Top is knitted from the bottom up. Neckline is boat neck with a slight dip lower in front than the back. It is smaller at the bottom and wider at top.
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Yarn: Dollar Tree Hardware String, About 6 cakes. They are about $1.25 each. They are Aran Weight.
Knitting Needles: US Size 7 (4.5mm) circular Needles 29” for neckline and hem, 16” for sleeves. US Size 10 (6mm) straight needles. US Size 13 (9mm) (12-14” length)
Size L/XL Hem width is 22”, bust is 26”, Length is 23” shoulder to hem.
Gauge: 3.5” = 1” in pattern
Other items needed are a stitch holder for the shoulder, a large needle to weave ends and scissors to cut yarn when needed. 2 stitch markers to use if you want to. I used 2 crochet hooks, an I-hook for fixing mistakes and a G-hook for picking up stitches.
Back – Using #7 needles cast on 80 stitches. Knit 11 Rows of 1×1 rib (K1, P1).
Start Pattern: Row 1-4: Using #10 Straight Needles, Knit only. Row 5: Switch to #13 Needles, Knit only. Row 6: With #13 Needles, Purl only.
Repeat Rows 1-6 for 14 times total. Odd row numbers are the right side and the even rows are wrong side facing. Every 3 pattern sets (Row 1-6) do a M1 increase 3 sts at each of the ends of Row 3. This 2 stitch increase is done 4 times. (88 stitches) **
Back Neckline: Using #10 Needles, knit 6 Rows. (3 garter ridges). Row 7: (Right Side) K25, Bind off 38 Stitches, Put the first 25 sts that you knit on holder. Knit last 25 sts. Turn. K25, turn. SSK, K11, turn, wrap stitch (slip 1 stitch of right needle to left needle, move working yarn to the back, slip that same stitch that you moved back to the right needle) K12, turn, Bind off 24 stitches.
Opposite Shoulder: Put sts on needle with tip facing right, towards sleeve opening. Attach yarn, P25, turn, P2tog, P11, turn, wrap stitch, P12, Bind off 24 stitches in Purl.
Front: Same as back to **
Front Neckline – Knit 2 Rows (1 garter ridge) K27, Bind off 34 sts. Put the 1st 27 sts that you first knit on a stitch holder. K last 27 sts, turn, K27, turn, SSK, K25, turn, K26, turn, SSK, K24, turn, K25, turn, SSK, K11, turn, wrap stitch, K12, Bind off 24 stitches.
Put 27 stitches on stitch holder on needle with the tip facing right towards sleeve opening. Attach yarn, P27, turn, P2tog, P25, turn, P26, turn, P2tog, P24, turn, P25, turn, P2tog, P11, turn, wrap stitch, P12, turn, Bind off 24 stitches in Purl.
Sew side seams with invisible seam up to 10” before shoulder. The pattern from back and front should match. Sew shoulders (24 sts each side) I graphed mine together from the right side with the seam on the inside.
Armholes – Using the #7 16” circular needle Pick up 32 stitches of front and 32 stitches of back. (64 sts total) Knit 1×1 rib for 5 rounds. Bind off in Rib pattern. Do other side the same.
Neckband, with #7 29” circular needles starting at either neck seam, attach yarn and pick up 42 sts of front and 42 sts of back. (84 sts total) I used a size G crochet hook to make it easier to do. Round 1: Purl 84 sts. Round 2: K2tog, K40, K2tog twice, K40, K2tog. Round 3: Bind off 80 sts in Purl.
To do neckband using straight needles, sew 1 side of side seam so you can pick up 84 stitches from the front side. Knit 2 rows to make garter neckline, then bind off from back in Knit. Sew 2nd shoulder with neckline together. I would use a flat seam for the neck band and a graphed seam for the shoulders.
To do sleeve bands with straight needles, make sure you sew up shoulders and neck first but leave the side seams open. Start 10” from neck seam. Pick up 66 sts, knit 5 rows of 1×1 rib. Bind off in rib. Both sides. Then sew up side seams and sleeve arm bands in one continuous line using the invisible sewn seam.
Weave all ends. It’s OK to have some ends showing on inside but not on outside.
Note: Each roll may be different in color slightly. Most people won’t notice.
I attached a new yarn cake by knotting the old and new ends together with 2” tails on the wrong side.
Use YouTube if you want to learn to do a technique you don’t know how to do.
Post on Instagram with hashtag #jitproject
Joyful In Tribulation 