Description
Lucia Top Slim Straps is a feminine top worked from the top down, featuring a delicate slip-stitch pattern on the front yoke. Slip-stitch is an easy way to knit with two colors, as you work with only one color at a time. Apart from the front yoke, the top is worked in stockinette stitch with the back side facing outward. Once the front and back pieces have been completed, the body is joined and worked from the back side (the smooth side), allowing you to knit in the round in stockinette stitch (knit).
 
The top features decorative edges along the front and back of the pieces and along the lower edge of the body. These are worked in a stockinette stitch pattern with the back side facing outward, interrupted by chain stitch rows. The upper edge of both the front and back pieces is double, so the stitches are cast on using the figure-eight cast-on. The inside of the double upper edge is worked in stockinette stitch.
 
Since the slip-stitch pattern is just as beautiful on the reverse side, the top is constructed to be fully reversible and can be worn with either side facing outward. To ensure reversibility, the vertical edges along the armholes are integrated into the yokes, and while knitting the slip-stitch pattern on the front yoke, intarsia technique is therefore used. This prevents the edges, which are worked in the main color, from being interrupted by the contrast color yarn. If you choose to knit the top without the slip-stitch pattern, this technique is, of course, not necessary. The instructions in the pattern are written with the back side of the stockinette stitch facing outward.
 
The straps are worked last as an extension of the vertical edges, using the stitches from the figure-eight cast-on on the front piece that have been held on stitch markers while the rest of the top was worked. The straps are attached to the back piece by knitting them into the stitches of the figure-eight cast-on on the back piece, which have also been held while the rest of the top was worked.
 
Video tutorials are available for all techniques used in the pattern. These are marked in the pattern with 􀌡. All videos are also available at: https://www.youtube.com/@refinedknitwear
 
Sizes
2XS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL
 
Finished Measurements
Chest circumference: approx. 77 (80) 86 (95) 103 (109) 115 cm.
 
Body length measured from the top center back (CB), excluding the straps: approx. 42 (42) 44 (45) 47 (48) 48 cm.
 
The top is designed to be worn with approximately 0–10 cm of negative ease. The model shown has a chest circumference of approximately 84 cm and is wearing size XS with approximately 4 cm of negative ease. Be aware that a knitted garment with negative ease will become wider more quickly when worn than one with positive ease.
 
Materials
Main Color
 
150 (150) 150 (200) 200 (250) 250 g Trio 1 (held double) (350 m/50 g) or 150 (150) 150 (150) 200 (200) 200 g Bomulin (300 m/50 g) held together with 75 (75) 75 (75) 100 (100) 100  g Mulberry Silk (210 m/25 g). All yarns are from Isager Yarn.
 
150 (150) 150 (150) 200 (200) 200 g Bomulin (300 m/50 g) or 150 (150) 150 (200) 200 (250) 250 g Trio 1 (held double) (350 m/50 g) held together with 75 (75) 75 (75) 100 (100) 100 g Mulberry Silk (210 m/25 g). All yarns are from Isager Yarn.
 
Contrast Color
25 g Isager Soft Fine from Isager Yarn.
 
The off-white top shown in the photos is worked with 1 strand of Bomulin in color 0 held together with 1 strand of Mulberry Silk in the color Linen, and 1 strand of Isager Soft Fine in color 57 for the pattern. In addition to the yarn, you will need 7 removable stitch markers.
 
Recommended Needles
The top is worked flat and in the round in stockinette stitch on a 3 mm circular needle, 80 cm long, using 1 strand of Bomulin held together with 1 strand of Mulberry Silk. The lower edge of the body and the slip stitch pattern are also worked on a 3 mm, 80 cm circular needle. The upper edge of the front and back pieces is worked on a 2.5 mm circular needle, 80 cm long.
 
The straps are worked using 2.5 mm needles. Double-pointed needles may be helpful.
 
Gauge
21 sts × 32 rows = 10 × 10 cm on 3 mm needles, worked flat and in the round in stockinette stitch when washed.
 
20 sts × 42 rows = 10 × 10 cm on 3 mm needles, worked flat in pattern when washed.