Times are so difficult for all of us right now, and I was a little worried that it wouldn’t be the best time for releasing my new pattern.
Then I started to think about how much joy I have had during the past few weeks, working with all my lovely testers. It has been so good to have something creative and nice to think about, when everything around has been so difficult.
And all of my testers have been working so fabulously on this.
They all deserve that I show off their nice work.

A HUGE thank you to my wonderful testers: ecoknitmama / freehouse / fritzknits / archey / PuntoChris / 4mama2008 / SheKnitsToo / aomalley / Readerfreek / maasukass / LacedinStitches / Systeryster / mere2012 / SKYSNOTHELIMIT / LakeLi

So here it is; a new top for spring and summer:)

Design
The flattering A-line shaped top could be worked as a sleeveless, or as a short-sleeved top. The front is embellished with a lovely lace-pattern, with a broad base narrowed towards the neckline.
The neckline is rounded, and slightly scooped.
The sleeves are worked with a sleeve-cap for a great fit.

Construction
The top/tank is knit seamlessly in the following order: The lower body is worked in the round and bottom up, featuring a section of a centred (and staggered) lace-panel over front, stockinette sts on the sides and on the back, and with evenly spaced decrease rounds to shape the A-line. Upper back is worked in one piece to shoulders. Upper front is worked in one piece to the neckline-shaping and divided for left and right front. Shoulders are worked together using the 3-needle bind off. Sleeve-less version: you work an i-cord edge around the armhole opening, from picked-up-sts Sleeved version: sleeves are worked top down, starting from the sleeve-cap that is created using short-rows back and forth. From underarms sleeves are continued in the round in stockinette sts, and finished with an i-cord edge. The i-cord of the neckline is worked from picked-up and live sts. The i-cord of the bottom hem is worked from the live sts of the provisional cast-on

Sizes
The top is supposed to be fitted around the bust.
Finished bust circumference measurements are:
80/85/90/95/100/105/110/115/120/125/130/135 cm = 31.5/33.5/35.5/37.5/39.5/41.5/43.5/45.5/47.5/49/51/53”

Materials
In the box for yarn above you will find the yarns used by the testers.
YarnI used Quince & Co’s “Sparrow” to work the top. For the short-sleeved version you will need approximately 750/800/850/900/950/1000/1050/1100/1150/1200/1250/1300 m to work the top. For the sleeve-less version you will need 100 – 150 m less than above.
Needles A long circular needle, 100 cm/40” to start the project, a shorter circular needle (80 cm/3, when you have to few sts to continue the longer one, needle size 3 mm/US2.5 to work the lower body. Size 1 should start from the shorter circular needle, 80 cm/32”. The same circular needle, or straight needles, to work the upper body. A circular needle, 40 cm/16”, size 3 mm/US2.5 to work the sleeve-cap and the neck-edging.
Notions 4 stitch-markers. Separate holders. Tapestry needle. Blocking tools. Holders for the underarm sts (optional). Crochet hook, 2.5 - 3 mm, and waste-yarn in the same weight for the provisional cast-on.

Gauge
24 sts/34 - 36 rounds = 10x10cm/4x4” in stockinette

The pattern
This is a tested pattern.
The lace is charted, as well as written out, round-by-round (and row-by-row for the upper body).
There is a schematic. There is a guide to the disposal of the lace.
All measurements are in cm’s as well as in inches.
All necessary stitch-counts are given.
Knitting level: intermediate
Tecniques used: provisional cast-on (optional), 3-needle bind-off, picking up sts, i-cord (optional).