Get ready to break out those high-rise jeans. This adorable cinched top is calling your name! Lilia is worked in two directions and features an adjustable front panel with a v-neck and cinched center. Just pull the string tighter for a higher crop.
Skill Level: Advanced
Size: Finished Bust Size 33 (37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61)” to fit bust 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)”
0.5 – 1.5” positive ease recommended, depending on preferences.
Shown in size 36”.
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Seed Stripes stitch after very gentle wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Biscotte Yarns Bis-sock (85% Superwash Merino Wool, 15% nylon; 435 yards [398 meters]/100 grams): Smoothie 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) skeins.
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) 24” or longer circular
Notions: Markers, removable markers, darning needle for seaming
Special Stitches
Seed Stripes stitch (Garter Border sts included)
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7 (RS): K.
Rows 2, 6 (WS): P to last 5 sts, k5.
Row 4: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last 6 sts, p1, k5.
Row 8: K1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last to last 6 sts, k6.
Rep Rows 1-8 for patt.
Note: When working shaping, incorporate new amount of sts carefully.
Cable CO method (in beg of the row)
Insert the tip of right needle between 1 st and 2 nd stitches on left needle.
Wrap the yarn around and draw a loop through toward yourself.
Insert left needle tip into this loop from right to left and remove right needle from the stitch (i.e. place just made new st ahead of all sts).
Repeat instruction to create the given number of cast on stitches, slightly tightening the stitches as you go.
Sewn BO technique
Cut the working yarn to about 3 times as long as your finished piece of knitting. Thread that yarn onto blunt needle. *Pass the yarn needle through the first two sts from right to left. Pass the yarn needle through the first st on the knitting needle from left to right. Drop the first st off the knitting needle*. Repeat until one st remains. Sew through this last st from right to left.
W&T (Wrap and Turn)
Sl next st with yarn in front (wyif) for RS rows or with yarn in back (wyib) for WS rows. Return yarn to back (front), return the slipped st to left needle, turn.
Pattern Notes
Pattern begins with back panel worked sideways beginning with wearer’s left side. The front is worked sideways as well, beginning with wearer’s right side.
There is several shaping involved for each body panel.
After blocking body panels, sleeve stitches are picked up from the armhole, and each sleeve is worked top down flat, beginning with short rows shaping. Sleeves are blocked and then sleeve/side seams are worked.
Pattern
Back
CO 83 (83, 85, 85, 87, 87, 87, 87) sts.
Set-up Rows 1-3: K.
Beg next row (RS), work 12 (12, 12, 14, 14, 16, 16, 16) rows in Seed Stripes stitch.
Armhole Shaping
Next Row (RS): Work in est patt.
Inc Row 1 (WS): Using Cable CO method, CO 32 (12, 7, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3) sts, work to end, incorporating new sts into est patt. (115 (95, 92, 90, 91, 90, 90, 90) sts)
Rep Inc Row every WS row 0 (2, 1, 5, 2, 11, 9, 5) more times. (115 (119, 99, 115, 99, 123, 117, 105) sts)
Inc Row 2 (WS): Using Cable CO method, CO 0 (0, 6, 4, 3, 2, 2, 2) sts, work to end, incorporating new sts into est patt. (115 (119, 105, 119, 102, 125, 119, 107) sts)
Rep Inc Row 2 every WS row 0 (0, 3, 2, 9, 3, 7, 14) more times. (115 (119, 123, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135) sts)
Work 4 more rows in est patt without shaping.
***Shoulder Shaping
Inc Row (RS): Work in patt to last st, M1, k1. (1 st inc’d)
Rep Inc Row every 8th row 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4) more times, and then every 6th row 3 (2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 0) more times. (120 (124, 128, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) sts)
Work 3 more rows in est patt without shaping, ending with WS row.**
Place removable marker at the beg of the last WS row to mark the end of right shoulder.
Beg next RS row, cont in patt for 56 (60, 64, 68, 68, 72, 76, 80) rows. Place removable marker at the beg of the last WS row to mark the beg of right shoulder.
Shoulder Shaping
Work 4 rows in patt without shaping.
Dec Row (RS): Work in est patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (1 st dec’d)
Rep Dec Row every 6th row 2 (1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0) more times, and then every 8th row 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) more times. (115 (119, 123, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135) sts)
Beg next WS row, work 4 more rows in patt without shaping, ending with RS row.
Armhole Shaping
Dec Row 1 (WS): Loosely BO 32 (12, 6, 4, 3, 2, 2, 2) sts, cont in est patt to end. (83 (107, 117, 123, 126, 129, 131, 133) sts)
Rep Dec Row 1 every WS row 0 (2, 3, 2, 9, 3, 7, 14) more times. (83 (83, 99, 115, 99, 123, 117,105) sts)
Dec Row 2 (WS): Loosely BO 0 (0, 7, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3) sts, cont in est patt to end. (83 (83, 92, 110, 95, 120, 114, 102) sts)
Rep Dec Row 2 every WS row 0 (0, 1, 5, 2, 11, 9, 5) more times. (83 (83, 85, 85, 87, 87, 87, 87) sts).
