The Sheer Droplet top was inspired by the beads of condensation that form on and run down the sides of a glass of ice cold water on a hot day. The sheer panel up the back and at the front cowl neck are formed by dropped stitches that give an open and airy droplet effect.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: Finished Bust Size = 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)” to fit bust 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)”; 6” positive ease recommended; Shown in size 38”
Gauge: 24 sts x 35 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on larger needles after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Ultrapima Fine (100% pima cotton; 136.7 yards [125 meters]/ 50 grams): #3732 Aqua (5 (5, 6, 7, 7) hanks)
Needles: US size 2.5 (3.0 mm) and US size 3 (3.25 mm) 24” circular needles
Notions: Removable stitch markers, stitch holders, tapestry needle
Abbreviations
Ds: Drop stitch
M1: Make one by placing a backwards loop on the right hand needle.
Cdd: Centered double decrease by slipping two stitches separately knitwise, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over it.
W+t: Wrap and turn.
Pukfb: Pick up horizontal loop and knit into the front and back of it.
Pu wraps: Pick up wraps
Special Stitches
Back Panel
Worked between markers A and B,
Worked in the round,
Rnd 1: (Yo, k2, ds, k2) 7 (7, 7, 8, 8) times, yo.
Rnds 2-8: Knit.
Rnd 9: (Ds, k2, yo, k2) 7, (7, 7, 8, 8) times, ds.
Rnd 10-16: Knit.
Worked flat,
Row 1: (Yo, k2, ds, k2) 7(7, 7, 8, 8) times, yo.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: Purl.
Rows 3, 5, 7: Knit.
Row 9: (Ds, k2, yo, k2) 7 (7, 7, 8, 8) times, yo.
Rows 10, 12, 14, 16: Purl.
Rows 11, 13, 15: Knit.
Neckline Panel
Worked flat between markers E and F,
Row 1: K20, k2tog, yo, ssk, k20.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: Purl.
Rows 2, 5, 7: Knit.
Row 9: K17, k2tog, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, ssk, k17.
Rows 10, 12, 14, 16: Purl.
Rows 11, 13, 15: Knit.
Row 17: K14, k2tog, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, ssk, k14.
Rows 18, 20, 22, 24: Purl.
Rows 19, 21, 23: Knit.
Row 25: K11, k2tog, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, ssk, k11.
Rows 26, 28, 30, 32: Purl.
Rows 27, 29, 31: Knit.
Row 33: K10, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds,, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k10.
Rows 34, 36, 38, 40: Purl.
Rows 35, 37, 39: Knit.
Row 41: K8, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k8.
Rows 42, 44, 46, 48: Purl.
Rows 43, 45, 47: Knit.
Row 49: K6, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k6.
Rows 50, 52, 54, 56: Purl.
Rows 51, 53, 55: Knit.
Row 57: K4, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo. K2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k4.
Rows 58, 60, 62, 64: Purl.
Rows 59, 61, 63: Knit.
Row 65: K2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2 ,yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2.
Rows 66, 68, 70, 72: Purl.
Rows 67, 69, 71: Knit.
Sizes 50” and 54” Only
Row 73: M1, yo, K2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, ds, k2, yo, k2, yo, m1.
Rows 74, 76, 78, 80: Purl.
Rows 75, 77, 79: Knit.
Pattern Notes
It is knit in the round from the bottom up, it begins with a seed stitch border, the panel pattern is then begun in the back as the body is worked up to the under arms.
The front and back are split at the underarms and knit back and forth separately.
The cowl neck panel is begun in the front and the droplet panel continues up the back.
The cap sleeves are shaped with short rows and the shoulders are finished with a three needle bind off.
The arms and neckline are edged with a seed stitch border which is knit with the main body of the top.
Pattern
Border
With smaller needles, CO 228 (252, 276, 300, 324).
Rnd 1: Join in the rnd, pm, *k1, p1; rep from * to end of rnd.
Rnd 2: P1, k1; rep from* to end of rnd.
Repeat rnds 1 and 2 twice more.
Rnd 7: Repeat rnd 1.
Main Body
Change to larger needles,
Set up rnd: K35 (41, 47, 50, 56), pmA, (yo, cdd, k3) 7 (7, 7, 8, 8) times, yo, cdd, pmB, k148 (166, 184, 199, 217). 220 (244, 268, 291, 315) sts
Beginning on rnd 2 of the instructions for the sheer droplet panel, work up the body to the underarms, working the panel between markers A and B and knitting all other stitches. Finish the panel 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) times, work rnds 1-8 of the panel 1 (1, 1, 0, 0) time.
Upper Back
Now working flat,
Row 1 (RS): (K1, p1) 3 times, K29 (35, 41, 44, 50), slmA, work panel as set, slmB, K29 (35, 41, 44, 50), (p1, k1) 3 times, turn.
Row 2: (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, p28 (34, 40, 43, 49), slmB, work panel as set, slmA, p28 (34, 40, 43, 49), (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Rows 3-64 (64, 64, 72, 72): Repeat rows 1 and 2 31 (31, 31, 35, 35) times more.
Rows 65 (65, 65, 73, 73): Rep row 1.
Rows 66 (66, 66, 74, 74): (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, p to 8 sts before edge, w+t.
Rows 67 (67, 67, 75, 75): K to 8 sts before edge, w+t.
Rows 68 (68, 68, 76, 76): P to 1 (1, 3, 3, 5)st before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 69 (69, 69, 77, 77): K to 1 (1, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch, w+t
Rows 70 (70, 70, 78, 78): P to 1 (2, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch w+t.
Rows 71 (71, 71, 79, 79): K to 1 (2, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped sttich w+t.
Rows 72 (72, 72, 80, 80): P to 1 (2, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch w+t.
