Crossover Knit Top

This pretty feminine top from Bernat Yarns features a crossover V-neckline, lace detail and flattering empire waist. The free knitting pattern can be adjusted from size XS to 5XL and the suggested yarn is a soft, natural blend of cotton and corn.

Materials:

• Yarn: Bernat Cotn Corn (60 g / 2.1 oz) 19128 (Water) Sizes XS/S (M-L-XL-2/3XL-4/5XL) 6 (7-7-8-9-9) balls
• Knitting Needles: Sizes 4 mm (U.S. 6) and 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) or size needed to obtain gauge. Size 4 mm (U.S. 6) circular knitting needle 36" [90 cm] long for edging. 1 st holder.

Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in stocking st.

Sizes:
Finished bust
XS/S 36" [ 91.5 cm ]
M 39" [ 99 cm ]
L 43" [ 109 cm ]
XL 47" [ 119.5 cm ]
2/3XL 55" [ 139.5 cm ]
4/5XL 63" [ 160 cm ]

Pattern:

BACK
**With smaller needles, cast on 104 (111-122-133-148-170) sts.
Work 10 rows in garter st (knit every row) noting 1st row is WS.

Change to larger needles and proceed in pat as follows:
1st row: (WS). Purl.
2nd row: K5 (3-3-3-5-5). *P3. K2tog. yfwd. K6. Rep from *, ending last rep with K6 (4-4-4-6-6).
3rd and alt rows: Purl.
4th row: K4 (2-2-2-4-4). *P3. K2tog. yfwd. K6. Rep from *, ending last rep with K7 (5-5-5-7-7).
6th row: K3 (1-1-1-3-3). *P3. K2tog. yfwd. K6. Rep from * to last 2 (0-0-0-2-2) sts. K2 (0-0-0-2-2).
8th row: K6 (4-4-4-6-6). *yfwd. Sl1. K1. psso. P3. K6. Rep from *, ending last rep with K5 (3-3-3-5-5).
10th row: K7 (5-5-5-7-7). *yfwd. Sl1. K1. psso. P3. K6. Rep from *, ending last rep with K4 (2-2-2-4-4).
12th row: K8 (6-6-6-8-8). *yfwd. Sl1. K1. psso. P3. K6. Rep from *, ending last rep with K3 (1-1-1-3-3).
These 12 rows form lace pat.

Cont in lace pat until work from beg measures approx 11" [28 cm], ending on a 12th or 6th row of pat.
Next row: (WS). Purl, dec 14 (13-14-15-10-12) sts evenly across. 90 (98-108-118-138-158) sts.**
Change to smaller needles and work 10 rows in garter st.
Change to larger needles and proceed in stocking st for 26 (28-28-32-34-38) rows, ending with a purl row.

Shape armholes: Cast off 6 (8-9-10-9-12) sts beg next 2 (2-2-2-4-4) rows. 78 (82-90-98-102-110) sts.
Next row: (RS). K2. K2tog. Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 5 (6-8-8-8-9) times more. 66 (68-72-80-84-90) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 6½ (7-7 1/2-7 1/2-8-8) ins [16.5 (18-19-19-20.5-20.5) cm], ending with a WS row.

Shape back neck: Next row: K20 (20-21-24-26-28) (neck edge). Turn. Leave rem sts on a spare needle.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 4 rows. 16 (16-17-20-22-24) sts.
Work 1 row even.

Shape shoulder: Cast off 8 (8-8-10-11-12) sts beg next row.
Purl 1 row. Cast off rem 8 (8-9-10-11-12) sts. With RS facing, slip next 26 (28-30-32-32-34) sts onto a st holder. Join yarn to rem sts and knit to end of row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 4 rows. 16 (16-17-20-22-24) sts.
Work 2 rows even.

Shape shoulder: Cast off 8 (8-8-10-11-12) sts beg next row. Knit 1 row. Cast off rem 8 (8-9-10-11-12) sts.

FRONT
Work from ** to ** as given for Back.
Change to smaller needles and work 8 rows in garter st. Cast off knitwise (WS).

LEFT FRONT BODICE
With larger needles cast on 50 (52-56-60-68-78) sts.
Work 2 rows in stocking st.
Dec 1 st at front edge (end of row) on next and following alt (alt-alt-alt-4th-4th) rows 11 (8-6-4-7-8) times more. 38 (43-49-55-60-69) sts.

Sizes M, L and XL only: Dec 1 st at front edge on following 4th rows (2-3-4) times. (41-46-51) sts.

All sizes: Work 1 (3-3-3-3-3) row(s) even.

Shape armhole: Next row: Cast off 6 (8-9-10-9-12) sts. Knit to last 2 sts. K2tog. 31 (34-39-44-50-56) sts.

Sizes 2/3XL and 4/5XL only: Purl 1 row.
Next row: Cast off (9-12) sts. Knit to end of row. (41-44) sts.

All sizes: Purl 1 row.
Next row: K2. K2tog. Knit to last 2 sts. K2tog.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge (as before) on following alt rows 5 (6-8-8-8-9) times more, AT SAME TIME, dec 1 st at front edge on following 4th rows until there are 16 (16-17-20-22-24) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with a purl row.

Shape shoulder: Cast off 8 (8-8-10-11-12) sts beg next row.
Purl 1 row. Cast off rem 8 (8-9-10-11-12) sts.

RIGHT FRONT BODICE
With larger needles cast on 50 (52-56-60-68-78) sts.
Work 2 rows in stocking st.
Dec 1 st at front edge (beg of row) on next and following alt (alt-alt-alt-4th-4th) rows 11 (8-6-4-7-8) times more. 38 (43-49-55-60-69) sts.

Sizes M, L and XL only: Dec 1 st at front edge on following 4th rows (2-3-4) times. (41-46-51) sts.

All sizes: Work 0 (2-2-2-2-2) rows even.

Shape armhole: Next row: Cast off 6 (8-9-10-9-12) sts. Purl to end of row. 31 (34-39-44-50-56) sts.

Sizes 2/3XL and 4/5XL only: Knit 1 row.
Next row: Cast off (9-12) sts. Purl to end of row.

All sizes: Next row: (RS). K2tog. Knit to last 4 sts. Sl1. K1. psso. K2.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge (as before) on following alt rows 5 (6-8-8-8-9) times more, AT SAME TIME, dec 1 st at front edge on following 4th rows until there are 16 (16-17-20-22-24) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with a knit row.

Shape shoulder: Cast off 8 (8-8-10-11-12) sts beg next row.
Knit 1 row. Cast off rem 8 (8-9-10-11-12) sts.

FINISHING
Neck edging: Sew shoulder seams. With RS facing and circular needle, beg at corner of lower Right Front Bodice, pick up and knit 64 (66-68-74-86-86) sts up right front neck edge to shoulder and 5 sts down right back neck edge. K26 (28-30-32-32-34) from back st holder, dec 3 sts evenly across. Pick up and knit 5 sts up left back neck edge and 64 (66-68-74-86-86) sts down left front neck edge. 161 (167-173-187-211- 213) sts.
Work 8 rows garter st. Cast off knitwise (WS).
Lap right front bodice over left front bodice to measure same width as cast off edge of Front. Sew to cast off edge of Front through all thicknesses.

Armbands: With RS of work facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit 92 (104-112-120-134- 142) sts evenly along armhole edge. Work 8 rows in garter st. Cast off knitwise (WS). Sew side and armband seams.