This is my first test for the talented, Svetlana Volkova. She’s one of my favorite designers, and I love her construction techniques as well.

I tried knitting this using sport weight (recommended in the original test pattern), but I could not get stitch gauge. (I think Sveltana has now changed the recommendation to fingering weight.) It was turning out too large even with size 2 US needles. So I switched to fingering weight using 1.5 US needles. Be sure to use a heavier fingering weight yarn (180 - 190 yards per 50 grams) which is close to the yarn used by the designer.

I was able to get stitch gauge with size 1.5 US needles, but my row gauge was slightly longer. Row gauge is not as important in this design as long as it’s not terribly different.

This little bralette has identical front and back sides. Therefore the garment will ride up 2 - 3 inches higher in the front just by virtue of the fact that there are boobs in the front. So if you’re more well endowed, you might want to do quite a few short rows in the front before you start the straps.

I used this tubular cast -on for 2 x 2 ribbing in the round, demonstrated here by Suzanne Bryan.

What I did differently:

• I did my strap edges differently per the following…

End of each row: Knit the last stitch (regardless of what the pattern says)

Beginning of each row: With yarn in front, slip the first stitch purlwise (regardless of what the pattern says)

• I did 15 less rows on each strap because my row gauge was slightly longer.

• I used Kitchener Stitch instead of a 3-Needle Bind-off to join the straps. This stretches more, but I think it gives a flatter, more seamless look. Here’s an excellent video showing how to graft in pattern. To prepare for Kitchener Stitch grafting, you’ll want to place the wrong sides of the straps together.

Finished Measurements for Sawyer:

Bust circumference laying flat (unstretched) = 26” (66 cm). This is hard to measure because the 2 x 2 ribbing is SO stretchy. My bust measurement = 35” (89 cm), so it fits me with 9” (23 cm) of negative ease.

Shoulder to Underarm = 8.5” (21.6 cm)

Underarm to Bottom Edge = 9” (22.9 cm)

I did not use the following tubular cast-on methods. I’m just including them here as a reference because some of them may be better for other types of garments.

Purl Soho demonstrates a tubular cast-in for 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 rib. Nice stretch, but the stitches tend to twist without the provisional cast-on first.

Staci of Very Pink Knits demonstrates a tubular cast-on in the round for 2 x 2 rib. I tried this method, but it has very little stretch, if any. Probably best reserved for hats if you want a snug fit. This also involves a provisional cast-on to start.

Svetlana uses Ysolda’s method shown here which is the same as the one in Staci’s video tutorial.

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