Beatrice Peplum Top

Size: 0-6 mo (6-12 mo, 12-18 mo, 18-24 mo, 2-3 yrs, 3-4 yrs), 17 (18, 19, 21, 22, 24.5)” waist circumference x 10.5 (11, 12, 13, 13.5, 15)” back to waist length. See schematic for full details.

Shown in size 21” waist circumference

Gauge: 24 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.

Materials

Yarn: Rico Design Essentials Cotton DK (100% Cotton); 143 yards [130 meters]/50 grams): 32 Bleu de Cobalt (MC, 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) balls), 03 Argent (CC, 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) ball)

Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm) straight and 16” circular, US size 5 (3.75 mm) DPNs, US size 2 (2.75 mm) 40” circular, US size 2 (2.75. mm) DPNs

Notions: Tapestry needle, six yarn holders, Size D/3 (3.75 mm) crochet hook, stitch marker

Abbreviations

Cdd (centered double decrease): Sl 2 sts tog k-wise, k1, pass sl sts over. (2 sts dec’d)

Special Stitches

I-cord Cast On: CO 3 sts, *kfb, k2, sl 3 sts back to LH needle; rep from * until you have 2 sts more than the required number of sts on the RH needle. Turn work and BO 2 sts.

I-cord Bind Off: CO 3 sts, *k2, k2tog-tbl, (this is the last st of the cast on and the first st of the live sts) sl 3 sts back to LH needle; rep from *. When 3 sts rem, break yarn, thread onto tapestry needle and pull through 3 sts and secure.

Three Needle Bind Off: Line up 2 needles parallel with an equal amount of sts on each. With a 3rd needle, k the first st on both needles tog. Rep with next 2 sts. Pass first st over the 2nd as to bind off. Continue until 1 st rem. Pull yarn through this st.

SR: I used the German method of creating short rows in the shawl. Use whichever method you prefer. If you are working the “wrap and turn”, work this at the turning point and ignore the “SR” instruction at the start of the following row, then work the wrapped stitches together with their wraps as you come to them.

German Short Rows (SR): WS is facing. Sl st p-wise with yarn in front and bring yarn up, over and back to pull on the slipped st until it slides around to show two legs. Bring the yarn to the front in order to p next st while keeping the tension.

RS is facing: Bring yarn to the front, sl st p-wise and bring yarn up, over and back to pull on the slipped st until it slides around to show two legs, keeping the yarn at the back in order to k next st while keeping the tension.

When working the stitch, the next time you meet it, work the “doubled stitch” as if it were one, that is, work the two legs together.

Pattern Notes

The top is worked in the round from the bottom up, starting with an icord cast on in CC, working the peplum frill in the MC before working the body straight.

The front and back are then separated.

The armholes and shoulder shaping are worked flat on both back and front before the shoulders are joined together on the inside using a three needle bind off.

Stitches are picked up for the neckline with CC and bound off with the remaining live sts using the icord bind off.

Stitches for the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round, the sleeve caps are shaped with short rows worked flat before working in the round once more.

The peplum frill is worked with increase before an icord bind off in CC finishes the top.

Pattern

Peplum Edging

With smaller needles and CC, CO 266 (270, 276, 290, 304, 308) sts using the icord cast on method.

Join in the rnd, being careful not to twist the sts. Pm to mark beg of rnd.

Change to larger needles and MC.

Rnd 1: K12 (15, 12, 12, 12, 12), cdd, [k13 (13, 14, 15, 16, 16), cdd] 14 times, k12 (15, 12, 12, 12, 12), cdd, k12 (10, 8, 8, 8, 12). (234 (238, 244, 258, 272, 276) sts)

Rnd 2 and all even numbered rnds: Knit.

Rnd 3: K11 (14, 11, 11, 11, 11), cdd, [k12 (12, 13, 14, 15, 15) cdd] 14 times, k11 (14, 11, 11, 11, 11), cdd, k11 (9, 7, 7, 7, 11). (202 (206 212, 226, 240, 244) sts)

Rnds 5, 7 and 9: Work in est patt set in Rnds 1 and 3. (106 (110, 116, 130, 144, 148) sts)

Body

Work in St st until piece meas 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 9.5)” from end of Peplum.

Separate Back and Front

Place the previous 53 (55, 58, 65, 72, 74) sts on yarn holder for Back.

