Pretty in PINK

This bright peplum top is a comfortable fit with on-trend bell-sleeve detail

MEASUREMENTS

To fit bust sizes 81 (86) (91) (97) (102) (107) cm/32 (34) (36) (38) (40)

(42) in.

Actual measurements 81 (86)

(92) (97) (102) (108) cm/32 (34) (36¼) (38) (40) (42½) in. Side seam 33 (34) (34.5) (35.5) (36) (36.5) cm/13 (13¼) (13½) (14) (14¼) (14½) in.

Length to shoulder 52.5 (54)

(55.5) (57) (58.5) (59.5) cm/20¾ (21¼) (21¾) (22½) (23) (23½) in.

Sleeve seam 30 (31) (31.5) (33) (34.5) (35.5) cm/11¾ (12¼) (12½) (13) (13½) (14) in.

MATERIALS

9 (10) (11) (12) (12) (13) 50g (121m) balls of King Cole Majestic DK (50% wool, 30% acrylic, 20% polyamide) in Cerise (2659)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles.

TENSION

22 stitches and 28 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS

K, knit; p, purl; st(s), stitch(es); tog, together; dec, decrease (by working 2 sts tog); inc, increase (by working twice into same st); ss, stocking st (k on right side and p on wrong side).

NOTES

Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate. Instructions are given for small size. Where they vary, work figures in round brackets for larger sizes. Instructions in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd bracket.

Knitting

BACK

With 3.25mm needles, cast on 121 (129) (137) (147) (155) (163) sts.

K 2 rows.

Change to 4mm needles. Beginning with a k row, ss 32 rows.

Decrease row: [K2tog] 16 (17) (18) (20) (21) (22) times, k57 (61) (65) (67) (71) (75), [k2tog] 16 (17) (18) (20) (21) (22) times – 89 (95) (101) (107) (113) (119) sts.

P 1 row.

Next row: P16 (17) (18) (20) (21) (22), k57 (61) (65) (67) (71) (75), p16 (17) (18) (20) (21) (22).

Repeat last 2 rows, once more. Beginning with a p row, ss 55 (57) (59) (61) (63) (65) rows. Shape armholes: Cast off 3 (3) (4) (4) (5) (5) sts at beginning of next 2 rows.

Dec 1 st at each end of next 3 (3) (3) (5) (5) (5) rows and 3 (4) (5) (5) (5) (6) following alternate rows – 71 (75) (77) (79) (83) (87) sts.

Ss another 43 (43) (43) (43) (45) (45) rows.

Shape shoulders: Cast off

8 (9) (9) (9) (10) (11) sts at beginning of next 2 rows and 8 (9) (9) (10) (10) (11) sts on following 2 rows – 39 (39) (41) (41) (43) (43) sts. Cast off.

FRONT

With 3.25mm needles, cast on 121 (129) (137) (147) (155) (163) sts. K 2 rows.

Change to 4mm needles. Beginning with a k row, ss 32 rows.

Decrease row: [K2tog] 16

(17) (18) (20) (21) (22) times, k57 (61) (65) (67) (71) (75), [k2tog] 16 (17) (18) (20) (21) (22) times – 89 (95) (101) (107) (113) (119) sts.

P 1 row.

Next row: P16 (17) (18) (20) (21) (22), k57 (61) (65) (67) (71) (75), p16 (17) (18) (20) (21) (22).

Repeat last 2 rows, once more. Beginning with a p row, ss 55 (57) (59) (61) (63) (65) rows. Shape armholes: Cast off 3 (3) (4) (4) (5) (5) sts at beginning of next 2 rows.

Decrease 1 st at each end of next 3 (3) (3) (5) (5) (5) rows and 3 (4) (5) (5) (5) (6) following alternate rows – 71 (75) (77) (79) (83) (87) sts. Ss another 29 (29) (29) (29) (31) (31) rows.

Shape neck: Next row: K24 (26) (26) (27) (28) (30), turn and work on these sts only for left side neck.

Left side neck: Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 3 rows and 5 following alternate rows – 16 (18) (18) (19) (20) (22) sts. Shape shoulder: Cast off 8

(9) (9) (9) (10) (11) sts at beginning of next row – 8 (9) (9) (10) (10) (11) sts.

P 1 row. Cast off.

Right side neck: With right side facing, slip centre 23 (23) (25) (25) (27) (27) sts onto st holder, rejoin yarn to remaining sts and k to end

– 24 (26) (26) (27) (28)

(30) sts.

Decrease 1 st at neck edge on next 3 rows and 5 following alternate rows – 16 (18) (18) (19) (20) (22) sts. K 1 row. Shape shoulder: Cast off 8

(9) (9) (9) (10) (11) sts at beginning of next row – 8 (9) (9) (10) (10) (11) sts.

K 1 row. Cast off.

SLEEVES (BOTH ALIKE)

With 3.25mm needles, cast on 99 (101) (103) (105) (107) (109) sts. K 2 rows.

Change to 4mm needles. Beginning with a k row, ss 32 rows.

Dec row: K1, [k2tog, k1] 9 (8) (9) (8) (9) (8) times, [k2tog] 22 (26) (24) (28) (26) (30) times, [k2tog, k1] 9 (8) (9) (8) (9) (8) times – 59 (59) (61) (61) (63) (63) sts.

K 4 rows.

Beginning with a p row, ss 3 rows.

Inc 1 st at each end of next row and 5 (7) (8) (9) (10) (12) following 6th (6th) (5th) (5th) (5th) (4th) rows – 71 (75) (79) (81) (85) (89) sts. Ss another 13 (3) (7) (6) (5)

(9) rows.

Shape top: Cast off 3 (3) (4)

(4) (5) (5) sts at beginning of next 2 rows.

Decrease 1 st at each end of next row and following 4th row – 61 (65) (67) (69) (71) (75) sts. P 1 row.

Decrease 1 st at each end of next row and 9 (10) (11) (10) (11) (11) following alternate rows, then on next 5 (5) (5) (7) (7) (9) rows – 31 (33) (33)

(33) (33) (33) sts.

Cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 4 rows – 15 (17) (17) (17) (17) (17) sts. Cast off. NECKBAND

Join right shoulder seam.

With right side facing and using 3.25mm needles, pick up and k14 sts down left front neck, k23 (23) (25) (25) (27) (27) sts across centre front, pick up and k14 sts up right front neck, 39 (39) (41) (41) (43) (43) sts across back neck – 90 (90) (94) (94) (98) (98) sts.

K 2 rows. Cast off knitwise.

TO MAKE UP

Join left shoulder seam and neckband. Sew in sleeves. Join side and sleeve seams.