Make Your Own Simple Summer Knit Top

I don’t have the greatest level of comfort when it comes to math, but I know that it’s necessary when it comes to knitting, especially if you want to design or make patterns your own.

The Plain Summer V Top from Lali Lev empowers you to do a little math to design a top that works for you. It can be worked in any weight of yarn at any gauge you like, just let the pattern help you through the math you’ll need.

It features an I-cord cast on for the neck, which is shaped using short rows. At the same time you work increases out to the desired width of the garment. Then it’s smooth Stockinette stitching for most of the rest of the body.

You can try this pattern out for yourself; it’s a free download from Ravelry.

[Photo: Lali Lev.]

Looking for more summer top knitting patterns? Check these out.

It’s a common complaint among women and femme dressing folk that our clothes do not include enough (and enough useful) pockets. And even if your clothes do have good pockets, there’s always a chance that you’d rather have another pocket to put some essentials in rather than having to carry a whole bag.

But because we are knitters, we can take this problem into our own needles and knit ourselves some auxiliary pockets.

Beatrice Mase did just that, with a kind of fancy toolbelt pocket accessory that they call VELVET Pockets.

The stitch pattern has a plush, sort of velvet effect, thus the name, but it’s worked with regular fingering/sock weight yarn. (The sample uses wool, but you could experiment with other fibers, too.) It calls for 776 yards of 710 meters, which you might just have in your sock yarn stash.

The pattern includes several pockets of different sizes, with the main body of the pocket worked flat in one piece and the exterior pockets sewn on at the end. You also have the option of adding screw rivets and a coordinating clasp that make it look even more toolbelt chic.

The design is worked with a loop of knit fabric at the top so it can slide onto a belt. The pattern includes explanatory diagrams, photo and video tutorials and is adjustable to fit different sizes of belts.

It’s almost enough to make me want to start wearing belts again, even though I haven’t for years. Because who wouldn’t want a few extra little pockets to hold things when you don’t have enough to really justify carrying a bag around?

The pattern is available in English and French on Ravelry and you can also buy a kit complete with the yarn, rivets and clasp (the pattern is not included in the kit) direct on Etsy.

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]

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