Yasmeen Top

This top-down garment is all about those intricate lace details that make you feel sophisticated. Worked flat in fingering-weight yarn, it's perfect for warm weather while adding that touch of femininity to your everyday wardrobe. The construction features a European shoulder using lifted increases and finger cord ties that are an interesting finishing touch.

The ruffle at the hem is completely optional, and as always, the length is adjustable to suit your style. You'll explore techniques like picot edge, 3-needle bind-off, and finger cords. To follow this pattern, you need to be comfortable with charts.

Whether you're drawn to the delicate femininity, the technical challenge, or just want something gorgeous for summer, the Yasmeen Top is fun and interesting project to knit.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished bust circumference:

• 92 (102, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172) cm

• 36.75 (40.75, 44.75, 48.75, 52.75, 56.75, 60.75, 64.75, 68.75)”

Designed to be worn with 10-15 cm / 4-6” positive ease around the chest.

Gauge

Body chart lace pattern (charts found at the end of the pattern)  flat on larger needles, blocked.

(1 lace pattern repeat (8 sts x 12 rows) = approximately 4 x 4 cm / 1½x1½” worked flat on larger needles, blocked).

Yardage

Fingering or Sport weight yarn. Depending on the length of the top and ruffle option, allow approximately:

• 940 (985, 1095, 1205, 1320, 1430, 1545, 1660, 1785) m

• 1030 (1080, 1200, 1315, 1445, 1565, 1690, 1815, 1950) yds

Yarn in Sample

Yarn used in the sample (Size 2) is 3 skeins of Cascade Yarns Heritage (75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon; 400 m [437 yds] / 100 g) in colourway Lunar Rock (#5734).

Needles

• 3.25 mm (US 3) or size needed to obtain gauge; circulars 60-150 cm / 24-60″ long.
• 2.75 mm (US 2) circulars 60-150 cm / 24-60″ long.

Notions

Stitch markers, row counter, scissors, tape measure, stitch holders or waste yarn, contrasting waste yarn, spare circular needle in smaller size, tapestry needle.

Techniques

Lace knitting, lifted increases, Backwards loop cast-on, knitting in the round, 3-needle bind-off, finger cords.

Notes

The top is worked flat from the top-down, starting with casting on stitches for the back neckline. The shoulders are shaped using lifted increases, and the back is worked down to the underarms with armhole shaping increases.

Next, stitches are picked up along the back shoulders to create the front shoulders. Each side is worked separately to shape the front neckline with increases, while also incorporating armhole shaping increases.

Once the back and front are joined, the body is knitted in one piece down to desired length and adding an optional ruffle.

The front opening and neckline edge is added by picking up stitches along the front opening and neckline, then working a picot edge and joining the live sts to the base of the edge using a 3-needle bind-off.

For the armholes, stitches are picked up along the shoulder edges and underarm cast-on edge. These are finished the same way as the front opening and neckline edge.

Finally, finger cord ties are added along the front opening.