Description

Dean Top is a beautifully summery lace top featuring elegant double knitted shoulder straps and an easy pointelle lace pattern. Knitted with fingering-weight yarn, this top has a slightly unconventional construction—perfect if you’re looking for a project that keeps you engaged from the very first stitch to the last.

The piece begins with a provisional cast-on for the upper body. First, the work is knitted in the round from the bust upwards. The stitches of the back piece are finished neatly with an i-cord bind-off, while the front is shaped flat with decreases. The double knitted edges begin at the underarms and eventually form the straps of the top. You can easily adjust the strap length to suit you perfectly before attaching them to the back piece.

Once the upper part of the top is complete, the provisional cast-on stitches are picked up again, and the hem is knitted in the round from the top down. This way you can easily adjust the length of the top to suit your preferences. Finally, the tubular straps are sewn to the back piece.

Difficulty level: Intermediate

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8, 9, 10, 11) – see measurements below

Recommended ease:  0–4 cm / 0–1” of positive ease

Sample knit has 4 cm / 1” of positive ease.

Measurements for finished top: 

• Bust circumference: approx. 74 (80, 86, 92, 98, 105) (111, 117, 129, 142, 156) cm / 29 (31.5, 34, 36.25, 38.5, 41.25) (43.75, 46, 50.75, 56, 61.25)”
• Length from underarm to hem: approx. 26 (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) (32, 33, 34, 35, 36) cm / 10.25 (10.75, 11.25, 11.5, 12, 12.25) (12.75, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.25)” – this can be altered
• Armhole circumference: approx. 41 (46, 49, 54, 59, 63) (65, 69, 74, 80, 86) cm / 16 (18, 19.25, 21.25, 23.25, 24.75) (25.5, 27.25, 29, 31.5, 34) – this can be altered 
• Neck opening width (between shoulder straps) approx. 14 (17, 18, 22, 25, 29) (30, 34, 39, 45, 49) cm / 5.75 (6.75, 7.25, 8.75, 10, 11.5) (12, 13.5, 15.5, 17.75, 19.5)”

Yarn:   

Approx. 550 (600, 650, 700, 750, 800) (900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300) meters / 650 (700, 750, 800, 850, 900) (1000, 1100, 1250, 1350, 1450) yards of fingering-weight yarn.

Sample knitted with: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 6, 6, 7) balls of De Rerum Albertine (90 %  wool, 10 % silk, 200 m / 250 yds / 50 g), in colorway Sauge.

Other possible yarn examples: Sandnes Garn Tynn Line, Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit, Isager Merilin, Pascuali Pinta

Gauge: 10 x 10 cm = 26 sts x 34 rows/rounds of stockinette stitch with 2,5 mm / US 1.5 needles (after blocking). Change needle size in order to achieve the right gauge.

Needles : 

2,5 mm / US 1.5 long circular needles (or according to gauge)

Other materials: Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holding cables or scrap yarn