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The April Camisole is a lightweight vest top, with a scoop neckline and textured stripes. It is designed to be bra-friendly with a high back and thicker straps, similar to a slipover. As such, it is ideal for wearing in warmer weather by itself, or layered under or over other pieces in your wardrobe.

To begin, you will work the shoulder shaping of the back panel, establishing the stitch pattern and creating a slant to mirror the shape of your body. You will then work the back panel in the stitch pattern to the specified length for your size before starting some underarm shaping. You will then work the left and right shoulder straps in turn with the same underarm shaping as the back panel. You will then join your work in the round and work in pattern to your preferred length.

To finish the April Camisole, you will work a sewn folded hem on the body, and apply i-cord trims to the arm openings. The collar is worked in applied Stockinette stitch and is also finished with a sewn folded hem to mirror the body.

Materials & Fit

Notions: You will need the following needles:

• 3 mm / US 2.5 circular needles with a 40-cm / 16-in and 60-cm / 24-in cord
• 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles with a 40-cm / 16-in cord
• 4 mm / US 6 circular needles with a 60- and 80-cm/100-cm / 24- and 32-in/40-in cord, depending on your preference

You will also need some stitch markers, a darning needle, and I also recommend some shirring elastic to reinforce the collar and hem.

Tension: 22 stitches x 30 rows and rounds in slip-stitch stitch pattern on 4 mm / US 6 needles = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in. Make sure to wash and block your swatch for the most accurate results. Please note that I have tighter-than-average row gauge, but this isn’t too important in this pattern. You may wish to go up or down a needle size, working in 0.25/0.5 mm increments as needed, to meet gauge.

Sizing and ease: The April Camisole has a recommended negative ease of 5-10 cm / 2-4 in for Sizes A-H and 0-10 cm / 0-4 in for Sizes I-L around the chest (or the widest part of your torso). Feel free to adjust this to suit your preferences by sizing up or down as desired.

Size: A (B) C (D), E (F) G (H), I (J) K (L)

Chest measurement (cm): 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95), 95-100 (100-105) 105-110 (110-115), 115-125 (125-135) 135-145 (145-155)
Chest measurement (in): 29.5-31.5 (31.5-33.5) 33.5-35.5 (35.5-37.5), 37.5-39.25 (39.25-41.25) 41.25-43.25 (43.25-45.25), 45.25-49.25 (49.25-53.25) 53.25-57 (57-61)

Actual circumference of garment (cm): 71 (76.5) 80 (85.5), 91 (96.5) 100 (105.5), 116.5 (125.5) 136.5 (145.5)
Actual circumference of garment (in): 28 (30) 31.5 (33.75), 35.75 (38) 39.25 (41.5), 45.75 (49.5) 53.75 (57.25)

Actual yoke depth at outer edges of the yoke (cm): 18 (18.5) 19 (19.5), 20 (20.5) 20.5 (21.5), 21.5 (22.5) 23.5 (24)
Actual yoke depth at outer edges of the yoke (in): 7 (7.25) 7.5 (7.75), 7.75 (8) 8 (8.5), 8.5 (8.75) 9.25 (9.5)

Recommended body length from underarm to hem (cm): 34
Recommended body length from underarm to hem (in): 13.25

Please note that the sample garment measures 27 cm / 10.75 in from the underarm to hem, as I have a very short torso and tend to prefer a more cropped fit. The yardage given below, however, is based on the full length given in this schematic.

Yarn: You will need approximately 290 (310) 330 (350), 370 (390) 410 (430), 480 (530) 580 (630) m / 320 (340) 360 (390), 410 (430) 450 (470), 530 (580) 640 (690) yds in your main colour and 95 (100) 105 (115), 120 (130) 135 (140), 155 (165) 180 (195) m / 105 (110) 115 (125), 135 (145) 150 (155), 170 (180) 200 (215) yds in your contrast colour of a fingering-weight 100% cotton yarn for this project. I used Søstrene Grene 100% Cotton 8/4 (50 g = 160 m 175 yds in the shades 11-0701 (main colour) and 14-4306 (contrast colour) for my sample.

Please note that I have rounded the figures given here to the nearest 5 m 5 yds. I have tried to be generous here. I have based them on testers’ feedback.

If you are using the same yarn as me, this works out to be 2 (2) 2-3 (3), 3 (3) 3 (3), 4 (4) 4 (4-5) balls of yarn in your main colour, and 1 (1) 1 (1), 1 (1) 1 (1), 1 (2) 2 (2) balls of yarn in your contrast colour.

If you are using a different yarn, I’d recommend staying with an 8/4 cotton yarn where possible. I would probably recommend avoiding mercerised cotton in this instance, as I’m not sure how well these yarns would work in the stitch pattern.