Inspired by the fitted sweaters of the late 1950s and early 1960s, this top evokes the feeling of a classic elegance but still manages to feel comfortable and modern. The conservative, high neckline features a small keyhole aperture that makes takes this blouse into many styles.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Bust Size 28¼ (32, 36¾, 40½, 43¾, 48)” / [71.75 (81.25, 93.25, 102.75, 111.25, 122) cm].
Shown in 36¾”.
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
Blue Sky Alpaca Sport Weight (100% Baby Alpaca; 110 yards [100 meters]/50 grams): 506 Natural Streaky Brown, 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9) skeins.
Needles: US size 6 (4 mm): 24” circular and DPN.
Notions: Markers; stitch holders; tapestry needle; 1½” shank button; US size D/3.25 mm crochet hook
Special Stitches
Welting Pattern
Rnds 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11: Knit.
Rnds 2 and 4: Purl.
Rnds 6, 8, and 10: K2tog, k2, kfb twice, k3, ssk.
Rnd 12: K2tog, k2, kfb twice, k3, ssk.
Rep Rnds 1-12 for patt.
Pattern Notes
The last of the welting bands should be located just under the bust because cup sizes can be different without the same bust measurements. Take time to measure and try on the piece to ensure you don’t end up with the welting band in the wrong place.
Because of the rippling along the bottom edge, measure piece at the sides, slightly stretching out the welting.
Pattern
Body
CO 120 (132, 152, 168, 176, 192) sts. Do not join.
Knit across all sts, pm and join for working in the rnd.
Next Rnd: K8 (5, 5, 9, 5, 9) sts, work Welting Pattern over next 44 (55, 66, 66, 77, 77) sts, k16 (11, 10, 18, 11, 19) sts, work Welting Pattern over next 44 (55, 66, 66, 77, 77) sts, k8 (6, 5, 9, 6, 10).
Cont in est patt until piece meas 1” / [2.5 cm] from CO edge.
Set-up Rnd: Work 60 (66, 76, 84, 88, 96) sts in patt, pm for side, work in patt to end.
Dec Rnd: *K1, k2tog, work in patt to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1; rep from * once more – 4 sts dec’d; 116 (128, 148, 164, 172, 188) sts.
Rep Dec Rnd every 6th rnd 2 (3, 3, 3, 2, 1) more times – 108 (116, 136, 152, 164,184) sts.
Work even in patt until piece meas 7” / [17.75 cm] from CO edge.
Inc Rnd: *K1, m1l, work in patt to 1 st from m, m1r, k1; rep from * once more – 4 sts inc’d; 112 (120, 140, 156, 168, 188) sts.
Rep Inc Rnd every 8th rnd 2 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4) more times – 120 (136, 156, 172, 184, 204) sts. AT THE SAME TIME, when body meas around 11” / [28 cm] from CO edge, finish working the Welting Pattern.
Work 6 rnds in Garter Stitch.
Work in St st, incorporating increases as required, for approx. 3 (3½, 4, 4½, 5, 6)” / [7.5 (9, 10.25, 11.5, 12.75, 12.15) cm].
K60 (68, 78, 86, 92, 102) front sts, place next 60 (68, 78, 86, 92, 102) on holder for back.
Front
Yoke
Row 1 (WS): Purl to end.
Shape Armhole
BO 2 (3, 4, 5, 5, 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 56 (62, 70, 76, 82, 88) sts.
BO 1 (2, 3, 4, 4, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 54 (58, 64, 68, 74, 76) sts.
Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before end, ssk, k1 – 2 sts dec’d; 52 (56, 62, 66, 72, 74) sts.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4) more times – 48 (50, 56, 60, 64, 66) sts.
Work next WS row even.
Shape Aperture
Left Side
Next Row (RS): K21 (22, 25, 27, 29, 30), k2tog, k1, place next 24 (25, 28, 30, 32, 33) sts on hold for Right Front – 23 (24, 27, 29, 31, 32) Left Front sts.
Work next WS row even.
Dec Row (RS): K to 3 sts before end, k2tog, k1 – 1 st dec’d; 22 (23, 26, 28, 30, 31) sts.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 times— 20 (21, 24, 26, 28, 29) sts.
Work 1 WS row even.
Inc Row (RS): K to 1 st before end, m1l, k1 – 1 st inc’d. 21 (22, 25, 27, 29 30) sts.
Rep Inc Row every RS row 3 more times – 24 (25, 28, 30, 32, 33) sts.
Shape Neckline
Next Row (WS): BO 3 sts, p to end – 21 (22, 25, 27, 29, 30) sts.
