Southern Belle Knit Top

This simple, pretty V-neck knit top pattern features an attractive squares pattern in a charming light blue color. The Southern Belle Knit Top is the perfect go-to item in your wardrobe for casual picnics, afternoons at the baseball field, and spontaneous outdoor fun. This lovely tunic-style knit top has a slimming construction with two slits on either side hem for additional shaping.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size6 or 4 mm, 7 or 4.5 mm

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Materials:

Patons® Classic Wool (100 g) (77117 Worn Denim); XS (S-M-L-XL) - 6 (6-7-7-8) balls
Sizes 4 mm (U.S. 6) and 4½ mm (U.S. 7) knitting needles or size needed to obtain tension
3 st holders

Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.

SIZES

Bust measurement
XS 32 ins [81 cm]; Small 34 ins [86 cm]; Medium 36 ins [91 cm]; Large 38 ins [97 ins]; XL 40 ins [102 ins]

Finished bust
XS 35 ins [89 cm]; Small 37 ins [94 cm]; Medium 40 ins [102 cm]; Large 42 ins [107 cm]; XL 44 ins [112 cm]

INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ).

Front, Back, and Sleeve Charts

FRONT
**With smaller needles, cast on 73 (77-85-91-95) sts.
Work 7 rows in garter st (knit every row), noting first row is WS and inc 6 sts evenly across last row. 79 (83-91-97-101) sts.

Change to larger needles and proceed in pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). K2 (4-2-5-1). *K1. P1. K10. Rep from * to last 5 (7-5-8-4) sts. K1. P1. K3 (5-3-6-2).
2nd row: P2 (4-2-5-1). *K1. P1. K1. P9. Rep from * to last 5 (7-5-8-4) sts. K1. P1. K1. P2 (4-2-5-1).
3rd to 12th rows: As 1st and 2nd rows 5 times more.
13th row: P0 (0-0-1-1). *K1. P1. Rep from * to last 1 (1-1-0-0) st(s). K1 (1-1-0-0).
14th row: As 13th row.
Last 14 rows form pat.

Rep last 14 rows once more, ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape for slits: 1st row: (RS). Cast on 5 sts. Knit the 5 sts. K2 (4-2-5-1). *K1. P1. K10. Rep from * to last 5 (7-5-8-4) sts. K1. P1. K3 (5-3-6-2).
2nd row: Cast on 5 sts. Purl the 5 sts. P2 (4-2-5-1). *K1. P1. K1. P9. Rep from * to last 10 (12-10-13-9) sts. K1. P1. K1. P7 (9-7-10-6). 89 (93-101-107-111) sts.

Proceed in Box pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). K7 (9-7-10-6). *K1. P1. K10. Rep from * to last 10 (12-10-13-9) sts. K1. P1. K8 (10-8-11-7).
2nd row: P7 (9-7-10-6). *K1. P1. K1. P9. Rep from * to last 10 (12-10-13-9) sts. K1. P1. K1. P7 (9-7-10-6).
3rd to 10th rows: As 1st and 2nd rows 4 times more.
11th row: P1 (1-1-0-0). *K1. P1. Rep from * to last 0 (0-0-1-1) st(s). K0 (0-0-1-1).
12th row: As 11th row.
13th and 14th rows: As 1st and 2nd rows.
These 14 rows form Box pat.

Cont in Box pat until work from beg measures 16 (16-17-17½-18) ins [40.5 (40.5-43-44.5-45.5) cm], ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape armholes: Keeping cont of pat, cast off 5 (6-7-7-8) sts beg next 2 rows. 79 (81-87-93-95) sts.
Dec 1 st at each end of needle on next 5 rows, then every following alt row 4 (4-5-5-5) times. 61 (63-67-73-75) sts.**
Work 1 (5-3-5-9) row(s) even in pat.

Divide for V-neck: 1st row: (RS). Pat across 28 (29-31-34-35). (K1. P1) twice. K1. Turn. Leave rem sts on a spare needle.
2nd row: (K1. P1) twice. K1. Pat to end of row.
3rd row: Pat to last 7 sts. K2tog. (K1. P1) twice. K1.
4th row: As 2nd row.
Rep last 2 rows 10 (10-12-12-14) times more. 22 (23-23-26-25) sts.

Proceed as follows:
1st row: (RS). Pat to last 5 sts. (K1. P1) twice. K1.
2nd row: (K1. P1) twice. K1. Pat to end of row.
3rd row: Pat to last 7 sts. K2tog. (K1. P1) twice. K1.
4th row: As 2nd row.
Rep last 4 rows 2 (2-1-1-0) time(s) more. 19 (20-21-24-24) sts.

Shape shoulder: Cast off 6 (7-7-9-9) sts beg next row.
Work 1 row even. Cast off rem 13 (13-14-15-15) sts. With RS of work facing, join yarn to rem sts, cast on 5 sts and pat to end of row.
1st row: Pat to last 5 sts. (K1. P1) twice. K1.
2nd row: (K1. P1) twice. K1. Sl1. K1. psso. Pat to end of row.
3rd row: As 1st row.
Rep last 2 rows 10 (10-12-12-14) times more. 22 (23-23-26-25) sts.

