Knit Cascata Tee Top Free Knitting Pattern

There is something quietly satisfying about wearing a garment you have made yourself, especially when it looks like something you might pull off a boutique rack. The Cascata Tee Top is exactly that kind of project — a flowing, relaxed knitted tee with beautiful cascading texture detail that feels luxurious to wear and is surprisingly approachable to knit. Whether you are a confident beginner ready to move beyond scarves and dishcloths, or an intermediate knitter looking for a wardrobe-worthy summer project, this pattern is designed to reward your effort with a wearable piece you will reach for again and again.

In this post, you will find everything you need to knit the Cascata Tee Top from cast-on to bind-off, including the full free knitting pattern, yarn recommendations, sizing notes, and helpful tips for making this your best garment knit yet.

What Is the Cascata Tee Top?

The name “cascata” is the Italian word for waterfall, and it perfectly describes the design element at the heart of this top. A cascading column of yarn-over eyelets runs down the center front of the tee, creating a delicate waterfall of open stitches that catches the light beautifully. Pair that with a simple stockinette body, a relaxed drop-shoulder construction, and a clean ribbed hem and neckline, and you have a top that manages to feel both effortless and elegant.

This is a top-down, worked-flat pattern knitted in two pieces (front and back) and seamed at the shoulders and sides. The construction is straightforward and easy to follow, making it an excellent project for knitters who want to try their first garment without the complexity of short rows or picked-up stitches everywhere.

Yarn and Materials

Choosing the right yarn for a summer tee is one of the most important decisions you will make before casting on. You want something with good stitch definition so the eyelet details read clearly, enough breathability for warm weather wearing, and a fiber content that holds its shape over time.

Recommended Yarn: A DK or light worsted weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn works beautifully here. Cotton has excellent drape and breathability, and it shows off stitch texture with wonderful clarity. Some great options include Paintbox Yarns Simply DK (100% cotton), Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in DK weight, or Drops Safran for a slightly finer result. If you prefer a blend, a cotton-linen or cotton-bamboo yarn will add even more drape and a slight sheen.

Yardage: Approximately 400–800 yards depending on your size (see sizing chart below). Always purchase an extra skein to be safe.

Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US size 6 (4mm) needles, or the needle size needed to achieve gauge.

Needles: US size 6 (4mm) straight or circular needles (circular needles are helpful for larger sizes even when working flat), and US size 4 (3.5mm) needles for the ribbing.

Additional Materials:

• Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• Stitch markers
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Blocking mats and rust-proof pins

Sizing

The Cascata Tee Top is written in six sizes to fit a wide range of bodies. Garment measurements are given as finished bust measurements with approximately 2–4 inches of positive ease for a relaxed, casual fit.

Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / 2XL

Finished Bust Circumference: 32 / 36 / 40 / 44 / 48 / 52 inches

Body Length (hem to underarm): 13 / 13.5 / 14 / 14.5 / 15 / 15.5 inches

Sleeve Length (drop shoulder cap depth): 6 / 6.5 / 7 / 7.5 / 8 / 8.5 inches

Yardage Required: 400 / 480 / 560 / 640 / 720 / 800 yards

To choose your size, measure your actual bust circumference and add 2–4 inches for ease. For example, if your bust measures 38 inches and you prefer a looser, breezy fit, the L (44-inch finished bust) would be a lovely choice.

Abbreviations and Glossary

Before diving into the pattern, here is a quick reference for all abbreviations used.

k — knit
p — purl
st(s) — stitch(es)
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
k2tog — knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
yo — yarn over
rep — repeat
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
CO — cast on
BO — bind off
BOR — beginning of row

Stitch Patterns Used

Cascata Lace Panel (worked over 9 stitches):

This simple four-row repeat creates the signature waterfall column on the front of the top.

Row 1 (RS): k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1
Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches
Row 3 (RS): k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2
Row 4 (WS): Purl all stitches

Repeat these four rows for the pattern.

1×1 Ribbing: (k1, p1) across all stitches. On wrong-side rows, knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they appear.

Stockinette Stitch: Knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows.

The Cascata Tee Top Free Knitting Pattern

Back Panel

The back of the top is worked in simple stockinette with a ribbed hem.

Cast On:
Using smaller needles (US 4 / 3.5mm) and the long-tail cast-on method, CO 80 / 90 / 100 / 110 / 120 / 130 stitches.

Ribbing:
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 1.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Body:
Switch to larger needles (US 6 / 4mm). Work in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 13 / 13.5 / 14 / 14.5 / 15 / 15.5 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armhole:
BO 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows. You will have 68 / 76 / 84 / 92 / 100 / 108 stitches remaining.

Continue in stockinette until the armhole measures 6 / 6.5 / 7 / 7.5 / 8 / 8.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape Shoulders and Back Neck:
BO 8 / 10 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows.
BO 8 / 9 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 stitches at the beginning of the following two rows.
BO the remaining 36 / 38 / 38 / 42 / 46 / 50 stitches for the back neck.

Set the back aside.

Front Panel

The front of the top mirrors the back in construction but features the Cascata Lace Panel worked down the center front.

Cast On:
Using smaller needles, CO 80 / 90 / 100 / 110 / 120 / 130 stitches.

Ribbing:
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 1.5 inches, ending with a WS row.

Setting Up the Lace Panel:
Switch to larger needles. On the first RS row, you will establish the lace panel as follows.

Knit to the center of the row and place the panel. The setup row is:

K 35 / 40 / 45 / 50 / 55 / 60 sts, pm, work Row 1 of Cascata Lace Panel over the next 9 sts, pm, k to end.

