A playful, ruched knit top inspired by the delicate texture of jellyfish. Worked top-down in the round, this versatile design features a lightly fitted body with optional shaping and a slightly flared hem that mirrors the ruched stitch pattern.

The Jelly Top comes in three sleeve options: sleeveless, short, or long sleeves. Short rows create a soft, contoured shoulder and sleeve cap, while the body shaping allows you to customize the fit for a snug or flowy silhouette.

Worked with two needle sizes, the stitch pattern alternates between sections to create the signature ruched texture.

Techniques used: top-down construction, ruched stitch pattern, short rows, KFB, M1, K2tog, SSK, Italian bind-off, picking up stitches for armholes, German short rows.

Tools + Materials:
Needles:
US 2 / 2.75 mm circular needles (24” or 32”/ 60 or 80 cm cord depending on size)
US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needles (24” or 32” / 60 or 80 cm cord )
- OR needles needed to meet gauge. If you need to size up or down for the larger needle, make sure to change the smaller needle size to correspond. For example, if you use 4.0mm needles to meet gauge, change to 2.5mm for the smaller set. 5.0 needles, use 3.0mm and so on.

Plus DPNs for both sizes (or use Magic loop - for sleeves)
(choose your cord depending on the size you knit, you want the cord to be shorter than the circumference of your work so that you can comfortably move the stitches around)

Other notions:
Tapestry needle, Stitch markers, scissors, measuring tape

Gauge:
20 stitches x 24 rows = 4 x 4 inches or 10 x 10 cm in stockinette on 4.5mm needles, or size needed to meet gauge

Sizing:
This pattern is graded for 9 sizes. The fabric is very stretchy. If you want a tight fitted y2k style ruched top, choose your recommended size. If you want the jelly texture to be more bold, size up. Original sample was made in size 3 for a 34” bust, and the white version was made in size 2. More info on your desired fit is included in the pattern.
Sizes are as follows:
28-30 in / 71-76 cm (32-34 in / 81-86 cm) 36-38 in / 91.5 -96.5 cm,
40-42 in / 101.5-106.5 cm (44-46 in / 111.5-117 cm) 48-50 in / 122-127 cm,
52-54 in / 132-137 cm (56-58 in / 142-147 cm) 60-62 in / 152-158 cm

Yarn:
This top was originally made using Oshen Fibers Kidsilk Lace, but any lace weight silk mohair can be substituted so long as you meet gauge. For a non-mohair option, avoid single ply fibers. Testers had success with Isager Alpaca 1.

Yardage estimated based on sleeve length:

Sleeveless:
540 y / 494 m (595 y / 544 m) 655 y / 599 m,
719 y / 657 m (791 y / 723 m) 870 y / 795 m,
957 y / 875 m (1052 y / 962 m) 1157 y / 1057 m

Short Sleeves:
679 y / 620 m (747 y / 683 m) 821 y / 750 m,
903 y / 825 m (995 y / 909 m) 1094 y / 1000 m,
1203 y / 1100 m (1323 y / 1210 m) 1455 y / 1330 m

Long Sleeves:
810 y / 740 m (890 y / 814 m) 980 y / 896 m,
1,078 y / 986 m (1,186 y / 1084 m) 1,304 y /1192 m,
1,435 y /1312 m (1,578 y / 1442 m) 1,736 y / 1587 m