Work 6 (6, 6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 10) rows in est patt without shaping.
Next 4 Rows: K.
BO all sts with Sewn BO method.
Front
Work as for Back to **.
Neckline Shaping
Next Row (RS): Work in est patt without shaping.
Dec Row 1 (WS): BO 2 sts, cont in patt to end. (2 sts dec’d)
Rep Dec Row 1 every WS row 2 (5, 4, 7, 7, 8, 11, 14) more times. (114 (112, 118, 116, 118, 118, 114, 110) sts)
Dec Row 2 (WS): BO 3 sts, cont in est patt to end. (3 sts dec’d)
Rep Dec Row 2 every WS row 7 (5, 7, 5, 5, 5, 3, 1) more times. (90 (94, 94, 98, 100, 100, 102, 104) sts)
Eyelet Row 1 (RS): K5, sm, *yo, ssk, k2; rep from * to last 1 (1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 1, 3) st(s), k to end.
Rep Dec Row 2 every WS row 2 more times. (84 (88, 88, 92, 94, 94, 96, 98) sts)
Inc Row 1 (WS): With Cable CO Method, CO 3 sts.
Rep Inc Row 1 once more. (90 (94, 94, 98, 100, 100, 102, 104) sts)
Eyelet Row 2 (RS): K5, sm, *yo, ssk, k2; rep from * to last 1 (1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 1, 3) st(s), k to end.
Rep Inc Row 1 every WS row 8 (6, 8, 6, 6, 6, 4, 2) more times. (114 (112, 118, 116, 118, 118, 114, 110) sts).
Inc Row 2 (WS): With Cable CO Method, CO 2 sts.
Rep Inc Row 2 every WS row 2 (5, 4, 7, 7, 8, 11, 14) more times. (120 (124, 128, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140) sts)
Beg next RS row, cont as for Back from *** to end.
Finishing
Block Back and Front. Connect shoulders.
Neckline Border
Beg at the center back neck edge and with RS facing, PU and k19 (20, 22, 23, 23, 24, 26, 27) sts to left shoulder seam, PU and k36 (36, 40, 40, 40, 42, 42, 42) down to the V-neck lowest point, PU and k36 (36, 40, 40, 40, 42, 42, 42) up to right shoulder seam, PU and k19 (20, 22, 23, 23, 24, 26, 27) sts to the center back. (110 (112, 124, 126, 126, 132, 136, 138) sts)
Cont in the rnd.
Rnd 1: P.
Rnd 2: K54 (55, 61, 62, 62, 65, 67, 68), k2tog, k to end of the rnd.
BO all sts with Sewn BO method.
Sleeves (make 2)
Beg at armhole edge and with RS facing, PU and k7 (7, 9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 15) sts across underarm edge, PU and k27 (31, 33, 36, 37, 37, 40, 42) up to shoulder seam, PU and k1 st into shoulder seam, PU and k27 (31, 33, 36, 37, 37, 40, 42) down from shoulder seam, PU and k7 (7, 9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 15) sts across underarm edge. (69 (77, 85, 95, 97, 101, 107, 115) sts)
Place markers on each side of 11 (13, 13, 15, 15, 17, 17, 19) center sts.
Sleeve Cap Shaping
Short Row 1 (WS): P to second m, remove m, W&T.
Short Row 2 (RS): K to m, remove m, W&T.
Short Row 3: P to wrapped st, p wrapped st tog with wrap, W&T.
Short Row 4: K to wrapped st, k wrapped st tog with wrap, W&T.
Rep Rows 3 & 4 until 7 (7, 9, 11, 11, 13, 13, 15) sts rem on each side, ending with RS row.
Next Row (WS): P to end of row, working wrapped st tog with wrap.
Next Row (RS): K to end of row, working wrapped st tog with wrap.
Next Row (WS): P to end.
Work 2 more rows in St st.
Sleeve Shaping
Dec Row (RS): K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. (2 sts dec’d)
Rep Dec Row every 12 (8, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4)th row 5 (3, 1, 0, 3, 1, 7, 19) more times, and then every 0 (10, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6, 0)th row 0 (4, 8, 12, 10, 12, 8, 0) more times, ending with WS row. (57 (61, 65, 69, 69, 73, 75, 75) sts)
Cont 6 (4, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) more rows without shaping.
Next 5 Rows: Work in Garter stitch.
BO all sts.
Block Sleeves and Neckline.
Work Sleeve/side seams.
Weave in yarn ends.
Cinching Cord
Measure 4 yarn strings approx 109 (113, 113, 116, 119, 119, 120, 179)” each, held together.
Secure one end under heavy object or ask someone to hold it. Take another end of future cord with hand and begin twisting it tight, rotating it in one direction, then with another hand grab the cord at the center and let loose ends weave around each other. Make the knots on both ends, leaving around 1-1.5” of yarn at very ends, then snip them evenly for nicer look.
Insert the cord through the front eyelets, beg from the right front bottom, pull down and tie ends of the cord at the front bottom.