This top has been named for the greek nymph Daphne, sea-god Poseidon's daughter, whose beauty and alluring curves made Apollo fall madly in love with her.
So be ready for some classic sexiness: Slimming vertical lines are smocked in the waist into a tortoise-shell pattern of slipped stitches. Integrated short rows also make sure the fit is spot-on. You don't have to be a pro to knit this top - knitting it sideways is the secret to all of its curve-forming magic.
Daphne is worked in one piece: You start at one side and work your way around the body, working one shoulder strap as you go, back to the beginning. So there is only one side seam and a small seam where the shoulder strap is attached in the back.
The Daphne Top can be worn one-shouldered like a classic Greek garment or with an additional second strap for a bit more support as shown in the pictures.
Sizing Note: This top is intended to be worn with 2 inches of negative ease. Please also take your waist circumference into consideration when choosing your size. It is easier to manipulate the chest and hip measurements by adding/leaving out short rows
MATERIALS
Yarn [MC] Lang Yarns Quattro [100% cotton; 131yds/120m per 50g skein]; color: 16.0088 blue; 3 [3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6] skeins [CC] Lang Yarns Quattro [100% cotton; 131yds/120m per 50g skein]; color: 16.0079 turquoise; 2 [2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4] skeins
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] 24-inch US #2.5/3mm circular needle
Notions yarn
needle 2 stitch markers
GAUGE
23 sts/40 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
27 sts/48 rows = 4" in Smocked Pattern
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
All sts are slipped purlwise unless otherwise noted.
After joining CC, twist both yarns at the end of each WS row to carry the unused color along the side of the work.
The pattern worked on the body outside of the Smock Pattern at the waist is a 6-row repeat, worked in the same color that will be used in the Smock Pattern. For sizes where short rows are worked, the short row "wedges" are worked in MC only.
The first strap (worked at the same time as the body) is folded over the shoulder and sewn to the back. When made in the yarn given or a yarn with similar fiber content, the strap will stretch approximately 35%. The schematic gives the armhole length with the strap folded over, after stretching. If you are using a yarn with a different fiber content (one that doesn't stretch horizontally), increase the number of cast on stitches for the strap by approximately 35% so the strap will reach the correct length. Remember to cast off these additional stitches in the strap cast off row.
Body Pattern Rows 1 & 3 [RS]: With MC, knit. Rows 2 & 4: With MC, purl. Rows 5-6: With CC, knit.
Rep these 6 rows for patt.
Smock Pattern (mult of 6 sts + 2) Row 1 [RS]: With MC, (sl2 wyib, k4) four times, sl2 wyib. Row 2 [WS]: With MC, (sl2 wyif, p4) four times, sl2 wyif. Rows 3-4: Rep Rows 1-2. Rows 5-6: With CC, knit. Row 7: With MC, k3, (sl2 wyib, k4) three times, sl2 wyib, k3. Row 8: With MC, p3, (sl2 wyif, p4) three times, sl2 wyif, p3. Rows 9-10: Rep Rows 7-8. Rows 11-12: With CC, knit.
Rep Rows 1-12 for patt.
DIRECTIONS
Body
Using MC, CO 90 sts. Row 1 [RS]: Knit. Row 2 [WS]: Purl. Row 3: With CC, knit all sts. Row 4: With CC, k20, pm, k26, pm, knit to end of row.
Begin Body and Smock Patterns: Row 5 [RS]: With MC, knit to marker, sl m, work Row 1 of Smock Pattern to m, sl m, knit to end of row with MC.
Begin short rows:
**Sizes A, B and C Only: Hem Short Row Section: With MC, p17, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. (Purl to 2 sts before previously wrapped st, w&t, knit to end of row, turn) 3 times. Purl to m, picking up and working all wraps with wrapped sts. Work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Bust Short Row Section: With MC, k36, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. (Knit to 9 sts before previously wrapped st, w&t, purl to end of row, turn) 3 times. Knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Sizes D, E, and F Only: Hem Short Row Section: With MC, p17, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. (Purl to 2 sts before previously wrapped st, w&t, knit to end of row, turn) 2 times. Purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Bust Short Row Section: With MC, k33, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. K22, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. K11, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. Knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Sizes G, H, and I Only: Hem Short Row Section: With MC, p17, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. P12, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. Purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Bust Short Row Section: With MC, k30, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. K15, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. Knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Sizes J, K, and L Only: Row 6: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern, purl to end of row. Row 7: With MC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
All sizes: Row 8 [WS]: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Rows 9-10: With CC, knit to m work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.***
Sizes D through L Only: Next row [RS]: With MC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows once more. Next 2 rows: With CC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Rep last 6 rows -[-, -, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] time(s) more.
