go; slip the live stitches onto scrap yarn to check the length before you divide for the armholes.
• When picking up sleeve and neckband stitches, pick up one stitch per bound-off stitch and about 3 of every 4 along vertical edges to avoid gaps and puckering.
• Keep your color changes tidy: carry CC only at the ribbing bands, and weave in ends securely since cotton can work loose over time.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Notes: The tee is worked in the round from hem to underarm, then front and back are worked flat separately to the shoulders. Sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. The pocket is worked separately and sewn on.

Body (Front and Back, worked same up to underarm)

With smaller circular needle and CC, CO 212 (234, 258, 280) sts. Join to work in the round, pm for beg of rnd.

Rnds 1-8: [k1, p1] rib.

Change to larger circular needle and MC. Work in St st (all k) until piece measures 43 (44, 44.5, 46) cm / 17 (17.5, 17.5, 18" from CO edge, ending after a rnd.

Divide for Armholes

Next rnd: BO 6 (6, 8, 8) sts, k until 6 (6, 8, 8) sts before end, BO 6 (6, 8, 8) sts, removing marker. Place remaining 100 (111, 121, 132) sts for front on holder, and 100 (111, 121, 132) sts for back on holder.

Back

With WS facing, join MC to back sts. Work in St st flat until armhole measures 18 (19, 20, 21.5) cm / 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5)", ending after a WS row.

Shape shoulders and back neck — Next row (RS): k 28 (32, 36, 40) sts, BO center 44 (47, 49, 52) sts, k to end. Place first 28 (32, 36, 40) sts on holder for left shoulder, and last 28 (32, 36, 40) sts on holder for right shoulder. Break yarn.

Front

With WS facing, join MC to front sts. Work in St st flat until armhole measures 12.5 (13.5, 14, 15) cm / 5 (5.5, 5.5, 6)", ending after a WS row.

Shape front neck — Next row (RS): k 39 (43, 48, 53) sts, BO center 22 (25, 25, 26) sts, k to end. Place last 39 (43, 48, 53) sts on holder for left front. Work right front first.

Right Front

Row 1 (WS): p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1 (38 (42, 47, 52) sts).

Row 2 (RS): k1, ssk, k to end (37 (41, 46, 51) sts).

Rows 3-20 (3-20, 3-22, 3-24): repeat Rows 1-2 nine (nine, ten, eleven) more times (19 (23, 26, 29) sts).

Work even in St st until armhole measures 18 (19, 20, 21.5) cm / 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5)", ending after a WS row. Place sts on holder.

Left Front

With WS facing, join MC to left front sts.

Row 1 (WS): p1, ssp, p to end (38 (42, 47, 52) sts).

Row 2 (RS): k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (37 (41, 46, 51) sts).

Rows 3-20 (3-20, 3-22, 3-24): repeat Rows 1-2 nine (nine, ten, eleven) more times (19 (23, 26, 29) sts).

Work even in St st until armhole measures 18 (19, 20, 21.5) cm / 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5)", ending after a WS row. Place sts on holder.

Join Shoulders

Join right back and right front shoulder sts using three-needle BO. Join left back and left front shoulder sts using three-needle BO.

Neckband

With smaller circular needle, CC, and RS facing, pick up and k 44 (47, 49, 52) sts along back neck, 22 (24, 24, 26) sts along left front neck, 22 (25, 25, 26) sts along front neck BO, and 22 (24, 24, 26) sts along right front neck (110 (120, 122, 130) sts). Pm and join to work in the round.

Rnds 1-6: [k1, p1] rib.

BO all sts in rib.

Sleeves (make 2)

With larger circular needle (or DPNs), MC, and RS facing, pick up and k 70 (74, 78, 84) sts evenly around armhole edge. Pm and join to work in the round. Work in St st for 12.5 cm / 5". Change to smaller circular needle and CC.

Rnds 1-6: [k1, p1] rib.

BO all sts in rib.

Pocket (entrelac square)

With larger needles and CC, CO 20 sts.

Rows 1-20: work in St st flat, alternating k on RS rows and p on WS rows (20 sts).

BO all sts.

Assembly and Finishing

Block all pieces to measurements and let them dry fully. Sew the pocket to the center front chest, approx 5 cm / 2" below the neckband and centered horizontally, using mattress stitch along the sides and bottom and leaving the top open. Weave in all ends, working them through the wrong side for a few centimeters each way. Give the finished tee a final light steam or wet block to settle the seams and ribbing.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the pocket for a contrast stripe across the chest, or work it in MC for a subtler tonal look.
• For a warmer version, knit the body in a cotton-wool blend and lengthen the sleeves to three-quarter length.
• Add a few short rows at the back neck before joining the shoulders for a slightly higher back neckline that sits better under a collar.