Linen Swing Top by Donna Druchunas

Linen Swing Top

Knitting
March 2015
Sport (12 wpi) ?
14.5 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette stitch
US 6 - 4.0 mm
810 - 1350 yards (741 - 1234 m)
Chest: 32 (36, 40, 45, 49, 54, 58) inches
English
This pattern is available for $6.99 USD
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This sweater is inspired by one I bought at a shop in Vilnius, Lithuania. Every time I wear it, I’m asked, “Did you knit that?” and I have to answer, “No.” Now I’ve finally made one! And I’m planning to make at least one or two more with different lace motifs. This is my favorite style top to wear for travel and teaching. It works over a sleeveless dress, over jeans and a tank top, or over black pants and a turtleneck. I’ve designed this to be a very loose garment, with 4-6 inches of positive ease. The upper body should not be snug and the lower body should flow and drape around your hips.

This sweater is made from the top down in one piece and worked back and forth. The back is worked first, then the front is picked up at the shoulders with stitches cast on in the center for the boat neck. Both pieces are the same except for the cast on. Short-row shaping is used at the underarms, then the sleeve and underarm stitches are put on hold. Increases are worked to create the points at the hem. When the knitting is complete, the held stitches are returned to needles, stitches are picked up along the sides of the bottom and the side seams are joined with 3-needle bind off.