Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend Top

Materials:

• RED HEART® Boutique Swanky™: 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) balls 9530 Berry Glamorous
• Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 5.5mm [US 9] 16” (40 cm) and 24” (60 cm) circular needles
• Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 6mm [US 10] 24” (60 cm) circular needle
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holders
• Yarn needle

Gauge: 15 sts = 4” (10 cm); 21 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Lace pattern with larger needle

Measurements:

• Directions are for size Small. Changes for sizes Medium, Large, 1X, and 2X are in parentheses
• To Fit Bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)” (81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122) cm)
• Finished Bust: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)” (96.5 (106.5, 117, 127, 137) cm)
• Finished Length: 22 (23½, 24½, 25½, 26½)” (56 (59.5, 62, 65, 67.5) cm)

Abbreviations:

• sk2p = Slip next stitch as if to knit to right needle, k2tog, lift slipped st over the k2tog st and off needle
• ssk = Slip next 2 stitches, one at a time as if to knit, to right needle, insert point of left needle through front of sts, knit these sts together through back loop
• k = knit
• k2tog = knit next 2 sts together
• p = purl
• p2tog = purl next 2 sts together
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• yo = yarn over
• * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated

Instructions:

Special Technique:3-Needle Bind-Off:
Hold needles of stitches to be seamed parallel and with right sides together, with 3rd needle knit together first stitch from each needle, *knit together next stitch from each needle, pass first stitch over 2nd stitch and off right needle; repeat from * until all stitches have been knit from the 2 parallel needles and only one stitch remains on the right needle. Fasten off.

Pattern Stitch
Lace Pattern (multiple of 16 sts + 1)
Row 1 (right side): K1, *yo, ssk, k11, k2tog, yo, k1; repeat from * across.
Row 2 and all wrong side rows: Purl.
Row 3: K1, *k1, yo, ssk, k9, k2tog, yo, k2; repeat from * across.
Row 5: K1, *k2, yo, ssk, k7, k2tog, yo, k3; repeat from * across.
Row 7: K1, *k3, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k4; repeat from * across.
Row 9: K1, *k4, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k5; repeat from * across.
Row 11: K1, *k5, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k6; repeat from * across.
Row 13: K1, *k6, yo, sk2p, yo, k7; repeat from * across.
Row 15: K1, *k5, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k6; repeat from * across.
Row 17: K1, *k4, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k5; repeat from * across.
Row 19: K1, *k3, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k4; repeat from * across.
Row 21: K1, *k2, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, k3; repeat from * across.
Row 23: K1, *k1, k2tog, yo, k9, yo, ssk, k2; repeat from * across.
Row 24: Purl. Repeat Rows 1–24 for Lace pattern.

Notes
1. Tee is made from 4 pieces: Back, Front, and
2 Sleeves.
2. Each piece is worked, back and forth in rows, beginning at lower edge.
3. Circular needles are used to accommodate width of fabric. Work back and forth in rows as if working with straight needles.
4. Lace pattern can be worked by following written instructions or by reading the chart. Read right side rows of the chart from right to left and wrong side rows from left to right.
5. It may be helpful to place stitch markers between repeats of the Lace pattern.

BACK
With smaller needle, cast on 72 (80, 86, 94, 102). Work in Garter st (knit every row) until piece measures about 1” (2.5 cm) from beginning. Change to larger needle.
Row 1 (right side): K3 (7, 2, 6, 2), place marker, work Row 1 of Lace pattern across to last 4 (8, 3, 7, 3) sts, place marker, k4 (8, 3, 7, 3).
Row 2: Purl to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to next marker, slip marker, purl to end of row.
Row 3: Knit to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to next marker, slip marker, knit to end of row. Repeat last 2 rows, keeping stitches outside the markers in Stockinette st (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) and working next row of Lace pattern between markers, until piece measures about 14 (15, 15½, 16, 16)” (35.5 (38, 39.5, 40.5, 40.5) cm) from beginning; end with a wrong side row.

Shape Armholes
Notes: When instructed to work in Lace pattern “as established”, work the next row of the Lace pattern lining up the stitches as in previous rows to maintain the pattern. This will require working more or fewer stitches, than indicated in the Lace pattern row instruction, before working the yarn overs and decreases. Work at least one stitch in Stockinette stitch at the beginning and end of each row.
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 5 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts removing marker as you work, work in Lace pattern as established to next marker, slip marker, knit to end of row—67 (73, 78, 85, 93) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 5 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts removing marker as you work, purl to end of row—62 (66, 70, 76, 84) sts.
Row 3: K1, k2tog, work in Lace pattern as established to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—60 (64, 68, 74, 82) sts.
Row 4: Purl. Repeat last 2 rows 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) more times—52 (54, 56, 60, 66) sts. Continue in Lace pattern as established until piece measures about 22 (23½, 24½, 25½, 26½)” (56 (59.5, 62, 65, 67.5) cm) from beginning; end with a wrong side row.

Shape Neck
Row 1 (right side): K13 (14, 14, 15, 17), bind off center 26 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts for back neck, knit to end of row—13 (14, 14, 15, 17) sts rem on each side of neck for shoulders. Place shoulder stitches on holders.

