Nundle Summer

This fashionable top is designed for those who like a looser type of hand knit. The yarn combines the qualities of wool and linen, creating a unique texture and an irregular shape.

This light, summery knit is casual enough for day wear and stylish enough for evening.

What you'll need

Yarn: 5 (5, 6, 6) x 50g Nundle Woollen Mill, 'Summer' Wool Linen 3ply

Needles: One pair 12mm
Knitters needle for sewing seams

Tension: 13 stitches and 11 rows to 10cm measurement in stocking stitch using 12mm needles

Note: Cast on and off very loosely, using a method that allows the finished edges of each piece exaggerated stretch. For this example: make a loose slip knot on your 12mm needle. Knit very loosely into this first stitch, bringing the new stitch around and onto the needle in front of the first stitch, thus creating a new stitch. For all further stitches slip the needle through the space between the first and second stitch, draw the yarn (for each new stitch) around the needle very loosely bringing the new stitch around and onto the needle in front of the previous stitch. This method forms a loose chain effect on the hem edge. Never make the stitches tight.

Make It

BODY (back and front both alike)

Cast on 54 (59, 65, 71) sts loosely.
1st Row Knit.
2nd Row Purl.
3rd Row Knit.
Cont in st st.
7th & 8th Row Knit (hem band).
9th Row Purl.
10th Row Knit.
Cont knitting in st st until the neckband.
22nd,24th & 26th Rows (all sizes) knit the first 2 sts tog and repeat at the end of each row by knitting into the back of the last 2 sts, then cont to the armhole. (If extra length required add between row 27 and armhole).

ARMHOLE

42nd & 43rd Rows (43rd & 44th, 44th & 45th, 45th & 46th) cast off the first 4 sts of each
row for Small and Medium sizes, and the first 5 sts of each row for the Large and X-Large sizes.
44th & 45th Rows (45th & 46th, 46th & 47th, 47th & 48th) knit first 2 sts tog and at the end of each row knit the last 2 sts tog.
Knit into the back of the sts at end of row, cont knitting in st st to neckband.

NECKBAND

54th & 55th Rows (56th & 57th, 58th & 59th, 60th & 61st) Knit.
56th Row (58th, 60th, 62nd) Purl.
57th Row (59th, 61st, 63rd) Knit.
Cont in st st. Cast off loosely at 61st Row (63rd, 65th, 67th).

SLEEVES (two alike)

Cast on 40 (42,44,47) sts loosely.
1st Row Knit.
2nd Row Purl.
3rd and 4th Rows Knit (band).
5th Row Purl.
6th Row Knit.
Cont knitting st st for the rest of sleeve.
To shape lower sleeve flair, for all sizes decrease at 6th, 12th and 20th row by knitting the first 2 sts tog and at the end of these rows knit the last 2 sts tog (knit into the back of the sts).
If required add extra length between 21st and 30th Rows (all sizes).
For each size cast on 1 st at the beginning of each for the following rows:
Small: 33rd, 34th, 37th, 38th.
Medium: 34th, 35th, 38th, 39th.
Large: 35th, 36th, 40th, 41st.
X-Large: 36th, 37th, 41st ,42nd.

SLEEVE HEAD

42nd & 43rd Rows (43rd & 44th, 44th & 45th, 45th & 46th)
Small and Medium sizes cast off first 4 sts and for Large and XLarge sizes cast off first 5 st, then cast off first 2 sts of the next 2 rows, for the next 4 (5, 6, 7) rows knit the first 2 and last 2 sts of each row tog.
For the next 4 rows (all sizes) cast off the first st and knit the next 2 st tog, at the end of each row cast off remaining st loosely.

TO MAKE UP

The idea is to catch the garment together simply, creating as little bulk as possible. A loose blanket stitch works well.
With right side face down, lie the back and front pieces flat (not on top of each other) so that they meet at the shoulder and with the cast off edges of the shoulder just touching.
Sew in blanket stitch catching each stitch from shoulder edge (Small and Medium 4cm, Large and X-Large 5cm) to required shoulder width. To return to outer shoulder edge, back stitch into the last stitch at neck and then into each alternate stitch to shoulder edge.
Sew sleeves to body then side and sleeve seams. Using a loose blanket stitch, sew row ends together (on the wrong side) with ends seams just overlapping, stitch from one interlocking loop to the next, floating the thread over the length of the knitted stitches to the next interlocking loop.
Keep in mind that the seams and the knitting need to look as similar as possible, (i.e. do not make the seams thick as they will stand out and look messy).
Stitch all thread ends back into seams and secure.

Note: To keep the irregular appearance, do not iron, press or steam.

CARE

Gentle hand wash in lukewarm water with mild soap (not detergent or bleach), rinse and squeeze, gentle washing in a towel to remove excess water, to dry, lie flat and reshape. Dry Clean P, no iron, no steam. Garment may shrink slightly regaining form with wear.

DESIGNER: Philippa Pearson