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by Rebecca Hatcher

I designed this pair of fraternal twin tops in honor of my little sisters, who are twins. Just like my sisters, the tops seem quite different at first, but on closer acquaintance, some family resemblances begin to emerge. In the case of the tops, similarities include the garter stitch ties and eyelet edgings.

The trickiest part of Rachel [the cream top] is picking up stitches along the edge of the band. I found that picking up about 2 stitches per "ridge" [one on the ridge and one in the valley] distributed the picked-up stitches nicely. Anna [the red one] has the added complication of attaching the elastic and sewing on hooks. This can be avoided by knitting long ties, similar to those for Rachel.

model: Rebecca Hatcher photos: Kevin Glick


SIZE
S [M, L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Rachel [cream]
Lower width: 16.5[17.5, 19] inches
Upper width: 5 inches
Length: 9[10, 11] inches

Anna [red]
Ribcage: 33[35, 37] inches
Length: 5.5[6, 6.5] inches

 

MATERIALS

Rachel [cream]
Karabella yarns Softig [100% cotton; 88 yds/80 m per 100g skein]; color: Natural [112]; 1[2, 2] skeins

1 set[s] US #11/8mm straight needles
1 set[s] US #11/8mm double-point needles
[optional, but easier for short garter st rows]
Tapestry needle
2 safety pins

Anna [red]
 Rowan Yarns Wool Cotton [50% merino wool, 50% cotton; 123 yds/113 m per 50g skein]; color: Rich [911]; 1 skein

1 set US #6/4mm straight needles
2 US #6/4mm double-point needles [optional, but easier for short garter st rows]
Tapestry needle
Sewing needle
Thread to match yarn
1 yd of 1/2 inch wide elastic
plastic swim suit bra hook [found in the notions section of the fabric store]

 
GAUGE

Rachel [cream]
14 sts/20 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

Anna [red]
24sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
 
DIRECTIONS

Rachel [cream]

Band

Note: It's easier to work this, and all other narrow garter stitch sections, on shorter needles. The rows are very short, so you turn the piece constantly; the shorter the needle you have to turn, the better. Double-point needles are a good length.

CO 3 sts.
Work in garter st [k all rows] until piece measures 60[63, 66] inches, or desired length, WHEN FULLY STRETCHED.
BO all sts.

Front

Find the center of the band by counting garter st ridges. Count 22[23, 24] ridges to the left and right of center. Mark these ridges with safety pins.
Row 1 [RS]: Pick up and knit 58[62, 66] sts, evenly spaced between the safety pins, along the edge of the band.
Row 2 [WS]: K3, p to 3 sts from end, K3.
Row 3 [RS]: K3, k2tog, yo, ssk, k to 7 sts from end, k2tog, yo, ssk, k3 -- 56[60, 64] sts remain.
Repeat rows 2 and 3, dec 2 sts each repetition, 19[21, 23] times more.
End on a RS row [18 sts remain].
Work 5 rows in garter st.
Next row: K3, BO next 12 sts, k3

Ties

Work in garter st on each group of 3 sts until ties measures 18 inches, or desired length, WHEN FULLY STRETCHED.
BO all sts.
FINISHING
Weave in ends.

Anna [red]

Band

CO 6 sts
Work in garter st until piece measures 36[38, 40] inches, or 3 inches longer than rib cage circumference, WHEN FULLY STRETCHED.
BO all sts.

Or: No-sew variation

Work band in garter st until piece measures 60[63, 66] inches, or desired length, WHEN FULLY STRETCHED. [This will require more yarn.]
Simply BO all sts when done.

Left Front

Find the center of the band by counting garter st ridges.
Row 1 [RS]: Starting 1 ridge left of the center and working away from it, pick up and knit 33[37, 41] sts, closely spaced, along the edge of the band.
Row 2 [WS]: inc 6 sts evenly across -- 39[43, 47] sts.
Row 3 [RS]: K3, k2tog, yo, ssk, k to 7 sts from end, k2tog, yo, ssk, k3 -- 37[41,45] sts remain.
Row 4 [WS]: K3, p to 3 sts from end, K3.
Repeat rows 3 and 4, decreasing 2 sts each repetition, 12[14, 16] times more.
End on a WS row [13 sts remain].

Transition to Tie

Row 1 [RS]: K3, k2tog, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, ssk, k3 -- 11 sts remain.
Row 2 [WS]: K3, p5, k3.
Row 3 [RS]: K3, k2tog, k1, ssk, k3. 9 sts remain.
Row 4 [WS]: K2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2. 7 sts remain.
Row 5 [RS]: K2, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2. 5 sts remain.

Tie

Work in Garter st until strap measures 7.5[8, 8.5] inches, or distance from top of front to center back of neck, WHEN FULLY STRETCHED.
BO all sts.

Or: No-sew variation

Work in garter st until strap measures 18 inches long WHEN FULLY STRETCHED.
BO all sts.

Right Front

Row 1 [RS]: Starting 20[22, 24] ridges to the right of the band center and working towards it, pick up and knit 33[37, 41] sts, closely spaced, along the edge of the band.

Continue as for the Left Front.
FINISHING

Rachel [cream]
Weave in ends.

Anna [red]
This sounds much more complicated than it is. Basically, you're going to create a casing for the elastic by sewing a loose zig-zag along the inside of the band.

Mark a spot about 2 inches from one end of the elastic. Align this spot with one end of the band, placing the elastic on the WS of the band so it won't show when the top is worn.

Using the tapestry needle and about 3 yds of yarn, sew through the last stitch on the lower edge of the first garter st ridge [on the inside of the band]. Leave a tail a few inches long to weave in later.

Next, sew through the last stitch on the upper edge of the second garter st ridge, catching the elastic beneath the yarn.

Then, sew through the last stitch on the lower edge of the third ridge. Again, catch the elastic beneath the yarn. The yarn should be loose enough to lie flat when the band is relaxed. When the band is stretched, the width will convert to length.

Continue across the band, moving forward 1 ridge and alternating edges each time.

When you reach the other end, cut the yarn leaving a tail several inches long.

Thread one end of the band [both the knitted work and the elastic] through the closed loop of the bra hook. Position the hook so the open hook is on the right side of the knitted band and about 3/4 inches from the end of the band and 2 3/4 inches of elastic extend past the hook.

Weave the end of the elastic under the zig-zag casing [so it matches the elastic that's already inside the casing]. Using thread and the sewing needle, sew the elastic to itself [sewing the edges together works well]. Sew down the end of the knitted band.

To create a loop for the bra hook, fold the wrong sides of the other end of the band together, about 1 inch from the end of the knitted band [and 3 3/4 inches from the end of the elastic]. Starting about 1 inch from the fold, weave the end of the elastic under the zig-zag casing.

Again, using the sewing needle and thread, sew the elastic to itself, leaving the area near the fold open so the hook can pass through. Sew the end of the knitted band to the elastic.

Sew the free ends of the two ties together, taking care not to twist them.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Trained as an archivist, Rebecca likes to think of her stash as a processing backlog.
Pattern & images © 2003 Rebecca Hatcher. Contact Rebecca.