Crop Top

Made on any standard gauge knitter. There is no automatic patterning or ribbing, so this is suitable for even the most basic standard gauge machine. Photos shown are size M, body bust 34″, which is the mannequin’s bust measurement. This is a conservative length, barely showing the midriff. Shorten 2-3″ between hem and armhole for a more daring style.

Body Bust 32-34-36-38″
Garment Width 33-35-37-39″
Garment Length 14.7 – 15- 15.5 – 15.7″

Materials Required: Bonita mercerized cotton yarn from Knitcraft, approximately 6 (7-8-9) oz total. If knitted in the colors shown, allow 3-4 oz each Hot Pink (#319) and Electric Blue (#032) and 1 oz Cream (#809).

Machine: Knitking 881 standard gauge machine, but any standard gauge machine may be used. No ribber required.

Tension: 8 1/3 on Knitking or Brother. Studio/Singer machines will probably have to go up 1 full number, so measure swatch carefully and increase stitch dial number as needed. Garment will shrink 1-2″ lengthwise in the first laundering.

Gauge: 7 sts, 10 rows = 1 inch.

NOTES: Set RC at beginning of MC at botton edge of garment and allow it to run throughout entire garment; do not reset it unless the instructions specifically say to. Stripe pattern begins above hem (see instructions below); 2 R Cream, 14 R Hot Pink, 2 R Cream, 14 R Electric Blue. Repeat these 32 rows throughout.

Abbreviations

BO bind off
CC contrast color
CO cast on
COL carriage on left
COR carriage on right
dec decrease
EOR every other row
HP hold position
K knit
KWK K 1 row, wrap first HP needle, K 1 row

MC main color
pos position
P purl
RC row count(er)
st(s) stitch(es)
T tension dial, stitch dial, stitch size setting (the number on the dial on the carriage)
WP work position
x times

Back

T 7. CO 106 (112-120-126) sts with waste yarn and ravel cord, ending with COR. Change to MC. RC 000. K even to RC 10. T 9. K 1 row. T 7. K even to RC 21, ending with COL. Hang hem from first row of MC. T 9, K 1 row to R to seal hem. T 8 1/3. For sizes M and L knit to RC 26. Change to Cream and work stripe pattern throughout remainder of Back. For all sizes, K even to RC 34. Inc 1 st both sides on this and every following 12th row a total of 5 x. There are now 116 (122-130-136) sts. K even to RC 96 (96-98-98), ending with COR.

Shape Armholes. BO 5 (6-8-10) sts at the beginning of the next 2 R, 2 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows, then dec 1 st each side EOR 6x, 1 st every 4 R 2x, 1 st every 6 R 1x. 80 (84-88-90) sts remain. Knit even to RC 146 (150-156-158), ending with COR.

Shape Back Neck. Set carriage to hold. Entire neck is done with SRs, placing sts into HP on side opposite carriage EOR. Place center 40 (42-44-46) sts, plus all other sts L of center 0 into HP. KWK, ending COR. Now SR at the L (neck) edge 3 sts 2x, 2 sts 2x. RC 156 (160-166-168). Remove remaining 10 (11-12-12) shoulder sts on WY. Take carriage across to L edge, reset RC to 146 (150-156-158) and knit L shoulder to correspond, reversing all shaping.

Neckband. Pick up 2 sts each side. There are now 64 (66-68-70) sts on the machine. Change to Cream and knit neckband. The easiest way is to just thread up the Cream yarn and begin to knit. However, this does leave a slightly jagged joining where the body colors meet the band. More experienced knitters may prefer to pull the fabric forward and crochet cast on behind the fabric, then thread the carriage. This puts a little chain edge between the band and body, and many people think it looks more finished.

RC 000. T 8, K 1 row. T 7, K 1 row. Now turn dial down 1 “click” (1/3 of a number, or the little dots between numbers) every row to RC 8, ending on T 5. T 7, K 1 row for turning row. Return to T 5, K 1 row. Now turn dial up 1 “click” every row to RC 16. Hang hem, picking up the row of Cream sinker loops at base of band. Bind off around gate pegs (sinker posts).

Front

Work exactly the same as for Back to RC 96 (96-98-98).

Shape Armhole. Front armhole is shaped slightly differently than Back for a better fit. BO 5 (6-8-10) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows, 2 sts at the beginning of the next 8 rows, then dec 1 st both sides EOR 2x, 1 st every 4 rows 1x. 80 (84-88-90) sts remain. Knit even to RC 128 (130-134-134), ending with COR.

Shape Front Neck. Set carriage to hold. Place center 10 sts, plus all other sts L of center 0 into HP. SR entire neck edge, placing sts into HP on side opposite carriage EOR, 3 sts 4x, 2 sts 4x, 1 st 5 (6-7-8)x. RC 156 (160-166-168). Remove remaining 10 (11-12-12) shoulder sts on WY. Take carriage across to L edge, reset RC to 128 (130-134-134) and knit L shoulder to correspond, reversing all shaping. Work neckband same as for Back.

Armbands. Join both shoulder seams. K side of garment toward machine, pick up 112 (116-122-126) sts evenly around armhole. Work as for neckband. Repeat for other armband.

Finishing. Steam block garment. Sew side seams and band seams. Work in yarn ends. Wash and dry garment to remove shrinkage.

Original pattern was uploaded to Clearwater Knits website and copyrighted in 2000