About the pattern

With its mix of different flowery stitch patterns, the Secret Garden Top is a romantic and dreamy summer top. I always imagine all the fantastic places Anne of Green Gables discovered near Avonlea and somehow the design just created itself.

Construction

The top is knit flat, from the bottom up, then seamed together at the end. The back piece offers many options, allowing you customize the top according to your personal style. Instructions are provided for plain stockinette, a simpler version of the front, identical to the front, or whatever combination of decorative elements you’d like. The top edge of the back can be made as either a v-neck or straight across and the straps can be crossed or straight.

Materials

US 2,5 / 3mm circular needles or any size to obtain gauge (for fingering yarn, you may go down one needle size)
US 1,5 / 2,5mm circular needles for ribbing
2 cable needles or 2 DPNs
Small crochet hook for bobbles - size doesn’t really matter
15 stitch markers
Tapestry needle to sew the top and weave in ends

Yarn

approximately 750, 800, (850, 1000, 1250, 1350)m of light fingering yarn.
The sample was knit in Knitting for Olive cotton-merino (50g=250m)

Sizes
XS, S (M, L, XL, XXL)

Bust circumference
85-88, 89-92 (93-96, 97-102, 103-108, 109-115) cm
33-34, 35-36 (37-38, 39-40, 41-42, 42-44) inches

These base bust sizes are easily customizable to fit your body. The top is slightly A-shaped, so the number of decreases as you knit from hem to bust can be adjusted as desired. If you prefer to knit it straight, cast on less stitches and omit the decreases.

Garment after blocking (flat)
Bust size:
44, 46 (48, 51, 54, 58) cm / 17, 18 (19, 20, 21, 23) inches
Hem size:
53, 53 (60, 60, 60, 68)cm / 21, 21 (23, 23, 23, 26) inches

This top is designed to have 0-6 cm/0-2.5” positive ease at the bust.

Sample was knit as Size M for front piece, Size L for back piece.

If using plant-based fibers, I strongly suggest knitting an additional gauge swatch using the Ginkgo-Chart to check how your fiber reacts to lace and blocking.