Knitty: Summer 2007

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by Robin Dodge This top is essential for your summer wardrobe. The cut-away neckline is eye-catching, and just a little bit of shaping at the waist accentuates your figure. The main yarn, Phyz, makes a cool and comfortable fabric, with a great drape. The accent yarn is a worsted weight handspun silk. Almost any worsted weight handspun will work, giving you the opportunity to incorporate some fabulous yarn from your favorite handspinner into this cute summer top. Phyz makes a very stretchy fabric. The finished garment will feel like it has more ease than it actually does. If you are in between sizes, the smaller size is recommended.
model: Robin Dodge photos: Caroline Bautista


SIZE
XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size Small)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 30[34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54] inches Length: 20.25[20.75, 20.75, 21.25, 21.75, 22.25, 22.25] inches

MATERIALS
[MC] ArtFibers Phyz [70% Cotton/30% Nylon; 160yd/146m per 50 g ball]; color: odd dye lot of color #07; 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] balls [CC] Robin Dodge handspun [100% silk; 66 yd per 41g skein]; color: hand-dyed; 55[60, 65, 75, 80, 85, 90]yd / 51[55, 60, 69, 73, 78, 83]m The following commercial yarn may be substituted for the handspun: Elann.com Undyed Ramie Cotton [55% Ramie / 45% Cotton; 95yd/87m per 50g skein]; color: dye in the color of your choice; 1 skein 1 29 inch US #10/6mm circular needle 1 29 inch US #8/5mm circular needle 1 24 inch US #7/4.5mm circular needle 5 stitch markers: one marker should be a different color from the others Stitch holders (optional) Tapestry needle

GAUGE
18 sts/21 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using MC on US #10/6mm needles

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]
When joining new balls of yarn, join at sides of garment (where side seams would be). End of round is at one side seam of garment. When casting on stitches for the yoke, the Cable Cast-On is recommended. Directions for this cast-on can be found here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer05/FEATsum05TT.html M1L: Insert left needle from front to back under the horizontal strand which lies between the st just worked, and the next st. Knit into the back of this loop. M1R: Insert left needle from back to front under the horizontal strand which lies between the st just worked, and the next st. Knit into the front of this loop. W2tog (Work 2 together): If the second st on the left needle is a p st, p2tog. If it is a k st, k2tog. W2tog tbl: (Work 2 together through back loops): If the next st on the left needle is a p st, p2tog tbl. If it is a k st, ssk. 1x1 Rib (Worked in the round over an even number of sts): Round 1: [K1, p1] to end. Repeat this round for 1x1 Rib.

PATTERN
Lower Body Using US #8/5mm needle and MC, CO 134[152, 170, 188, 206, 224, 242] sts. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Use the marker which is different from the others, to indicate beginning of round. Work in 1x1 Rib until work measures 1 inch. Next Round: Using US #10/6mm needle, k4[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7], place first marker, k59[66, 75, 82, 91, 98, 107], place second marker, k8[10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14], place third marker, k59[66, 75, 82, 91, 98, 107], place fourth marker, k to end. End-of-round marker is placed at side “seam”, first and second markers indicate placement of shaping for front, and third and fourth markers indicate placement of shaping for back. Work in stockinette st until work measures 3 inches. Decrease Round: [K to marker, k2tog, k to 2 sts before next marker, ssk] twice, k to end. 4 sts decreased. K 8 rounds. Repeat Decrease Round. 126[144, 162, 180, 198, 216, 234] sts. K 10 rounds. Increase Round: [K to marker, slip marker, M1L, k to next marker, M1R, slip marker] twice, k to end. 4 sts increased. K 10 rounds. Repeat Increase Round. 134[152, 170, 188, 206, 224, 242] sts. Continue in stockinette st until work measures 14[14.5, 14.5, 15, 15, 15.5, 15.5] inches, ending last round at fourth marker (4[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] sts from end of round). Shape Armholes Next Round: Removing markers as you work, BO 8[10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14] sts (to first marker), k to second marker, BO 8[10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14] sts (to third marker), k to end. There are two sets of 59[66, 75, 82, 91, 98, 107] sts on the needle. Place the set of stitches without yarn attached, on hold on US #7/4.5mm needle or st holder. Upper back will be worked back and forth on remaining set of 59[66, 75, 82, 91, 98, 107] sts. Upper Back Sizes XS, S Only: P 1 row. Next Row [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. Repeat these 2 rows 3[4, -, -, -, -, -] times more. 51[56, -, -, -, -, -] sts. Sizes M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X Only: P 1 row. Next Row [RS]: K1, k3tog, k to last 4 sts, k3tog tbl, k1. Repeat these 2 rows -[-, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] times more. -[-, 59, 66, 71, 78, 87] sts. All Sizes: Continue in stockinette st until work measures 2.5[2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 3, 3, 3] inches from beginning of armhole, ending with a WS row. Break yarn. Place sts of upper back on hold on US #8/5mm needle or st holder. Upper Front Work as for upper back, but do not break yarn or remove sts from working needle. Yoke Joining Round: With RS facing, k all sts of upper front, place first marker, CO 19[25, 29, 33, 33, 33, 33] sts, place second marker, k all sts of upper back, place third marker, CO 19[25, 29, 33, 33, 33, 33] sts, place end-of-round marker, join to work in the round. 140[162, 176, 198, 208, 222, 240] sts. Using US #8/5mm needle, work in 1x1 Rib until yoke measures 1.5 inches. Break MC. Next Round: Using US #7/4.5mm needle and CC, [w2tog, work in pattern to 2 sts before next marker, w2tog tbl] 4 times. 132[154, 168, 190, 200, 214, 232] sts. Continue in 1x1 Rib until yoke measures 2.5 inches. Split Yoke When working next round, remove first 2 markers, but leave third marker and end-of-round marker in place. Round 1: Work 22[24, 26, 30, 32, 34, 34] sts in pattern, BO 71[83, 89, 99, 105, 115, 133] sts tightly in pattern (22[24, 26, 30, 32, 34, 34] sts of upper back remain, including st on right needle), work in pattern to end of round. 61[71, 79, 91, 95, 99, 99] sts. Round 2: Work in pattern to beginning of bound-off sts, CO 55[61, 65, 69, 75, 87, 99] sts, join work and continue in pattern to end of round. 116[132, 144, 160, 170, 186, 198] sts. Work 3 rounds in 1x1 Rib. Break CC. Next Round: Using MC, work in pattern to marker, work 8[11, 13, 15, 15, 15, 15] sts in pattern, w2tog tbl, w2tog, work in pattern to end. Work 2 more rounds in 1x1 Rib. BO all sts in 1x1 Rib.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.
If desired, work 1 row of single crochet around armholes.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

She spends her working hours as a librarian at a design school, but in her free time Robin Dodge is an insatiable crafter. She dabbles in as many crafts as the space in her tiny studio will allow, from sewing to metalwork, handspinning to screenprinting.

You can see her work by visiting her at One Sheep Hill.