Add this cool knitted summer top to your handmade wardrobe
Looking for your next knitting project? This cute top is the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe – and we've got a brilliant free pattern for you to get stitching.
The top has strappy sleeves and lace detail on the body, and is perfect paired with shorts for a relaxed look on a hot summer day. We've knitted ours in cotton DK to make sure it's nice and cool – you can use any colour yarn you like, just make sure it's cotton DK, too.
The pattern involves using circular knitting needles – if you need a refresher on how to use them, check out our guide for beginners here.
It's the perfect project for intermediate knitters, who have mastered the basic knitting stitches and would like to add stylish handmade pieces to their summer wardrobe.
Happy knitting!
Measurements
To fit chest: 81-86 (91-97: 102 : 107-112 : 117 :122) cm
Actual chest: 102 (107:111:120:124:129)cm
Full length: Approximately 44 (46:48:50:53:55)cm
What you need
Paintbox Cotton Mix DK in shade soft pale pink 023 x 2 (2:2:2:3:3) 100g balls
3.5mm and 4.5mm circular knitting needle at least 80cm long
A pair each of 3.5mm and 4.5mm straight knitting needles
Tension
18 sts and 26 rows to 10cm square over stocking stitch using 4.5mm needles.
Abbreviations
cont continue; k knit; psso pass slip stitch over; p purl; pm place marker; rem remaining; rep repeat; RS right side; ssk slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; single left-leaning decrease; sl slip stitch; st stitch; st st stocking stitch; tog together; tbl through back loop; WS wrong side; yo yarn over * repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed.
Summer top free knitting pattern
Body
Using 3.5mm circular needles, cast on 184 (192:200:216:224:232) sts
Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches, PM to mark beg of round.
K 1 round.
P 2 rounds.
Change to 4.5mm circular needles.
Round 1 and all odd numbered rounds. : K to end.
Round 2: *K5, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * to end.
Round 4: *K4, [yo, ssk] twice; rep from * to end.
Round 6: *K5, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * to end.
Round 8: K to end.
Round 10: *K1, yo, ssk, k5; rep from * to end.
Round 12: *[yo, ssk] twice, k4; rep from * to end.
Round 14: *K1, yo, ssk, k5; rep from * to end.
Round 16: K to end.
Rep rounds 1-16 once more.
Round 33: *K5, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * to end.
Round 34 - 38: K to end.
Round 39: *K1, yo, ssk, k5; rep from * to end.
Round 40 - 44: K to end.
Round 45: *K5, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * to end.
Cont to K every round until body measures 23cm from cast on edge.
Shape armholes
Next part round: Cast off 4 (4:4:6:6:6) sts purlwise, P1, 80 (84:88:92:96:100) sts p2, cast off 8 (8:8:12:12:12) sts purlwise, P1, 80 (84:88:92:96:100) sts p2, cast off rem 4 (4:4:6:6:6) sts purlwise, break yarn and turn.
Back
With WS facing, change to 4.5mm straight needles, working on first 84 (88:92:96:100:104) sts, sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2, turn. Leave the rem 84 (88:92:96:100:104) sts on a holder for front.
** Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2: Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: Sl1, k to end.
Row 4: Sl1, k1, p2tog, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2. 80 (84:88:92:96:100) sts
Row 5: Sl1, k to end.
Row 6: Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2. **
Rep last 6 rows 4 (5:6:7:8:9) times more. 64 sts
Change to 3.5mm needles.
Next 3 rows: Sl1, k to end.
Cast off knitwise.
Front
With WS facing, change to 4.5mm straight needles, working on rem 84 (88:92:96:100:104) sts sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.
3rd 4th, 5th and 6th sizes only
Work as for back from ** to **. (-:88:92:96:100) sts
4th 5th and 6th sizes only
Rep last 6 rows - (-:-:1:2:3) times more. (-:-88:88:88) sts
All sizes
Right front shaping
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k34 (36:36:36:36:36) k2tog, k2, turn, leaving the rem 42 (44:44:44:44:44) sts on a holder. 40 (42:42:42:42:42) sts
Row 2: Sl1, k1, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2.
Row 3: Sl1, k1, ssk, k to end.
Row 4: Sl1, k1, p2tog, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2.
Row 5: Sl1, k1, ssk, k to end.
Row 6: Sl1, k1, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2. 34 (36:36:36:36:36) sts
These 6 rows set dec for armhole and V neck shaping.
Work 12 rows more dec 1 st at armhole and neck edge as set on last 6 rows.
18 (20:20:20:20) sts
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2: Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: Sl1, k1, ssk, k to end.
Row 4: Sl1, k1, p2tog, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 5: Sl1, k1, ssk, k to end.
Row 6: Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2. 13 (15:15:15:15:15) sts
These 6 rows set dec for armhole and V neck shaping.
Rep last 6 rows once more. 8 (10:10:10:10:10) sts
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th sizes only
Next row (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2. 8 sts
Next row: Sl1, k1, p4, k2.
Next row: Sl1, k1, ssk, k4. 7sts.
Next row: Sl1, k1, p2tog, k3. 6 sts.
Next row: Sl1, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1. 4 sts.
1st size only
Next row (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2. 6 sts
Next row: Sl1, k1, p2, k2.
Next row: Sl1, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1. 4 sts.
Strap
Change to 3.5mm straight needles.
Cont in garter stitch (K every row) until strap measures 17cm, ending with a WS row.
Cast off.
Left front shaping
With RS facing, using 4.5mm straight needles, working on rem rem 42 (44:44:44:44:44) sts continue as follows:
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2: Sl1, k1, p2tog, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: Sl1, k1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 4: Sl1, k1, p2tog, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2.
Row 5: Sl1, k1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 6: Sl1, k1, p2tog, p to last 2 sts, k2. 34 (36:36:36:36:36) sts
These 6 rows set dec for armhole and V neck shaping.
Rep last 6 rows twice more. 18 (20:20:20:20) sts
Row 1 (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 2: Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: Sl1, k1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 4: Sl1, k1, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2.
Row 5: Sl1, k1, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Row 6: Sl1, k1, p to last 2 sts, k2. 13 (15:15:15:15:15) sts
These 6 rows set dec for armhole and V neck shaping.
Rep last 6 rows once more. 8 (10:10:10:10:10) sts
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th sizes only
Next row (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2. 8 sts
Next row: Sl1, k1, p4, k2.
Next row: Sl1, k3, k2tog, k2. 7 sts
Next row: Sl1, k2, p2tog tbl, k2. 6 sts.
Next row: Sl1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2. 4 sts.
1st size only
Next row (RS): Sl1, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2. 6 sts
Next row: Sl1, k1, p2, k2.
Next row: Sl1, k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1. 4 sts.
Work strap as for left front shaping.
Making up
Attach cast off edge of strap to either side of cast off edge of back. Weave in all ends and block to given measurements.
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