FRONT
Work same as Back until piece measures about 18 (19½, 20, 21, 22)” (45.5 (49.5, 51, 53.5, 56) cm) from beginning; end with a wrong side row—52 (54, 56, 60, 66) sts. Note: All of the armhole shaping should be complete.

Divide for Neck
Row 1 (right side): Work in Lace pattern as established over first 22 (23, 23, 25, 27) sts, join 2nd ball of yarn and bind off center 8 (8, 10, 10, 12) sts for front neck, work in Lace pattern as established to end of row—22 (23, 23, 25, 27) sts remain on each side of neck. Work both sides at the same time using separate balls of yarn.
Row 2: Work in Lace pattern as established across first side; on 2nd side, bind off first 2 sts, work in Lace pattern as established to end of side.
Row 3: Work in Lace pattern as established across first side; on 2nd side, bind off first 2 sts, work in Lace pattern as established to end of side—20 (21, 21, 23, 25) sts on each side.
Rows 4 and 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3—18 (19, 19, 21, 23) sts on each side.
Row 6: Work in Lace pattern as established across first side, then across 2nd side.
Row 7: Work in Lace pattern as established to last 3 sts of first side, k2tog, k1; on 2nd side, k1, ssk, work in Lace pattern as established to end of side—17 (18, 18, 20, 22) sts on each side. Repeat last 2 rows 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) more times—13 (14, 14, 15, 17) sts on each side for shoulders. Work even in Lace pattern as established over stitches of both shoulders using separate balls of yarn until entire piece measures same as Back. Place shoulder stitches on holders.

SLEEVES (make 2)
With smaller needle, cast on 44 (44, 50, 52, 54) sts. Work in Garter st until piece measures about 1” (2.5 cm) from beginning. Change to larger needle.
Row 1 (right side): K5 (5, 8, 1, 2), work Row 1 of Lace pattern across to last 6 (6, 9, 2, 3) sts, place marker, k6 (6, 9, 2, 3) sts.
Row 2: Purl to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to next marker, slip marker, purl to end of row.
Row 3 (increase row): K1, kfb, knit to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to next marker, slip marker, knit to last st, kfb, k1—46 (46, 52, 54, 56) sts. Repeat last 2 rows 2 (6, 4, 6, 12) more times—50 (58, 60, 66, 80) sts.

Sizes Small (Medium, Large, 1X) Only: Next 3 Rows: Work in Stockinette st to first marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to next marker, slip marker, work in Stockinette st to end of row.
Next Row (increase row): Repeat Row 3 (increase row)—52 (60, 62, 68) sts. Repeat last 4 rows 3 (1, 3, 2) more times—58 (62, 68, 72) sts.

All Sizes:
Work even in pattern as established, keeping stitches outside the markers in Stockinette st (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) and working next row of Lace pattern between markers, until piece measures about 5 (5, 6, 6, 6)” (12.5 (12.5, 15, 15, 15) cm) from beginning; end with a wrong side row.

Shape Cap
Row 1 (right side): Bind off 5 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts, knit to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to next marker, slip marker, knit to end of row—53 (55, 60, 63, 71) sts.
Row 2: Bind off 5 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts, purl to marker, slip marker, work next row of Lace pattern to next marker, knit to end of row—48 (48, 52, 54, 62) sts.
Note: Remove markers when all stitches on outside of markers have been bound-off or decreased. When instructed to work in pattern “as established”, work in Stockinette stitch over the Stockinette stitches and next row of Lace pattern over the center Lace pattern stitches. When all of the Stockinette stitches have been bound-off or decreased, work all stitches in Lace pattern, lining up the stitches as in previous rows to maintain the pattern.
Row 3 (decrease row): K1, k2tog, work in pattern as established to last 3 sts, ssk, k1— 46 (46, 50, 52, 60) sts.
Row 4: Work even in pattern as established.
Row 5 (decrease row): Repeat Row 3 (decrease row)—44 (44, 48, 50, 58) sts. Repeat last 2 rows 3 (4, 5, 6, 7) more times—38 (36, 38, 38, 44) sts.

Sizes Small (Medium) Only:
Next Row (decrease row – WS): P1, p2tog through back loops, work in pattern as established to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1—36 (34) sts.
Next Row (decrease row – RS): Repeat Row 3 (decrease row)—34 (32) sts. Repeat last 2 rows 1 (0) more time(s)—30 (32) sts.

All Sizes:
Next Row (wrong side): Work in pattern as established.
Next Row (decrease row): Repeat Row 3 (decrease row)—28 (30, 36, 36, 42) sts. Repeat last 2 rows 6 (7, 8, 6, 8) more times—16 (16, 20, 24, 26) sts.
Next Row: Bind off 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts, work in pattern as established to end of row. Repeat last row 3 more times—8 (8, 12, 12, 14) sts remain. Bind of remaining 8 (8, 12, 12, 14) sts.

FINISHING
Join shoulders with 3-Needle Bind-Off. Sew in Sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams.

Neckband
With right side facing and smaller 16” (40 cm) needle, pick up and k70 (70, 74, 80, 80) sts evenly spaced around neck edge. Place marker for beginning of round and prepare to work in rounds. Work in Garter st worked in round (knit 1 round, purl 1 round) for about 1” (2.5 cm). Bind off loosely. Weave in ends.

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend Top Chart 1

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend Top Charts 2, 3, 4