Tantric Puzzle top (aka Cross-Keys Puzzle Top) By Anne Carroll GilmouR
This little top evolved from a weaving mistake I made, but this design I came up with for the pieces worked better in a knit fabric -it's all about the flexibility. Very easy to make and fits & flatters almost everybody, the 'puzzle' part comes in when you put it on. I've sold these tops at art festivals and had to create a hang-tag that gives wearing instructions, because it looks like nothing you could actually wear before you put it on- kinda fun, and I've never seen anything else quite like it before. Only 1 tip: make sure your cast-on & bind-off are loose & flexible. You will need from 6oo+ yards fingering to worsted wt yarn (less for heavier, more for finer). Use any knit/purl motif that lies flat and has some stretch. As you can see in the photos I've never done any 2 alike. I like to use a different motif for each panel on the same top, just to make them more unique. 2 of my favorite charts for this are the ones I designed for my Moorish Tile Sock pattern, but done in K/P instead of colors, it has a nice tangential rib effect that works perfect for this project. (Great knitting machine G-carriage project, too) Be creative, these simple flat pieces can be knit in several gauges, but I suggest nothing too heavy or stiff (it's a summer top after all). It does look cute over a turtleneck for cooler weather, but you are still aiming for very flexible fabric here. Good Yarn choices are Cascade fixation or Elsbeth Lavold's Hempathy, or Fox Fiber Organic Softball Cotton. As a hand weaver I've done a lot of clothing based on simple shapes. I included this top in a class I was teaching on that very subject. This kind of simple modular construction works great for knit pieces, too. Please excuse my obvious lack of skill at technical illustration- I hope you enjoy this very easy project! (Thanks to my daughter Lindsay for modeling -who still wants to add more ink to her arms, believe it or not!)
I prefer to wear mine as shown above & instructed on the hang tag (one strap over everything, the other strap under everything). Lindsay likes to pull both back flaps out, as shown on the right. Either way works but the above view is better for full belly coverage in the front. A copy of the hang-tag info is included below:
Anne's original
'tantric puzzle top! Handcrafted in Organic Corcon This Flexiole and selF adjusting design Fits & Flatcers many sizes and body types. To wear: place cRoss at center back, uith side seams touard body & ties on top and Front, as pictured. CRoss ties at center Front uith one over everything and one under eveRything & tie at center back. Machine uasha6le (gentle cycle), air dRy. Cach is I-of-a-kind, like you.
For this deceptively simple top, you will need 2 Panels of flexible fabric, about 12" wide at cast-on edge & 42" long, and 2 garter stitch strips 2"Wx17"L. To assemble, mattress stitch the 2 - 12" underarm seams so they are invisible on the right side and install the straps as illustrated below, put on as shown above, laying one panel & strap over the other and tying them together at the center back. I wear mine often, it's bra-friendly, flattering & comfortable. To up or down-size this project, use 1" increments in width & length, because of it's bias orientation a little tweaking goes a long way. If in doubt, use a couple of muslin strips & play around with' pined togehe mackupte sef youiwan to makgygnyajlustments,
TANTRIC PUZZLE TOP COPYRIGHT 2OO5 BY ANNE CARROLL GILMOURNOT TO BE MADE FOR RESALE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
