Ladies' Top

Diagrams

Size: to fit bust 82/86 cm [32"/34'"] and 92/97 cm [36"/38"]. Directions for the smaller size are before the stroke, with larger sizes behind. If there is only one figure, it applies to all sizes. All measurements are in centimeters (cm). For approximate inch sizes simply multiply by 0.4 (or divide by 2.54).

Materials: yarn Schachenmayr, quality Catania, 250(300) g #00235 melon. 3.75-4 mm [size 5-6]
Milward circular needle about 70 cm long, or size to obtain gauge.

Double cast-on
Reversed stockinet stitch (rev st-st): P RS rows; K WS rows; in rounds P all sts.

Lace patterns A and B: work RS rows foll chart. On WS rows work sts. as they appear, and P yarn-overs. Work lace pattern B for size 82/86 over 33 sts.; for size 92/97 P 2 more sts. on either side = 37 sts. In height, the number of eyelets on the diagonal eyelet rows of lace patt B varies to fit the decreases, thus the number of motifs in height is reduced. At the end, when the last diagonal lace row is just 4 eyelets high, cont in rev st-st over the sts. of lace patt B. Work rows 1-2 once, then rep rows/rounds 3-26, and for lace patt B reduce the number of rows/rounds in height accordingly.

Gauge: 22 sts. and 30 rows/rounds lace patt, each to 10 cm [4"].

METHOD

Back and front: first work in rounds, round change is at center back. Cast on 184(200) sts. using the double cast-on method and first K 1 WS row, then cont in rounds as foll: 9 sts. lace patt A for center back starting with 5th st., then 33(37) sts. lace patt B, 13 sts. lace patt A (= side), 33(37) sts. lace patt B, 13 sts. Lace patt A for center front, 33(37) sts. lace patt B, 13 sts. lace patt A for side, 33(37) sts. lace patt B and the first 4 sts. lace patt A. When work measures 12 cm (= 36 rounds lace patt), work side shaping over the 2 patts A on either side as foll: K 1st K st. of patt tog with preceding st., work a slip dec over the last K st. of patt tog with foll st. =180(196) sts. Rep these decs on every 8th round 3 times = 168(184) sts. and 29(33) sts. each lace patt B. When work measures 22 cm (= 66 rounds lace patt) bind off 5 sts. at start of round for back neck and cont over 163(179) sts. In open rows. At the same time dec on 2nd foll row for neck shaping as foll: work edge st. and K2, then slip dec knitwise over 2; work to 5 from end of row, then K2 tog, K2, edge st. Rep these dec on every 2nd row 50(62) times and on every 4th row 7(1) times. At the same time, when work measures 44 cm (= 132 rows lace patt) bind off 5 sts. at center for front neck and cont each side sep. At the same time dec at neck edge 1 st. on every 4th row 3 times and 1 st. on every 12th row 4 times as foll: over left shoulder work a slip dec knitwise over sts. 3-4 from edge st.; over right shoulder work to 4 from edge st., then K2 tog = 14(16) sts. When work measures 71.5 cm (= 215 rows) bind off all sts.

Finishing: block top to measurements, cover with a damp cloth and allow to dry. Sew bound-off sts. tog.