It been a long time I wanted to make something special for my 2 best friends. They are both my best mate during my secondary school. No story about our friendship here but just to let you know the name of the top come after ‘the friendship’ 🙂 There are so many things I wanted to make. One day, I come with this idea to design a top and make the same for each of us. Although 3 of us almost the same size (sizes XS, S & M), but I’m still worrying on the fitting. I try not to asking too much detail from them so that I can keep it a bit of secret. I’m designing more on to free size or loose fitting with more positive ease.
It will be a summer top, and I’m picking halterneck design because I can add in the untied/not fixed strap at the neck part which giving more adjustment on the size. #noworryonthefitting
Yarns & Colours
When I had the idea what to make, I checked on my stash what yarn I’m going to use. For fabrics, I like linen so so much, when I found La Mia carrying a cotton linen yarn, I grab some of the colours in one order. I then show my friends the yarn colours from the website for them to choose, unfortunately they both picked the colours not in my stash (LOL) which are beige and purple. Off course I proceed with purchasing the yarn and start gauge swatching with my own pick colour’s pink from my stash.
Materials
- 3.50mm straight knitting needles
- 3.50mm/E crochet hook
- Cotton Linen Yarn, Fine-Sport Weight (5ply) 6balls (approximate 500gm)
- Stitch Markers (optional)
- 1 Stitch Holder (optional
- Measuring Tape
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Threader
Gauge in stockineette : 25sts x 40row = 4″ X 4″ = 10cm X 10cm
Finishes Sizes Lay Flat : Width underarm = 18.5″, Length = 18.75″ (size without blocking)
Sizes Fit = Free sizes ( Fit XS – M )
Before Start
Note :
- This pattern are for advance beginner. Making in front and back piece and join together.
- It divide to 2 part, the bottom with Seed Stitch & the arm decrease shaping with Irish Mesh Stitch.
- I’m over excited to share the pattern, so I’m not providing in chart term this round. Perhap may update in the future. Let see.
- You can knit the bottom in the round but I’m avoiding the tops from pulling on the weight and expanding the length. Also, side join allow me to hide the yarn ends there. I usually will start a new ball of yarn at the side not middle of somewhere.
- If you wish to make it wider, adding stitch with +6, +12 or so on. Or if you wish to make it narrower, minus the stitch with -6, -12 or so on.
Knit Abbreviations
K = knit
P = purl
sts = stitches
CO = cast on
BO = bind off
YO = yarn over (make extra sts)
SL = slip as if knit
k2tog = knit two together (right slanting decrease right side)
skp = slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over (left slanting decrease right side)
p2tog = purl 2 together (left slanting decrease wrong side)
ssp2tog = slip 2 stitches knitwise, return the 2 stitches to the left needle, purl 2 together through back loops (right slanting decrease wrong side)
psso = pass the slipped stitch over
. [ ] = repeat stitches in the bracket
Crochet Abbreviations
ch = chain
hdc2tog = half double crochet 2 together
Pattern
Back Piece
I’m using Crochet-chain cast on(edited) here, you can go with any type of cast on.
Knit bottom up with seed stitch, approximate 18″width X 14″ length till arm part. You can extend the length to your preference before you start decreasing but to finish the bottom seed stitch on the wrong side.
CO 113 sts
Row 1 to 140 – [ K1, Pl ] X 56, Knit last st. (113sts)
Start arm decrease on the Right Side :
Row 141 – K1, skp, K1 [ P1, K1 ] to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 (111sts)
Row 142 – Pl, p2tog, P1 [ K1, P1 ] to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (109sts)
Row 143 – K1, skp, K1 [ P1, K1 ] to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 (107sts)
Row 144 – Pl, p2tog, P1 [ K1, P1 ] to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (105sts)
Row 145 – K1, skp, K1 [ P1, K1 ] to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 (103sts)
Row 146 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (101sts)
From now on we will knit in Irish Mesh Stitch also splitting the top part to 2. To avoid confusing, I’m going to list as Back A & Back B for the left & right as shown in the photo above.
