Thursday
May032012
Laura's Loop: Cap Sleeve Lattice Top
I can remember lying for hours under the pergola in my grandmother's yard. In the fall I'd watch the grid-like shadows shift across the grass as the sun moved across the sky. And in the spring I'd stare up, tracking the path of the vines weaving in and out of the lattice work structure. Empty or abundant, I loved the woven wood overhead.
My fondness towards this geometric patterning does not stop at the garden wall. It carries over to painted kitchen floors, pie crusts and, as you see here, knits! The lattice stitch I used is an organic interpretation of the woven grids and crisscrossing ridges that I find so fascinating and beautiful!
I made this Cap Sleeve Lattice Top with one of our newest (and most favorite!) yarns, Madeline Tosh's Sport. It's a superwash merino wool, machine spun but hand dyed, with gorgeous depths of color (even in the neutrals). The pattern, like the sweater, is easy breezy, knit up the back over the shoulders and down the front, two seams and you're done!
Watching the sparce grid of the pergola become overrun with wisteria and roses was a sure sign of the hot summer days to come. This sweater is a delightfully quick project to welcome spring and to wear right through summer. I think if I found myself sitting under that pergola right now, I'd be sporting this top, cool beverage in hand, gazing up at the greenery! -Laura
The Materials
- For the main color: 2 (2, 3) skeins of Madeline Tosh's Sport, 100% superwash merino wool. I used the color Silver Fox. (Another great yarn option is Anzula's Cricket in the color Seaside!)
- For the contrast color: 1 (1, 2) skeins of Madeline Tosh's Sport, 100% superwash merino wool. I used the color Antler. (Another great yarn option is Anzula's Cricket in the color Au Natural!)
- US #5 circular needle, any length between 16 and 24 inches
- US #6 circular needle, any length between 16 and 24 inches
The Pattern
Gauge
6 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch on larger needles
Sizes
Small (Medium, Large)
Finished Dimensions
Bust Circumference: 34 (36, 38) inches
Length from Underarm to Cast On Edge: 12 (13, 14) inches
Length from Shoulder to Cast On Edge: 18 1/2 (20 1/2, 22 1/2) inches
To alter the size be sure to cast on a multiple of 3 plus 1
Back Ribbing
Using the smaller needles, cast on 103 (109, 115) stitches, leaving a 24 inch tail.
Row 1 (Wrong Side): P1, *k1, p2, repeat from * to end.
Row 2 (Right Side): *K2, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 1 3/4 inches from cast on edge, ending with a WS row.
Change to larger needles.
Eyelet Row (RS): K2, *yo, k2tog, k1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, yo, k2tog.
Back Body
Next Row (WS): Purl.
Next Row (RS): Knit.
Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 12 (13, 14) inches from cast on edge, ending with a RS row.
Cut yarn leaving a 24 inch tail.
Back Lattice
Change to contrast color.
Lattice Row 1 (WS): K1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end.
Lattice Row 2 (RS): Knit.
Lattice Row 3 (WS): K2, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Lattice Row 4 (RS): Knit.
Repeat Lattice Rows 1-4 until you have 6 1/2 (7 1/2, 8 1/2) inches, ending with Lattice Row 4.
Back Neck
Next Row (WS): K1, (yo, k2tog) 11 (12, 13) times, bind off in knit following 57 (59, 61) stitches, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (46, 50, 54 stitches)
Front Neck
Next Row (RS): K23 (25, 27) cable cast on 57 (59, 61) stitches, knit to end. (103, 109, 115 stitches)
Front Lattice
Starting with Lattice Row 3, work the four Lattice Rows until piece measures 6 1/2 (7 1/2, 8 1/2) inches from cable cast on, ending with Lattice Row 4.
Front Body
Change to main color.
Next Row (WS): Purl.
Next Row (RS): Knit.
Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 10 1/4 (11 1/4, 12 1/4) inches from end of lattice stitch, ending with a WS row.
Eyelet Row (RS): K1, *yo, k2tog, k1, repeat from * to end.
Front Ribbing
Change to smaller needles.
Next Row (WS): *P2, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Next Row (RS): K1, *p1, k2 repeat from * to end.
Repeat previous 2 rows for 1 3/4 inches.
Bind off in pattern on WS, cut yarn leaving a 24 inch tail.
