Happy Hour Top - Knitting Pattern

This adventurous beginner, top-down open-back top includes a fun construction, and simple front with a fun split-back detail. The fun and sporty fit, and multiple options for sleeve finishing will have you making multiple tops for every occasion. This pattern is perfect for any body, any yarn, and any skill level.

Sizes

This pattern is written to meet the finished measurements in the chart provided below, with finished bust sizes: 28, 32, 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)[56, 60, 64]"/71.5, 81.5, 91.5 (102, 112, 122, 132)[142.5, 152.5, 163]cm.

The sample was knit to about 2"/5cm of negative ease (smaller than my body measurements) at my full bust. With previous garments, I have found through testers and my own samples, that this pattern would look best with anywhere between 2"/5cm of negative ease and 2"/5cm of positive ease.

Materials

You will need at least four stitch markers and one BOR marker, waste yarn or extra needles to hold live stitches, an extra main needle or a cord twice the circumference of your body, darning needle, scissors, measuring tape, and your super amazing body.

Techniques

You will need to know how to pick up stitches, knit in the round, purl, increase, decrease, hold stitches, complete a sewn bind-off, block, weave in ends, and have fun.

Suggested Yarn

Sunfish from thelittlewolfknits: 75/25 superwash merino/nylon, fingering weight 4-ply, 463yd/424m per 100g. The sample used two skeins of Strawberry Milk.

Any light fingering should work – just make sure to adjust to get gauge.

-Alternatives include:

o Knit Picks Stroll

o Cascade Yarns Heritage

Suggested Needles

Main Needle: US 5 (3.75mm) circular needle

Ribbing Needle: US 4 (3.5mm) circular needle

But use whatever needle you need to achieve gauge!

Gauge

24 sts x 32 rows = 4”/10cm stockinette knit FLAT and blocked with your main needle. When swatching, remember to cast on more stitches than you’re intending to measure so that you can get an accurate measurement (the end and beginning stitches tend to be looser). I recommend using this tutorial to start and finish the swatch for the most accurate measurements.

Color Suggestions

Like I said, this pattern is perfect for any yarn, and can be made with a tonal or variegated AND it would make an amazing scrappy project. Have random odds and ends lying around? Use them for a fun stripey version!

Yardage:

For the top WITHOUT SLEEVES, you’ll need: 495, 576, 660 (754, 881, 975, 1082)[1230, 1334, 1440]yds/450, 525, 600 (686, 802, 887, 985)[1120, 1214, 1310]m of Sunfish.

If using the suggested yarns, that would be 2, 2, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3)[3, 3, 4] skeins of Sunfish.

For the top WITH SLEEVES, you’ll need: 953, 1063, 1188 (1296, 1478, 1641, 1804)[1980, 2167, 2342]yds/868, 967, 1081 (1179, 1345, 1494, 1642)[1802, 1972, 2132]m of Sunfish.

If using the suggested yarns, that would be 3, 3, 3 (3, 4, 4, 4)[5, 5, 5] skeins of Sunfish.

Each additional 1"/2.5cm of length to the body will require approximately an additional 26, 30, 34 (37, 41, 45, 49)[52, 56, 60]yds/24, 27, 31 (34, 38, 41, 44)[48, 51, 54]m.