by Hilary Smith Callis

When the temperatures start rising, I just can't stop working with (and wearing) wool. The key is to pick a lightweight blend and knit it on larger-than-usual needles for a loose, drapey fabric that is suitable for both the sun of summer and the rains of spring.

Anthi (a Greek name that also means flowers) is a piece knit with this strategy in mind. The Anzula Cloud (a light fingering weight yarn that comes in generous skeins and is heaven to work with) is knit up into a loose-fitting, vintage-inspired top with pretty neck ties above a little keyhole opening.

Knit from the top down in one piece, Anthi includes a circular yoke, almost puffy cap sleeves, and a bit of subtle empire waist shaping for a feminine fit. The construction is straightforward and simple, and the result is a lovely top that is great for layering, or dressed up with your favorite pencil skirt.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X]
shown in size S with 1 inch of positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 29.75[33.5, 37.75, 41.5, 45.75, 49.5, 53.75, 57.5] inches
Length: 21.25[21.5, 22.25, 22.75, 23.5, 23.75, 24, 24.25] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Anzula Cloud [80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 575 yd/526 m per 114g skein]; color: Mulberry; 2 [2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 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 to 40-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle (best length to accommodate hip circumference)
24 to 40-inch US #6/4mm circular needle (best length to accommodate bust and waist circumference)
1 set US #5/3.75mm double-point needles or long circular for magic loop

Notions
2 stitch markers
scrap yarn or 2 stitch holders
yarn needle

GAUGE

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

Anthi is worked in one piece from the top down. The yoke is worked flat to the bottom of the keyhole opening, after which the piece is joined and worked in the round. The collar and ties are picked up and worked up from the neck edge after the top is complete.

For a similar fit to the top modeled in the photographs, choose the size with a finished bust measurement roughly 1 to 2 inches larger than your own.

DIRECTIONS
Yoke
Using long-tail method and US #6/4mm circular needle, CO 78[86, 92, 94, 100, 100, 104, 106] sts. Do not join.

Keyhole Edging Set-up row [WS]: P2, k1, p1, k1, purl to last 5 sts, k1, p1, k1, p2.

Yoke Inc Row 1 [RS]: K2, p1, k1, p1, [k1, m1] 11[13, 22, 29, 30, 39, 42, 46] times, [k2, m1] 23[25, 19, 13, 15, 6, 5, 2] times, [k1, m1] 11[13, 22, 29, 30, 39, 42, 46] times, p1, k1, p1, k2. 123[137, 155, 165, 175, 184, 193, 200] sts.

Working the first and last 5 sts of row as set and rest of row in St st, work even for 11[11, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 15] rows, beg and ending with a WS row.

Yoke Inc Row 2 [RS]: K2, p1, k1, p1, (k1, m1) 3[3, 3, 10, 10, 19, 23, 28] times, [k2, m1] 53[60, 69, 67, 72, 68, 68, 67] times, (k1, m1) 4[4, 4, 11, 11, 19, 24, 28] times, p1, k1, p1, k2. 183[204, 231, 253, 268, 290, 308, 323] sts.

Work even in patt for 3[3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] row(s).

Next row [RS]: K2, p1, k1, p1, knit to last 5 sts, p1, k1, p1, k2. Pm to mark beg of rnd and join to work in the rnd.

Work in St st for 7[7, 11, 11, 13, 13, 13, 13] rnds.

Yoke Inc Round 3: [K2, m1] 0[0, 0, 10, 10, 20, 26, 32] times, [k3, m1] 61[68, 77, 71, 76, 70, 68, 65] times, [k2, m1] 0[0, 0, 10, 10, 20, 26, 32] times. 244[272, 308, 344, 364, 400, 428, 452] sts.

Work in St st for 24[26, 26, 30, 30, 30, 32, 34] rnds, or until Yoke meas 7.25[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9.25, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75] inches from CO edge.

