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Ao |
Ao, one of the four oldest Japanese colors, is best described as blue-green. The vivid teal in this sleeveless top fits quite nicely into that ancient color spectrum (and enhances all skin tones). I designed this top to nip in at the waist for gentle shaping and a figure-flattering fit. The wide, shallow dancer neckline and lower hem feature a handsome traveling rib that also stabilizes the edges. The yarn is a combination of bamboo, which offers a soft hand and drape, and cotton, which retains the structure of the stitches.
The simple shape and subtle detail make this top ideal for layering, offering a pop of color that will enliven any kimono. Try it under the Tokai Tomoshibi (page 104) or choose your own styles and colors to mix and match.
About 35 (39, 43, 47, 51)" (89 [99, 109, 119.5, 129.5] cm) in circumference and 20¼ (21¼, 23¼, 24¼, 25¼)" (51.5 [54, 59, 61.5, 64] cm) in length. Top shown measures 35" (89 cm).
Sportweight (#2 Fine).
Shown here: South West Trading Company Terra (50% bamboo, 50% cotton; 120 yd [110 m]/50 g): #449 azurite (green), 6 (6, 8, 9, 10) balls.
Body: size U.S. 5 (3.75 mm): 24" (60 cm) circular (cir).
Edging: size U.S. 4 (3.5 mm): 24" (60 cm) cir.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Stitch holders; marker (m); tapestry needle.
22 stitches and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needle.
RT (worked over 2 sts)
K2tog but leave the sts on the left needle tip, knit the first st again, then slip both sts off the left needle tip.
With larger needle, CO 102 (113, 124, 135, 146) sts. Do not join. Work back and forth in rows as foll:
ROW 1 (RS) [K1, p1] 2 times, *[RT (see Stitch Guide)] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1; rep from * to last 10 sts, [RT] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times.
ROWS 2 AND 4 [P1, k1] 2 times, *p6, [k1, p1] 2 times, k1; rep from * to last 10 sts, p6, [k1, p1] 2 times.
ROW 3 [K1, p1] 2 times, *k1, [RT] 2 times, k1, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1; rep from * to last 10 sts, k1, [RT] 2 times, k1, [p1, k1] 2 times.
Rep Rows 1–4 once more—8 rows total. Change to St st (knit RS rows; purl WS rows) and work even until piece measures 2" (5 cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.
DEC ROW (RS) K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—2 sts dec’d.
Work 5 rows even in St st. Rep the last 6 rows 4 more times—92 (103, 114, 125, 136) sts rem. Work even until piece measures 8½ (9, 10, 10, 10½)" (21.5 [23, 25.5, 25.5, 26.5] cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.
INC ROW (RS) K1, use the backward-loop method (see Glossary) to CO 1 st, knit to last st, use the backward-loop method to CO 1 st, k1—2 sts inc’d.
Work even in St st until piece measures 10½ (11, 12½, 12½, 13)" (26.5 [28, 31.5, 31.5, 33] cm) from CO, ending with a WS row. Rep inc row—96 (107, 129, 140) sts. Work even until piece measures 13 (13½, 15, 15½, 16)" (33 [34.5, 38, 39.5, 40.5] cm) from CO, ending with a WS row.
BO 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then BO 2 sts at beg of foll 2 rows—86 (97, 108, 119, 130) sts rem.
DEC ROW (RS) K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—2 sts dec’d.
Work 1 (WS) row even. Rep the last 2 rows 2 (6, 9, 12, 16) more times—80 (83, 88, 93, 96) sts rem. Work even until armholes measure 6 (6½, 7, 7½, 8)" (15 [16.5, 18, 19, 20.5] cm), ending with a WS row.
Work short-rows (see Glossary) as foll:
SHORT-ROW 1 K28 (30, 33, 35, 37), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 2 K19 (20, 23, 25, 27), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 3 K11 (12, 15, 17, 19), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 4 K7 (7, 9, 11, 12), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 5 K4 (4, 6, 7, 7), wrap next st, turn, purl to end. Cut off yarn.
Attach yarn to left armhole edge and, beg with a WS row, work as foll:
SHORT-ROW 1 P28 (30, 33, 35, 37), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 2 P19 (20, 23, 25, 27), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 3 P11 (12, 15, 17, 19), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 4 P7 (7, 9, 11, 12), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 5 P4 (4, 6, 7, 7), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
Place all sts on smaller needle and set aside.
