Leyda Linen Top Knitting Pattern by Rachel Zimmerman: A Humid Heat Friendly Design

Leyda Linen Top

Having recently moved from a desert to the Northwestern United States, I designed this top to be cool and comfortable in humid heat. The top is constructed beginning at the waist and knitting upward. Then the bottom half and the sleeves are knit downward. The work in progress can be tried on, and the most can be made out of the yarn on hand. Additionally, the only seams are on the shoulder straps.

Size

XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X) 31 (35, 39, 43, 47,51, 55) Choose the size with 1-3'’ positive ease on full bust ShowninsizeMona38''bust A note on sizing: I have used standard sizing which relies on a B/C cup. For a larger bust, choose the size corresponding to the upper bust measurement. Add bust darts and/or short rows as needed. The sleeve size can be adjusted without affecting the rest of the garment by picking up a larger or smaller number of stitches. For instance, the sample shown is a size M with size L sleeves. If modifying the width of the sleeves or the hip, make sure to use a multiple of 6 stitches to accommodate the lace design.

Suggested Yarn

Louet Euroflax Sport [100% linen; 270yd/247m per 100g skein] 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6) skeins

Needles/Hooks

40 inch US #3/3.25mm circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge below. D/3.25mm crochet hook 2 double pointed needles for I-cord. These can be any size appropriate to the yarn. Notions 4 stitch markers waste yarn Gauge 24st/32 rows=4'’ in stockinette st Rachel Zimmerman, 2011.

V-Neck depth: 6.75 (7.25, 7.75, 7.25, 7.75, 8, 8.5)

Abbreviations and Techniques

Kknit Ppurl K2tog knit 2 stitches together Ssk slip 2 stitches knitwise, insert left needle into the front of the 2 stitches, knit them together Yo yarn over Sl-k2tog-psso slip stitch purlwise, knit two together, pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch. Pm place marker St stitch \*\* Repeat the stitch pattern between these two marks Short rows Single crochet Provisional cast-on All sections are worked in stockinette stitch except for the waist eyelets and lace edging. When working flat, always slip the first stitch of the row even when not written.

CAST ON

With a provisional cast-on method of your choice, cast 0n 186 (210, 234, 258, 282, 306, 330) sts.1 find the crochet cast-on to be easiest, but you can use your favorite method. Join in the round, taking care not to twist the sts. Pm at the beginning of the round, k93 (105, 117, 129, 141, 153, 165), pm, k93 (105, 117, 129, 141, 153,165). Knit in stockinette stitch for 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8) inches or desired length from waistband to underarm. The waistband is designed to be between an empire waist and thenaturalwaist. Knit to 4 (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9) stitches before 1" marker, bind off 7 (7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) sts. Knit to 4 (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9) stitches before 2nd marker, bind off 7 (7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) sts. K43 (49, 53, 58, 63, 68, 73), pm (V-Neck marker), k43 (49, 53, 58, 63,68, 73), turn. You will now be working the front of the garment flat. Always slip the first st of each row to maintain a selvage edge even when not stated.

Begin armhole shaping:

Row 1: Purl Row 2: Slip first st, ssk, knit to 3 sts before end of row, k2tog, k1. Repeat these two rows 2 (3, 5, 8, 8, 9, 9) times, (a total of 3 (4, 6, 9, 9, 10, 10) sts decreased on each side). 80 (90, 94, 98, 108, 116, 126) sts remaining for the front section. Begin V-neck shaping. All sizes except for XS and L will continue decreasing for the armhole on the right edge of the fabric while working the V-neck decreases on the left edge. Work an additional 0 (2, 1, 0, 2, 3, 5) armhole decreases while working the neck shaping. Armhole decrease row: slip first stitch, ssk, work the rest of row as required by V-neck shaping. Purl Work to 3 stitches before V-Neck marker, k2tog, k1, turn These are the stitches for the left-front side, slip remaining stitches onto spare yarn if desired. Rachel Zimmerman, 2011. Remove marker.

LEFT FRONT

Purl Decrease row 1: Work to 3 stitches before end of row, k2tog, k1, turn Decrease row 2: Purl Repeat these two rows 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26) times. 23 (24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30) sts remaining. The armhole decreases will have ended for all sizes by now. Continue neck shaping as follows: Row 1: Purl Row 2: Knit Row 3: Purl Row 4: Knit to 3 sts before end of row, k2tog, k1. Repeat these 4 rows 4 (4, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2) times. 18 (19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25) sts remaining. Purl Bind of

Right Front:

Return to the stitches for the right front piece, and attach yarn at the right edge with the knit side facing up. The first row will be a knit row. All sizes except for XS and L will continue decreasing for the armhole on the left edge of the fabric while working the V-neck decreases on the right edge Work an additional 0 (2, 1, 0, 2, 3, 5) armhole decreases while working the neck shaping. Armhole decrease row: work the row as required by V-neck shaping to 3 stitches before end of row, k2tog, k1.

