- Pattern by Fiona Ellis, Vogue Knitting Spring ’08
- Yarn: L.B. Collection Cotton Bamboo in Snapdragon, 490 yds
- Size/Needles/Gauge: 34″ bust, 5.25 spi on US 5’s
- Time to knit: 1 week in May 2011
I didn’t really notice this design in the magazine, but several versions on Ravelry caught my eye. It’s a quick knit and uses hardly any yarn.
The pattern is quite fun, the lace details are engaging and the stockinette goes quickly. I made a few mods to achieve a better fit for me. The body was lengthened a bit, to 13″, I added waist shaping, and short row bust shaping on the front piece. I knt the i-cord straps longer so the neckline would sit lower. I fussed with those straps quite a bit- evenually I braided them at medium tension. Sewing three strands neatly to the back was a bit of trick. For the underarm and neck edging, I did single crochet.
The yarn is 52% cotton/48% bamboo, put up with good yardage- this was a 2 skein project! It feels silky to knit with; the finished fabric is drapey and soft with a slight sheen. The yarn is plied of 10 tiny threads; it’s not particulary splitty thanks to a nice firm twist. Expecting it to grow when blocked, I knit it at 5.5 spi and gently stretched it to 5.25 spi; this is about as loose as I’d want it for a garment. I believe it would be nice at dk gauge (5.5 spi) as well. I’d definitely use this yarn again, though the color selection is a bit limited and unfortunately so is the availabilty. The Lion Brand Collection yarns are available online and in the NYC studio store only. The store is small, but well stocked, with a friendly vibe and cheerful staff, worth a visit if you happen to find yourself in the area (near Union Square).
I really like this top, for its pretty lime green color, braided straps, well placed lace details, and silky drape. The gauge isn’t super fine, but it’s still cool and comfortable for hot weather.
OhSewCrafty Blog 
Leave a comment