Top it off!

Go sleeveless with a super-chic addition to your summer wardrobe

A chic sleeveless top

MEASUREMENTS

To fit bust 81-86(92-97:102-107:112-117)cm. Finished measurements Bust 95(104:115:124) cm; Length to shoulder 52(54:55:57)cm.

MATERIALS

6(6:7:8) 50g balls of Paintbox

Cotton DK in Dolphin Blue 437.

Pair each of 3.5mm and 4mm knitting needles.

3.50mm circular needle, 60cm long.

TENSION

22 sts and 32 rows to 10cm square over patt with 4mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS

beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; dec decrease; foll following; k knit; p purl; patt pattern; rem remaining; RS right side; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; WS wrong side.

NOTE

When casting off sts for front neck shaping, slip the first st of each cast off group, rather than working it, as this will produce a smoother cast off edge, rather than a stepped one.

BACK

With 4mm needles, cast on 107(117:129:139) sts and k 1 row. Beg with a RS (k) row, work 9 rows in st-st.

K 3 rows.

The last 12 rows form the patt and are repeated.

Work in patt until back measures 34(35:36:37)cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS p row.

Shape armholes

Cast off 5(6:7:8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 97(105:115:123) sts.

Dec 1 st at each end of next row and 11(12:13:14) foll RS rows. 73(79:87:93) sts. Cont straight until armhole measures 18(19:19:20)cm, ending with a RS row.

Shape shoulder

Next row Patt 10(11:12:13) sts, cast off 53(57:63:67) sts, patt to end.

Leave the 2 groups of 10(11:12:13) sts on holders. FRONT

Work as given for Back until 16 rows fewer have been worked than on Back to shoulder.

Shape neck

Next row (RS) Patt 21(23:26:28), turn and cont on these sts only, leave rem sts on a spare needle.

Keeping patt correct, cast off 3(4:4:4) sts at beg (neck edge) of next row, 3(3:4:4) at beg of foll WS row, 2(2:3:3) sts at beg of next WS row, 2 sts at beg of foll WS row, then 1(1:1:2) sts at beg of next WS row. 10(11:12:13) sts.

Patt a further 6 rows, so ending with a WS row.

Leave rem sts on a holder.

With RS facing, slip 31(33:35:37) sts at centre front onto a holder, rejoin yarn to rem 21(23:26:28) sts, slipping the first st, cast off 3(4:4:4) sts, patt to end. Patt 1 row.

Keeping patt correct, cast off 3(3:4:4) sts at beg (neck edge) of next row, 2(2:3:3) sts at beg of foll RS row, 2 sts at beg of next RS row, then 1(1:1:2) sts at beg of foll RS row. 10(11:12:13) sts.

Patt a further 7 rows, so ending with a WS row.

Leave rem sts on a holder.

NECK EDGING

With WS of Back and Front held together, cast off sts of each shoulder, working one st of each edge together while casting off, the cast off edge will show on the outside of the garment.

With RS facing, 3.5mm circular needle and beg at left shoulder seam, pick up and k19(20:20:21) sts down left front neck, k across 31(33:35:37) sts at centre front, pick up and k19(20:20:21) sts up right front neck to shoulder, then 53(57:63:67) sts across cast off sts at centre back. 122(130:138:146) sts. Place a marker between first and last sts to show beg of round.

1st round P to end.

2nd round K to end.

3rd round Cast off all sts purlwise.

ARMHOLE EDGINGS

With RS facing and 3.5mm needles, pick and k99(103:103:111) sts evenly around armhole edge.

K 2 rows.

Cast off knitwise.

TO MAKE UP

Join side seams. Neaten all yarn ends, weaving in on to WS of work.