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by Kristi Porter

"What is the letter we love?
What sound are we extra fond of?
It's not any trouble,
you know it's a W,
when you hear whuh-whuh-whuh-whuh!"

This top is worked side to side, using short rows to provide a form-fitting shape. Knitting it will feel a bit different from a regular bottom-up top, but the short-rowed wedges keep the knitting always interesting.

You will notice as you knit, though, that your increases and decreases are the same for all the wedges. Once you get the hang of the number of short-rowed stitches [2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4".], you won't need to slavishly follow the pattern. On top of the two garter stitch wedges there are secondary wedges that form the V-neck and shoulder straps. Again, these are the same throughout.

models: Kristi Porter, Kristine Brooks photos: Leo Bleicher, Kristi Porter
SIZE
XS [S, M, L]
(Shown in Rock Grotto colorway above in size XS,
Autumn in New England colorway below in size L)
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Finished Bust Measurement: 28 [32, 36, 40] inches
Fits up to Chest Size: 32 [36, 40, 44] inches
 

MATERIALS

new Curious Creek Fibers Nakuru [55% Mohair, 45% Merino Wool; 72yds/65m per 50g skein]; Colorway: Rock Grotto or Autumn in New England; 6 [7, 8, 9] skeins

1 set US 9/5.5mm needles
1 30-inch long US 10.5/6.5 mm circular needle
[or size needed to match gauge]
Stitch markers
Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

16 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch on US 9 needles

 
PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]
DIRECTIONS

Tank (make 2)
FIRST WEDGE

All odd [WS] rows are purled for all sizes.

Size XS Only: Using US 9/5.5mm needles, CO 48 sts.
P 1 row. Proceed to Row 8.

Size S only: Using US 9/5.5mm needles, CO 48 sts.
Row 1 [WS]:
P all sts.
Row 2 [RS]: K44, w&t.
Row 3 [WS]:
P to end. Proceed to Row 8.

Size M only: Using US 9/5.5mm needles, CO 52 sts.
Row 1 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 2 [RS]: K48, w&t.
Row 3 [WS]: P to end.
Row 4 [RS]: K44, w&t.
Row 5 [WS]: P to end. Proceed to Row 8.

Size L only:
Using US 9/5.5mm needles, CO 56 sts.
Row 1 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 2 [RS]: K52, w&t.
Row 3 [WS]: P to end.
Row 4 [RS]: K48, w&t.
Row 5 [WS]: P to end.
Row 6 [RS]: K44, w&t.
Row 7 [WS]: P to end. Proceed to Row 8.

ALL SIZES continue here:
Row 8 [RS]: K43 [40, 40, 40], w&t.
Row 9 and all [WS] Rows: P to end.
Row 10 [RS]: K38 [36, 36, 36], w&t.
Row 12 [RS]: K33 [32, 32, 32], w&t.
Row 14 [RS]: K28 [28, 28, 28], w&t
Row 16 [RS]: K24, w&t.
Row 18 [RS]: K20, w&t.
Row 20 [RS]: K16, w&t.
Row 22 [RS]: K13, w&t.
Row 24 [RS]: K10, w&t.
Row 26 [RS]: K7, w&t.
Row 28 [RS]: K4, w&t.
Row 30 [RS]: K2, w&t.
Row 32 [RS]: K all sts.


SECOND WEDGE
The second and fourth wedges are reversed from the first. These wedges are worked in garter stitch. I find that there is no need to wrap short-rowed stitches in garter stitch, but you may if you wish. At the top ends of these wedges, you'll work additional wedges that form the V-neck and shoulder straps. A marker placed between the basic wedge and the top wedge will make your counting easier.

Row 1 [WS]: K2, turn.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, place marker, CO 2.
Row 3 [WS]: K6, turn.
Row 4 [RS]: K6, CO 2.
Row 5 [WS]: K11, turn.
Row 6 [RS]: K11, CO 2.
Row 7 [WS]: K16, turn.
Row 8 [RS]: K16, CO 2.
Row 9 [WS]: K21, turn.
Row 10 [RS]: K21, CO 2.
Row 11 [WS]: K26, turn.
Row 12 [RS]: K26, CO 2.
Row 13 [WS]: K32, turn.
Row 14 [RS]: K32, CO 2.
Row 15 [WS]: K38, turn.
Row 16 [RS]: K38, CO 2.
Row 17 [WS]: K44, turn.
Row 18 [RS]: K44, CO 2.
Row 19 [WS]: K51 [50, 50, 50], turn.
Row 20 [RS]: K51 [50, 50, 50], CO 6.
Row 21 [WS]: K62 [60, 60, 60], turn.
Row 22 [RS]: K62 [60, 60, 60].
Row 23 [WS]: K67 [64, 64, 64], turn.
Row 24 [RS]: K67 [64, 64, 64].
Row 25 [WS]: K72 [68, 68, 68], turn.
Row 26 [RS]: K72 [68, 68, 68].
Size XS: Proceed to Row 39.
Row 27 [WS]: K0 [72, 72, 72], turn.
Row 28 [RS]: K0 [72, 72, 72].
Size S: Proceed to Row 37.
Row 29 [WS]: K0 [0, 76, 76], turn.
Row 30 [RS]: K0 [0, 76, 76].
Size M: Proceed to Row 35.
Row 31 [WS]: K0 [0, 0, 80], turn.
Row 32 [RS]: K0 [0, 0, 80].
Row 33 [WS]: K0 [0, 0, 76], turn.
Row 34 [RS]: K0 [0, 0, 76].
Sizes M and L resume here:
Row 35 [WS]: K0 [0, 72, 72], turn.
Row 36 [RS]: K0 [0, 72, 72].
Size S resume here:
Row 37 [WS]: KO [68, 68, 68], turn.
Row 38 [RS]: K0 [68, 68, 68].
Size XS resume here:
Row 39 [WS]: K67 [64, 64, 64], turn.
Row 40 and all [RS] Rows: K to end.
Row 41 [WS]: K62 [60, 60, 60], turn.
Row 43 [WS]: BO 6, K51 [50, 50, 50] turn.
Row 45 [WS]: BO 2, K44, turn.
Row 47 [WS]: BO 2, K38, turn.
Row 49 [WS]: BO 2, K32, turn.
Row 51 [WS]: BO 2, K26, turn.
Row 53 [WS]: BO 2, K21, turn.
Row 55 [WS]: BO 2, K16, turn.
Row 57 [WS]: BO 2, K11, turn.
Row 59 [WS]: BO 2, K6, turn.
Row 61 [WS]: BO 2, K2, turn.
Row 63 [WS]: P all sts.

