Petit Jardin

**This pattern is tested.** A huge thank you to all my talented and lovely testers: krumel / tastywench / buhitos / skrivnostsonca / ewfeller / Gagran1 / fuzzywuzzypanda / lisamazz / ChoccaKnit / ejmsasha / mietzimaus dorota2211 / edieglass / sylvia1002 / bookworm33329 handbagcrazy / ultragold / cailleach412 / Gwenoveva /subala28 / Shaseaver / SKYSNOTHELIMIT / KahlanAmnell **Design and construction** The stitch-patterns of the circular yoke recalls a small garden in spring; the buds, the small leaves... surrounded by a low trellis.... This spring/summer-top features a rounded crew-neck (lower in front than in back), a circular yoke with plenty of lovely sts, short sleeves (testers knitted short/elbow/long sleeves), A-line shaping of the body (optional) and the hem and cuffs are worked in stitch-pattern. The lower body is bound off using the i-cord bind-off (which even may be used for the sleeves). The top is worked **top-down and seamlessly**, starting from the neckline. You work an elevation of the back, using short-rows. The circular yoke is worked in different stich-patterns, followed by regular increases. At underarms work is divided for sleeves and body. The lower body is worked in-the-round in stockinette sts, finished off by a hem in stitch-pattern and i-cord bind-off. The sleeves are worked in-the round in stockinette sts, finished off by a cuff in stitch-pattern and a rib-patterned edge. **Sizes** There are 9 sizes to choose from. Finished chest-measurements are: 77/85/92/100/108/115/125/135/149 cm = 30.5/33.5/36.5/39.5/42.5/45.5/49/53/59”. **Materials** **Yarn**I recommend that you use a fingering weight yarn with great stitch-definition and that knits up to gauge. I used “Merino Singles”, in the colourway “Floral”, from Bien Aimée, to work my top. This fingering weight, merino yarn, comes in skeins of 100 gr/3.53 oz and 366 m/400 yards. You will need approximately 700/780/860/940/1020/1100/1200/1320/1440 m = 763/850/937/1025/1112/1200/1308/1438/1570 yards of this specific yarn to work the top. **Needles** size 3 mm/US2.5 (or needle size required to meet gauge). **Gauge** 26 sts and 38 - 40 rounds in stockinette sts, after blocking/washing = 10 x 10 cm/4 x 4”. **The pattern** This pattern is tested (see below). The stitch-patterns for the yoke are charted, as well as written out, round by round. There is a schematic. The "unusual" sts (clusters, honeycomb-pattern) are explained. All necessary stitch-counts are given. The A-line of the lower body is explained. Starting from the top-down you have great possibilities to customize the lower body: you may work any sleeve length, work the body with no waist/waist-shaping/A-line... One of my testers even worked the pattern as a dress:) Skill level: intermediate