How to Knit Skull T-shirts
Knitting a skull T-shirt requires a graph of a skull and a different color of yarn to complete the skull. Personalize the T-shirt with the skull of your choice. Make the skull large or small and add adornments to the skull graph. The T-shirt is worked from the top down and in the round, making it easy to size appropriately.
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Things You'll Need
- Knitter's graph paper
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Yarn
- 24-inch-long circular needle
- Stitch markers
- Scrap yarn
- Tapestry needle
- Double point knitting needles
Instructions
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1
Graph the skull onto the graph paper. Each square on the paper represents one stitch. Start at the bottom of the skull and determine the jawbone width. Graph the rest of the skull from the bottom up, leaving spots open to represent the mouth and eyes if desired.
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2
Measure across the front neckline from shoulder blade to shoulder blade to determine the number of stitches to cast on. Multiply the inches by the stitches per inch for the desired yarn.
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3
Cast on the desired number of stitches for the front of the T-shirt and place a marker. Cast on one-third of the front stitches for the first sleeve, place a marker, cast on the same number of stitches for the back as you did for the front, place a marker, cast on one-third the amount of front stitches for the second sleeve and place a marker. The last marker placed marks the beginning of the round.
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4
Join to begin working in the round and knit one round.
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5
Knit into the front and back of the first stitch, knit to one stitch before the next marker, knit into the front and back of that stitch and slip the marker. Repeat to the end of the round. Eight stitches have been increased. Knit one round without increases.
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6
Repeat Step 5 until the shirt is the desired length and width to the underarms.
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7
Start the skull on the T-shirt at the desired point at the same time as you are working the increases. Work from the chart on the center-front of the sweater from the top of the skull chart. Each row of the skull chart is worked from the right to the left. Join in the second color of yarn and work the desired number of stitches in each row, according to your chart, in the new color, switching back to the original color after the stitches for the chart are worked.
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8
Remove the sleeve stitches from the body of the sweater. Work the front of the sweater to the first sleeve stitch and remove the marker. Thread the scrap yarn onto the tapestry needle and slip the first sleeve stitches to the scrap yarn. Knit across the back stitches. Repeat for the second set of sleeve stitches.
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9
Work the body of the sweater. Continue working from the chart until the chart is completed, and knit the body until the T-shirt is the desired length.
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10
Work a bottom edge band in a seed stitch or rib stitch for 2 inches to keep the bottom edge of the shirt from rolling. Bind off all stitches.
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11
Divide the first set of sleeve stitches evenly on three double-point needles. Join to begin working in the round and knit all stitches until he sleeve measures 2 inches shorter than the desired length. Work 2 inches in the same edge pattern as worked on the body. Bind off all stitches. Repeat for the second sleeve.
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Tips & Warnings
Weave in all ends on the wrong side of the work, taking care to close up any holes in the underarms.
Try on the T-shirt as you knit to ensure a proper fit by transferring all stitches to scrap yarn and putting the shirt on. Transfer stitches back to the circular needle to continue knitting.
References
- "Stitch N Bitch The Knitter's Handbook"; Debbie Stoller; 2003
- "The Knitter's Guide to Sweater Design"; Carmen Michelson & Mary-Ann Davis; 1989
- "Knitting form the Top"; Barbara G. Walker; 1996
