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Sweeping lace, delicate twisted-stitch cables, and an unusual construction make the Hopeful Romantic Top a showstopper. The top is knitted in four separate pieces: the lacy bottom edging, a cabled band, the main body, and the collar. The pieces are sewn together, with buttons securing the collar.

Difficulty Advanced

Yarn Weight 3

Finished Size 27 (31 ¼, 35 ¾, 40, 44 ¼, 48 ¾, 53, 57 ½)“ circumference at underarm. Top shown measures 35 ¾”; modeled with 4 ¼“ of negative ease.

Yarn Julie Asselin Leizu DK (90% superwash Merino wool, 10% silk; 260 yd 238 m/4 oz 113 g): Biscotti, 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8) skeins.

Needles Sizes 4 (3.5 mm) and 6 (4 mm): 24–32” circular (cir), depending on size you are making. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Markers (m); removable m; cable needle (cn); stitch holders; two 13⁄16” buttons; tapestry needle.

Gauge 22 sts and 36 rnds = 4” in Diamond Mesh patt on larger needle; 23 sts and 30 rnds = 4” in Horseshoe Lace patt on larger needle.

For techniques you don’t know, please visit our online knitting glossary at www.interweave.com/go/knitting-glossary

NOTES

• This top is worked in four pieces: a lace edging for the bottom worked in the round, a cable strip worked flat and sewn together at the ends, a body portion in allover lace worked both in the round and flat at the top, and a collar in a matching cable worked flat and buttoned in the back. All pieces are then sewn together.

• After the back is divided for the neck slit, if there are not enough stitches adjacent to the garter stitch at the neck to work a decrease and its corresponding increase, work these stitches in stockinette stitch instead.