Open summer top-knitting pattern

The open lacy pattern used in this summer top gives an airy feel but remains modest. Shoulder- baring straps are worked in a feather-and-fan pattern to produce a scalloped edge.

Sizes
Woman’s small (medium, large, X-large) Instructions are given for smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements
Chest: 31 (35, 39, 43) inches
Length: 20 (21, 21¾, 22¾) inches, excluding straps
Note: Garment is intended to fit with 1–2 inches of negative ease in all sizes.

Materials
• Fibra Natura Good Earth Solids (worsted weight; 53% cotton/47% linen; 170 yds/ 100g per hank): 3 (3, 4, 4) hanks crystal
#101 (A); 1 hank each custard #107 (B) and bok choy #108 (C)
• Size 6 (4mm) straight needles
• Size 7 (4.5mm) straight needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch markers

Gauge
20 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches/10cm in St st (blocked).
20 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches/10cm in Lace pat (blocked).
To save time, take time to check gauge.

Special Abbreviations
Centered Double Decrease (CDD): Sl 2 sts as if to k2tog, k1, p2sso to dec 2 sts. Make 1 Left (M1L): Insert LH needle from front to back under horizontal strand between last st worked and next st on LH needle; knit through back of resulting loop.
Make 1 Right (M1R): Insert LH needle from back to front under horizontal strand between last st worked and
next st on LH needle; knit into front of resulting loop.
Slip, slip, purl (ssp): Sl 2 sts 1 at a time kwise to RH needle; return sts to LH needle in turned position and
p2tog-tbl—a left-leaning single dec.
Slip marker (sm): Slip marker from LH to RH needle.
Wrap and Turn (W&T): Slip next st pwise to RH needle. Bring yarn to RS of work between needles, then slip
same st back to LH needle. Bring yarn to WS, wrapping st. Turn, leaving rem sts unworked, then beg working back in the other direction. To hide wraps on subsequent rows: Work to wrapped st.
With RH needle, pick up wrap and work wrap tog with wrapped st.

Pattern Stitch
Note: A chart is provided for those preferring to work pat st from a chart.
Lace (multiple of 18 sts + 2)
Row 1 (RS): P2, *k9, yo, k1, yo, k3, CDD, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: P2, *k10, yo, k1, yo, k2, CDD, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 5: P2, *CDD, k4, yo, k1, yo, k3, [yo, k1] twice, CDD, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 7: P2, *CDD, k3, yo, k1, yo, k9, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 9: P2, *CDD, k2, yo, k1, yo, k10, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 11: P2, *CDD, [k1, yo] twice, k3, yo, k1, yo, k4, CDD, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 12: Purl.
Rep Rows 1–12 for pat.

Pattern Notes
Top is worked in pieces from the bottom up, then sewn together. Straps are worked separately, then sewn on,
crossing in the back. When shaping in Lace pattern, do not work a yarn over without a
corresponding decrease and vice versa. Work bodice decreases as follows: K1, k2tog at beginning of right-side rows and ssk, k1 at end; work p1, p2tog at beginning of wrong-side rows and ssp, p1 at end.

Back
Using larger needles and B, cast on 78 (88, 98, 108) sts.
Knit 1 row.
Change to A.
Set-up row (RS): K11 (16, 21, 26), pm; work Lace pat over next 56 sts, pm; knit to end.