From this point forward, work all stitches outside the markers in stockinette and all stitches between the markers following the four-row Cascata Lace Panel repeat.

Continue until the piece measures 13 / 13.5 / 14 / 14.5 / 15 / 15.5 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armhole:
BO 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows. You will have 68 / 76 / 84 / 92 / 100 / 108 stitches remaining.

Continue in pattern until the armhole measures 3.5 / 4 / 4.5 / 5 / 5.5 / 6 inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape Front Neck:
On the next RS row, work 25 / 29 / 33 / 36 / 38 / 40 stitches in pattern, BO the center 18 / 18 / 18 / 20 / 24 / 28 stitches (this removes the lace panel entirely), then work to end in pattern. You will now be working each shoulder separately.

Left Shoulder:
Attach a second ball of yarn and work both sides simultaneously or work one side at a time.

For the left shoulder (as worn), on each RS row, decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge as follows: work to the last 3 stitches before the neck edge, k2tog, k1.

Repeat this decrease every RS row 9 times total. You will have 16 / 20 / 24 / 27 / 29 / 31 stitches remaining on the left shoulder.

Continue without decreasing until the armhole measures the same as the back. End on a WS row.

Shape Left Shoulder:
BO 8 / 10 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 stitches at the beginning of the next RS row.
Work 1 WS row.
BO remaining 8 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 15 / 16 stitches.

Right Shoulder:
Work the right shoulder the same as the left, reversing shaping. The neck-edge decrease on RS rows is: k1, ssk, work to end.

Finishing and Seaming

Once both panels are complete, it is time to bring the Cascata Tee Top together. Blocking your pieces before seaming will make the seaming process much easier and produce a more polished final result.

Blocking:
Wet-block your pieces by soaking them in cool water for about 20 minutes, gently pressing out the excess water in a towel (do not wring), and then laying flat on blocking mats. Pin to measurements and allow to dry completely. Cotton may take 12–24 hours to dry fully.

Shoulder Seams:
With RS facing, use mattress stitch or a three-needle bind-off to join the shoulder seams. The three-needle bind-off creates a clean, sturdy seam and works beautifully here if you have left your shoulder stitches live on holders.

Neckband:
Using smaller needles and with RS facing, pick up and knit approximately 80 / 84 / 88 / 92 / 96 / 100 stitches evenly around the neckline (adjust to achieve an even 1×1 rib). Work in 1×1 ribbing for 1 inch. BO loosely in pattern using an elastic bind-off method.

Side Seams:
With RS facing, use mattress stitch to seam the sides, working from the hem up to the armhole bind-off. Take care to match your ribbing rows at the hem for a clean join.

Sleeve Opening Edging:
Using smaller needles and with RS facing, pick up and knit approximately 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80 / 85 stitches evenly along one armhole edge. Work in 1×1 ribbing for 3 rows. BO loosely in pattern. Repeat for the other armhole.

Weave in all ends securely. Give the finished top one final light steam block to set the seams and even out any imperfections.

Tips for Knitting the Cascata Tee Top

Gauge really matters for garments. Unlike a scarf or a cowl, a tee top worn on your body will fit very differently if you are even half a stitch off gauge. Always knit a gauge swatch, wash and block it, and measure carefully before casting on for the body.

Use stitch markers generously. Placing markers on either side of the Cascata Lace Panel makes it much easier to track where the pattern begins and ends, especially when you are decreasing for the armhole and neck shaping. It is easy to accidentally work a yarn-over into a section that should be plain stockinette.

Read ahead before armhole shaping. When you reach the point where you are binding off for the armholes and simultaneously decreasing for the neck, reading a few rows ahead in the pattern will help you keep track of where you are in both sequences at once.

A lifeline is your friend. If you are new to lace knitting or working with cotton (which has no stretch and can be harder to unknit), insert a lifeline with a length of smooth waste yarn through all live stitches before beginning any complex shaping. If something goes wrong, you can always rip back to the lifeline without losing your work.

Seaming in cotton. Cotton yarn can be a little stiff to seam compared to wool, and it can also stretch if you pull too tightly. Work your mattress stitch seam with a relaxed tension, checking often that the seam is lying flat and even.

Customization Ideas

One of the joys of knitting your own clothing is the ability to adapt the pattern to suit your preferences. Here are a few ideas for making the Cascata Tee Top truly your own.

Add length. If you prefer a tunic-length top, simply work more rows in the body section before beginning the armhole shaping. Just remember to add yardage accordingly.

Move the lace panel. The Cascata panel does not have to live at the center front. Try placing two mirror-image panels flanking the center, or moving the panel to the center back for a subtle surprise detail.

Try a different colorway. This top knits up beautifully in a solid or semi-solid yarn where the eyelet texture can really shine. That said, a very soft tonal yarn can add an unexpected depth to the cascading column. Avoid heavily variegated yarns, which tend to obscure stitch texture.

Work it in linen. If you want a crispier, more structured tee with beautiful drape that improves with washing, a linen or linen-blend yarn is an excellent substitution. Just make sure your gauge still matches.

Caring for Your Cascata Tee Top

Cotton knits are generally easy to care for, which makes them wonderfully practical for a summer wardrobe staple. Most cotton yarns can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in cool water. Lay flat to dry rather than tumble drying, as heat can cause cotton to shrink or distort the fabric structure. If your yarn is a blend containing bamboo, linen, or silk, check the yarn label and follow those specific instructions.

Final Thoughts

The Cascata Tee Top is everything a great knitting pattern should be — satisfying to work, stunning to finish, and genuinely useful in your everyday wardrobe. The simple construction makes it approachable for adventurous beginners, while the lace detail and garment shaping give more experienced knitters something