Letters to Juliet

Knitted top in DROPS Safran. The piece is worked bottom up, with small bobbles. Sizes S - XXXL.

DROPS 231-20
DROPS Design: Pattern e-337
Yarn group A
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SIZES:
S - M - L - XL - XXL - XXXL

MATERIALS:
DROPS SAFRAN from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group A)
150-200-200-200-250-250 g colour 18, off white

NEEDLES:
DROPS SINGLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 3 MM.
DROPS SINGLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 2.5 MM.

KNITTING TENSION:
24 stitches in width and 32 rows in height with stocking stitch = 10 x 10 cm.
NOTE: Needle size is only a guide. If you get too many stitches on 10 cm, change to a larger needle size. If you get too few stitches on 10 cm, change to a smaller needle size.

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EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:

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RIDGE/GARTER STITCH (worked back and forth):
Knit all rows.
1 ridge = knit 2 rows.

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1 and A.2. The diagrams show all rows in the pattern from the right side.

INCREASE TIP (for sides of front/back piece):
All increases are worked from the right side.
Increase 1 stitch inside the outermost 2 stitches by making 1 yarn over. On the next row purl the yarn overs twisted to avoid holes, then work the new stitches in stocking stitch.

DECREASE TIP (armholes):
All decreases are worked from the right side.
AFTER THE 1 EDGE STITCH AND THE RIB:
Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch (= 1 stitch decreased).
BEFORE THE RIB AND THE 1 EDGE STITCH:
Work until there are 2 stitches left before the rib, knit 2 together (= 1 stitch decreased), work 6-6-8-8-10-10 stitches in rib and 1 edge stitch in garter stitch.

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START THE PIECE HERE:

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TOP – SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The back and front pieces are worked separately, back and forth and bottom up. Straps are worked on the front piece and then sewn to the back piece.

BACK PIECE:
Cast on 100-112-122-136-150-166 stitches with needle size 2.5 mm and DROPS Safran. Purl 1 row from the wrong side. Then work rib (knit 1, purl 1) with 1 edge stitch in GARTER STITCH on each side – read description above.
When the rib measures 3 cm, knit 1 row from the right side where you decrease 9-11-13-15-13-15 stitches evenly spaced = 91-101-109-121-137-151 stitches.
Change to needle size 3 mm. Work 5 rows stocking stitch with 1 edge stitch in garter stitch on each side.
REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION!
Work the next row from the right side as follows: 1 edge stitch in garter stitch, 3-3-2-3-1-3 stitches in stocking stitch, work A.1 8-9-10-11-13-14 times, A.2, work 3-3-2-3-1-3 stitches in stocking stitch and 1 edge stitch in garter stitch. Continue this pattern.
When the piece measures 6 cm, increase 1 stitch on each side – read INCREASE TIP. Increase like this every 5 cm a total of 4 times on each side = 99-109-117-129-145-159 stitches.

When the piece measures 23-24-25-26-27-28 cm, work the next row as follows from the right side: 1 edge stitch in garter stitch, (knit 1, purl 1) over the next 12-14-16-18-20-22 stitches, work as before until 13-15-17-19-21-23 stitches remain, (purl 1, knit 1) over the next 12-14-16-18-20-22 stitches and 1 edge stitch in garter stitch. NOTE: If a knot is close to the rib, work these stitches in stocking stitch instead. Also applies when working the armholes.
Continue the pattern with 12-14-16-18-20-22 stitches in rib and 1 edge stitch in garter stitch on each side.

When the piece measures 25-26-27-28-29-30 cm, cast off 6-8-8-10-10-12 stitches for the armholes at the beginning of the next 2 rows = 87-93-101-109-125-135 stitches.
Continue the pattern with 6-6-8-8-10-10 stitches in rib and 1 edge stitch in garter stitch on each side.
AT THE SAME TIME on the first row from the right side decrease 1 stitch on each side for the armholes – read DECREASE TIP. Decrease like this every 2nd row a total of 3-4-4-6-10-13 times, then every 4th row 4-4-5-4-3-2 times = 73-77-83-89-99-105 stitches.
When you have worked 3 rows after the last decrease, knit 1 row from the right side where you increase 8-10-10-10-10-14 stitches evenly spaced (do not increase over the 7-7-9-9-11-11 outermost stitches on each side) = 81-87-93-99-109-119 stitches. The piece measures approx. 7-8-9-9-10-11 cm from the bottom of the armholes. Change to needle size 2.5 mm.
Work rib from the wrong side as follows: 1 edge stitch in garter stitch, * purl 1, knit 1 *, work from *-* until there are 2 stitches left, purl 1 and 1 edge stitch in garter stitch. Continue this rib for 3 cm. Cast off a little loosely. The piece measures approx. 35-37-39-40-42-44 cm.

FRONT PIECE:
Cast on and work in the same way as the back piece but, instead of casting off all the stitches after the rib at the top, work straps as follows from the right side: Work the first 11-11-13-13-15-15 stitches and place them on a thread for one strap, cast off 59-65-67-73-79-89 stitches and work the last 11-11-13-13-15-15 stitches as follows:

STRAPS:
= 11-11-13-13-15-15 stitches on the needle. Continue the rib with 1 edge stitch in garter stitch on each side until the strap measures 14-14-14-16-16-16 cm (half the length will be at the back). Cast off. Work the other strap in the same way.

ASSEMBLY:
Sew the straps to the back, on the outside edge.
Sew the side seams inside the 1 edge stitch.

Diagram explanations

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