Sunset Song Top by Marta Mitchell Designs

Sunset Song Top

Crochet
November 2023
Light Fingering ?
23 stitches and 21 rows = 4 inches
in Linen stitch
4.5 mm
4.0 mm (G)
827 - 1824 yards (756 - 1668 m)
To fit chest: 75 (85, 95, 105, 115) {125, 135, 145, 155} cm / 29.5 (33.5, 37, 41, 45) {49, 53, 57, 61} in
UK
English

I have taken inspiration from the many beautiful sunsets I watch from my window as I crochet in the winter months, and from the novel Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

For the central character, Chris Guthrie, the colours which marked the cycle of the seasons in the Mearns (the northeast coastal region of Angus and Aberdeenshire) were the dark teal of the sea and the indigo of the sky, and between them the red sandstone of the newly ploughed soil and the autumn gold of the Hairst.

This garment is crocheted from the bottom up in 2 pieces (Front and Back), which are worked flat and then seamed together using mattress stitch. The length of the garment is easily adjustable by working more or less rows before the armhole shaping.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) {6, 7, 8, 9}
To fit chest: 75 (85, 95, 105, 115) {125, 135, 145, 155} cm /
29.5 (33.5, 37, 41, 45) {49, 53, 57, 61} in

Designed to be worn with 10 cm / 4 in positive ease.

Sample 1 (Red): shown in size 4 with 16 – 23 cm / 6 – 9 in positive ease.

Sample 2 (Silver): shown in size 3 with 13 – 16 cm / 5 – 6 in positive ease.

YARN
J. C. Rennie Supersoft 4 ply, 100% wool, 246 m / 270 yds per 50g ball

MC: 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) {2, 3, 3, 3} balls
CC1: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) {2, 2, 2, 2} balls
CC2: 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) {1, 2, 2, 2} balls

Sample 1 (Orange/Red)
MC: Iron Rust
CC1: Atlantic Spray
CC2: Red Hot

Sample 2 (Silver)
MC: Silver
CC1: Confetti
CC2: Marble Gemstone

OR in 4 ply weight yarn which crochets to the specified gauge and has similar soft, yet rugged characteristics.

APPROXIMATE YARDAGE REQUIRED
MC: 432 (482, 532, 590, 650) {713, 787, 866, 960} m / 472 (527, 581, 645, 711) {780, 860, 947, 1049} yds

CC1: 182 (202, 221, 246, 270) {300, 330, 359, 398} m / 199 (221, 242, 269, 295) {328, 361, 392, 435} yds

CC2: 142 (158, 172, 192, 212) {236, 256, 280, 310} m / 155 (173, 188, 210, 232) {258, 280, 306, 339} yds

TECHNIQUES
Crochet in rows, colour stripes, mattress stitch.