Seam the Sides
Take your knit piece and fold it in half so that the bottom hems align. Using the mattress stitch and the tails of yarn you left, seam the rib and stockinette sides of the sweater together at the main color.
Block your new top if you want and wear it all spring!
May 3, 2012
Reader Comments (124)
You can wear it however you like! We like it as a shirt worn over a camisole or tank top.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
We've added a picture of it on a dress form so you can see better how it fits.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Thank you!
It's only available in small medium and large at this point. Thank you for your question!
Molly
Two of my favorite non-wool options are Louet's Euroflax and Cascade's Pima Cotton.
Hope this is helpful. Enjoy the pattern. --Laura
i really want to try knitting one of these in the round.
I've always been a bit wary of garments, but this looks too cute to pass up.
secondly, it's a beautiful pattern, once i saw it I went immediatly to buy the skeins.
so... i'm a fairly new knitter and i was wondering how many stitches are after the back lattice? i'm doing the large size, so I suposse it should be 115, but I've done it twice and it keeps adding a few stitches and i dont know if they're supossed to be there!!
thank you!
I'm about to start this top and am VERY excited. I'm going to knit it in the round as you instructed in a previous comment response... but I was wondering what I should do when I get to the Lattice section? I can't get my head around- how to do this bit...?
Can I knit this in the round...? Even though the front and back are different..? Or do I knit it separately and then attach it... or are there instructions for knitting that in the round as well? (I'm also knitting this in one solid color...) Or would one start with the Lattice, knitting the back then the front, then switching to knitting in the round? Working top down.
Much help appreciate! ; )
thanks so Much!
Thanks! Beautiful pattern & lovely blog!!!
I am almost finished with the lattice on the front, but had trouble telling whether it was long enough. So I have folded it in half from top to bottom, matched the lattice sections and pinned it all together at the seams. It does line up. I've sprayed it with water and will see how it looks when it dries. Think it should be okay.
One caution I would make is to check the number of sts frequently when doing the lattice. If you're off 1 st, it makes a big difference.
Thanks again for a wonderful pattern.
I'm knitting it and think i have the same problem as Becca... Except my back lattice is leaning diagonally on just one side (the left one, whereas the right one is not leaning). Is it normal and will disappear when i block the sweater ? Because i always have 103 stiches. Maybe I misunderstood a point... For the back lattice, does I repeat the lattice rows 1,2,3 and 4 or just 1 and 4 ? Until now, i repeated rows 1, 2,3 and 4 !
Thank you for your answer !
Thank you, I'm glad you like the sweater. You are doing it right if you are repeating rows 1, 2, 3 and 4. As for the slanting... this should correct once blocked. Let us know how if finishes up! -Laura
Thank u for the great pattern. It's my first official sweater, and just finished it. Wish I could post a pic.
Laura S.
Just wonderful! As soon as I saw it I decided I would definitely make one for me (I usualy knitt for family and friends...). I just finished it with an alternation: I don´t like ribbing hem so I used picot edge - it´s gorgeous!
Thank you all in PurlBee for the wonderful patterns and ideas you share with us! Your site is the reason I started knitting again after 20 years. I live in Greece and knitting is not as famous as it used to be some years ago, I couldn´d find intresting patterns and so I gave up. But after I found your site - which I visit everyday - I always have a nice project on the run. I WISH I COULD VISIT YOUR SHOP ALSO!!!
Thanks again,
spelanna
has anyone tried starting with the lattice on provisional cast on and then knitting the body in the round top down? I'm keen to try this but find it hard to work out how many stitches to cast on for size medium or small. Thanks
I have restarted the lattice portion about ten times and always have the same problem. On lattice row 3, I always end up with two extra stitches at the end of the row instead of just 1. Am I supposed to start Lattice Row 3 with KNIT 2 TOGETHER? I have recounted the number of stitches when I start this row, and always have 109, so I don't know whats happening. I just wanna wear this sweater! Thank goodness summer doesn't come to San Francisco until October! :) Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
Shirley I.
Right now the pattern is only available in Small, Medium and Large. Thank you for your interest though, and perhaps soon we will have it in more sizes.
Best,
Laura
This pattern can be worked in the round up to the lattice portion. I would cast on (102+102) 204 stitches. The extra stitch on both sides is for seaming, but since you wouldn't be, you can forget about that extra stitch. Right before you begin the lattice portion of the pattern, just make sure to cast on an extra stitch!
Hope this helps.
Laura