Next Row (RS): K to 5 sts before end, k2tog twice, k1 –2sts dec’d; (19 (20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28) sts.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep previous 2 rows 5 more times – 13 (14, 17, 19, 21, 22) sts.
Work even until piece meas 7 (7¼, 8, 8½, 8½, 9)” / [17.75 (18.5, 20.25, 21.5, 21.5 22.75) cm] from underarm, ending on a WS row.
Place all sts on holder and break yarn.
Right Side
With RS facing, return 24 (25, 28, 30, 32, 33) Right Front sts to needles and rejoin yarn.
Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, knit to end – 1 st dec’d; 23 (24, 27, 29, 31, 32) sts.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 3 times – 20 (21, 24, 26, 28, 29) sts.
Work 1 WS row even.
Inc Row (RS): K to 1 st before end, m1r, k1 – 1 st inc’d; 21 (22, 25, 27, 29, 30) sts.
Rep Inc Row every RS row 3 more times – 24 (25, 28, 30, 32, 33) sts.
Work 1 WS row even.
Shape Neckline
Next Row (RS): BO 3 sts, k to end – 21 (22, 25, 27, 29, 30) sts.
Work 1 WS row even.
Next Row (RS): K1, ssk twice, k to end –2 sts dec’d.
Rep previous 2 rows 5 times – 13 (14, 17, 19, 21, 22) sts.
Work even until piece meas 7 (7¼, 8, 8½, 8½, 9)” / [17.75 (18.5, 20.25, 21.5, 21.5 22.75 cm] from underarm, ending on a WS row. Place all sts on holder and break yarn.
Back
With RS facing, return 60 (68, 78, 86, 92, 102) Back sts to needles and rejoin yarn.
BO 2 (3, 4, 5, 5, 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 56 (62, 70, 76, 82, 88) sts.
BO 1 (2, 3, 4, 4, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 54 (58, 64, 68, 74, 76) sts.
Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before end, ssk, k1 – 2 sts dec’d; 52 (56, 62, 66, 72, 74) sts.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4) times – 48 (50, 56, 60, 64, 66) sts.
Work even until piece meas 6¼ (6¾, 7½, 8, 8, 8½)” / [17.25, 17.25, 19.75, 21, 21, 22.25 cm] from underarm, ending on a WS row.
Place all sts on holder and break yarn.
Graft Shoulders
With RS facing, return 13 (14, 17, 19, 21, 22) Left Front shoulder sts on DPN, then place13 (14, 17, 19, 21, 22) Back sts on another DPN. Graft sts together using Kitchener Stitch.
Rejoin yarn and k2 Back Neck sts, break yarn leaving long tail, place rem Back sts on DPN, then place 13 (14, 17, 19, 21, 22) Right Front shoulder sts on another DPN. Graft sts tog using Kitchener Stitch. Rejoin yarn, p1, k3.
Work 1 WS row even.
Carefully place 22 Back Neck sts on holder.
Sleeves (make 2)
With RS facing beg at center underarm, pick up and k46 (48, 52, 56, 62, 70) sts evenly around armhole. PM and join for working in the rnd.
Shape cap with short-rows as follows:
Short Row 1 (RS): K29 (31, 33, 36, 39, 44) sts, W&T.
Short Row 2 (WS): Sl1 pwise with yarn in front (wyif), p11 (13, 13, 15, 15, 17) sts, W&T.
Short Row 3 (RS): Sl1 pwise with yarn in back (wyib), k to wrapped st, work wrap tog with next st, W&T.
Short Row 4 (WS): Sl1 pwise ywif, purl to wrapped st, work wrap tog with next st, W&T.
Rep last 2 Short Rows 13 (13, 15, 16, 19, 22) times – 1 st rem unwrapped on each side.
Resume working in the rnd, working wraps with wrapped sts when you get to them, work even in St st until Sleeve meas 2½ (3, 3, 3½, 4, 4)” / [6.5 (7.5, 7.5, 9, 10.25, 10.25) cm] from underarm.
Next Rnd: Purl.
Next Rnd: Knit.
Rep last 2 row once more.
BO pwise.
Collar
With RS face, beg at Right Front edge, pick up and p3 sts for every 4 rows across neckline. Carefully transfer 22 held Neck sts back to needles, p22. Pick up and p3 sts for every 4 rows across Left Front.
Purl 2 rows.
BO all sts pwise
Finishing
Use crochet hook to create a 1” / [2.5 cm] chain. Fold chain in half and sew to the underside of the Right Front edge.
Sew button to the corresponding position on the Left Front edge.
Weave in all ends and block to schematic measurements. 