Row 147 – K1, skp, K1, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 15, K3, pass 1 st over (as we bind of 1 st in the middle of the row), [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 15, K1, k2tog, K1 (49sts X 2)
You shall have 49 sts for Back A & 49sts for Back B. You can knit Back A & B together with bring in a new ball of yarn. I’m just using the other end of the same ball. Alternatively, just transfer the stitches of Back B to stitch holder and knit after Back A.
Back A
Row 148 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (48sts)
Row 149 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 14, k2tog, K1 (47sts)
Row 150 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (46sts)
Row 151 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 14, k2tog, K1 (45ts)
Row 152 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (44sts)
Row 153 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 12, K2, k2tog, K1 (43sts)
Row 154 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (44sts)
Row 155 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 12, K2, k2tog, K1 (41sts)
Row 156 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (40sts)
Row 157 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 11, K1, k2tog, K1 (39sts)
Row 158 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (38sts)
Row 159 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 11, K1, k2tog, K1 (37sts)
Row 160 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (36sts)
Row 161 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 10, k2tog, K1 (35sts)
Row 162 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (34sts)
Row 163 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 10, k2tog, K1 (33sts)
Row 164 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (32sts)
Row 165 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 8, K2, k2tog, K1 (31sts)
Row 166 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (30sts)
Row 167 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 8, K2, k2tog, K1 (29sts)
Row 168 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (28sts)
Row 169 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 7, K1, k2tog, K1 (27sts)
Row 170 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (26sts)
Row 171 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 7, K1, k2tog, K1 (25sts)
Row 172 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (24sts)
Row 173 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 6, k2tog, K1 (23sts)
Row 174 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (22sts)
Row 175 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 6, k2tog, K1 (21sts)
Row 176 – Pl, p2tog, P all remaining sts (20sts)
Row 177 – K3 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 4, K2, k2tog, K1 (19sts)
Row 178 – P all sts (19sts)
Row 179 – K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 6 (19sts)
Row 180 – P all sts (19sts)
Row 181 – K3 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 5, K1 (19sts)
Row 182 – P all sts (19sts)
* if you wish to make this part length longer, repeat row 179 – row 182 to your desire length.
Now add a stitch marker on the wrong side of row 182, for neck hem seaming later.
continue with 10 rows of Stockinette stitch and finishing the hem sewing them stitch by stitch on the wrong side of row 183.
Back B
Row 148 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (48sts)
Row 149 – K1, skp, K1, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 14, K2 (47sts)
Row 150 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (46sts)
Row 151 – K1, skp, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 14, K1 (45tss)
Row 152 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (44sts)
Row 153 – K1, skp, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 13, K2 (43sts)
Row 154 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (42sts)
Row 155 – K1, skp, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 12, K1 (41sts)
Row 156 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (40sts)
Row 157 – K1, skp, K2, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 11, K2 (39sts)
Row 158 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (38sts)
Row 159 – K1, skp, K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 11, K1 (37sts)
Row 160 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (36sts)
Row 161 – K1, skp, K1 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 10, K2 (35sts)
Row 162 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (34sts)
Row 163 – K1, skp, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 10, K1 (33sts)
Row 164 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (32sts)
Row 165 – K1, skp, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 9, K2 (31sts)
Row 166 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (30sts)
Row 167 – K1, skp, K2 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 8, K1 (29sts)
Row 168 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (28sts)
Row 169 – K1, skp, K2, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 7, K2 (27sts)
Row 170 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (26sts)
Row 171 – K1, skp, K1 [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 7, K1 (25sts)
Row 172 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (24sts)
Row 173 – K1, skp, K1 [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 6, K2 (23sts)
Row 174 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (22sts)
Row 175 – K1, skp, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 6, K1 (21ts)
Row 177 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (20sts)
R
Row 176 – P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (20sts)
Row 177 – K1, skp, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 5, K2 (19sts)
Row 178 – P all (19sts)
Row 179 – K3, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, ] X 5, K1 (19sts)
Row 180 – P all (19sts)
Row 181 – K2, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 5, K2 (19sts)
Row 182 – P all (19sts)
* if you extended the length on Back A, repeat the same for Back B.