Proceed as follows:
1st row: (K1. P1) twice. K1. Pat to end of row.
2nd row: Pat to last 5 sts. (K1. P1) twice. K1.
3rd row: (K1. P1) twice. K1. Sl1. K1. psso. Pat to end of row.
4th row: As 2nd row.
Rep last 4 rows 2 (2-1-1-0) time(s) more. 19 (20-21-24-24) sts.
Work 1 row even.

Shape shoulder: Cast off 6 (7-7-9-9) sts beg next row.
Work 1 row even. Cast off 7 (7-8-9-9) sts. Leave rem 6 sts on a safety pin.

BACK
Work from ** to ** as given for Front.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures 4 rows less than Front to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape back neck: Next row: Pat across 14 (15-16-19-19) sts. K2tog (neck edge). Turn. Leave rem sts on a spare needle.
Next row: P2tog. Pat to end of row.
Next row: Cast off 6 (7-7-9-9) sts. Pat to last 2 sts. K2tog.
Next row: Work even in pat. Cast off rem 7 (7-8-9-9) sts.

With RS of work facing, cast off next 29 (29-31-31-33) sts. Join yarn to rem sts and proceed as follows: Sl1. K1. psso. Pat to end of row.
Next row: Cast off 6 (7-7-9-9) sts. Pat to last 2 sts. P2togtbl.
Next row: Sl1. K1. psso. Pat to end of row. Cast off rem 7 (7-8-9-9) sts.

SLEEVES
With smaller needles, cast on 43 sts.
Work 7 rows in garter st, noting first row is WS and inc 4 sts evenly across last row. 47 sts.

Change to larger needles and proceed in pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). K4. *K1. P1. K10. Rep from * to last 7 sts. K1. P1. K5.
2nd row: P4. *K1. P1. K1. P9. Rep from * to last 7 sts. K1. P1. K1. P4.
Box pat is now in position.
Cont in Box pat, as given for Front, inc 1 st each end of needle on next and following 8th (8th-8th-6th-4th) rows until there are 69 (71-71-61-63) sts.

Sizes L and XL only: Inc 1 st each end of needle on every following (8th-6th) row from previous inc to (79-85) sts.

All sizes: Cont even in pat until Sleeve from beg measures 17½ (18-18½-19-19) ins [44.5 (45.5-47-48-48) cm], ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape top: Keeping cont of pat, cast off 3 (4-4-5-6) sts beg next 2 rows. 63 (63-63-69-73) sts.
Dec 1 st at each end of needle on next and following alt rows to 39 (35-35-39-41) sts, then dec 1 st each end of needle on every row to 11 (11-11-15-17) sts. Cast off.

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

Neckband: Sew left shoulder seam. Cont working on rem 6 sts from right shoulder in seed st, as before, until strip measures same length as back neck edge, ending with RS facing for next row. Cast off in pat.

Sew neckband in position. Sew right shoulder seam. Sew right front placket under left front placket.

Slits: With RS of work facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit 24 sts up side of slit. Work 6 rows in garter st. Cast off knitways (WS).
Sew top of slit to 5 cast on sts of Front or Back.

Sew in sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams.

Your Recently Viewed Projects

Rate

I have not made this yet so I cannot rate it.

We are adding your Comments.

Thank you! Your comment has been added.

We are sorry. There was an error tyring to post your rating and review.

Your comment will appear after our editors have had a chance to review it.

Cancel Reply to Comment

Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!

rhinsepp 7573162

Mar 02, 2020

I am working on this sweater and I am having trouble with the front where the division takes place. I have 5 sts left over and don't know what to do with them. Someone please help me.

Lisa

Mar 04, 2020

It sounds like you missed the K1 P1 twice and K1 on the first line of the division for the neck, this would account for the 5 stitches you have leftover, without knowing which size you are making can't be absolutely certain.

awatercarrier 8647 926

Feb 07, 2017

there is mistake on the front of this pattern after casting on the extra stitches and proceeding in box pattern rows 13 and 14 and not the same as rows 1 and 2 but should read k1 p1 acrossed both rows for the pattern to work out?

rhinsepp 7573162

Feb 27, 2020

I agree, I had to do PK instead.

The Designing Peng uin

Jan 29, 2017

I too would be knitting this in other than wool thanks to allergies - I see they are recommending introducing babies to peanut butter early to prevent that allergy. I want to compliment the designer on the clear instructions -- adds to the enjoyment of knitting

rhinsepp 7573162

Mar 02, 2020

Did you finish the sweater? If yes, would you be so good and help me, I am stuck on the front where to divide because I have 5 sts and don't know what to do with them. Thank you.

Alysanne

Jan 25, 2017

I really like this pattern but for my southern bells it would not be made in wool. First and foremost they can't wear wool and secondly it would severly limit its wearability. The pattern seems to be well written with clear instructions for finishing.