This pattern is part of my senior thesis for Baylor University's Honors Program - one of four patterns in which almost 100% of the proceeds (full purchase price minus fees) wil be donated to charity For more information regarding progress or acountability please don't hesitate to contact me on Ravelry.
DAHLIASHELL eyeristinaelenienit
Dahlia: a beautiful flower with a striking silhouette. Like its namesake, the Dahlia Shell is strong and opinionated. It represents classic style - with a twist. Dahlias are often symbollically seen as “wild cards"; dressed in this tank, you won't be afraid to show off an adventurous side. Dahlia strikes an elegant and finished silhouette without picking up for the neckline and armholes - althe finishing work is in the back detailing. Dahlia can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion. Throw on a jacket for a modest look with a surprising secret, or wear bare-armed (and backed!) for a night on the town.
Sizes:
Definitions and and Stitch Dictionary:
Dimensions:
inc: increase PU: pick up ml: make one - pick up bar between two stitches and knit through the back loop
Yarn:
CO: Cast on BO: Bind off RS: right side WS: wrong side st(s): stitch(es) k: knit P: purl pm: place marker stockinette: knit on RS, purl on WS (all knits when in the round) dec: decrease 1040 (1110, 1180, 1250, 1320) yds laceweight, held double. All sizes: 1 skein Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk [1736 yds. each] - 2 ply lace weight in Mulberry- 80% Alpaca 20%Silk.
Needles:
Size 4 (3.5 mm) knitting needles, circular or straight
Gauge:
In stockinette - 24st x 32 rows = 4" on size 4 needles after washing and blocking. To get the fit you desire, please check your gauge.
Additional:
1 tapestry needle, 2 stitch markers, waste yarn or stitch holder Optional: knitting safety pins
Seed Stitch:
Purl the knits and knit the purls. On rows with odd number of sts, beg. with p1, (k1, p1) until end.
INSTRUCTIONS
Front:
CO 63 (65, 69, 69, 71) sts lo0sely. Set up: Work 9 rows in seed stitch beginning and ending with a purl. Row 1: p1, (k1, p1) 3 times, pm, knit until 7 st. remaining, pm, p1, (kl, p1) 3 times. Row 2: pl, (kl, pl) 3 times, sm, purl until marker, sm, p1 (kl, p1) 3 times. Repeat rows 1-2 5 (6, 7, 9, 9) more times. Increase row: Work 7 stitches in seed stitch, sm, k1, m1, k until 2 stitches before marker, k1, m1, k1, work 7 stitches in seed stitch. 65 (67, 71, 71, 73) stitches. Work 7 rows evenly. Work increase row - 67 (69, 73, 73, 75) sts. Work 5 rows evenly. Work increase row - 69 (71, 75, 75, 77). Work 3 rows evenly. Work increase row - 71 (73, 77, 77, 79) sts. Work 1 row evenly. Work increase row - 73 (75, 79, 79, 91) sts. Repeat last 2 rows 11 (11, 11, 12, 12) times - 95 (97, 101, 103, 105) sts. Work 1 row evenly. Work seed stitch until marker, k1, ml, kl, m1, k until 3 sts. before marker, kl, m1, k1, m1 k1 0 (1, 1, 1, 1) times - 95 (101, 105, 107, 109) sts. Repeat last two rows 0 (0, 0, 1, 1) times - 95 (101, 105, 111, 113) sts. Using backward loop method, CO 3 (3, 3, 3, 5) sts onto left needle. K first st without slipping off left needle. Twist st. on right needle and place back on left needle. Work seed stitch until marker, purl until marker, work seed stitch until end. Repeat last row until marker, knit until marker, work seed stitch until end. - 103 (109, 113, 119, 123) sts. Work 3 rows evenly. Work in seed stitch until 1 st. before marker. k until 2 st. after marker. Beg. with a purl, work in seed stitch until end. Work in seed stitch until 2 sts. before marker, p until 2 sts. after marker. Beg with a purl, work in seed stitch until end. Work in seed stitch until 3 sts. before marker, k until 4 sts. after marker. Beg with a purl, work in seed stitch until end. Work in seed stitch until 4 sts. before marker, p until 4 sts. after marker. Beg with a purl, work in seed stitch until end. Page 2/4 Next row: k2, m1, k until 2 st. remaining, m1, k2 Work in stockinette stitch for 7 (7, 7, 9, 9) rows. Work last 8 (8, 8, 10, 10) rows 8 (8, 8, 7, 7) more times. 121 (127, 131, 135, 139) sts. Work 18 rows or 2” in seed stitch, beginning and ending with a purl. Bind off loosely.