Now add a stitch marker on the wrong side of row 182, for neck hem seaming later.
continue with 10 rows of Stockinette stitch and finishing the hem sewing them stitch by stitch on the wrong side of row 183.
Now we had done back piece.
Front Piece
Knit bottom up with seed stitch, approximate 19″width X 14″ length till arm part or as your extended length as Back piece. Remember to finish the bottom seed stitch on the wrong side.
CO 119 sts
Row 1 to 140 – [ K1, Pl ] X 56, Knit last st. (119sts)
Start arm decrease on the Right Side :
Row 141 – K1, skp, K1 [ P1, K1 ] to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 (117sts)
Row 142 – Pl, p2tog, P1 [ K1, P1 ] to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (115sts)
Row 143 – K1, skp, K1 [ P1, K1 ] to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 (113sts)
Row 144 – Pl, p2tog, P1 [ K1, P1 ] to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (111sts)
Row 145 – K1, skp, K1 [ P1, K1 ] to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 (109sts)
Row 146 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (107sts)
Row 147 – K1, skp, K1, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 33, K1, k2tog, K1 (105sts)
Row 148 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (103sts)
Row 149 – K1, skp, K1, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 32, k2tog, K1 (101sts)
Row 150 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (99sts)
Row 151 – K1, skp, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 31, k2tog, K1 (97sts)
Row 152 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (95sts)
Row 153 – K1, skp, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 29, K2, k2tog, K1 (93sts)
Row 154 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (91sts)
Row 155 – K1, skp, K2, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 27, K2, k2tog, K1 (89sts)
Row 156 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (87sts)
Row 157 – K1, skp, K2, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 26, K1, k2tog, K1 (85sts)
Row 158 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (83sts)
Row 159 – K1, skp, K1, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 25, K1, k2tog, K1 (81sts)
Row 160 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (79sts)
Row 161 – K1, skp, K1, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 24, k2tog, K1 (77sts)
Row 162 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (75sts)
Row 163 – K1, skp, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 23, k2tog, K1 (73sts)
Row 164 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (71sts)
Row 165 – K1, skp, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 21, K2, k2tog, K1 (69sts)
Row 166 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (67sts)
Row 167 – K1, skp, K2, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 19, K2, k2tog, K1 (65sts)
Row 168 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (63sts)
Row 169 – K1, skp, K2, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 18, K1, k2tog, K1 (61sts)
Row 170 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (59sts)
Row 171 – K1, skp, K1, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 17, K1, k2tog, K1 (57sts)
Row 172 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (55sts)
Row 173 – K1, skp, K1, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 16, k2tog, K1 (53sts)
Row 174 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (51sts)
Row 175 – K1, skp, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 15, k2tog, K1 (49sts)
Row 176 – Pl, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, ssp2tog, P1 (47sts)
Row 177 – K1, skp, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 13, K2, k2tog, K1 (45sts)
Row 178 – P all (45sts)
Row 179 – K3, [ YO, SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts ] X 13, K3 (45sts)
Row 180 – P all (45sts)
Row 181 – K2, [ SL 1, K2, psso the 2 K sts, YO ] X 13, K4 (45sts)
Row 182 – P all (45sts)
* if you extended the length on Back side, repeat the same.
Now add a stitch marker on the wrong side of row 182, for neck hem seaming later.
continue with 10 rows of Stockinette stitch and finishing the hem sewing them stitch by stitch on the wrong side of row 183.
Now we had done both pieces. Side seam both pieces with invisible joining or any other method you prefer, and hide all the yarn ends.
Strap
Lastly, let crochet the strap. Is simple and pretty.
Ch 2, hdc2tog on the 1st ch. Without turning continue with [ ch2, hdc2tog ] repeat till approximate 40″. Hide the end and insert strap into neck hem with threader, ……………. and DONE!
If you are following this pattern, I would love to see your work. Share and Tag your project with #znooipattern on Instagram or Facebook.
Happy knitting 😊😊
