Bold Stripes Top

Hello everyone! Since I've made the Bold Stripes Skirt, my mind was set on making a matching top. I was actually two thirds of the way done with it when I ran out of yarn. What delayed me from finishing it that was that I purchased the yarn while I was traveling, and my local store did not have this particle kind. So as soon as I could get my hands on more of that yarn, I was done. You see, the cool thing about working with bulky yarn (compared to lesser yarn weights) is that it makes knitting so much easier; simple pattern looks nice with it, and you finish the piece you’re working on in no time. This piece is a crop top of sorts, non the less, if you prefer, you can make it longer and get a full-length sweater. The available sizes range from extra small to 4XL, but in case you want to knit a larger size, let me know in a comment. Enjoy making this two-piece set and have nice knitting days.

Overview:

• Skill level: Intermediate.
• Instructions style: written pattern + chart.
• Sizes: this top is available in four sizes for adults:  XS/S ,   M/L ,  XL/2XL , and  3XL/4XL (see detailed measurements below). 
• Customization: click hear to read my note on how to adjust the length of this top if you want to turn it into a full length sweater. 

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Click here for the matching skirt: Bold Stripes Skirt

Materials:

• Yarn: Alize Superlana Midi Mosaic, 25% wool, 75% acrylic, 3.53 oz (100 g), 186 yards (170 m), in the color "5245": 4 (4, 5, 6) skeins.
• Circular knitting needles, 16" (40 cm) and 32" (80 cm) long, sizes US 8 (5 mm) and (7 mm).
• Double pointed needles (DPNs) set, sizes US 8 (5 mm) and (7 mm).
• Tapestry needle.
• Ring stitch marker.

Sizes and measurements:

Size	Chest-bust measurements	Waist measurements
XS/S	34"- 36" (86- 92 cm)	26"- 28" (66- 70 cm)
M/L	38"- 40" (96- 100 cm)	29"- 31" (74- 78 cm)
XL/2XL	42"- 44" (107- 112 cm)	32"- 35.5" (82- 90 cm)
3XL/4XL	46"- 48" (117- 122 cm)	37"- 39" (94- 99 cm)

 

Yardage: 

• Size XS/S: 580- 590 yards (530- 540 m), approx.
• Size M/L: 735- 745 yards (670- 680 m), approx. 
• Size XL/2XL: 885- 895 yards (810- 820 m), approx.
• Size 3XL/4XL: 1020- 1030 yards (935- 945 m), approx.

Gauge: 14 sts and 18 rounds = 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in stockinette stitch and 7 mm knitting needles.

Knitting Terms:

• st: stitch.
• sts: stitches.
• k: knit.
• p: purl.
• m1: make one stitch increase purl-wise.
• k2tog: knit two stitches together.
• ssk: slip, slip, then knit the two slipped sts together.

Instructions:

With 32" (80 cm), size US 8 (5 mm) circular knitting needles, cast on 64 (72, 80, 88) sts. Join in the round. Don't know how to join in the round? here is a short tutorial on how to do it (from 0:26 - 1:15 min): 

 

Put a ring stitch marker at the beginning of rounds, work as follows:

Rib round 1: k 2, p 1, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat the rib round seven more times. Change to 32" (80 cm), size (7 mm) circular needles while working the last repetition of rib round.

Note: when making m1 increase, it doesn't matter to which side (left or right).

Yoke:

First Increasing Rounds:

Round 1: k 2, m1, p 1, k 1, repeat to end. [80 (90, 100, 110) sts]

Round 2: k 2, p 2, k 1, repeat to end.

Round 3: k 2, p 2, m1, k 1, repeat to end. [96 (108, 120, 132) sts]

Round 4: k 2, p 3, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat round 4 two (four, six, eight) more times. 

Second Increasing Rounds:

Round 1: k 2, m1, p 3, k 1, repeat to end. [112 (126, 140, 154) sts]

Round 2: k 2, p 4, k 1, repeat to end.

