THIS PATTERN IS CURRENTLY IN TESTING

The Mina Pleated Top is an asymmetrical pleated cardigan top. Featuring horizontal pleats in the front, asymmetrical hems, and with the options for short or long sleeves, and button up or tie front. This pattern uses adaptive math to ensure a custom fit regardless of your gauge or body measurements.

This is an intermediate to advanced knit. First, the upper back panel is worked until the level of the armhole, then the front right and left panels are picked up separately to work the V-neck and shape the armhole. The horizontal pleats are constructed through German short rows sets, and will be worked simultaneously throughout armhole, bust and waist shaping. Sloped bind off technique is used for the asymmetrical hem, with incorporation of the non-curling technique.

Once the main body is completed, the sleeves are picked up, and the shoulder caps are shaped with German short rows. Lastly, the button band will be worked, and the ties are constructed with I-cord knitting, according to preference.

You will find links to access video tutorials for certain techniques, the interactive spreadsheet, and diagrams in this pattern.

Techniques / abbreviations used:

• Knit (k)
• Purl (p)
• Stitch (st)
• Stitch marker (SM)
• Place marker (PM)
• Stitch holder (SH)
• Right side (RS)
• Wrong side (WS)
• With yarn in front (wyif) / with yarn in back (wyib)
• Purl 2 together through back loops (p2togtbl)
• Knit 2 together through back loops (k2togtbl)
• Horizontal pleats - see “horizontal pleats” section later
• Button hole shaping
• Yarnover (YO)
• Placing lifelines
• Double knitting
• Attaching buttons (Button up version only)
• Long tail cast on
• German short rows (Twisted German short rows used on the RS)
• Make 1 left (M1L) / Make 1 right (M1R)
• Make 1 purl left (M1pL) / Make 1 purl right (M1pR)
• Left lifted increase (LLI) / Right lifted increase (RLI)
• picking up stitches from cast on edge
• Slip slip knit (SSK)
• knit 2 together (k2tog)
• non-curling bind off (including stretchy modification and sloped bind off modification)
• Perpendicular join
• Tubular cast on
• Tubular bind off
• I-cord knitting (Tie front version only)