Promise: free pattern.

I decided to add another free pattern to Ravelry: my tee called "Promise".

I first published it in September 2010 on my photoblog when this space didn't exist yet. I would like to keep all my patterns in one place (here) and that's why I decided to re-post this pattern on this blog.

“PROMISE” – project notes.

I named this top “Promise” because knitting it was very promising as well as the fact I actually finished it and it fits me perfectly is a sort of promise for my future knitting. I guess I will be more confident in knitting my own ideas and seeing good result of work motivates me a lot.

“Promise” was knitted in the round from top to bottom. To make it more interesting I decided to use lace mesh pattern which I adapted from this book.

I used 4 skeins of Gedifra Riana Color yarn.

Needles: 4.5mm circular (60cm and 80cm long), 4.5mm dpn (double pointed needles, for sleeves)

My gauge was: 18 sts and 28 rows for 10cm square

Lace mesh pattern (multiple of 3 stitches) for knitting in the round:

Row 1: k2, *yo, sl1, k2, psso the 2 k sts, repeat from * to last st, k1

Row 2: knit

Row 3: k1, *sl1, k2, psso the 2 k sts, yo, repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2

Row 4: knit

Abbreviations:

k- knit

p- purl

sl- slip

psso- pass slipped stitch over

m1- increase one stitch by knitting front and back of one stitch

m3- make 3 stitches out of one: knit through the back and front of one stitch- this will give you two stitches and create vertical strand between them; pick it up with left needle and knit it through the back: you’ve made 3 stitches from one

sm- slip marker

With shorter circular needles I cast on 106 stitches and joined carefully in the round.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: purl 

Row 3: knit

Row 4: purl

Next row: pm, k1, pm, k12 (this will be the right sleeve), pm, k1, pm, k39 (this will be the front), pm, k1, pm, k12 (this will be the left sleeve), pm, k1, pm, k39 (this will be the back).

(Note: when dividing your stitches, for the front always take amount of stitches that is multiple of 3: this is important for the mesh lace pattern to work. )

Next row: k1, sm, m1 (knit the front and the back of the stitch: 1 stitch increased), k1, m1, m1, m3 3 times, m1, m1, k1, k1, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, start lace mesh pattern and knit it to one stitch before marker, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, k1, k1, m1, m1, m3 3 times, m1, m1, k1, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, k to one stitch before maker, m1

Edited: the first and the last stitches of the first lace pattern row are at the same time the stitches that you knit front and back ("m1" in the row above)

Next row: knit one round

Next row: k1, m1, knit all right sleeve stitches to one stitch before marker, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, knit in lace mesh pattern to one stitch before marker, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, knit all left sleeve stitches to one stitch before marker, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, knit to one stitch before marker, m1

Next row: knit one round

This looks confusing but it is really simple in practice: you will always knit the stitches between markers and always increase one stitch before and after markers by knitting them front and back. You do it every other row which means that you make increases and knit in lace mesh pattern in one row and the next row you only knit the whole round.

Keep knitting your top accordingly and try it every now and then to see if it fits and when it’s time to put sleeve stitches on scrap yarn (I did 11cm of lace pattern and it was enough for me to finish increases). You may want to change for longer (80cm) needles as you get more and more stitches. Also, because you're increases stitches, you will have to adjust your lace pattern while knitting.

Put sleeves stitches on scrap yarn, leaving one marker under each arm. Carry on knitting the body in round in stockinette stitch, decreasing one stitch before and one stitch after markers every 12th row= 4 stitches decreased every 12th row (I did 3 decreases on each side in total).

Knit few centimeters and then increase one stitch before and one stitch after markers every 12th row = 4 stitches increased every 12th row (I did 2 increases on each side only as I reached my desired length).

Knit until your desired length.

(Note: try your top very often to check if it fits you. Everyone has different body shape so you might need to increase or decrease more or less often. This project notes correspond to XS/S size only).

Last row: purl

Cast off.

Sleeves (both alike): pick up 2 stitches in armhole and move sleeve stitches from scrap yarn onto 4 dpn needles. Knit rounds in stockinette stitch until you get your desired length.

Last two rows:

1: *k2, k2tog, repeat from * to the end.

2: purl

Cast off.

I hope my notes can help some other knitters. I’m not sure if I’ve written everything clearly enough but I’m not professional in writing knitting patterns and based all these notes on my memory of how I knit my “Promise”.

Happy knitting!

***Note: These are my project notes written down to give other knitters some idea how I knit my top. These notes should only be treated as a guide in knitting your own “Promise” top and they musn't be used to knit garments for commercial purposes.***