This beginner-friendly, top-down top pattern includes a fitted look and simple ribbing details throughout. The classic fit of this top and the ease of the make will have you making a full collection, with a number of customizations - around the arm ruffles, double ruffle, dramatic ruffles - perfect for a variety of settings. This pattern is perfect for any body, any yarn, and any skill level.

Sizes
This pattern is written to meet the finished measurements in the chart provided below, with finished bust sizes: 28, 32, 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)56, 60, 64, 68“/71.5, 81.5, 91.5 (102, 112, 122, 132)142.5, 152.5, 162.5, 173cm, and waist sizes: 22, 26, 30, (34, 38, 42, 46)50, 54, 58, 62”/56, 66, 76.5 (86.5, 97, 107, 117)127, 137.5, 147.5, 158cm.

The sample was knit to about 2”/5cm of negative ease (smaller than my body measurements) throughout, with slightly more negative ease at the waist. With previous garments, I have found through testers and my own samples, that these patterns can easily accommodate from 4”/10cm of negative ease to 2”/5cm of positive ease.

Materials
You will need at least four stitch markers and one BOR marker, waste yarn, 3/4”/2cm elastic, thread and sewing needle, darning needle, scissors, measuring tape, and your super amazing body.

Techniques
You will need to know how to cast on with a provisional cast on, knit in the round, purl, increase, decrease, sewn bind-off, pick up stitches, kitchener, stretchy shawl bind-off, block, weave in ends, and have fun.

Suggested Yarn
Sunfish from thelittlewolfknits: 75/25 superwash merino/nylon, fingering weight 4-ply, 463yd/424m per 100g. The sample used two skeins of Up at Dawn.

Any light fingering should work – just make sure to adjust to get gauge.
-Alternatives include: Knit Picks Stroll, Cascade Yarns Heritage

Color Suggestions
Like I said, this pattern is perfect for any yarn, and can be made with a tonal or variegated AND it would make amazing scrappy project. Have random odds and ends lying around? Use them for a fun stripey version!

Suggested Needles
Ribbing Needle: US 4 (3.5mm) circular needle
Main Needle: US 5 (3.75mm) circular needle
Ruffle Needle: US 6 (4mm) circular needle
But use whatever needle you need to achieve gauge!
(Or just do the math and do your own thing)

Gauge
24 sts x 32 rows = 4”/10cm stockinette knit in the round and blocked with your main needle. When swatching, remember to cast on more stitches than you’re intending to measure so that you can get an accurate measurement (the end and beginning stitches tend to be looser). I recommend using this tutorial to start and finish the swatch for the most accurate measurements.

Yardage:
The yardage is based off a top with a body that measures 10, 10, 10 (11, 11, 11, 12)12, 12, 13, 13“/25.5, 25.5, 25.5 (28, 28, 28, 30.5)30.5, 30.5, 33, 33cm from top to bottom. In order to calculate yardage for the full length of your top, each additional 1”/2.5cm of length will require approximately an additional 26, 29, 33 (37, 40, 44, 47)51, 55, 58, 62yd/24, 27, 31 (34, 37, 41, 43)47, 51, 54, 57m to the yardage listed below.

333, 378, 419 (501, 575, 621, 724)788, 852, 968, 1023]yds/305, 345, 383 (458, 526, 568, 662)721, 779, 885, 936m. If using the suggested yarn, this would be 1, 1, 1 (2, 2, 2, 2)2, 2, 3, 3 skeins of Sunfish yarn from thelittlewolfknits, in addition to yardage for ruffles below.

Body Only Ruffles
For one moderate body-only ruffle knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
223, 255, 288 (313, 346, 379, 412)445, 477, 510, 543yd/203, 233, 264 (286, 316, 346, 376)406, 436, 466, 497m.

For one most dramatic body-only ruffle knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
278, 319, 360 (391, 432, 473, 514)556, 597, 638, 679yd/254, 292, 329 (357, 395, 433, 470)508, 545, 583, 621m.

Around the Arm Ruffles
For one moderate around the arm ruffle knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
379, 412, 461 (502, 551, 601, 658)716, 773, 823, 872yd/346, 376, 421 (459, 504, 549, 602)654, 707, 752, 797m.

For one most dramatic around the arm ruffle knit to 3”/8cm, you will need an additional:
473, 514, 576 (627, 689, 751, 823)895, 967, 1028, 1090yd/433, 470, 527 (574, 630, 686, 752)818, 884, 940, 996m.

Straps
For two straps as written, you will need an additional:
24, 24, 24 (24, 38, 38, 42)51, 56, 61, 61yd/22, 22, 22 (22, 35, 35, 39)47, 52, 56, 56m.

Special Techniques
ssk – slip stitch knitwise, slip stitch knitwise, slip last two stitches worked onto the left needle and knit through the back loop
m1r – with left needle, pick up the bar between stitches from back to front, and knit through the front post of the newly created “stitch” (bar).
m1l – with left needle, pick up the bar between stitches from front to back, and knit through the back post of the newly created “stitch” (bar).