V-Neck shaping:

Row 1: Slip first st, ssk, work rest of row. Row 2: Purl Repeat these two rows 15 (17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26) times. 23 (24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30) sts remaining. The armhole decreases will have ended for all sizes by now. Continue neck shaping as follows: Row 1: Purl Row 2: Knit Row 3: Purl Row 4: Slip first st, ssk, knit to end of row. Repeat these 4 rows 4 times. 18 (19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25) sts remaining. Purl. Bind off.

BACK

Return to the remaining 86 (98, 106, 116, 126, 136, 146) sts to work the back flat. Slip first st, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before end of row, k2tog, k1. Purl repeat these two rows 2 (5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) times.A total of 3 (6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15) sts decreased on each side. There should be 80 (86, 92, 98, 104, 110, 116) sts on the needle for the back section. Knit in stockinette stitch for 46 (42, 46, 46, 46, 46, 46) rows.

Left Strap

Slip first st, k21 (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27), bind off 38 (36, 38, 38, 38, 36, 36), k22 (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28). Purl. Decrease row 1: slip first st, ssk, knit across Decrease row 2: purl Repeat these two rows 3 times for a total of 4 decreases. 18 (19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25) sts remaining. Bind off these stitches.

Right Strap

Return to remaining 22 (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) sts and attach yarn at right edge with knit side facing up. Purl Decrease row 1: Knit to 3 sts before end of row, k2tog, k1 Decrease row 2: Purl Repeat these two rows 3 times for a total of 4 decreases 18 (19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25) sts remaining. Bind off sts. To ensure a good fit, seam the shoulders and try on thetop.

BOTTOM OF TORSO

Pick up the 186 (210, 234, 258, 282, 306, 330) sts from the provisional cast-on. \*K4, y0, ssk\* 31 (35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55) times around. Knit 3 inches in stockinette stitch.

Hip Increases

Increase set-up round: K23 (26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41), pm, k47 (53, 59, 65, 71,77, 83), pm, k46 (52, 58,64. 70, 76, 82), pm, k47 (53, 59,65,71,77, 83), pm, k23 (26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41) Increase round: Knit to 1 st before 1" marker, m1, knit to stitch after 2nd marker, m1, knit to 1 stitch before 3rd marker, m1, knit to stitch after 4" marker, m1, knit to end of round. Knit 8 rounds Repeat increase round Knit 8 rounds Repeat increase round. 12 sts increased Knit 1 inch in stockinette stitch. Remove all markers except for that at beginning of round. Hip Lace Edging (chart can be found at end of pattern) Note: The lace design for the bottom edge is the same as that for the sleeves, but includes an extra repeat. Round 1: work \*k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo\* 33 (37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57) times Round 2: knit Round 3: work \*k2, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1\* 33 (37,41, 45, 49, 53, 57) times Lace round 4: knit Repeat lace rounds 1 through 4 once more. Round 5: k2, \*y0, y0, sl-k2tog-psso\* 65 (73, 81, 89, 97, 105, 113) times, yo, yo, with last st of this round, and first two sts of 6th round sl-k2tog-psso. Round 6: \*K1, p1, k1\* 66 (74, 82, 90, 98, 106, 116) times. (kl, pl into each double yo) Bind off.

SLEEVES

I recommend using a smaller needle to pick up the stitches along the armhole to avoid holes. Beginning at the right edge of the bound off underarm sts, pick up and knit 60, (66, 72, 78, 84, 96, 108) stitches around the armhole, pm. Switch to needle needed to obtain gauge. Knit to 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14) sts after the shoulder seam, wrap and turn. Slip wrapped stitch, purl 12 (14, 16, 18, 24, 28), wrap and turn. Short-row 1: Slip wrapped stitch, knit to wrapped stitch, knit wrap together with wrapped stitch, wrap and turn. Short-row 2: Slip wrapped stitch, purl to wrapped stitch, purl wrap together with wrapped stitch, wrap and turn. Repeat these two rows until reaching the marker on the knit row. After knitting together the wrap and wrapped stitch, do not wrap and turn. Remove stitch marker and continue to knit in the round, knitting the next wrap and wrapped stitch together. Knit 8 (9, 10, 12, 14, 16) rows, or desired length. Rachel Zimmerman, 2011

Sleeve Lace Edging

Lace round 1: work \*k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo\* 33 (37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57) times Lace round 2: knit Lace round 3: work \*k2, yo, sl-k2tog-psso, yo, k1\* 33 (37,41,45, 49, 53, 57) times Lace round 4: knit Lace round 5: k2, \*yo, yo, sl-k2tog-psso \* 65 (73, 81, 89, 97, 105, 113) times, y0, y0, with last stitch of this round, and first two stitches of next round slk2tog-psso \*K1, p1, k1\* 66 (74, 82, 90, 98, 106, 116) times. (kl, pl into each double yo) Bind off. Repeat for other sleeve.

FINISHING

Starting at seam of left shoulder strap, single crochet around the neck opening. Knit an I-cord approximately 50 (55, 60, 65, 65, 70, 75) inches in length, and weave it into the waist eyelets. Weave in all ends.