Pretty blue lace ticks all the boxes
This flattering, easy-to-knit smock top brings simple summer lace straight to your needles.
Summer and lace knits are a combination made in heaven. This brilliantly flattering empire-line smock has the the right fit for everyone and comes complete with a neat bodice and floaty lace ‘skirt’. The short sleeves make a delicate match and take no time at all to knit. Worked in super-soft Rico Design Creative Silky Touch, each stitch is wonderfully defined, making this top a joy to show off at every opportunity.
STITCH PATTERNS BORDER PATTERN
Row 1 (RS) K1, k2tog, *K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, sk2po; rep from * to last 10 sts, K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, skpo, K1.
Row 2 K1, P to last st, K1.
Row 3 As Row 1.
Row 4 Knit.
Rows 1-4 set pattern.
BACK
Cast on 163 (173: 183: 193: 203: 213) sts with 4 mm needles.
Knit 1 row.
Work Rows 1-4 of Border as folls:
Row 1 (RS) K1, k2tog, *K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, sk2po; rep from * to last 10 sts, K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, skpo, K1.
Row 2 K1, P to last st, K1.
Row 3 As Row 1.
Row 4 Knit.
Rep Rows 1-4 twice more.
Next row (RS) Knit.
Change to 4mm needles. Next row (WS) Purl, dec 10 (8: 10: 8: 10: 8) sts evenly across row. [153 (165: 173: 185: 193: 205) sts] Work eyelet patt as folls: Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Knit.
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 K3 (4: 3: 4: 3: 4), *yo, skpo, K3; rep from * to last 5 (6: 5: 6: 5: 6) sts, yo, skpo, K3 (4: 3: 4: 3: 4).
Row 6 Purl.
Rows 7-10 Rep Rows 1-2 twice.
Row 11 K6 (7: 6: 7: 6: 7), *yo, skpo, K3; rep from * to last 7 (8: 7: 8: 7: 8) sts, yo, skpo, K5 (6: 5: 6: 5: 6).
Row 12 Purl.
These 12 rows set the patt.
Next row (RS dec) K1, skpo, work in patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [2 sts dec’d] Keeping patt correct, work 5 rows straight.
Rep last 6 rows until 127 (139: 147: 159: 169: 179) sts rem.
Work straight until Back measures 38cm from cast-on edge, ending after a RS row and dec 2 (3: 2: 2: 2: 2) sts evenly across last row. [125 (136: 145: 157: 167: 177) sts]
Place a piece of waste yarn or a locking marker in the centre of the last row to measure from later.
Change to 3 mm needles.
Next row P36 (41: 48: 52: 59: 64), (p2tog) 1 (2: 2: 1: 2: 2) times, (p3tog, p2tog) 10 (10: 9: 10: 9: 9) times, P37 (41: 48: 53: 59: 64). [94 (104: 116: 126: 138: 148) sts]
Change to st st, working centre sts in rev st st as foll:
Next row (RS) K31 (35: 40: 44: 49: 53), P32 (34: 36: 38: 40: 42), K31 (35: 40: 44: 49: 53).
Next row P31 (35: 40: 44: 49: 53), K32
(34: 36: 38: 40: 42), P31 (35: 40: 44: 49:
53).
Rep the last 2 rows once more. Change to 4mm needles.
Beg with a RS (knit) row work in st st on all sts until work measures 13cm from marker or waste yarn, ending after WS row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cast off 4 (6: 8: 9: 11: 13) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
[86 (92: 100: 108: 116: 122) sts]
Next row (RS dec) K1, skpo, K to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [2 sts dec’d]
Next row (WS dec) P1, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, P1. [2 sts dec’d]
Rep last 2 rows 1 (1: 1: 2: 2: 2) more times.
Work RS dec row again.
[76 (82: 90: 94: 102: 108) sts]
Work 1 row straight in patt.
Rep last 2 rows until 68 (74: 80: 86: 92:
98) sts rem.
Work straight until Back measures 15 (17: 17: 18: 19: 20)cm from beg of armhole shaping, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 4 (5: 5: 6: 7: 8) sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 5 (4: 6: 7: 7: 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Place rem 42 (46: 48: 48: 50: 52) sts on a stitch holder or waste yarn for Back neck and set aside.
