an airy top with leafy lace on the hem
a simple tie that gathers the waist
and pleats on the shoulders
enjoy the lightness and drape of washi (Japanese paper) yarn

This pattern has been test knitted and tech edited.

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Knitted in airy Japanese paper yarn, Solarae tee features leafy lace along the hem and a simple tie that gathers the waist with ease and grace. Pleats on the shoulders highlight the drape of the yarn while a picot and bobble crochet lace frames the neck. Romantic yet wearable for many occasions, Solarae takes you from quiet morning walks to golden hour daydreams.

NOTES AND TECHNIQUES

The top is knitted in the round from the bottom up, beginning with a lace pattern worked from the chart. An eyelet round is worked before the body continues in Stockinette stitch to the underarm with increases on the front. At the underarm, the front and back are separated and worked flat with decreases on the back and short rows on the shoulders. After pleats are completed on the front shoulders, the front and back shoulders are joined using 3-needle bind off. The neck is finished with a crochet picot and bobble pattern. Stitches are picked up around each armhole and finished with a simple bind off. An i-cord waist tie is threaded through the eyelet round to complete the top.

Clear photo tutorials guide you through the key steps for creating the pleats, while a captioned video tutorial demonstrates the crochet techniques for the picot and bobble border.

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE

Size 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
97.5 (106, 113, 120, 127)(134, 141, 148, 155) cm /
38¼ (41¾, 44½, 47¼, 50)(52¾, 55½, 58¼, 61) inches

The sample was knit in Size 2 and worn with 20 cm / 8” positive ease at bust. Suggested ease at bust: 10 to 20 cm / 4 to 8”.

YARN

Fingering weight
Itobatake
Washi-Lily (380 m / 416 yards per 100 g cone, 60% Japanese paper, 40% cotton)
Sample colour: Natural (Colour 1)

835 (920, 1010, 1095, 1200)(1290, 1405, 1500, 1625) m /
915 (1005, 1105, 1200, 1315)(1410, 1535, 1640, 1780) yards
3 (3, 3, 3, 4)(4, 4, 4, 5) cones

Yardage is an estimate.

NEEDLES

One 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer
Two 3 mm / US 2½ DPNs for i-cord
Two 3.5 mm / US 4 DPNs for pleats

One 3.5 mm / E4 (JPN 6/0) crochet hook

Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

GAUGE (after blocking)

23 sts and 34 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette st with 3.5 mm / US 4 needle.
32 sts (2 patt rep) and 34 rows = 13.5 cm / 5¼” in width and 12 cm / 4¾” in height in Lace pattern with 3.5 mm / US 4 needle

NOTIONS

Stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, tapestry needle

TAG

We would love to see your work! Please share pictures of your tee with the hashtag #solaraetop.

SPECIAL THANKS

Deep gratitude to a team of kind and committed test knitters who offered their time and resources to work through the pattern to make sure that it is as clear and error-free as possible: Natalie, Marianne, Qiu Fang, Su Yan, Roberta, Eveline, Terry , Gabriela, Annette, Uiko, Anna, Haru, Debora and Lina.

Special thanks to Naoko Ogawa (Strands of Life) for tech editing.

PHOTO CREDIT

Photos 4-17 are kindy taken by @amelia_put and modeled by Kim @shirasuboshii.