by Jamie Besel

Some might say that alpaca is not the right choice for summer, but depending on the design and how it's used, I disagree. I think worked in a simple, elegant, and airy pattern such as this one, it shines!

The shape of the garment is super simple which is perfect for a spring/summer top. It's worked in the round up to the armholes in stockinette stitch with just a touch of lace at the hemline and each 'side seam'. There is no binding off for the armholes, just decreases which lead up to what is considered a traditionally summer boat neckline. The only sewing here is at the shoulder seams and the width of those seams is entirely up to you, as long as your head will fit through the neck!

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size S with 2 inches of positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 32.25[36.75, 41.5, 43.75, 48.25, 52.75, 57.5] inches
Length: 19.5[20.25, 21.25, 22, 22.75, 23.25, 24] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Manos del Uruguay Lace [70% baby alpaca, 25% silk, 5% cashmere; 439 yds/400m per 50g skein]; color: Rhiannon; 2 [2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] 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 #3/3.25mm circular needle

Notions
yarn needle
2 stitch markers

GAUGE

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

Garment is worked in the round. There are two versions of the lace pattern: one for working in the round and one for working flat (for when the piece is split for the Front and Back).

Because blocking is used to achieve the final measurements of the garment, you'll want to choose a yarn with similar fiber content. All measurements are given after blocking.

Lace Pattern
(worked in the round,
mult 8 sts + 1)
Rounds 1-2: K1, *ssk, (k1, yo) twice, k1, k2tog, k1; rep from * to end of rnd.
Round 3: K1, *yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to end of rnd.
Round 4: K1, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2; rep from * to end of rnd.
Round 5: K1, *k2, yo, sl2, k1, p2sso, yo, k3; rep from * to end to end of rnd.
Rep Rnds 1 - 5 for patt.

Lace Pattern
(worked flat, mult 8 sts + 1)
Row 1 [RS]: K1, *ssk, (k1, yo) twice, k1, k2tog, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 2: *P1, p2tog, (p1, yo) twice, p1, p2togtbl; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 3: K1, *yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 4: *P2, yo, p2tog, p1, p2togtbl, yo, p1; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 5: K1, *k2, yo, sl2, k1, p2sso, yo, k3; rep from * to end of row.
Row 6: *P1, p2tog, (p1, yo) twice, p1, p2togtbl; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 7: K1, *ssk, (k1, yo) twice, k1, k2tog, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 8: *P1, yo, p2tog, p3, p2togtbl, yo; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 9: K1, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2; rep from * to end of row.
Row 10: *P3, yo, sl2, p1, p2sso, yo, p2; rep from * to last st, p1.
Rep Rows 1-10 for patt.

DIRECTIONS
Body
Cast on 226[258, 290, 306, 338, 370, 402] sts. Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd.

Set-up Rnd: K113[129, 145, 153, 169, 185, 201], pm, k113[129, 145, 153, 169, 185, 201] sts.

Work Lace Pattern in the round for 25[25, 25, 25, 35, 35, 35] rounds; piece measures approx. 3[3, 3, 3, 4.25, 4.25, 4.25] inches from cast on.

Note: While the lace sections on either side of the side markers are adjacent, treat each section as its own separate lace panel.

Next rnd: *Work Rnd 1 of Lace Pattern across next 17[17, 17, 17, 25, 25, 25] sts, knit to 17[17, 17, 17, 25, 25, 25] sts before marker, work Rnd 1 of Lace Pattern across next 17[17, 17, 17, 25, 25, 25] sts, sl m; rep from * once more.

Continue in set pattern for 91[96, 101, 103, 106, 106, 108] rounds more, ending on Rnd 2[2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 4] of Lace Pattern. Piece measures approx. 11[11.75, 12.25, 12.5, 12.75, 12.75, 13] inches from cast on.

Split for armholes:
Note: Begin working Lace Pattern flat, beginning with Row 3[3, 3, 5, 3, 3, 5] of patt. You will now divide for the FRONT and BACK; after splitting continue to work them separately and simultaneously with two balls of yarn.

Sizes XS [S, M] Only:
Next row [RS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, k1, ssk, knit to 20 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, sl m;* Attach 2nd ball of yarn and rep from * to * once more. Turn.

Next row [WS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, purl to 17 sts before marker, work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, sl m; rep from * once more. Turn.

Next row [RS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, k1, ssk, knit to 20 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, sl m; rep from * to * once more.

Next row [WS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, purl to 17 sts before marker, work Lace Pattern over next 17 sts, sl m; rep from * once more.
Rep last 2 rows 14[18, 22] times more. 81[89, 97] sts remain for each side.

Sizes L [1X, 2X, 3X] Only:
Next row [RS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, k1, ssk, knit to 20[28, 28, 28] sts before marker, k2tog, k1, work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, sl m;* Attach 2nd ball of yarn and rep from * to * once more. Turn.
Next row [WS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, p1, p2tog, purl to 20[28, 28, 28] sts before marker, ssp, p1, work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, sl m; rep from * once more. Turn.

Next row [RS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, k1, ssk, knit to 20[28, 28, 28] sts before marker, k2tog, k1, work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, sl m; rep from * once more.
Next row [WS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, p1, p2tog, purl to 20[28, 28, 28] sts before marker, ssp, p1, work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, sl m; rep from * once more.
Rep last 2 rows 2[2, 4, 9] times more. 137[153, 161, 157] sts rem

Next row [RS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, k1, ssk, knit to 20[28, 28, 28] sts before marker, k2tog, k1, work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, sl m; rep from * once more.
Next row [WS]: *Work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, purl to 17[25, 25, 25] sts before marker, work Lace Pattern over next 17[25, 25, 25] sts, sl m; rep from * once more.
Rep last 2 rows 19[25, 29, 25] times more. 97[105, 105, 105] sts rem

All Sizes:
Change to working Lace Pattern over all sts across Front and Back for 42[40, 38, 42, 38, 32, 34] rows. Armhole measures approx. 8[8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches. 

Bind off all sts.

FINISHING
Join shoulders, seaming to desired shoulder width (sample shows shoulder seams 7 sts/1" wide). Weave in ends.

To block this garment, you will want to maintain the existing shape of the stockinette st areas and aggressively block the lace areas to achieve the finished measurements of the garment.

Jamie livse in rural Montana with her incredibly supportive and encouraging boyfriend and their two children, Riley (Chihuahua) and Cassie (Shih-Tsu). All three are very good at providing feedback on her projects. The dogs don't say much but she knows they approve when she sees them curled up on the yarn.

She can be found on Ravelry or her website.