Divide for Body and Sleeves: Remove marker, k37[42, 48, 53, 57, 62, 67, 71], place next 48[52, 58, 66, 68, 76, 80, 84] sts on holder or scrap yarn for left sleeve, CO 4[4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8] sts, pm to mark new beg of rnd, CO 4[4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8] sts, k74[84, 96, 106, 114, 124, 134, 142] for back, place next 48[52, 58, 66, 68, 76, 80, 84] sts on holder or scrap yarn for right sleeve, CO 4[4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8] sts, pm for side seam, CO 4[4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8] sts, then knit across front to end of rnd. 164[184, 208, 228, 252, 272, 296, 316] sts remain for body.

Waist Dec Rnd: *K1, ssk, knit to 2 sts before next marker, k2tog, sl m; rep from * once more. 4 sts dec'd.

Work in St st for 16[16, 16, 14, 14, 14, 12, 12] rnds or until Body meas 4[4, 4, 3.75, 3.75, 3.75, 3.5, 3.5] inches, then rep Waist Dec Rnd once more. 156[176, 200, 220, 244, 264, 288, 308] sts.

Work in St st for 7 rnds or until Body meas 5[5, 5, 4.75, 4.75, 4.75, 4.5, 4.5] inches.

Hip Inc Rnd: *K1, M1R, knit to next marker, M1L, sl m; rep from * once more. 4 sts inc'd.

Work in St st for 21 rnds or until Body meas 8[8, 8, 7.75, 7.75, 7.75, 7.5, 7.5] inches, then rep Hip Inc Rnd. 164[184, 208, 228, 252, 272, 296, 316] sts.

Work in St st for 32[32, 33, 35, 35, 37, 39, 39] rnds or until Body measures 12.5[12.5, 12.75, 12.75, 12.75, 13, 13, 13] inches.

Hem
Switch to US #5/3.75mm circular needle, then (K2, p2) to end of rnd.
Work in (K2, p2) ribbing for 12 rnds or until Body meas 14[14, 14.25, 14.25, 14.25, 14.5, 14.5, 14.5] inches from underarm.

BO all sts in rib.

Sleeves
Place 48[52, 58, 66, 68, 76, 80, 84] sts currently on hold for sleeve onto US #5/3.75mm DPNs. Pick up and knit 4[4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8] sts from end of held sts to center of underarm cast on sts, pm to mark beg of rnd, pick up and knit 4[4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 8] sts from underarm cast on sts. Join to work in the rnd and knit to end of rnd. 56[60, 66, 74, 80, 88, 94, 100] sts.

Sizes M, L, and 3X ONLY: K2tog, k1, p2, (k2, p2) to last 5 sts, k1, ssk, p2. -[-, 64, 72, -, -, 92, -] sts.

All Sizes
Rib rnd: (K2, p2) to end of rnd.
Work in 2x2 ribbing for 4[4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4] more rnds.

BO all sts in rib. Repeat for other sleeve.

Neck Ties
Using US #6/4mm circular needle and long-tail cast on, CO 92 sts. Then, using same needle and yarn and starting at the right front neck edge of Yoke with RS facing, pick up and knit 78[86, 92, 94, 100, 100, 104, 106] sts from cast on edge. Using the same working yarn and the Backward Loop method, CO 92 more sts. 262[270, 276, 278, 284, 284, 288, 290] sts. (Note: Having the exact number of sts listed is not important, as long as it is close.)

Knit 3 rows.
Dec row [RS]: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 2 sts dec'd.
Next row [WS]: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep last 2 rows 8 more times.
Rep Dec row once more. 242[250, 256, 258, 264, 264, 268, 270] sts.

Knit 2 rows.
BO all sts knitwise on foll WS row.

FINISHING
Sew up holes in underarms. Weave in ends. Wash top and block to measurements in schematic.

Hilary Smith Callis has been publishing knitting patterns since late 2009, when her Citron Shawlette burst onto the Knitty scene. She loves every aspect of designing handknits, from the sketching to the math to the knitting to the writing, and is thrilled that her family's recent move out of the big city has made it possible for her to follow her design pursuits full time (well, when her toddler lets her).

She and her designs live physically in California's agricultural Central Valley, and online at theyarniad.com.