Go Retro with This Juicy Top Knitting Pattern

As a person who lived through the 1980s, I have some different feelings about the retro turn in fashion. Of course everything seems to come around again (a few times, probably, if you live long enough) and while I didn’t love the bright colors and slouchy activewear style the first time around, it kind of makes me smile to see it embraced by a new generation.

It’s the same with knitting. Different styles or methods or even types of projects come and go and some back again. When I first got back into knitting in the early 2000s, there was lots of bulky yarn and funky textures, and it feels a bit like we’re headed that way again. Drop stitches as a decorative technique is also something I used to see more often but don’t remember seeing a lot of lately.

The Drop it Like it’s Hot top from Yarnspirations has all these things: a retro design in a fuzzy, neon yarn (though of course you could tone it down if you don’t want it so candy-colored) with a classic boxy shape and dropped stitches to add a bit of flair. The top also features a deep V-neck and an optional tie for the waist.

When not dressed up with ’80s style accessories, this top also looks great, giving a pop of color to a neutral ensemble (click through to the pattern to see what I mean).

The pattern comes in four sizes with an actual finished chest measurement of 40 to 64 inches (101.5 to 162.5 cm) so you can choose how much ease you want in your project.

It’s worked in panels from side to side, so the cast on edge gives you the length. Working with both ends of the yarn, you’ll cut it as needed to ensure your stripe colors stay consistent.

The pieces are folded and seamed and then stitches are picked up along the bottom to make the waist band. This pattern is free from Yarnspirations and it includes very detailed instructions, so if you’re a new knitter this would be a great first garment for you to try.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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