Rows 73 (73, 73, 81, 81): K to mA (pukfb, k2, ds, k2) 7 (7, 7, 8, 8) times, pukfb, slB k to 1 (2, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch w+t. (114 sts)
Rows 74 (74, 74, 82, 82): P to 4 sts before mB, pmC (K1, p1) 26 (26, 26, 29, 29) times removing mA and mB, pmD, p 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 75 (75, 75, 83, 83): K to mD, (k1, p1) 26 (26, 26, 29, 29) times, smC, p to 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 76 (76, 76, 84, 84): P to mC, (k1, p1) 26 (26, 26, 29, 29) times, smD, K to 7 (8, 9, 9, 9) sts before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 77 (77, 77, 85, 85): K to mD, (k1, p1) 26 (26, 26, 29, 29) times, smC, p to 7 (8, 9, 9, 9) sts before wrapped stitch w+t.
Rows 78 (78, 78, 86, 86): P to mC, (k1, p1) 26 (26, 26, 29, 29) times, smD, w+t.
Rows 79 (79, 79, 87, 87): (K1, p1) 26 (26, 26, 29, 29) times, smC, w+t.
Rows 80 (80, 80, 88, 88): (k1, p1) 26 (26, 26, 29, 29) times, p24 (30, 36, 39, 45) pu wraps, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Rows 81 (81, 81, 89, 89): (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, k24 (30, 36, 39, 45), (k1, p1) twice, bo 44 (44, 44, 50, 50), (k1, p1) twice, k24 (30, 36, 39, 45) pu wraps, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Leave live sts on stitch holders.
Upper Front
Rejoin yarn to work on right side of front.
Row 1 (RS): (K1, p1) 3 times, K29 (35, 41, 44, 50), pmE, work panel on chart for neckline, pmF, K29 (35, 41, 44, 50), (p1, k1) 3 times.
Row 2: (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, p28 (34, 40, 43, 49), slmF, work panel as set, slmE, p29 (32, 40, 43, 49), (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Rows 3-64 (64, 64, 72, 72): Repeat row 1.
Rows 65 (65, 65, 73, 73): Rep row 1.
Rows 66 (66, 66, 74, 74): (K1, p1) 3times, k1, p to mF, work panel as set, slmE, p to 8 sts before edge, w+t.
Rows 67 (67, 67, 75, 75): K to mE, work panel as set, slmF, K to 8 sts before edge, w+t.
Rows 68 (68, 68, 76, 76): P to mF, work panel as set, slmE, p to 1 (st before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 69 (69, 69. 77, 77): K to mE, work panel as set, slmE, k to 1 (1, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 70 (70, 70, 78, 78): P to mF, work panel as set, slmE, p to 1 (1, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch w+t.
Rows 71 (71, 71, 79, 79): K to mE, work panel as set, slmF, k to 1 (2, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch w+t.
Rows 72 (72, 72, 80, 80): P to mF, work panel as set, slmE, p to 1 (2, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped stitch w+t.
Rows 73 (73, 73, 81, 81): K to mE, (k2, ds, k2, pukfb) 8 (8, 8, 9, 9) times, k2, ds, k2, slmF, k to 1 (2, 3, 3, 5) st before wrapped st, w+t. (122 (134, 146, 161, 173) sts)
Rows 74 (74, 74, 82, 82): P to 4 sts before mF, pmG (K1, p1) 30 (30, 30, 33, 33) times removing mE and mF, pmH, p to 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 75 (75, 75, 83, 83): K to mH, (k1, p1) 30 (30, 30, 33, 33) times, smG, p to 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 76 (76, 76, 84, 84): P to mG, (k1, p1) 30 (30, 30, 33, 33) times, smH, K to 7 (8, 9, 9, 9)sts before wrapped stitch, w+t.
Rows 77 (77, 77, 85, 85): K to mH (k1, p1) 30 (30, 30, 33, 33) times, smG, p to 7 (8, 9, 9, 9) sts before wrapped stitch w+t.
Rows 78 (78, 78, 86, 86): P to mG, (k1, p1) 30 (30, 30, 33, 33) times, smH, w+t.
Rows 79 (79, 79, 87, 87): (K1, p1) 30 (30, 30, 33, 33) times, smC, w+t.
Rows 80 (80, 80, 88, 88): (k1, p1) 30 (30, 30, 33, 33) times, p24 (30, 36, 39, 45) pu wraps, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Rows 81 (81, 81, 89, 89): (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, k24, (k1, p1) twice, bo 52 (52, 52, 58, 58), (k1, p1) twice, k24 (30, 36, 39, 45) pu wraps, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Right Front Shoulder
Row 1: (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, p24, (k1, p1) twice.
Row 2: (K1, p1) twice, p24, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Rows 3-4: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Leave live sts on stitch holders.
Left Front Shoulder
Join yarn at edge of neck bind off.
Row 1: (K1, p1) twice, p24, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1.
Row 2: (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, k24, (k1, p1) twice.
Rows 3-4: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Turn work inside out, place sts on needles removing all markers and join at shoulders with a three needle bind off.
Finishing
Weave in ends and join under arms for seven rows. 
Hi there, I am a bit confused on a couple of things. I worked the set up round and while I end up with the correct umber of stitches (244), the breakdown is k41, between A and B I end up with 37 stitches which then leaves me to k166. Could you clarify. Also, what is the difference between a “round” and a “row” – I’m finding it a bit confusing as to how to follow the back panel instructions. Not being an experienced knitter, I am having difficulty following the pattern – help!
Hello and thank you for your comment. I looks like for the size you are working on, after the pmB, it should be 166 sts instead of 167. I hope this helps. If you have any other questions or need anything else, please do not hesitate to let us know. Thank you 🙂