Pretty Ribbed Tops to Knit

Every year there are more great summer tops to knit, and this year a bunch of them that caught my eye used ribbing as a pattern element, not just an edging. Let’s take a look at some fun ribbed tops to knit for summer.

The Bloodroot Tee by Andrea Gaughan reminds me of tops from the 1970s, with a close fit (the pattern calls for 2 inches/5 cm of negative ease) and allover ribbing. The retro colors used in the samples definitely help with that feeling, too. The pattern uses fingering weight yarn and there are two fit profiles, based on classic women’s and men’s sizing, respectively. Each has 10 size options and is meant to fit a bust/chest measurement from 30 to 66 inches, or 76.2 to 167.6 cm. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

The September Shirt by iluvtoknit (also on Ravelry) is a top down raglan worked in 2×2 ribbing with cap sleeves. It’s meant to be a project you can work in any yarn to any gauge, and includes a spreadsheet to help you determine your stitch counts based on your gauge and measurements.

Another great ribbed top knitting pattern is the Josephine Top from Lily Kate Makes on Etsy. This allover ribbed pattern also includes cap sleeves and has a boatneck neckline. It calls for DK weight yarn and comes in nine sizes. The pattern is meant to be worn with “a significant amount of negative ease” but the sizes are meant to fit an actual bust measurement of 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 60 to 62 inches (152-157 cm).

Or try taking ribbing in a different direction (with a bit of stockinette stitch on this one, too, but I’ll allow it because it looks cool) with the Geometry Tee from Minimi Knit Design. The cute cropped top calls for DK weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes, ranging from an actual bust measurement of 30 to 66 inches, or 76 to 167.5 cm. It’s meant to be worn with 7-9 inches/18-23 cm of positive ease.

If your family is the sort to do a turkey trot for Thanksgiving, or even just to take family pictures, you’ll want to get started knitting up some Turkey Sack Hats with this pattern from Underground Crafter.

The pattern uses super bulky yarn and is rated easy. It’s knit flat but there are a few skills in here around the shaping of the eyes, which includes changing colors, working bobbles and doing a wicked purl 3 together decrease. Twice.

But that’s all in one row, and the rest of it is pretty simple. The beak is worked separately and sewn on, and the side of the hat is stitched up to make it into a hat.

What’s great about this one is that it comes in 10 sizes, ranging from newborn to adult large, so you really can make one for everyone in the family. And because it uses super bulky yarn you can knit a bunch pretty quickly if that’s a thing you’d like to do.

It’s also fun because you could use this base pattern to make different animals or for different holidays. Make it all in orange and stitch on a jack o’lantern face for Halloween, or make a white one that’s a snowman, for example.

In any style this would also be a fun gag gift for that person in your life who has everything or doesn’t want gifts, or if you do a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange at work or elsewhere.

And make sure whether you’re making it a turkey or some other character that you include the pom poms at the top! They’re just so cure and a great way to add a bit more color to the project, and they’re easy to make. (See also: ways to make a pompom with yarn.)

You can grab the free pattern at the Underground Crafter website.

[Photo: Underground Crafter]

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