Blue Paradise Top

Materials:

• Grace (50 g/1.75 oz;125 m/136 yds)
• Sizes 3.5 mm (U.S. 4) and 4 mm (U.S. 6) knitting needles
• Size 3.5 mm (U.S. 4) circular knitting needle 16" [40 cm] long or size needed to obtain tension
• Cable needle
• 2 stitch holders
• 2 stitch markers

GAUGE
22 sts and 30 rows = 4" [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.

MEASUREMENTS:

To fit bust measurement
XS/S 28-34 ins [71-86.5 cm]
M 36-38 ins [91.5-96.5 cm]
L 40-42 ins [101.5-106.5 cm]
XL 44-46 ins [112-117 cm]
2XL/3XL 48-54 ins [122-137 cm]
4XL/5XL 56-62 ins [142-157.5 cm]

Finished bust measurement
XS/S 38 ins [96.5 cm]
M 42 ins [106.5 cm]
L 46 ins [117 cm]
XL 51 ins [129.5 cm]
2XL/3XL 57 ins [145 cm]
4XL/5XL 65 ins [165 cm]

INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ). Numbers for each size are shown in the same color throughout the pattern. When only one number is given in black, it applies to all sizes.

Note: Back shoulder extends into Front neck depth, so Back armhole depth appears deeper than Front, but will adjust when neckband is complete.

BACK
**With smaller needles, cast on 104 (116-128-140-164-184) sts.
Next row: (WS). Knit, inc 12 sts evenly across. 116 (128-140-152-176-196) sts.

Proceed in Pillar Pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). K1. *yo. K2. Pass yo over last 2 knit sts. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: Purl.**
Rep last 2 rows for Pillar Pat until work from beg measures 3 1/2" [9 cm] ending with a purl row.

Change to larger needles and cont in Pillar Pat until work from beg measures 9 (9-9 1/2-10-10 1/2-10 1/2)" [23 (23-24.5-25.5-26.5 26.5) cm], ending with a purl row.

Shape sides: Keeping cont of pat, inc1 at each end of next row and following 8th (8th-8th-8th-10th-10th) rows 7 (7-7-7-4-4) times
more, taking inc sts into pat. 132 (144-156-168-186-206) sts.
Purl 1 row.
Cast on 6 (6-4-4-3-2) sts beg next 2 rows, then 10 (10-8-8-6-5) sts beg following 2 rows. 164 (176-180-192-204-220) sts. Place markers at each end of last row.

Cont in pat until work from markers measures 6 1/2 (7-7 1/2-7 1/2-8-8)" [16.5 (18-19-19-20.5-20.5) cm], ending with a purl row.

Shape back neck: Next row: (RS). Pat across 58 (64-66-72-76-86) sts (neck edge). Turn.
Leave rem sts on a spare needle.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 4 rows. 54 (60-62-68-72-82) sts.
Work 1 row even in pat. Place a marker at side edge of last row.
Work a further 12 rows even in pat. Cast off knitwise.

With RS facing, slip next 48 (48-48-48-52-48) sts onto a st holder. Join yarn to rem sts and pat to end of row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 4 rows. 54 (60-62-68-72-82) sts.
Work 1 row even in pat. Place a marker at side edge of last row.
Work a further 12 rows even in pat. Cast off knitwise.

FRONT
Work from ** to ** as given for Back.
Rep last 2 rows for Pillar Pat until work from beg
measures 3 1/2" [9 cm], ending with a RS row.
Next row: (WS). P30 (36-42-48-60-70). (P2tog. P4) 9 times. P2tog. P30 (36-42-48-60-70). 106 (118-130-142-166-186) sts.

Change to larger needles and proceed in pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). K1. (yo. K2. Pass yo over last 2 knit sts) 12 (15-18-21-27-32) times. K1. [K2tog.(yo) twice. ssk] 6 times. K6. [K2tog. (yo) twice.ssk] 6 times. K1. (yo. K2. Pass yo over last 2 knit sts) 12 (15-18-21-27-32) times. K1.
2nd and alt rows: Purl, working (P1. P1tbl) into double yo.
3rd row: K1. (yo. K2. Pass yo over last 2 knit sts) 12 (15-18-21-27-32) times. K1. [K2tog. (yo) twice. ssk] 6 times. C6B. [K2tog. (yo) twice. ssk] 6 times. K1. (yo. K2. Pass yo over last 2 knit sts) 12 (15-18-21-27-32) times. K1.
5th and 7th rows: As 1st row.
8th row: As 2nd row.
These 8 rows form Front Texture Pat.
Cont in Front Texture Pat until work from beg measures 9 (9-9 1/2-10-10 1/2-10 1/2)" [23 (23-24-25.5-26.5-26.5) cm], ending with a WS row.

Shape sides: Keeping cont of pat, inc1 at each end of next row and following 8th (8th-8th-8th-10th-10th) rows 7 (7-7-7-4-4) times more, taking inc sts into pat. 122 (134-146-158-176-196) sts.
Next row: (WS). Work even in pat.
Cast on 6 (6-4-4-3-2) sts beg next 2 rows, then 10 (10-8-8-6-5) sts beg following 2 rows. 154 (166-170-182-194-210) sts. Place markers at each end of last row.

Cont in pat until work from markers measures 4 (4 1/2-5-5-5 1/2-5 1/2)" [10 (11.5-12.5-12.5-14-14) cm], ending with a WS row.

Shape front neck: Next row: (RS). Pat across 60 (66-68-74-78-88) sts (neck edge). Turn. Leave rem sts on a spare needle.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 6 rows. 54 (60-62-68-72-82) sts.
Work 3 rows even in pat. Cast off knitwise.

With RS facing, slip next 34 (34-34-34-38-34) sts onto a st holder. Join yarn to rem sts and pat to end of row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 6 rows. 54 (60-62-68-72-82) sts.
Work 3 rows even in pat. Cast off knitwise.

FINISHING
Pin garment pieces to measurements. Cover with a damp cloth, leaving cloth to dry.

Sew shoulder seams, noting markers on Back will denote 'true' shoulder and seam will come towards Front to complete front neck depth.

Neckband: With RS facing and circular needle, beg at center of back st holder, K24 (24-24-24-26-24) from Back st holder, dec 3 sts evenly across. Pick up and knit 16 sts up left back neck edge and 8 sts down left front neck edge. K34 (34-34-34-38-34) from Front st holder, dec 2 sts evenly across. Pick up and knit 8 sts up right front neck edge and 16 sts down right back neck edge. Knit rem 24 (24-24-24-26-24) sts from Back st holder, dec 3 sts evenly across. Join in rnd, placing marker on first st. 122 (122-122-122-130-122) sts.
1st rnd: *K1. P1. Rep from * around.
Rep last rnd 3 times more. Cast off in ribbing.

Armbands: With RS facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit 71 (75-79-79-83-83) sts evenly along armhole edge.
Knit 2 rows. Cast off knitwise (WS).