The pattern for this top accompanies the Skill Building article. When the editorial board reviewed the proposal, one member asked, “Are you crazy? This isn’t a beginner pattern.” Well, yes, I am crazy, but I wanted this pattern to be a type of graduation project. The Skill Building articles have built up to the techniques in this top, with double increases as the topic of the article in this issue. The stitch pattern for the bottom of this top uses a wide range of decreases and increases, all of which have been discussed in detail in the Skill Building articles.

The “skirt” of the top is an intricate lace pattern from Barbara Walker’s Charted Knitting Designs and is one I have used before. I have re-charted it and renamed it, from Sunspots to Old Moons, which better suits Twilight, the color of the Shibui Reed yarn that I chose. (A word about the yarn—Reed is a chained linen and produces a wonderfully light and airy fabric.) A welt separates the “skirt” from the top, which I chose to work in reverse stockinette to match the moons. Slipped stitches provide vertical stripes. The top is worked in one piece (seaming lace is not fun) to the armholes. K1P1 rib bands are worked to close it in the back.