Round 3: k 2, p 4, m1, k 1, repeat to end. [128 (144, 160, 176) sts]

Round 4: k 2, p 5, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat round 4 six (eight, ten, ten) more times.

Third Increasing Rounds:

Round 1: k 2, m1, p 5, k 1, repeat to end. [144 (162, 180, 198) sts]

Round 2: k 2, p 6, k 1, repeat to end.

Round 3: k 2, p 6, m1, k 1, repeat to end. [160 (180, 200, 220) sts]

Round 4: k 2, p 7, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat round 4 eight (twelve, fourteen, fourteen) more times.

Fourth Increasing Rounds:

Round 1: k 2, m1, p 7, k 1, repeat to end. [176 (198, 220, 242) sts]

Round 2: k 2, p 8, k 1, repeat to end.

Round 3: k 2, p 8, m1, k 1, repeat to end. [192 (216, 240, 264) sts]

Round 4: k 2, p 9, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat round 4 four (six, eight, ten) more times.

Dividing round: 

• Knit the k sts and purl the p sts until you get 28 (32, 36, 40) sts (half back).
• Pass the next 41 (45, 49, 53) sts to a piece of yarn for the sleeve. 
• Cast on 5 (7, 11, 15) sts.
• Knit the k sts and purl the p sts until you get 55 (63, 71, 79) sts (front).
• Cast on 5 (7, 11, 15) sts.
• Pass the next 41 (45, 49, 53) sts to a piece of yarn for the second sleeve. 
• Knit the k sts and purl the p sts the last 27 (31, 35, 39) sts (half back).

Body:

With 120 (140, 164, 188) sts of the body, work as follows:

Correcting round for sizes M/L and XL/2XL: *(k 2, p9, k 1) (twice, three times)*, k 2, m1, p 8, k 3, p 8, m1, k 1, repeat between ** (four, six) times, k 2, m1, p 8, k 3, p 8, m1, k 1, repeat between ** (twice, three times). [(144, 168) sts]

Correcting round for size 3XL/4XL: (k 2, p 9, k 1) three times, k 2, p 8, m 1, k 3, m 1, p 8, k 1, (K 2, p 9, k 1) six times, k 2, p 8, m 1, k 3, m 1, p 8, k 1, (k 2, p 9, k 1) three times. (192 sts)

Basic round: k 2, p 9, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat the basic round six (eight, ten, fourteen) times, then work the pattern round.

Note: if you want to turn this top to a full-length sweater, you can increase the number of basic rounds you knit. Every 18 rounds you knit will increase the length by 4" (10 cm).

Pattern rounds:

Round 1: k 3, p 7, k 1, p 1, repeat to end.

Round 2: p 1, k 3, p 5, k 3, repeat to end.

Round 3: p 2, k 3, p 3, k 3, p 1, repeat to end.

Round 4: p 3, k 3, p 1, k 3, p 2, repeat to end.

Round 5: p 4, k 1, p 1, k 3, p 3, repeat to end.

Round 6: p 5, k 3, p 4, repeat to end.

Round 7: p 4, k 3, p 1, k 1, p 3, repeat to end.

Round 8: p 3, k 3, p 1, k 3, p 2, repeat to end.

Round 9: p 2, k 3, p 3, k 3, p 1, repeat to end.

Round 10: p 1, k 3, p 5, k 3, repeat to end.

Round 11: k 3, p 7, k 1, p 1, repeat to end.

Repeat the basic round four (six, eight, eight) times.

Rib round 2: k 2, p 1, k 1, p 1, k 1, repeat to end.

Work rib round 2 seven (nine, nine, eleven) times, then bind off all sts. 

Sleeve:

Pass the 41 (45, 49, 53) sts of the sleeve from the piece of yarn to the 16" (40 cm), size (7 mm) circular knitting needles, pick up a stitch from each of the 5 (7, 11, 15) sts of under arm. [46 (52, 60, 68) sts]

Mark the middle stitch under arm (the middle st under arm), this is where the rounds begin.

