Knit a lacy short-sleeved top: free knitting pattern
Get your wardrobe set for summer by knitting this stylish top

Size
To fit bust: 81:86:91:97:102:107 cm (32:34:36:38:40:42 in)
Finished measurement, at underarm
87:93:99:104:110:116 cm (34½:36½:38¾:41:43¼:45½ in)
Length to shoulder
62:63 64:65:66:67 cm (24½:23¾:25:25½:26:26½ in)
Materials
● 5: 6: 6: 7: 8: 9 x 100g balls Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton Chunky (shown here in Beige (1423). Click here to buy the yarn online
● 1 Pair of 6.5mm (UK3 - USA10.5) knitting needles
● Stitch holders
● Stitch markers
Tension
14 sts and 19 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch using 6.5mm (UK3 - USA10.5) knitting needles or the size required to give the correct tension.
It is essential to work to the stated tension to ensure success.
Abbreviations
beg - beginning
cm - centimetres
inc - increase
ins - inches
K - knit
P - purl
patt - pattern
psso - pass slipped stitch over
rem - remaining
rep - repeat
rs - right side
tog - together
ws - wrong side
yfwd - yarn forward
yrn - yarn round needle
Notes
Instructions given for 81cm/32inch Bust, larger sizes given in brackets. Where only one figure is given, this applies to all sizes.
Back
Using 6.5mm needles, cast on 61 (65, 69, 73, 77, 81) sts.
Row 1 (rs) - K1, *P1, K1, rept from * to end.
Row 2 - P1, * K1, P1, rept from * to end. These 2 rows form rib.
Cont in rib for a further 26 rows, ending with a ws row. Now work in lace patt as follows:-
Row 1 (rs) - K0 (0, 2, 0, 0, 2), [K2tog, yfwd] 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1) times,* K1, yfwd, sl 1, K1, psso, K1, K2tog, yfwd, rept from * to last 1 (3, 5, 1, 3, 5) sts , [K1, yfwd, sl 1, K1, psso] 0 (1, 1, 0, 1, 1) times, K1 (0, 2, 1, 0, 2).
Row 2 - Purl.
Row 3 - K0 (2, 1, 0, 2, 1), [K2tog, yfwd, K1] 0 (0, 1, 0, 0, 1) times, * K2, yfwd, sl 1, K2tog, psso, yfwd, K1, rept from * to last 1 (3, 5, 1, 3, 5) sts, [K2, yfwd, sl 1, K1, psso] 0 (0, 1, 0, 0, 1) times, K1 (3, 1, 1, 3, 1).
Row 4 - Purl.
These 4 rows form the lace patt. Cont in lace patt until back measures 30 (31, 31, 32, 32, 33) cm, 11¾ (12¼, 12¼, 12½, 12½, 13) ins, ending with a ws row. **
Shape for cap sleeves
Place markers at both ends of last row to denote base of armhole openings.
Cont in lace patt, increasing 1 st at each end of next and 6 foll 4th rows, then on 3 foll 6th rows, taking inc sts into patt.
81 (85, 89, 93, 97, 101) sts. Cont straight until back measures 32 (32, 33, 33, 34, 34) cm, 12½ (12½, 13, 13, 13½, 13½) ins, from markers, ending with a ws row.
Shape shoulders and back neck
Cast off 9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 63 (67, 69, 73, 75, 77) sts.
Next row (right side) - Cast off 9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12) sts, patt until there are 12 (13, 13, 14, 14, 14) sts on right needle and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder. Work on this set of sts only for first side of neck.
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row. Cast off rem 9 (10, 10, 11, 11, 11) sts.
Return to sts left on holder, rejoin yarn with rs facing, cast off centre 21 (23, 23, 25, 25, 25) sts and patt to end. Cast off 9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next row, then 3 sts at beg of foll row. Cast off rem 9 (10, 10, 11, 11, 11) sts.
Front
Work as given for back to **.
Cont in lace patt, increasing 1 st at each end of next and 2 foll 4th rows, taking inc sts into patt. 67 (71, 75, 79, 83, 87) sts.
Work 1 row, ending with a ws row.
Divide for neck
Next row (right side) - Patt 33 (35, 37, 39, 41, 43) sts and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder.
Work on this set of sts only for first side of neck.
Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at neck edge of 2nd and foll 5 (7, 6, 8, 7, 7) alt rows, then on 7 (6, 7, 6, 7, 7) foll 4th rows and at same time inc 1 st at armhole edge of 2nd and 3 foll 4th rows, then on 3 foll 6th rows, taking inc sts into patt. 27 (28, 30, 31, 33, 35) sts.
Cont straight until front matches back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a ws row.
Shape shoulder
Cast off 9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next and foll alt row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 9 (10, 10, 11, 11, 11) sts.
Return to sts left on holder, rejoin yarn with rs facing, cast off centre st and patt to end. 33 (35, 37, 39, 41, 43) sts.
Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at neck edge of 2nd and foll 5 (7, 6, 8, 7, 7) alt rows, then on 7 (6, 7, 6, 7, 7) foll 4th rows and at same time inc 1 st at armhole edge of 2nd and 3 foll 4th rows, then on 3 foll 6th rows, taking inc sts into patt. 27 (28, 30, 31, 33, 35) sts.
Cont straight until front matches back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a rs row.
Shape shoulder
Cast off 9 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next and foll alt row.
Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 9 (10, 10, 11, 11, 11) sts.
Neckband
Join right shoulder seam.
With rs facing and using 6½mm needles, pick up and knit 46 (46, 48, 48, 50, 50) sts down left front slope, 46 (46, 48, 48, 50, 50) sts up right front slope, then 27 (29, 29, 31, 31, 31) sts from back. 119 (121, 125, 127, 131, 131) sts.
Cast off knitwise (on ws).
Armhole borders (both alike)
Join left shoulder and neckband seam.
With rs facing and using 6½mm needles, pick up and knit 89 (89, 92, 92, 95, 95) sts evenly along armhole edge between markers.
Cast off knitwise (on ws).
Making up
Join side and armhole border seams by top sewing.
Pattern courtesy of Deramores
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