Lazy, hazy summer days call for simple, easy knitting – and that’s exactly what I had in mind when I designed the Anne Top. Of course, here in the Yorkshire Dales (and in many other places too!), those sunny days can come and go quite quickly. I wanted to create a design that was easy to pick up and put down between the showers – and would be ready in time for that perfect burst of sunshine!

The Anne Top is a simple knit, with no shaping to worry about. The only seams are at the sides, and the shoulders are joined with buttonholes and buttons, adding a lovely finishing touch. It’s a relaxed piece to throw on during warm days, and when autumn arrives, it layers beautifully over long-sleeved tops to add a pop of creative colour.

I named this pattern after Lady Anne Clifford of Skipton Castle – a nod to local history and strength through the changing seasons.

CONSTRUCTION
The back and front are knitted flat from the bottom up in separate pieces and joined together. There are no stitches to pick up for the neck or armhole edges.

TECHNIQUES USED
Cast on, knit, purl, simple lace pattern, cast off. Joining two side seams. Optional but recommended to create a joy of joining your pieces: mattress stitch and three needle cast off.

YARN
3(4:4:5:5) 100g balls of dk weight yarn.
This amount is based on the cotton yarn I used which has 212m per 100g.

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
3.75mm & 4mm.

NOTIONS
4(4:6:6:8) buttons.

GAUGE (tension)
22 stitches and 32 rows to 10cm/4ins square over garter stitch rib pattern. I obtained this gauge with 4mm needles.
It is important to obtain gauge so do swatch and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
I recommend a positive ease of 1-5ins/3-12cm at the chest.

Size
1, (2, 3, 4, 5)

Actual Chest Circumference
85, (93, 105, 112.5, 120)cm
33½, (36½, 41¼, 44¼, 47¼)ins

Length (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
55, (56, 60, 64, 67)cm
21½, (22, 23½, 25¼, 26¼)ins

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.