THIRD WEDGE
The third wedge forms the center bottom triangle of the top. It is worked in Stockinette st. Short rowed stitches are wrapped. The wraps should be picked up and knit with the wrapped stitches as they are encountered.

Row 1 [RS]: K2, w&t.
Row 2 and all [WS] rows: P to end.
Row 3 [RS]: K4, w&t.
Row 5 [RS]: K7, w&t.
Row 7 [RS]: K10, w&t.
Row 9 [RS]: K13, w&t.
Row 11 [RS]: K16, w&t.
Row 13 [RS]: K20, w&t.
Row 15 [RS]: K24, w&t.
Row 17 [RS]: K28, w&t.
Row 19: [RS] K33 [32, 32, 32], w&t.
Row 21 [RS]: K38 [36, 36, 36], w&t.
Row 23 [RS]: K43 [40, 40, 40], w&t.
Row 25 [RS]: K 48 [44, 44, 44], w&t.
Row 26 [WS]: P to end.
Size XS: Proceed to Row 39.
Row 27 [RS]: K0 [48, 48, 48], w&t.
Row 28 [WS]: P to end.
Size S: Proceed to Row 37.
Row 29 [RS]: K0 [0, 52, 52], w&t.
Row 30 [WS]: P to end.
Size M: Proceed to Row 35.
Row 31 [RS]: K0 [0, 0, 56].
Row 32 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 33 [RS]: K0 [0, 0, 52], w&t.
Row 34 [WS]: P to end.
Sizes M and L resume here:
Row 35 [RS]: K0 [0, 48, 48], w&t.
Row 36 [WS]: P to end.
Size S resume here:
Row 37 [RS]: K0 [44, 44, 44], w&t.
Row 38 [WS]: P to end.
Size XS resume here:
Row 39 [RS]: K43 [40, 40, 40], w&t.
Row 41 [RS]: K38 [36, 36, 36], w&t.
Row 43 [RS]: K33 [32, 32, 32], w&t.
Row 45 [RS]: K28, w&t.
Row 47 [RS]: K 24, w&t.
Row 49 [RS]: K20, w&t.
Row 51 [RS]: K16, w&t.
Row 53 [RS]: K13, w&t.
Row 55 [RS]: K10, w&t.
Row 57 [RS]: K7, w&t.
Row 59 [RS]: K4, w&t.
Row 61 [RS]: K2, w&t.
Row 62 [WS]: P to end.
K across all 48 [48, 52, 56] stitches, picking up and knitting wraps with wrapped stitches.

FOURTH WEDGE
Work as for Second Wedge.

FIFTH WEDGE
The final wedge is a mirror image of the first wedge.
Pick up wraps and knit together with wrapped stitches as you encounter them.

Row 1 [RS]: K2, w&t.
Row 2 and all [WS] rows: P to end.
Row 3 [RS]: K4, w&t.
Row 5 [RS]: K7, w&t.
Row 7 [RS]: K10, w&t.
Row 9 [RS]: K13, w&t.
Row 11 [RS]: K16, w&t.
Row 13 [RS]: K20, w&t.
Row 15 [RS]: K24, w&t.
Row 17 [RS]: K28, w&t.
Row 19 [RS]: K33 [32, 32, 32], w&t.
Row 21 [RS]: K38 [36, 36, 36], w&t.
Row 23 [RS]: K43 [40, 40, 40], w&t.
Row 25 [RS]: K48 [44, 44, 44].
Size XS only: BO all sts.
Sizes S/M/L: W&T.
Row 26 [WS]: P to end.
Row 27 [RS]: K0 [48, 48, 48].
Size S only: BO all sts.
Sizes M/L: W&T.
Row 28 [WS]: P to end.
Row 29 [RS]: K0 [0, 52, 52].
Size M only: BO all sts.
Size L: W&T.
Row 30 [WS]: P to end.
Row 31 [RS]: K 0, [0, 0, 56].
BO all sts.
FINISHING
Sew Back and Front together at shoulders. Sew side seams.

Using larger circular needle, pick up and k one st in every other row around the bottom edge. Work in Garter stitch for 1.5 inches, ending with a K row. BO all sts pwise. Sew in ends and block as desired.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Kristi cannot believe her luck: She's got a design gig with Curious Creek Fibers. She's teaching at Knitting in La Jolla. She's Knitty's Advertising Manager. And she's got a book coming out this Fall called Knitting for Dogs.

Really.

Pattern & images © 2005 Kristi Porter. Contact Kristi