by Nikol Lohr

This alpaca and silk top with an all-over lace pattern can be dressed up over a simple camisole or slip dress, or dressed down over a fitted T-shirt and jeans. The two-tone version [see below] feels a bit more casual, but for a special occasion, I’d go with the solid.

The seamless, top-down construction and the simple lace pattern make this a gratifying first lace garment. It’s knit in the round top-down, and the yoke is produced with an increasing lace pattern that is worked just as far as necessary for your size.  Then it’s divided for the sleeves, and an easily-memorized 8-row, 12-stitch pattern is worked for the rest of the body. The cap sleeves are finished with a bit of ribbing.

If you’re substituting yarns, be sure to pick something without memory (in other words, little or no wool), or you’ll have a much clingier garment. To maintain a soft drape, choose fibers like alpaca, silk, cashmere, cotton, Optim, bamboo, etc.

The tunic version is quite a long top, so if you’re using a luxury fiber, you can economize yarn and still produce a beautiful garment with the shorter version.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size M)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 30[33, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60] inches
Length at center back:
Tunic: approx. 20[22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 28] inches
Shell: approx. 12[14, 16, 18, 18, 20, 20] inches
Note: All measurements given for garment after blocking; note that both length and width of garment may be altered during blocking. Choose a size with 1-5 inches negative ease; top shown is worn with 4 inches negative ease.

Two-color tunic: 2[2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5] skeins each color
[MC] #122 Mocha (discontinued)
[CC] #150 Night

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 16-inch US #2/2.75mm circular needle or set of double-point needles (smallest needle)
1 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle or set of double-point needles (medium-sized needle)
1 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle (medium-sized needle)
1 US #7/4.5mm needle (largest needle, any type; only used for binding off)

Notions
Stitch markers
Sharp yarn needle
Waste yarn (worsted weight recommended; finer waste yarns will not hold these slippery lace stitches as effectively)

GAUGE
21 sts/26 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch using medium-sized needles, after blocking

Approx. 16 sts = 4” in lace pattern (Rows 1-8 of Chart A) using medium-sized needles, after blocking

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Since this sweater is worked from the top down, it can be tried on as it is worked. However, note that the piece will be very different after blocking; the fabric will grow both lengthwise and widthwise, and its drape will change significantly.

p3tog: Purl next 3 sts together.

1x1 Rib (Worked in the round over an even number of sts):
All Rounds: [K1, p1] to end.

Instructions for the Backward Loop Cast On can be found here

Information about blocking can be found here and here.

DIRECTIONS

Work Rounds 1 through 23[23, 35, 35, 38, 38, 38] of Chart A, switching to longer circular needle when necessary. 160[160, 200, 200, 240, 240, 240] sts.

Sizes 1X, 2X, 3X Only:
Work Rounds 9 through 13 of Chart A.

Size 3X Only:
Work Rounds 1 through 15 of Chart B. 280 sts.

All Sizes:
Use backward loop method when casting on sts in next round.

Divide Sleeves from Body:
Next Round: *Place first 32[32, 40, 40, 48, 48, 56] sts on waste yarn, CO 12[6, 12, 12, 24, 12, 36] sts, k48[48, 60, 60, 72, 72, 84]; repeat from * once. Join to continue working in the round. 120[108, 144, 144, 192, 168, 240] sts.

LOWER BODY
Next Round: *K12[6, 12, 12, 24, 12, 36], work Round 25[25, 37, 37, 15, 15, 17] of Chart A[A, A, A, A, A, B] over next 48[48, 60, 60, 72, 72, 84] sts; repeat from * once.

Sizes XS, M, 1X, 3X Only:
K 1 round.

Sizes S, L, 2X Only:
Next Round: *K-[6, -, 12, -, 12, -], work Round -[26, -, 38, -, 16, -] of Chart A over next -[48, -, 60, -, 72, -] sts; repeat from * once. -[132, -, 168, -, 216, -] sts.

All Sizes:
Work Rounds 1-8 of Chart A over all sts. These 8 rounds set pattern for lower body.

Note: For many sizes, the lace pattern for the lower body will not align directly with the lace pattern in the yoke. For size S only, the lace pattern will align differently for the lower front and back of this sweater; however, both front and back will be symmetrical.

Important: In the directions below, length measurements are given for piece stretched 25% lengthwise. The fabric will grow in length by approximately this amount during blocking.

before blocking

after blocking

For two-color tunic, continue in pattern until work measures 5[5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] inches from underarm, ending with Round 7 of chart. Break MC; continue in pattern using CC.

For shell, continue in pattern until work measures 12[14, 16, 18, 18, 20, 20] inches or desired length at center back, ending with Round 8 of chart.

For tunic, continue in pattern until work measures 20[22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 28] inches or desired length at center back, ending with Round 8 of chart.

P 1 round.
K 1 round.
P 1 round.
BO Round: Using largest needle, *BO 4 sts, m1 and BO this st; repeat from * until all sts have been bound off.

Next Round: Ssk, k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, slip marker, work Round 25[25, 37, 37, 15, 15, 17] of Chart A[A, A, A, A, A, B] to end of round. 44[38, 52, 52, 72, 60, 92] sts.

Sizes XS, M, 1X, 3X Only:
K 2 rounds.

Sizes S, L, 2X Only:
Next Round: K to marker, work Round -[26, -, 38, -, 16, -] of Chart A over next -[32, -, 40, -, 48, -] sts. -[46, -, 60, -, 76, -] sts.

K 1 round.

All Sizes:
Switch to 16-inch circular needle or double-point needles in smallest size. For two-color tunic, break MC and join CC.
Work 6 rounds 1x1 Rib.
Using medium-sized needle, BO all sts loosely in pattern.
Work other sleeve in the same way.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Wet block using hot water (see linked articles in pattern notes), stretching and pinning garment to measurements shown, shaping neckline and lower edges into scallops.

Nikol Lohr lives and works at The Harveyville Project with her partner, 2 cats, 7 sheep, and 5 hens.

She’s the author of Naughty Needles, the founder of Yarn School. She blogs at The Thrifty Knitter, and is cupcake on ravelry and QueenieVonSugarpants on flickr.