All sizes resume here.
Begin neck increases: Next row [RS]: With MC, k1, kfb, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Next row: With MC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Next 2 rows: With CC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Rep last 6 rows 7[8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] times more. 98[99, 100, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108] sts
Next row [RS]: With MC, k1, kfb, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row.
Rep the last 2 rows once more. Next 2 rows: With CC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Rep last 6 rows 3[4, 5, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9] times more. 106[109, 112, 110, 111, 114, 117, 120, 121, 122, 125, 128] sts
Next row [RS]: With MC, k1, kfb, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row.
Cast on for strap: Next row: With MC and using the knitted cast on, CO 42[42, 42, 45, 47, 47, 47, 46, 48, 50, 50, 49] sts, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. 149[152, 155, 156, 159, 162, 165, 167, 170, 173, 176, 178] sts Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Next 2 rows: Using CC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Next row [RS]: With MC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows once. Next 2 rows: Using CC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Rep last 6 rows 1[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3] time(s) more.
Next row [RS]: With MC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Next row [RS]: With MC, BO 50[53, 56, 57, 60, 63, 66, 68, 71, 74, 77, 79], knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. 99 sts rem for all sizes Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 98 sts Next row: With CC, k1, ssk, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. 97 sts Next row: With CC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 96 sts Next row [RS]: With MC, k1, ssk, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. 95 sts
Continue neck decreases and begin short rows: Sizes A, B and C Only: Hem Short Row Section: With MC, p17, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. (Purl to 2 sts before previously wrapped st, w&t, knit to end of row, turn) 3 times. Purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 94 sts Bust Short Row Section: With MC, K1, ssk, k33, w&t, purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1, turn. K1, ssk, knit to 9 sts before previously wrapped st, w&t, purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1, turn. (Knit to 9 sts before previously wrapped st, w&t, purl to end of row, turn) 2 times. Knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. 90 sts
Sizes D through L Only: Next row [WS]: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 94 sts Next row [RS]: With MC, k1, ssk, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. 93 sts Next row [WS]: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 92 sts Next row: With CC, k1, ssk, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row. 91 sts Next row: With CC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 90 sts Next row: With MC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Sizes D, E, and F Only: Hem Short Row Section: With MC, p17, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. (Purl to 2 sts before previously wrapped st, w&t, knit to end of row, turn) 2 times. Purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Bust Short Row Section: With MC, k33, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. K22, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. K11, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. Knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Sizes G, H, and I Only: Hem Short Row Section: With MC, p17, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. P12, w&t, knit to end of row, turn. Purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Bust Short Row Section: With MC, k30, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. K15, w&t, purl to end of row, turn. Knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
Sizes J, K, and L Only: Next row: With MC, purl to m, work Smock Pattern to m, purl to end of row. Next row: With MC, knit to m, work Smock Pattern to m, knit to end of row.
All sizes:
Work even in patt for 10 rows, ending after a RS (MC) row.
Rep from ** to *** once more.
Work even in Body Pattern and Smock Pattern as est for 109[121, 133, 145, 157, 169, 181, 193, 205, 217, 229, 241] rows, ending after Row 1 of Body Pattern (RS).
Rep from ** to *** once more.
Work 2 more rows even in patt.
BO all sts.
FINISHING
Join cast on edge to cast off edge for side seam. With CC and tapestry needle, duplicate stitch smock stitches in pattern over the side seam.
Fold work at side seam and with Back facing, fold strap over at shoulder. Sew the shoulder strap to the Back at its natural position and so the CC stripes are uninterrupted.
Second Strap (Optional)
With CC, CO 12[12, 12, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 24, 24, 24, 24] sts. Set-up row: Knit. Row 1 [RS]: With MC, k2, (sl2 wyib, k4) to last 4 sts, sl2 wyib, k2. Row 2 [WS]: P2, (sl2 wyif, k4) to last 4 sts, sl2 wyif, p2. Rep Rows 1 & 2 once more. Rows 5-6: With CC, knit. Row 7: With MC, sl1 wyib, (k4, sl2 wyib) to last 5 sts, k4, sl1 wyib. Row 8: Sl1 wyif, (p4, sl2 wyif) to last 5 sts, p4, sl1 wyif.
Rep Rows 7-8 once more. Rows 11 -12: Using CC, knit.
Rep Rows 1-12 until the strap measures 14[14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 17, 17.5, 18, 19, 19.5, 20.5, 20.5] inches from cast on.
BO all sts. Attach strap to the Front and Back at desired position.
Weave in all ends. Block to measurements.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Christina is an engineer turned designer who is knitting and living in Berlin.
She blogs here. You can find more of her patterns there and at Ravelry, too.
