Enjoy 25% off all patterns until 30 June 2026 at 11:59 pm BST to celebrate the launch of the Isabel Top. No code needed!

£1 from every sale of the Isabel Top will be donated to charity between the launch date and 30 June at 11:59 pm BST. The donation will be split between Melanoma Focus and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. This is in memory of Jane and in support of her lovely daughter Ellen, who is a very talented knitter, sewist, and all-round wonderful person. I will be as transparent as possible about these donations and will share an update next month via my social media channels.

For more information about these charities, please check out:

Melanoma Focus: https://melanomafocus.org/ Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice: https://www.pth.org.uk/

Ellen’s Instagram page can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/sewandinspire/

The Isabel Top is a vest worked top-down with a mixed lace and texture motif. There is a “fastened” version of the pattern, which is worked flat through the yoke and the length of the body, and a “plain” version, which is worked flat through the yoke and then in the round through the length of the body. The design is inspired by classic boho fashion and pointelle lace. 

The motif for this pattern is more or less fully charted. The charts are included in this pdf, but links to the Stitch Fiddle files are also included in case you prefer to follow charts row-by-row.

For both versions of the pattern, you will begin by casting on stitches for the back panel, which is shaped with increases on the right and wrong sides of your work to create sloping shoulders. Here, you will establish the lace motif for the rest of the pattern. You will work in pattern to the stated length for your size and then work some underarm increases to shape the top while also introducing the Hurdle stitch pattern at the sides of the top.

From here, the construction diverges.

For the fastened version, you will then pick up and knit stitches to form the right and left shoulders in turn, which are also shaped with underarm increases to mirror the back. Once each shoulder is complete, you will join the shoulders and body sections together by casting on new stitches in extension of your work at the underarms, and you will then work the length of the body in the established patterns. To finish, you will pick up and knit stitches to form the armhole trims, collar, and plackets to match the hem, which is worked in a mixture of purl stitches and eyelet lace.

For the plain version, you will then pick up and knit stitches to form the left and right shoulders in turn, which you will then connect to form the front panel. This is also shaped with underarm increases to mirror the back. Once the front panel is complete, you will join to work in the round by casting on new stitches in extension of your work at the underarms, and then work the length of the body in the established pattern. To finish, you will pick up and knit stitches to form the armhole trims and collar to match the hem, which is worked in a mixture of purl stitches and eyelet lace.

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This pattern has been tech edited and test knitted. If you require pattern support, please either use the contact form on this website or email me directly at the.knit.purl.girl2020@gmail.com

Please kindly note that this is not a beginner-friendly pattern. You must be able to read a knitting chart, establish and maintain multiple stitch patterns, work leaning increases and decreases, yarnovers, pick up and knit stitches and horizontal and vertical edges, and work 2-stitch I-cord and Ruke cast-offs. I am always happy to help with pattern support, but I want knitters to be aware that this is a more challenging pattern. 

Many thanks to the wonderful test knitters of this pattern who have improved it tenfold over the last few months. I am so grateful. Many thanks also to my tech editor, Rebecca Williamson, for helping with such a complex pattern across a broad size range. You’re the best, and I’d be lost without you!

Materials and fit

Notions: You will need 2.5 mm / US 1.5 circular needles with 40-, 60-, and/or 80-cm / 16- and 24- or 32-in cords; 3 mm / US 2.5 circular needles with 60- or 80-cm 16- and 24- or 32-in cords. If you’re making one of the larger sizes, you may also find it helpful to have both needles with a 100-cm / 40-in cord.

You will also need at least 9 ring stitch markers (one of which should be in a contrast colour to indicate the beginning of round), your preferred stitch holder (i.e., scrap yarn, a set of spare needles, or a cord), a darning needle, and you may find some clip-on markers helpful to track your work.

If making the fastened version of the pattern, you will also need your fastenings of choice (see pdf for details; I used pearl beads for Sample 1 and made knitted ties for Sample 2).

