Cucumber top: Knitty Spring+Summer 2012

by Michaela Moores

In England, in the summer, people start putting cucumbers in their drinks. More often than not, it ends up in an alcoholic punch (named after the liqueur – Pimms) on a sweltering summer’s day. We don’t just put in cucumber; it isn’t really Pimms without apples, strawberries, grapes, and mint.

But it’s the cucumber that makes the drink for me.

And it’s the cucumber that makes the picnic. Aside from the punch, who wants to miss cucumber sandwiches, cucumber batons and enough tzatziki to make you sick?

This Cucumber is a top perfect for picnics. Soft and flowing during the day, with a little extra fabric to snuggle into once the sun goes down, it’s modern, it’s asymmetrical, and it’s rather fun. The fast drop of the left front flatters any post-picnic belly (you should see me get through potato salad), and best of all, it’s fully reversible, great for hiding any picnic spills!

model: Michaela Moores
photos: Tina Bragaglia


SIZE XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size S with 2.5" of positive ease)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 32.5 [36.5, 40.5, 44.5, 48.5, 52.5, 56.5] inches
Length: 25.25 [25.75, 27.25, 27.75, 28.75, 31, 31.5] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed [100% Organic Cotton; 150yd/137m per 65g skein]; 301; Glacier; 7 [7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 32-inch US 6/4mm circular needle
1 32-inch US 4/3.5mm circular needle

Optional:
3.5mm crochet hook for working buttonholes

Notions

stitch marker
10[10, 10, 10, 14, 14, 14] 1 inch flat button
yarn needle

GAUGE

21 sts/30 rows = 4 inches in Sand Stitch pattern

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

Work buttonhole: Over the next five stitches work a 3 stitch wide TULIPS buttonhole.

This buttonhole method is recommended due to its rigidity and ability to support the weight of the fabric.

If preferred, a Simple Horizontal Buttonhole may be worked, however additional reinforcement is recommended.

If using this method, knit one additional stitch before beginning buttonhole.

Both methods are outlined in this excellent post from Techknitter.

Sand Stitch:
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

Seed Stitch:
Row 1: *P1, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 2: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.

DIRECTIONS
Body
Using US 6/4mm needle cast on 240(268, 296, 324, 356, 384, 412) sts using the cable cast on method.

Beg with Row 1, work in Sand Stitch until work measures 11.5 inches ending on Row 4 of stitch pattern.

Note: This design features a high waist. Knitters wanting to add/remove length are recommended to do so at this stage to prevent the displacement of the waist.

Change to US 4/3.5mm needle.

Beg with Row 1 work Seed Stitch for 8 rows.

Change to US 6/4mm needle.

Beg with Row 1 work Sand Stitch for 8 rows.

Buttonhole row [RS]: K 169[189, 209, 229, 253, 273, 293], work buttonhole [see note above in Pattern Notes], k to end.

Next row [WS]: [P1, k1] 33[37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57] times, p4, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.

Work Rows 3-4 of Sand Stitch pattern across all sts.

Beg with Row 1, work 2[2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3] repeats of Sand Stitch.

Rep last 12[12, 16, 16, 12, 16, 16] rows 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] times more.

Buttonhole Row [RS]: K 169[189, 209, 229, 253, 273, 293], work buttonhole, k to end.

Next row [WS]: [P1, k1] 33[37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57] times, p4, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.

Work Rows 3-4 of Sand Stitch pattern across all sts. 3[3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] buttonholes worked.

Divide For Armholes – Right Front:
Row 1 [RS]: BO 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8], k 82[91, 101, 110, 121, 131, 140], pm, turn.

Row 2 [WS]: BO 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8] so that st remaining on RH needle has been knit, k 1[0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1], *p1, k1; rep from * to end.

The marker divides the Right Front from the rest of the work. Until directed, only the stitches before this marker are to be worked. If desired, stitches beyond the marker may be placed on a stitch holder or held on waste yarn.

Continue to work RS and WS rows in Sand Stitch as set:

BO6 sts at beg of next two rows 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1] times.

BO5 sts at beg of next two rows 0[0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0] times.

BO4 sts at beg of next two rows 0[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] times.

BO3 sts at beg of next two rows 0[1, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2] times.

BO 2 sts at beg of next two rows 3[1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1] times.

*Continuing to work in Sand Stitch, BO 2 sts at beg of all RS rows until 16[18, 18, 20, 22, 22, 24] sts remain.

Work even for 2 rows, then bind off these sts.

Back
Rejoin yarn with RS facing.

Work as for Right Front until *.

Work even in Sand Stitch until back measures 6.25 (6.75, 7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25) inches from base of armhole ending on Row 4 of Sand Stitch pattern.

Continue to work in patt as set.

Neck Shaping:
Row 1: K43[46, 51, 54, 56, 61, 65], turn.

Row 2: Sl1, BO 20[22, 26, 26, 26, 30, 32] sts, work in Sand Stitch to end.

Row 3: K 22[24, 24, 27, 29, 30, 32], turn.

Row 4: BO 6[5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts, work in Sand Stitch to end.

Work even in Sand Stitch for 2 rows then BO all sts.

Rejoin yarn to opposite shoulder with RS facing (to the stitch you slipped before).

Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 3: BO 6[5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts, k to end.

Work even in Sand Stitch for 3 rows then BO all sts.

Left Front
Rejoin yarn with RS facing.

Immediately BO 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8] sts, and knit to end of row.

Next row [WS]: Work in Sand Stitch patt as set to end of row.

Continuing to work RS and WS rows in Sand Stitch as set:

BO 6 sts at beg of next RS row 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1] times.

BO 5 sts at beg of next RS row 0[0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0] times.

BO 4 sts at beg of next RS row 0[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] times.

BO 3 sts at beg of next RS row 0[1, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2] times.

BO 2 sts at beg of next RS row 3[1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1] times.

58[62, 68, 74, 78, 84, 90] sts remaining.

Work even until Left Front measures 6.25[6.75, 7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25] inches from base of armhole ending on Row 4 of Sand Stitch patt.

Continue to work in patt as set.

Neck Shaping:
Row 1: K43[46, 51, 54, 56, 61, 65], turn.

Row 2: Sl1, BO 20[22, 26, 26, 26, 30, 32] sts, work in Sand Stitch to end.

Row 3: K 22[24, 24, 27, 29, 30, 32], turn.

Row 4: BO 6[5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts, work in Sand Stitch to end.

16[18, 18, 20, 22, 22, 24] sts remaining. Work even in Sand Stitch for 2 rows then BO all sts.

Rejoin yarn to opposite shoulder with RS facing (to the stitch you slipped before). 16[17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 26] sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K 5[4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7], [work buttonhole] 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] times, k 1 (3, 3, 5, 2, 2, 4).
Row 2 [WS]: [P1, k1] 0[1, 1, 2, 0, 0, 1] times, p11, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 3 [RS]: BO 6[5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts, k to end. 10[12, 12, 14, 16, 16, 18] sts.

Work even in Sand Stitch for 3 rows beg with Row 4 then bind off all sts.

FINISHING
Block to the dimensions given in the schematic.

Using mattress stitch attach the Right Front shoulder to the left-hand Back shoulder and the left-hand Left Front shoulder (i.e. the one without the button holes) to the right-hand Back shoulder.

Weave in ends, using tails to reinforce underarm divides where appropriate. Carefully attach buttons as marked on the schematic and matching the positioning of the buttonholes both front and back of Cucumber in the same place. Not only does this serve to make the garment fully reversible, it also substantially reinforces the button, reducing stretch and sag in this area.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Michaela is reveling in the London springtime, always best accompanied by regular picnics, cakes and punch!

For the time being living with her two naughty cats in the heart of East London, she is carefully plotting a hop across the Channel to the Land of Chocolate and Waffles – aka Belgium - where she plans to start a picnic revolution.