Size XS/S:

Correcting round: k 2, m1, p 8, (k 3, p 9) twice, k 3, p 8, m1, k 1. (48 sts)

Basic round: k the knitted sts and p the purled sts. (48 sts)

Repeat basic round seven more times.

Decreasing round 1: k 1, ssk, p 8, k 1, repeat to end. (44 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times.

Decreasing round 2: k 2, p 7, k2tog, repeat to end. (40 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times. For the ease of work, change to size (7 mm) DPNs.

Decreasing round 3: k 1, ssk, p 6, k 1, repeat to end. (36 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times.

Decreasing round 4: k 2, p 5, k2tog, repeat to end. (32 sts)

Repeat the basic round until sleeve measures 36 cm from under arm.

Change to size US 8 (5 mm) DPNs and work as follows:

Rib round 3: k 2, p 1, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat the rib round twenty-two times. Bind off all sts.

Size M/L:

Basic round: k the knitted sts and p the purled sts. (52 sts)

Repeat basic round seven more times.

Decreasing round 1: k 2, p 5, (k 2, ssk, p 8) three times, k 3, p 5, k 1. (49 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times.

Decreasing round 2: k 2, p 5, k 3, (p 7, k2tog, k 2,) three times, p 5, k 1. (46 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times. For the ease of work, change to size (7 mm) DPNs.

Decreasing round 3: k 2, p 5, (k 2, ssk, p 6) three times, k 3, p 5, k 1. (43 sts)

Repeat the basic round ten times.

Decreasing round 4: k 2, p 5, k 3, (p 5, k2tog, k 2) three times, p 5, k 1. (40 sts)

Repeat the basic round until sleeve measures 34 cm from under arm.

Change to size US 8 (5 mm) DPNs and work as follows:

Rib round 3: k 2, p 1, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat the rib round 3 twenty-two times. Bind off all sts.

Size XL/2XL:

Basic round: k the knitted sts and p the purled sts. (60 sts)

Repeat basic round seven more times.

Decreasing round 1: k 1, ssk, p 8, k 1, repeat to end. (55 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times.

Decreasing round 2: k 2, p 7, k2tog, repeat to end. (50 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times. For the ease of work, change to size (7 mm) DPNs.

Decreasing round 3: k 1, ssk, p 6, k 1, repeat to end. (45 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times.

Decreasing round 4: k 2, p 5, k2tog, repeat to end. (40 sts)

Repeat the basic round until sleeve measures 30 cm from under arm.

Change to size US 8 (5 mm) DPNs and work as follows:

Rib round 3: k 2, p 1, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat rib round 3 twenty-two times. bind off all sts.

Size 3XL/4XL:

15 sts are added under the arm, so put the sm between the seventh and eighth st.

Basic round: p 3, k 1, (k 2, p 9, k 1) five times, k 2, p 2. (68 sts)

Repeat basic round seven more times.

Decreasing round 1: p 3, k 1, (k 1, ssk, p 8, k 1) five times, k 2, p 2. (63 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times.

Decreasing round 2: p 3, k 1, (k 2, p 7, k2tog, k 1) five times, k 2, p 2. (58 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times. 

Decreasing round 3: p 3, k 1, (k 1, ssk, p 6) five times, k 2, p 2. (53 sts)

Repeat the basic round eight times.

Decreasing round 4: p 3, k 1, (k 2, p 5, k2tog) five times, k 2, p 2. (48 sts)

For the ease of work, change to size (7 mm) DPNs.

Repeat the basic round until sleeve measures 30 cm from under arm.

Change to size US 8 (5 mm) DPNs and work as follows:

Rib round 3: k 2, p 1, k 1, repeat to end.

Repeat rib round 3 twenty-two times. bind off all sts.

Weave in loose ends and enjoy a day out wearing the set.

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.

Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.