Skills level: Knitting ** /Finishing – no finishing required
* Beginner ** Intermediate *** Advanced **** Proficient ***** Expert

The AYA blouse is a classic in your handknitted wardrobe. Knit it in cool linen / cotton for a hot summer’s day or in a wool / alpaca combination and wear the blouse under a jacket on a chill day during autumn or winter. Based on your colour preferences you can choose tonal or high contrast colour ways for the stripes. The options are endless, and they will all work, as will stripes in a different type of yarn, to give the blouse a simple and very elegant look.”

FINISHED BUST MEASUREMENTS: 95(101)108(116)125 cm / 38 (40½) 43¼ (46½) 50 inches
LENGTH: 54(56)58(60)62 cm / 21½ (22½) 23¼ (24) 24¾ inches
ARMSCYE, MEASURED AT ARMHOLE: 36,5(37,5)39(40,5)41,5 cm / 14½ (15) 15½ (16¼) 16½ inches.

MATERIALS
A) Yellow blouse with white stripes
Main colour:
-150(150)200(200)200-250 g Bomulin from Isager (colour way 58), 65 % cotton, 35 % linen (210 m/230 yards per 50 g).
-100(100)150(150)150 g Trio 1 from Isager (colour way Linen), 50 % linen, 30 % cotton, 20 % lyocell (350 m/383 yards per 50 g).
The two yarns are held together.

Stripes – contrast colour:
-50(50-100)100(100)100 g Bomulin from Isager (colour way 0), 65 % cotton, 35 % linen (210 m/230 yards per 50 g).
-50(50)50(50)50 g Trio 1 from Isager (colour way White), 50 % linen, 30 % cotton, 20 % lyocell (350 m/383 yards per 50 g).
The two yarns are held together.

……………

B) Ice blue blouse with brown stripes
Main colour:
-150(150)150(200)200 g Highland Wool from Isager, (colour way Ice blue), 100 % Peruvian Highland wool (275 m/300 yards per 50 g).
-100(100)100(100-150)150 g Alpaca 1 from Isager, (colour way 8s Eco) 100 % Alpaca (400 m/437 yards per 50 g).
The two yarns are held together.

Stripes – contrast colour:
-50(50)50-100(100)100 g Highland Wool from Isager, (colour way Stone), 100 % Peruvian Highland wool (275 m/300 yards per 50 g).
-50(50)50(50)50 g Alpaca 1 from Isager, (colour way 0 Eco), 100 % Alpaca (400 m/437 yards per 50 g).
(400 m/437 yards per 50 g).
The two yarns are held together.

NOTE: The required yardage mentioned in this pattern is based on the closest full skein of yarn used for knitting the sample sizes. To ensure you have enough yarn it is recommended, that you purchase an extra skein. If it remains unused, you may be able to return it to the store upon completion of your project.

RECOMMENDED NEEDLES
3.0 mm / US 2.5 circular needles (40 and 80 cm / 16 and 32 inches long) for neckline and hem.
3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles (40, 60 and 80 cm / 16, 24 and 32 inches long).
3.0 mm / US 2.5 dpns if preferred for sleeves.
3.5 mm / US 4 dpns if preferred for sleeves.
18(19)20(21)22 stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn

GAUGE
24 stitches and 33 rounds in stockinette with the two yarns held together on a 3.5 mm / US 4 needle = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches.
Knit a gauge swatch and use smaller or larger needles as necessary to get gauge.

ABOUT THE DESIGN
AYA is knitted top down in the round, with the round yoke knitted as charted, whereafter short rows using the German Short Row method are used to raise the back.
The top is split for body and sleeves, which are worked separately. The neck band finishes off the project. The Italian bind off technique is used for binding off all stitches at hem, sleeves, and neckline.