A simple cowl neck top that’s perfect for relaxed summer wear. The lace pattern looks complicated but it’s actually just a clever combination of easy to work stitches.

Lochnagar is a beautiful and famous mountain near one of my favourite holiday destinations of all time – the bothy at Loch Callater. Bothies are huts in remote places that hikers can stay in for free. I first stayed in this bothy when I was still at school and have returned many times since.

We work from the top down using a simple construction. We cast on stitches at the shoulder and work down the back to the underarm, working the lace pattern as we go. Stitches are picked up at each shoulder, with a long cast on in the middle forming the cowl neck and worked down the front to the underarm. All stitches are joined in the round and worked straight down to the hem.

Suggested Yarn: Eden Cottage Yarns Titus Lace (75% Superwash Extrafine Merino Wool, 25% Mulberry Silk) 800 m/872 yds per 100 g skein.
Colourway: Thunder

Total Meterage (460, 535, 625) [720, 820, 930] {1045, 1170. 1300} m
Total Yardage (500, 585, 680) [785, 895, 1015] {1140, 1275, 1420} yds

Dimensions (Metric):
Garment Bust: (75, 85, 95) [105, 115, 125] {135, 145, 155} cm
Armhole Depth (16, 17.5, 19) [20, 21, 22.5] {24, 25, 26} cm
Length Underarm to Hem: (38, 38, 38) [40, 40, 40] {43, 43, 43} cm

Dimensions (Imperial):
Garment Bust: (30, 34, 38) [42, 46, 50] {54, 58, 62}”
Armhole depth: (6½, 7, 7½) [8, 8½, 9] {9½, 10, 10½}”
Length Underarm to Hem: (15, 15, 15) [16, 16, 16] {17, 17, 17}”

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 80 cm/32” circular needle or as required to achieve correct gauge, 4.5 mm/US 7 needles (circular or straight) for bind off.

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm/4” with 4 mm/US 6 needle in stocking stitch after blocking

Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, two clip on stitch markers, waste yarn or spare circular needle for holding stitches, you may find a row counter useful

Skills Required: Work flat and in the round; knit and purl; cast on and bind off; pick up and knit, lace stitches like ssk, sssk, k2tog, k3tog, yo as well as gathered stitches (instructions given)

Many thanks to my wonderful tech editor Alittlebitsheepish as well as my fabulous test knitters 3catos, ratstuff, JensDreamYarn, Nicholette, frkstrik, mamma5, Tinke1976, 9crafty11, Kimlb258, jcnt3, TracyF, Jillsusan, Lisamack1729, tamichan, bikerhen and lcarlet.