OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern by Coralie Meslin from Knitscene Summer ’11
• Yarn: RYC Silk Cotton in Paprika, ~610 yds
• Size/Needles/Gauge: 35″ bust, 4.5 spi on US 7’s
• Time to knit: 5 days in June 2011

This trendy top was a stashbuster and practically instant gratification.

The pattern is really simple, boring or soothing depending on one’s point of view.  I started this at Worldwide Knit in Public Day, looking for an easy project.  The top finished quickly after that, as I had some time off work.  I didn’t really make any mods, other than short row shoulder shaping and 3 needle bind off for the shoulder seams.  The pleating at center front neck took a few tries before I was satisfied with the look, and the technique described in the pattern didn’t exactly work for me.  I did a slip stitch crochet all around to tighten the front neckline.

The yarn (53% silk/47% cotton) has a nice drapey quality; it is somewhat heavy for summer wear IMO but I guess it will work in the AC and the fabric should breathe.  The construction is rounded 3 ply and silk has a somewhat crunchy feel while knitting.  One pet peeve: the ball bands instructs “Do Not Wash”.  Say what?  Neither silk nor cotton will disintegrate when wet and frankly I would not knit or sew anything that couldn’t be washed.  This top was blocked in the usual fashion (soak, spin, dry flat), and will be hand washed like all my other knits.

I love the deep neckline, triangular shoulder sections, and front pleating.