The Countertone Top is a vintage-inspired, top-down sleeveless knit with a fun colorwork twist!

A simple chevron chart shifts from Color A to Color B across the upper body, creating a lovely graphic transition. Go bold with high contrast colors, or keep things subtle.

Just 10 rows of stranded colorwork (and only a small amount of wrong-side rows) make Countertone a relaxing, satisfying knit. And the pattern includes tips for stranded knitting to help you through it!

With a stockinette body and no sleeves to worry about, this is a great project for letting your yarn do the talking. Perfect for the warmer months!

As always, this is a size inclusive, clear and detailed pattern with customization tips included.

Sizing & Fit
Choose a size that is approx. 3” / 7.5cm smaller to 1” / 2.5cm larger than your full bust.

30.25 (33.75, 36.25, 39.5) [43, 46.25, 49.25, 52.25] (55.5, 59, 63.5)“ / 77 (85.5, 92, 100.5) [109, 117.5, 125, 132.5] (141, 150, 161.5)cm

Shown in size 33.75, with approx. 1.5” / 4cm negative ease at bust.

Refer to schematic for full garment measurements. View schematic here!

Full yarn requirements
Color A (upper body):
230 (265, 295, 320) [345, 380, 415, 450] (475, 520, 550)yds / 215 (245, 270, 295) [320, 350, 380, 415] (435, 480, 505)m of fingering weight yarn

Color B (lower body):
420 (465, 500, 555) [575, 605, 645, 720] (785, 825, 905)yds / 385 (430, 460, 510) [530, 555, 590, 660] (720, 755, 830)m of fingering weight yarn

Yarn requirements in recommended yarn
Wollmeise Pure (574yds / 525m per 5.3oz / 150g skein) — 100% Superwash Merino Wool. Sample shown in “nobody’s perfect” imperfect skeins (Color A is aqua, Color B is medium blue).

Color A: 1 (1, 1, 1) [1, 1, 1, 1] (1, 2, 2) skeins
Color B: 1 (1, 1, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] (2, 2, 2) skeins

Note: Sizes 59 and 63.5 in Color A, and sizes 39.5 and 43 in Color B, will use about exactly one full skein. Two skeins have been recommended so you don’t come up short.

Alternate yarn
Fiber MacGuyver Merino Twist (400yds / 365m per 3.5oz / 100g skein) — 80% Superwash Merino Wool / 20% Nylon. Sample shown in Perfect Pink (Color A) and Foxy (Color B).

Color A: 1 (1, 1, 1) [2, 2, 2, 2] (2, 2, 2) skeins
Color B: 2 (2, 2, 2) [2, 2, 2, 2] (3, 3, 3) skeins

Note: Sizes 43 and 46.25 in Color A will use about exactly one full skein. Two skeins have been recommended so you don’t come up short.

Gauge
26 sts / 38 rows = 4” / 10cm in stockinette stitch using 3mm (US 2.5) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.

You may find you need to go up or down a needle size for the colorwork section to maintain even gauge.

Needles
-3mm (US 2.5) 24” / 60cm or longer circular needles (for body)
-2.75mm (US 2) 24” / 60cm or longer circular needles (for hem ribbing)
-2.75mm (US 2) DPNs or circular needles (for neck and sleeve bands)

Notions
-Stitch markers, including locking stitch markers
-Scrap yarn, to place sts on hold

Techniques needed
cast on, bind off, knit in the round, knit, purl, basic increases and decreases, picking up stitches, stranded colorwork, reading a chart.

Pattern has been professionally tech edited by Brambles and Bindweed.

Want to see more? Check out the #CountertoneTop hashtag on Instagram. Tag your own projects too! Follow me there @tashacouldmakethat and find me on YouTube.

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