Diamond - Knitty, Summer 2009

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model: Ariana

photos: Jill Gutman Schoenfuss

by Jill Gutman Schoenfuss

This halter was inspired by a diamond stitch pattern I saw in a book and for some inexplicable reason immediately thought of using it in a halter top. Inexplicable because I don’t have a halter top kind of body, compounded by the fact this is the second halter top I’ve recently designed.

The top is knit in one piece and starts with a deep 2x2 rib which gives it a corset-like look. The back remains ribbed for fit, while the front changes to reverse Stockinette stitch to make the diamond pop. The original diamond stitch pattern was modified so the top half of the diamond could stand alone. The cross over of the diamond becomes the halter tie straps.

This could be a great learning to cable project, as the only cabling occurs in the diamond and there are only 2 crossovers per row. It is also easy to finish, with just one seam up the back.

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] [shown in size S]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 29.5[34, 37.5, 42, 45.5, 50, 53.5] inches with ribbed portion lightly stretched
Length at Center Back: 12.75[13.25, 13.5, 13.75, 14, 14.25, 14.25]

MATERIALS

Nashua Handknits Cilantro [70% cotton, 30% polyester; 136yd/125m per 50g skein]; color: #12 Lime Sorbet; 4[4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] skeins.

Note: Top shown (size S) used almost all of 4 skeins. You may wish to buy an extra skein if making this size.

Recommended needle size:

1 US #8/5mm circular needle; 24 inches or longer (larger sizes may prefer a longer needle)

1 US #6/4mm circular needle; same length as larger needle or longer
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

4 stitch markers
Cable needle
Yarn needle

GAUGE
18 sts/28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st using larger needles

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

heartALT This top is worked back and forth on circular needles, to accommmodate the large number of sts.

When knitting is complete, top is sewn together at center back.

C3BP: Slip next st to cable needle and hold to back of work; k2 from left needle, p1 from cable needle. heartALT

C3FP: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; p1 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.

C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k2 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.

T4B: Slip next st to cable needle and hold to back of work; k3 from left needle, k1 from cable needle.

T4F: Slip next 3 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k1 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.

C8F: Slip next 4 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k4 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.

2x2 Rib
(Worked over a multiple
of 4 sts + 2):
Row 1 [RS]:
[K2, p2] to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 2 [WS]:
[P2, k2] to last 2 sts, p2.

Repeat these 2 rows for 2x2 Rib.

DIRECTIONS

Lower Body:
Using smaller needle, CO 134[154, 170, 190, 206, 226, 242] sts.
Do not join.

Work in 2x2 Rib until work measures 7.75[8, 8, 8.25, 8.25, 8.5, 8.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Bust:
Next Row [RS]: Using larger needle, work 34[38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 62] sts in 2x2 Rib, place marker, p66[78, 86, 98, 106, 118, 118], place marker, work remaining 34[38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 62] sts in 2x2 Rib.

This row sets pattern for bust: sts between markers are worked in reverse stockinette st, all other sts are worked in 2x2 Rib as set.

From this point, piece is worked using larger needle.

Continue in pattern until work measures 9.5[10, 10.25, 10.5, 10.75, 11, 11] inches, ending with a WS row.

If more length is desired to cover a large bust, work more length at this point.

Next Row [RS]: Work in 2x2 Rib to first marker, p21[27, 31, 37, 41, 47, 47], place marker, work Row 1 of Chart A over next 24 sts, place marker, p to next marker, work in 2x2 Rib to end.

Continue in pattern, working sts between center markers following Chart A, until Row 24 of Chart A is complete.

Remove first and fourth markers when working next row.

Next Row [RS]: Work in 2x2 Rib to 1[3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3] sts before second marker, p1[3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3], work Row 25 of Chart A, p1[3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3], work in 2x2 Rib to end.
Work 1 more row in 2x2 Rib as set, working Row 26 of Chart A between markers.

Next Row [RS]: BO all sts in pattern to first marker (1 st remains on right needle); remove marker, sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, BO next st on left needle purlwise (1 st remains on right needle); k2 from cable needle, [k1, p1] 9 times; C3BP, remove marker; BO remaining sts in pattern. 24 sts.

Next Row [WS]: Join yarn to remaining sts with WS facing. P3, [p1, k1] 9 times, p3.

Work Rows 1-20 of Chart B.
8 sts remain.

Straps:
Next Row [RS]: K4; place remaining 4 sts on hold on smaller needle. Work in stockinette st until strap measures 15[15, 17, 17, 17, 19, 19] inches or desired length.

BO all sts.

Place held sts on larger needle and join yarn with RS facing. Work as for first strap.

FINISHING
Weave in ends and block as desired. Stockinette st straps will curl to form a tube. This is the desired effect. When blocking, do not try to flatten straps.

Sew seam at center back and weave in remaining ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Jill is a published knitwear designer, designing for books, magazines, yarn and pattern companies. Her patterns often feature intarsia colorwork or interesting yarn combinations.

She also founded "A Stitch In Time", a vocational training program for disadvantaged and troubled teenagers, who learn job skills by running an internet yarn shop, learning to knit & crochet, and making handcrafted items for retail sale. Her grandmother taught her to knit at the age of 5. Jill has been designing and teaching others to knit for over 25 years. She resides in Connecticut with her husband, two daughters and their misunderstood dog.

Jill blogs about her design business at jagentdesigns.blogspot.com