Knitted summer top

The top is knitted in the round using two strands of yarn on a circular knitting needle from the bottom up to the armhole. Then the work is divided and knitted back and forth on the needle. The top can be knitted with or without the lacy edge at the bottom. If you wish to omit the lacy edge, start by casting on 66 (72) 78 stitches (sts) with two strands of the mohair yarn. Then follow the pattern from step 2.

Using a circular knitting needle size 8 mm and two strands of mohair nylon yarn in the desired colour, cast on 99 (108) 117 sts. Mark the start of the round (rd). Now work 9 rds: Knit (k) to end of each rd. On the 10th rd, *k2, drop the third st so that it drops down through all 9 previous rds*. Repeat from * to * to end of rd a total of 33 (36) 39 times = 66 (72) 78 sts remaining on the needle. This forms a 9 cm lacy patterned edge. You can instead choose to unravel the stitches at the very end.

Continue working k in every rd until the work measures 25 (27) 30 cm (excluding lacy patterned edge). From start of rd, k32 (35) 38, cast off 2 sts, k31 (34) 37, cast off 2 sts. Leave 31 (34) 37 sts on the needle (for the back). Now work the front over the remaining (rem) 31 (34) 37 sts.

Row 1: Slip 1 st knitwise, k to end. Row 2: Slip 1 st purlwise, p to end. Row 3: Slip 1 st knitwise, knit 2 together (k2tog), k28 (31) 34, k2tog through back loop (tbl), k1 = 29 (32) 35 sts. Row 4: As row 2. Continue working 9 (10) 11 cm in stocking stitch without decreasing (dec). Then cast off the centre 3 (4) 5 sts. Right neck edge: On the neck edge, dec as described in row 3 until 9 (10) 10 sts rem. Work 4 (6) 6 rows and cast off. Work left neck edge in the same way, but reverse the shaping.

Worked over the sts rem on the needle. On first k row, dec 1 on each side (as for front). Work 14 (15) 16 cm of stocking stitch. Cast off the centre 6 (8) 9 sts. Leave the right shoulder sts on the needle. Work the left shoulder as follows: On the neck edge, cast off 1 st at the start of alternate rows until 9 (10) 10 sts rem. Cast off. Work the right shoulder in the same way, but reverse the shaping. Cast off.

Sew the shoulders with mattress stitches. If you have chosen to knit the lacy patterned edge and have not already unravelled the dropped stitches down to the 1st row, do this now so that the lacy edge forms at the bottom of your mohair top. Weave in ends.