CO and work as for back until armholes measure 5 (5½, 6, 6½, 7)" (12.5 [14, 15, 16.5, 18] cm), ending with a WS row—80 (83, 88, 93, 96) sts rem.
Work short-rows as foll:
SHORT-ROW 1 K30 (32, 34, 36, 38), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 2 K23 (24, 26, 28, 30), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 3 K17 (18, 20, 22, 23), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 4 K13 (14, 16, 18, 18), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 5 K10 (11, 13, 14, 14), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 6 K8 (8, 10, 11, 11), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 7 K6 (6, 8, 9, 9), wrap next st, turn, purl to end.
SHORT-ROW 8 K4 (4, 6, 7, 7), wrap next st, turn, purl to end. Cut off yarn.
Attach yarn to right armhole edge and, beg with a WS row, work as foll:
SHORT-ROW 1 P30 (32, 34, 36, 38), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 2 P23 (24, 26, 28, 30), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 3 P17 (18, 20, 22, 23), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 4 P13 (14, 16, 18, 18), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 5 P10 (11, 13, 14, 14), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 6 P8 (8, 10, 11, 11), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 7 P6 (6, 8, 9, 9), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
SHORT-ROW 8 P4 (4, 6, 7, 7), wrap next st, turn, knit to end.
Hold back sts on one needle and front sts on another needle with RS tog.
Use larger needle and the three-needle method (see Glossary) to BO 4 (4, 6, 7, 7) left front shoulder sts tog with 4 (4, 6, 7, 7) left back shoulder sts. Cut yarn and draw tail through rem st to secure. Rep for right shoulder—72 (75, 76, 79, 82) sts rem for each of front and back. Place sts on holder.
Weave in loose ends.
With smaller needle and RS facing, pick up and knit 39 (42, 44, 47, 50) sts along front armhole, 1 st in the shoulder seam, and 39 (42, 44, 47, 50) sts along back armhole—79 (85, 89, 95, 101) sts total. Do not join.
NEXT ROW (WS) *P1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
With RS facing, BO all sts in k1, p1 rib as established.
With smaller needle, RS facing, and working wraps tog with wrapped sts as you come to them, k72 (75, 76, 79, 82) front neck sts, pick up and knit 3 sts across the shoulder seam, k72 (75, 76, 79, 82) back neck sts, and pick up and knit 3 sts across other shoulder seam—150 (156, 158, 164, 170) sts total. Place marker (pm) and join for working in rnds.
RND 1 *[RT] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1*; rep from * to * 5 more times, [RT] 3 times, p2tog, k2tog, p2tog, k1, p1, rep from * to * 5 times, [RT] 3 times, p1, [k2tog, p2tog] 2 times—143 sts rem.
RND 1 [RT] 3 times, p2tog, k2tog, p2tog, k1, p1, *[RT] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1*; rep from * to * 3 more times, [RT] 3 times, p1, [k2tog, p2tog] 2 times, [RT] 3 times, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, rep from * to * 5 times, [RT] 3 times, p1, [k2tog, p2tog] 2 times—143 sts rem.
RND 1 [*[RT] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1; rep from * 5 more times, [RT] 3 times, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, p2tog] 2 times—154 sts rem.
RND 1 **[RT] 3 times, p2tog, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, *[RT] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1; rep from * 4 more times, [RT] 3 times, p1, k1, p2tog, k2tog, p2tog; rep from ** once more—154 sts rem.
RND 1 *[RT] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1*; rep from * to * 6 more times, [RT] 3 times, p2tog, k2tog, p2tog, k1, p1, rep from * to * 6 times, [RT] 3 times, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, p2tog—165 sts rem.
RNDS 2 AND 4 *K6, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1; rep from *.
RND 3 *K1, [RT] 2 times, k1, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1; rep from *.
RND 5 *[RT] 3 times, [p1, k1] 2 times, p1; rep from *.
Rep Rnds 2 and 3 once more. BO all sts in patt.
With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, use the mattress st with ½-st seam allowance (see Glossary) to sew side seams.
Steam- or wet-block (see Glossary) and let dry completely before moving.