FRONT
Work as Back until Front measures 22 (24: 26: 28: 30: 32) rows less than Back up to start of shoulder shaping, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE LEFT NECK
Next row (RS) K18 (19: 21: 24: 26: 28), turn and cont on this group of sts for left side of neck.
Next row (WS dec) P1, p2tog, P to end. [1 st dec’d]
Next row (RS dec) K to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [1 st dec’d]
Rep last 2 rows once more and then WS dec row once more.
[13 (14: 16: 19: 21: 23) sts]
Work 16 (18: 20: 22: 24: 26) rows straight, ending at the armhole edge.
SHAPE LEFT SHOULDER
Cast off 4 (5: 5: 6: 7: 8) sts at beg of next row and foll alt row. Work 1 row straight. Cast off rem 5 (4: 6: 7: 7: 7) sts.
SHAPE RIGHT NECK
With RS facing, slip next 32 (36: 38: 38: 40: 42) sts (centre sts) on a stitch holder and leave. Rejoin yarn to rem 18 (19: 21: 24: 26: 28) sts and knit to end of row. Next row (WS dec) P to last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, P1. [1 st dec]
Next row (RS dec) K1, skpo, K to end. [1 st dec’d]
Rep last 2 rows once more and then WS dec row once more.
[13 (14: 16: 19: 21: 23) sts]
Work 17 (19: 21: 23: 25: 27) rows straight, ending at armhole edge.
SHAPE RIGHT SHOULDER
Cast off 4 (5: 5: 6: 7: 8) sts at beg of next row and foll alt row. Work 1 row straight. Cast off rem 5 (4: 6: 7: 7: 7) sts. .
SLEEVES
Cast on 50 (54: 59: 63: 68: 74) sts loosely using 3 mm needles.
Purl 4 rows.
Next row (WS) Purl, inc 1 (3: 4: 4: 5: 5) sts evenly across row.
[51 (57: 63: 67: 73: 79) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Next row (RS inc) K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1. [2 sts inc’d]
Beg with a WS (purl) row, work 5 (5: 5: 3: 3: 3) rows straight in st st.
Rep last 6 (6: 6: 4: 4: 4) rows 2 (2: 2: 3: 3: 3) more times. [57 (63: 69: 75: 81: 87) sts] Work inc row again. [2 sts inc’d]
Beg with a WS (purl) row, work 5 rows straight.
Rep last 6 rows twice more, then work inc row once more.
[63 (69: 75: 81: 87: 93) sts]
Cont straight in st st until Sleeve measures 14cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row. This should be approx 5 (5: 5: 7: 7: 7) rows.
SHAPE TOP
Cast off loosely 4 (6: 8: 9: 11: 13) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
[55 (57: 59: 63: 65: 67) sts]
Work 0 (4: 4: 4: 8: 8) rows straight.
Next row (RS dec) K1, skpo, K to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [2 sts dec’d]
Work 1 row straight.
Rep last 2 rows 12 (12: 11: 12: 11: 11) more times. [29 (31: 35: 37: 41: 43) sts]
Next row (RS dec) K1, skpo, K to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [2 sts dec’d]
Next row (WS dec) P1, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, P1. [2 sts dec’d]
Rep last 2 rows once more. [21 (23: 27:
29: 33: 35) sts rem]
Cast off loosely.
NECK BORDER
Join left shoulder.
With 3 mm needles and RS facing, knit across 42 (46: 48: 48: 50: 52) sts from back of neck, pick up and knit 21 (23: 24: 26: 27: 28) sts evenly down left side of front neck, knit across 32 (36: 38: 38: 40: 42) sts at front of neck, finally pick up and knit 21 (23: 24: 26: 27: 28) sts evenly up right side of front neck.
[116 (128: 134: 138: 144: 150) sts]
Knit 4 rows.
Cast off evenly knitwise but working firmly round the two shaped corners of front neck.
TO MAKE UP
Do not press. Join right shoulder and the edges of the neck border. Sew in sleeve tops. Join side and sleeve seams. Steam block gently, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.