The Empress top was inspired by the intricate dresses worn by noble ladies in Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo paintings. During that period the color purple was very expensive and rare, so it was associated with royalty and power. The bottom lace was influenced by the fine lace and embroidered fabrics of that time period. The Empress top is perfect for summer days worn with white linen pants, ready for parties with a pleated skirt and heels, or as something nice for the office with long sleeves and straight pants.

The lace pattern is a modified version of a lace pattern that can be found in Hitomi Shida’s Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible.

DIRECTIONS
The top is knitted seamlessly in the round starting from the bottom hem and working upwards towards the armholes. The front and back are separated at the armholes and then knitted flat. The shoulders are joined using the Kitchener stitch. The neckband and the sleeves are picked up from the body and worked in the round. The sleeve caps are shaped using short-rows. Options are given for three different sleeve lengths: sleeveless, short sleeves, and long sleeves.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Bust circumference 82 (91, 100, 109, 118, 127, 136, 145, 154, 164) cm / 32 (35.75, 39.5, 43, 46.5, 50, 53.5, 57.25, 61, 64.5) inches, including the intended positive ease of 0-5 cm / 0-2 inches
Body length from lowest point of hem to armholes: 34 (34, 34, 36, 36, 38, 38, 40, 40, 42) cm / 13.5 (13.5, 13.5, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15.75, 15.75, 16.5) inches
Armhole depth: 18 (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) cm / 7 (8, 8.25, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.25, 10.5, 11) inches
Neck drop: 5 cm / 2 inches
Upper arm circumference: 34.5 (36, 38, 40, 42, 43.5, 47, 49, 52.5, 54.5) cm / 13.5 (14.25, 15, 15.75, 16.5, 17, 18.5, 19.5, 20.75, 21.5) inches
Sleeve length (short sleeves): 9 cm / 3.5 inches (adjustable)
Sleeve length (long sleeves) 48 (48, 48, 48, 48, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50) cm / 19 (19, 19, 19, 19, 19.5, 19.5, 19.5, 19.5, 19.5) inches (adjustable)

Yarn
Knit One Crochet Too Winter Blossom (50% Organic Wool, 30% Mohair, 20% Silk; 225 m / 246 yards per 50g), colorway #307 Lavender
Sleeveless: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7) skeins or 575 (625, 675, 750, 825, 900, 1000, 1100, 1250, 1375) m or 650 (700, 750, 825, 900, 1000, 1100, 1125, 1375, 1500) yards of fingering weight yarn
Short sleeves: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7) skeins or 600 (675, 725, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1250, 1375, 1525) m or 675 (750, 800, 875, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1375, 1525, 1675) yards of fingering weight yarn
Long sleeves: 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8) skeins or 825 (900, 950, 1025, 1125, 1225, 1325, 1475, 1600, 1750) m / 900 (1000, 1050, 1125, 1250, 1350, 1450, 1625, 1750, 1925) yards of fingering weight yarn.

Needles
3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles with a cable of 80 cm / 32 inches for the smaller sizes and 100 cm 40 inches for the larger sizes
3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles with a cable of 40 cm / 16 inches for the neckband
3.5 mm / US 4 DPNs or a circular needle with a cable long enough for working in Magic Loop for the sleeves
Always use the needle size that get you the right gauge!

Gauge
22 sts and 32 rounds = 10 cm / 4 inches over stockinette stitch in the round, blocked.

Notions
2 stitch markers
waste yarn
sewing needle