Working Lace pat between markers and all other sts in St st, work even until piece measures 3¼(3¾ 3½, 4) inches, ending with a WS row.
Shape Waist
Dec row (RS): Knit to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm; work to next marker, sm; k2tog, knit to end—2 sts dec.
Rep Dec row [every 6 rows] twice, then [every 4 rows] 3 times—66 (76, 86, 96) sts.
Work 13 rows even.
Inc row (RS): Knit to marker, M1R, sm; work to next marker, sm; M1L, knit to end—2 sts inc.
Rep Inc row [every 4 rows] 3 times, then [every 6 rows] twice—78 (88, 98, 108) sts.
Work even until piece measures 16 (16½ 17, 17½) inches, ending with a WS row.
Change to B.
Knit 2 rows.
Bind off all sts kwise.
Front
Work as for back until piece measures 16 (16½, 17, 17½) inches, ending with a WS row—78 (88, 98, 108) sts.
Shape Bodice
Bind off 5 (6, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows—68 (76, 82, 90) sts.
Row 1 (RS): Bind off 2 (2, 3, 3) sts; work 29 (33, 35, 39) sts (including st on RH needle after bind-off), k2tog, k1; join 2nd ball of yarn, k1, ssk, work to end.
Row 2: Working both sides at once with separate balls of yarn, bind off 2 (2, 3, 3) sts, work to end—31 (35, 37, 41) sts.
Dec 1 st at each armhole edge [every RS row] 8 times, and at the same time, dec 1 st at neck edge [every RS row] 6 times, then [every row] 15 times—2 sts each side.
Dec row (RS): K2tog, fasten off; ssk, fasten off.
Left Strap
Using smaller needles, B and long-tail cast-on (see page 76), cast on 103 (103,
111, 117) s t s .
Short-row set 1 (RS): Knit to last 5 (6, 8, 9) sts, W&T; (WS): knit to end.
Cut B and join A

Short-row set 2 (RS): Knit to last 7 (8, 11, 12) sts, W&T; (WS): purl to end.
Short-row set 3 (RS): K2 (1, 6, 11), *[k2tog] 3 times, [yo, k1] 6 times, [k2tog] 3 times; rep from * 4 times, k3, W&T; (WS): purl to end.
Change to C; carry A up WS. Short-row set 4 (RS): Knit to last
9 (10, 13, 14) sts, W&T; (WS): purl to end. Cut C and change to A.
Short-row set 5 (RS): K2 (1, 6, 11), *[k2tog] 3 times, [yo, k1] 6 times, [k2tog] 3 times; rep from * 4 times, k1, W&T; (WS): purl to end.
Short-row set 6 (RS): Knit to last 11 (12, 15, 16) sts, W&T; (WS): purl to end.
Cut A and join B.
Last 2 rows: Knit all sts, hiding wraps as you come to them on first row.
Bind off all sts kwise.

Right Strap
Using smaller needles, B and long-tail cast-on, cast on 103 (103, 111, 117) sts.
Knit 1 row.
Short-row set 1 (WS): Knit to last 5 (6, 8, 9) sts, W&T; (RS): cut B (leaving loose end on WS) and join A; knit to end.
Short-row set 2 (WS): Purl to last 8 (9, 12, 13) sts, W&T; (RS): k3, *[k2tog] 3 times, [yo, k1] 6 times, [k2tog] 3 times; rep from * 4 times, k2 (1, 6, 11).
Short-row set 3 (WS): Purl to last 9 (10, 13, 14) sts, W&T; (RS): change to C, carrying A up WS; knit to end.
Short-row set 4 (WS): Purl to last 10 (11, 14, 15) sts, W&T; (RS): cut C (leaving loose end on WS) and change to A; k1, *[k2tog] 3 times, [yo, k1] 6 times, [k2tog] 3 times; rep from * 4 times, k2 (1, 6, 11).

Short-row set 5 (WS): Purl to last 11 (12, 15, 16) sts, W&T; (RS): knit to end.
Short-row set 6 (WS): Purl to last 12 (13, 16, 17) sts, W&T; (RS): cut A (leaving loose end
on WS) and join B; knit to end.
Last row (WS): Knit all sts, hiding wraps as you come to them. Note: For sts that are wrapped by loose strands, insert RH needle under strand and into wrapped st, then p2tog strand and wrapped st.
Bind off all sts kwise.

Finishing
Block front and back to measurements. Block straps to 2 inches wide by 17 (17, 18Ԗ, 19Ԗ) inches long.

Neckband
With RS facing, using smaller needles and B, and beg at top of left bodice, pick up and knit 23 (26, 29, 32) sts along left neck edge to center front, then 23 (26, 29, 32) sts to top of right bodice—46 (52, 58, 64) sts.
Knit 1 row.
Bind off all sts kwise.
Sew bound-off (unscalloped) edge of left strap to armhole edge of left bodice, sewing narrow end at armhole edge and stretching strap slightly as you sew.
Rep for opposite side.
Sew side seams.
Place 2 markers Œ inch from top center back (i.e. 1½ inches between markers) and 2 more markers on each side 2 inches from first markers.
Cross straps in back by sewing left strap between markers on right and right strap between markers on left.
Weave in ends.