Back:
Cast on 81 (87, 93, 95, 99) sts. using knit provisional cast on. Work 9 rows in seed stitch. Row 9: Beg with a purl, work 27 (29, 31, 32, 33) sts. seed stitch. Lo0sely CO 27 (29, 31, 31, 33) sts purlwise. Work remaining 27 (29, 31, 32, 33) sts. in seed st, beg with a purl. Row 10: Knit 27 (29, 31, 32, 33) sts. Place next 27 (29, 31, 32, 33) sts. 0n hold.
Back Right:
Work in stockinette stitch for 72 (72, 72, 80, 80) rows, 0r until stockinette panel is the same length as in the front. Work 18 rows in seed stitch or until border matches front beginning and ending with a purl. BO all sts. loosely. Back Left Pick up 27 (29, 31, 32, 33) sts that were placed on hold. Attach yarn and work the same as Back Right
Center Back:
Pick up 81 (87, 93, 95, 99) sts. from cast on edge Next 2 rows: Bind off 5 (7, 9, 9, 9) sts. Work rest of row in seed stitch. - 71 (73, 75, 77, 91) sts. Next 6 (6, 6, 6, 6) rows: BO 4 sts, then work rest of row in seed stitch - 47 (49, 51, 53, 57) sts. remaining Next 6 (6, 6, 6, 8) rows: BO 2 sts, then work remainder of row in seed stitch. - 35 (37, 39, 41, 41) sts. Work in seed stitch for 5 (5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75")"
Shoulders:
Work 13 sts. in seed stitch. BO 9 (11, 13, 15, 15) sts, work 13 sts. seed stitch. Work 13 sts in seed stitch. Place next 13 sts on hold. Work one row in seed stitch. Decrease row: Dec. by 1 on inside edge (closest to BO) - 12sts. Work decrease row every third row until 9 sts. remain. Work decrease row every other row until 5 sts. remain. Work 3 rows even. BO loosely. Pick up 13 sts. on hold and reattach yarn. Work decrease row every third row until 9 sts. remain. Work decrease row every other row until 5 sts. remain. Work 3 rows even. BO loosely.
Body:
Seam sides and shoulders, making sure to flip down collar of front neckline before seaming Optional (but helpful) tips: - Lightly steam block neckline before seaming to achieve desired look. - Now is a good time to weave in some of your ends so you arent overloadedlater!
Lower Back:
You will be picking up stitches from the open inside edge of the back - it doesn't matter whether you start on the right or the left side, so choose whichever is easier for you. Lower back is worked horizontally to create drape. Each stitch is picked up using two bars - the equivalent of two rows when pattern is held vertical. Pick up 3 (3, 3, 3, 3) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 7 (7.5, 8, 8.75, 9.5)" Pick up next 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 7.5 (8, 8.5, 9.25, 10)" Pick up next 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 8 (8.5, 9, 9.75, 10.5)" Pick up next 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 8.5 (9, 9.5, 10.25, 11)" Pick up next 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 9 (9.5, 10, 10.75, 11.5)" Pick up next 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 9.5 (10, 10.5, 11.25, 12)" Pick up next 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 10 (10.5, 11, 11.75, 12.5)" Pick up next 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 10.5 (11, 11.5, 12.25, 13) Pick up next 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) stitches closest to top center of back. Work in stockinette for 11 (11.5, 12, 12.75, 13.5) Finishing: Making sure not to twist, seam each strand to opposite side. Weave in ends. Block aggressively.
SCHEMATIC
