The Crescendo Summer Top is a lightweight t-shirt perfect for spring weather. It is worked top-down and in the round, and you have the option of working a ribbed collar or starting with an I-cord cast-on. You then work the yoke, all of which is charted with a diamond lace pattern and shaped with lifted increases.

At the end of the yoke shaping, you have the option of working some German short rows to improve the fit of the top. You will then divide the yoke into the body and sleeve sections, casting on some underarm stitches in the process.

Next, you will work the body and then the sleeves. You have the option of finishing the body and sleeves with either some ribbing and a tubular cast-off, or a knitted hem.

This pattern has been professionally graded and tech edited.

Please note that this is a digital pdf download and not a physical product.

Materials & Fit

Notions: 3 mm / US 2.5, and 4 mm / US 6 (40-, 60-, 80-, and 100-cm / 16-, 32- and/or 40-in cord) circular needles. You may also find some 3 mm / US 2.5, 3.5 mm / US 4 and 4 mm / US 6 double-pointed knitting needles useful for the sleeves and, if applicable, for your I-cord cast-on. If you want to work the top with knitted hems, you will also need 3.5 mm / US 4 (40-, 80 and 100-cm / 16-, 32- and 40-in cord) circular needles.

You will also need a few stitch markers, a darning needle, and some spare needles/scrap yarn/stitch holders where the stitches of the sleeves will rest. I would also recommend having some clip-on markers at hand.

Yarn: Approximately 5 (5) 6 (6) 7, (7) 8 (8-9) 10 (11) 12 skeins of Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino 70% organic cotton, 30% merino wool; 50 g = 250 m / 274 yds held double or 6 (6) 7 (7) 8, (8) 9 (10) 11 (12) 14 skeins of Sandnes Garn Line (53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen; 50 g = 110 m / 121 yds) held single.

If you want to substitute these yarns for alternatives, this works out to be approximately 1200 (1240) 1365 (1450) 1605, (1665) 1830 (2000) 2265 (2550) 2895 m / 1316 (1360) 1497 (1590) 1760, (1825) 2006 (2192) 2483 (2795) 3173 yds of yarn held double. If you are working with yarn held single, you can halve these numbers. If anything, these estimates are generous.

Yarn alternatives: Any sport-weight or light DK yarn should work nicely for this pattern. The increase method used in the yoke works best with yarns that have a decent amount of elasticity but, really, any kind of fibre should work well here. A good 100% cotton option is Krea Deluxe Organic Cotton (100% organic cotton, 50 g = 165 m / 180 yds). Although it is technically a fingering-weight yarn, I find that it blooms nicely and works well on a 4 mm US 6 needle with my tension. You could also use Knitting For Olive Pure Silk (100% silk; 50 g = 250 m / 273 yds) held with Knitting For Olive Merino (100% merino; 50 g = 250 m / 274 yds or Sandnes Garn Sunday (100% merino wool; 50 g = 235 m / 257 yds). The merino will add the elasticity you need for the increases, and the combination of merino and silk will be lovely in warm weather. A great DK option is Drops Belle (53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen; 50 g = 110 m / 121 yds) held single. The composition is exactly the same as Sandnes Garn Line (see above), but it is generally more affordable and each ball runs 10 m / 11 yds longer. On the whole, I would recommend yarns that have a little bit of elasticity for best results.

Tension: 22 stitches x 32 rounds in Stockinette stitch 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 unusually tight row gauge but this shouldn’t matter too much for this top. You may wish to go up or down a needle size, working in 0.25/0.5 mm / US 0.5 increments as needed to meet gauge.

Sizing and ease: The Crescendo Summer Top has a recommended positive ease of between 2.5-8 cm / 1-3 in for Sizes A-H, and 3-13 cm / 1.25-5 in for Sizes I-K. If you would prefer more or less ease, however, feel free to change size to achieve your desired fit. Use the schematic below to find your size based on your chest measurement.

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

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
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

Actual circumference of garment (cm): 82.5 (88) 92.5 (98) 102.5, (108) 112.5 (118) 128 (138) 148
Actual circumference of garment (in): 32.5 (34.75) 36.5 (38.75) 40.5, (42.5) 44.5 (46.5) 50.5 (54.5) 58.5

Actual yoke depth (cm): 16 (16.5) 16.5 (17) 18, (18.5) 19 (19.5) 20.5 (21) 22
Actual yoke depth (in): 6.25 (6.5) 6.5 (6.75) 7, (7.25) 7.5 (7.75) 8 (8.25) 8.75

Sleeve circumference at upper bicep (cm): 32 (32.5) 34 (35.5) 37, (37.5) 39 (40.5) 42 (45.5) 49
Sleeve circumference at upper bicep (in): 12.5 (13) 13.5 (14) 14.5, (14.75) 15.5 (16) 16.5 (18) 19.25

Recommended sleeve length (cm): 5, with options to modify included in the pattern
Recommended sleeve length (in): 2, with options to modify included in the pattern

Recommended length from bottom of collar to hem (cm): 38.75 (38.75) 42 (42) 45.25, (45.25) 48.5 (51.75) 55 (58.25) 61.5
Recommended length from bottom of collar to hem (in): 15.25 (15.25) 16.5 (16.5) 17.75, (17.75) 19 (20.5) 21.75 (23) 24.25

Please note that all measurements in centimetres are rounded to the nearest 0.5 cm, and all measurements in inches are rounded to the nearest 0.25 inch.