Front

*Armhole Shaping

Row 1: BO 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4 sts), k to end of row. (51 (53 59, 55, 62, 68, 70) sts)

Row 2: BO 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4 sts), p to end of row. (49 (51, 52, 59, 64, 66) sts)

Row 3: Sl1, ssk, k until 3 sts rem, k2tog, k1. (47 (49, 50, 57, 62, 64) sts)

Row 4: Sl1, p to end of row.

Rep Rows 3-4, 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4) times more. (43 (45, 44, 51, 54, 56) sts)

Work in St st for 12 (12, 12, 16, 16, 18) rows.

Shoulder Shaping

Row 1: K2 (2, 4, 4, 6, 8), place the rem sts on yarn holders.

Row 2: P2 (2, 4, 4, 6, 8).

Row 3: K2 (2, 4, 4, 6, 8).

Work 2 (2, 4, 4, 6, 8) rows in St st.

Place sts on second yarn holder or spare needle. Break yarn leaving a tail to join seams

Second Shoulder

Remove the last 2 (2, 4, 4, 6, 8) sts from first yarn holder and place on larger needle. Leave the rem 39 (41, 36, 43, 42, 40) sts on yarn holder

Rejoin MC and work 4 (4, 6, 6, 8, 10) rows in St st.

Place sts on 3rd yarn holder or spare needle. Break yarn leaving a tail to join seams *.

Back

Work as for Front Armhole and Shoulder Shaping from * to *.

Join Shoulder seams

Turn top inside out, place shoulder sts on larger needles and with a spare needle, join together using three-needle bind off.

Neck Edging

With RS facing and CC, k39 (41, 36, 43, 42, 40) sts from Back holder on larger needles, pick up and k6 (6, 11, 9, 12, 15) sts from left shoulder, k39 (41, 36, 43, 42, 40) sts from Front holder, pick up and k6 (6, 11, 9, 12, 15) sts from right shoulder. (96 (100, 102, 112, 118, 120) sts)

BO using icord bind off method. Sew end of BO to beg of BO.

Sleeve

With MC and larger needles, starting from underarm, pick up and k44 (44, 54, 60, 60, 76) sts and join in the rnd. Pm to mark beg of arm

Knit 1 rnd.

Sleeve Cap Shaping

Row 1: K26 (26, 32, 36, 40, 44) sts, turn work.

Row 2: SR, p12 (12, 15, 17, 19, 21) sts, turn work.

Row 3: SR, k14 (14, 17, 19, 21, 23) sts, turn work.

Row 4: SR, p16 (16, 19, 21, 23, 25) sts, turn work.

Cont in est patt for 6 (6, 8, 10, 14, 18) more rows. (44 (44, 54, 60, 60, 76) sts)

Work 2 (2, 4, 4, 6, 8) rnds in St st. (44 (44, 54, 60, 60, 76) sts)

Ruffle Edge

Sizes – (-, 12-18mo, -, -, -) only

Rnd 1: K1, SSk, k until 3 sts rem, k2tog, k1. (- (-, 52, -, -, -) sts)

All other sizes

Rnd 1: Knit.

All Sizes

Rnd 2: [K3, m1, k1, m1] 11 (11, 13, 15, 15, 19) times. (66 (66, 80, 90, 90, 114) sts)

Rnd 3 and all odd rnds: Knit.

Rnd 4: K4, m1, k1, m1, [k5, m1, k1, m1] 10 (10, 12, 14, 14, 18) times, k1. (88 (88, 106, 120, 120, 152) sts)

Rnd 6: K5, m1, k1, m1, [k6, m1, k1, m1] 10 (10, 12, 14, 14, 18) times, k2. (110 (110, 132, 150, 150, 190) sts)

Sizes – (-, -, -, 2-3 yrs, 3- 4 yrs) only

Rnd 8: K6, m1, k1, m1, [k7, m1, k1, m1] 10 (10, 12, 14, 14, 18) times, k3. (- (-, -, -, 180, 228) sts)

Sizes – (-, -, -, -, 3- 4 yrs) only

Rnd 10: K7, m1, k1, m1, [k8, m1, k1, m1] 10 (10, 12, 14, 14, 18) times, k4. (-(-, -, -, -, 266) sts)

BO using i-cord bind off method.

Sew end of BO to beg.

Rep for 2nd Sleeve.

Finishing

Sew in all ends.

Block top to dimensions on schematic, flattening out the peplum and ruffles.