Tension: 26 stitches x 36 rows/rounds in Hurdle stitch = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in on 3 mm / US 2.5 needles; full lace motif for Sizes A-F measures 29 cm / 11.5 in, for Sizes G-L measures 33 cm / 13.5 in, and for Sizes M-R measures 37 cm / 14.5 in. for these motifs. Make sure to wet block your swatch(es).

Sizing and ease: The Isabel Top has a recommended positive ease of 1-6.5 cm / 0–2.5 in. However, if you wanted less ease, you would be welcome to choose a smaller size relative to your chest measurement and vice versa.

Size: A (B) C (D), E (F) G (H), I (J) K (L), M (N) O (P), Q (R)

Chest measurement (cm): 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95), 95-100 (100-105) 105-110 (110-115), 115-120 (120-125) 125-130 (130-135), 135-140 (140-145) 145-150 (150-155), 155-160 (160-165)
Chest measurement (in): 29.5-31.5 (31.5-33.5) 33.5-35.5 (35.5-37.5), 37.5-39.25 (39.25-41.25) 41.25-43.25 (43.25-45.25), 45.25-47.25 (47.25-49.25) 49.25-51.25 (51.25-53.25), 53.25-55 (55-57) 57-59 (59-61), 61-63 (63-65)

Actual circumference of garment at chest (cm): 81.5 (86) 91.5 (96), 101.5 (106) 111 (116.5), 121 (126.5) 131 (136.5), 140.5 (146) 150.5 (156), 162 (166)
Actual circumference of garment at chest (in): 32 (33.75) 36 (37.75), 40 (41.75) 43.75 (46), 47.75 (50) 51.5 (53.75), 55.25 (57.5) 59.25 (61.5), 63.75 (65.5)

Cross shoulder measurement before trim is applied (cm): 32.5 (32.5) 32.5 (32.5), 32.5 (32.5) 36.5 (36.5), 36.5 (36.5) 36.5 (36.5), 40.5 (40.5) 40.5 (40.5), 40.5 (40.5)
Cross shoulder measurement before trim is applied (in): 12.75 (12.75) 12.75 (12.75), 12.75 (12.75) 14.5 (14.5), 14.5 (14.5) 14.5 (14.5), 16 (16) 16 (16), 16 (16)

Armhole depth before trim is applied (cm): 21 (21) 21.5 (22), 23 (23) 23.5 (24), 24.5 (25) 25 (25.5), 26 (26.5) 26.5 (27), 27 (27)
Armhole depth before trim is applied (in): 8.25 (8.25) 8.5 (8.75), 9 (9) 9.25 (9.5), 9.5 (9.75) 9.75 (10), 10.25 (10.5) 10.5 (10.75), 10.75 (10.75)

Please note that the armhole trim measures 1 cm / 0.5 in.

Body length from cast-on edge to hem at centre back (cm): 49.5 (49.5) 50 (50.5), 51 (51) 51.5 (52), 53 (53.5) 53.5 (54), 55 (55.5) 55.5 (56), 56 (56)
Body length from cast-on edge to hem at centre back (in): 19.5 (19.5) 19.75 (20), 20 (20) 20.25 (20.5), 20.75 (21) 21 (21.25), 21.75 (21.75) 21.75 (22), 22 (22)

Yarn: I estimate that you will need approximately 600 (620) 660 (690), 730 (750) 800 (840), 860 (900) 930 (960), 1010 (1050) 1080 (1120), 1160 (1190) m / 660 (680) 720 (750), 800 (820) 870 (910), 940 (990) 1010 (1050), 1110 (1150) 1180 (1220), 1270 (1300) yds of a fingering-weight yarn.

For my samples, I used Knitting for Olive Pure Silk (100% silk; 50 g = 250 m / 273.5 yds) in the shade Oatmeal (grey-beige), Watermelon (pink), Coal (black) and Olive (green).

If you wanted to use the same yarn as me, you will need 3 (3) 3 (3), 3 (3) 4 (4), 4 (4) 4 (4), 5 (5) 5 (5), 5 (5) balls of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk.