Sweater Project Ideas: SALE 20% Off Drops Alpaca

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This week I’ll start with some sweater project ideas, so people who want to make larger projects can take advantage of the colours that still have larger quantities, and then next week I’ll move into the slightly smaller projects like tanks, camis, shawls, and scarves!

All our recommendations will be listed HERE, but some involve combining yarns, and all the recommendations and quantities will be in our newsletter/blog.

Various balls of colorful alpaca yarn displayed together, featuring labeled packaging from DROPS with a cartoon alpaca design.

CLEARANCE SALE 20% OFF DROPS ALAPCA

DROPS Alpaca is a lovely yarn spun from 3 strands of 100% superfine alpaca, with an extra twist to provide a durable surface. The alpaca fiber is untreated, which means that it is only washed and not exposed to any chemical treatment prior to dyeing. This highlights the fiber’s natural properties, while it also provides a better shape and texture quality.

SEE PATTERNS THAT USE DROPS ALPACA

  • 100% Alpaca
  • 50g/167 m (183yds)
  • Sport Weight
  • 3mm/US 2.5 needles
  • 24 sts & 32 rows = 4″/10cm
  • Hand Wash, max 30°C, lay flat to dry
  • Feltable
  • Made in Peru
  • See Project ideas on Ravelry

YARN PAIRINGS

Holding two stands of yarn together is a great way to enhance the texture and increase the gauge of a yarn. Here are some recommendations we’ve swatched:

A woman wearing a cream-colored sweater and light green pants, posed against a pink wall, with her hair styled in a low bun.

No Frills Sweater

The No Frills Sweater is a basic raglan worked from the top down in the round stockinette stitch with raglan increases to shape the yoke. Hold one strand of DROPS ALPACA with one of DROPS KID SILK to get the right tension and texture.

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH DROPS ALPACA

Size

  • XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)
  • Finished Bust circumference: 99 (101) 105 (109) 114 (120) 130 (137) 147 (156) cm [39 (39¾) 41¼ (43) 45 (47¼) 51¼ (54) 57½ (61½) inches]

Materials

Note

Instead of the Kid-Silk, you can alternatively hold a strand of DROPS BRUSHED ALPACA & SILK, but this will make it a bit thicker, so check your tension; you might need to go up to a 4.5mm/US7 needle and go down a size in the pattern. DROPS BRUSHED ALPACA & SILK: 8 (8) 8 (9) 10 (11) 11 (11-12) 13 (13) balls.

A woman standing near the shore on a sunny day, wearing a light sweater and blue jeans, holding a striped bag and playing with her hair.

Cumulus Blouse

The Cumulus Blouse is normally a very lightweight sweater, but you can also make a slightly heavier, warmer version using two strands of DROPS ALPACA held together, or 1 strand of DROPS ALPACA held with 1 strand of DROPS KID-SILK. You’ll want to go up to a 5mm/US8 needle to match the pattern’s gauge.

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH DROPS ALPACA

Size

  • XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL
  • Finished Bust circumference: 96 (102) 109 (116) 126 (136) 140 (149) 156 cm or [37¾ (40¼) 43 (45¾) 49½ (53½) 55 (58¾) 61½ inches]

Yarn Options

  • DROPS ALPACA (holding 2 strands together): 8 (9) 11 (11) 12 (12) 13 (13) 14 balls  (use 5mm/US8 needles, or check your
  • DROPS ALPACA 4 (5) 5 (6) 6 (6) 7 (7) 7 balls AND DROPS KID-SILK: 3 (4) 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (5) 6 balls 

Other Materials

A woman stands smiling, wearing a colorful, striped sweater and a rust-colored skirt. She has a bun hairstyle and visible tattoos on her arms. The background features decorative elements like hanging moons and a sheep motif.

Stripes

Stripes is a round yoke sweater worked from the top down, this pullover is the perfect blank canvas. Think of it as a template to mix up colors, yarn bases and your creativity! You could even knit it up in a solid color for a classic wardrobe staple. Be playful and have fun! This sweater is worked seamlessly. The sleeve sts are put on hold while the body is finished and then returned to the needle. This sweater includes instructions for a cropped or full length fit and different collar options.

This sweater is meant to be a blank canvas! Stripe using different colors, or knit it all in one colour. Have fun with it, crop it or not! Whatever your heart (and your wardrobe) fancies!

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH DROPS ALAPCA

Size

  • 1 (2, 3, 4)(5, 6, 7)(8, 9, 10)
  • Finished Bust: 34.25 (37, 40, 46)(50.5, 55, 59.25)(63.75, 68, 72.5)” OR 87 (94, 101.5, 116.5)(128, 139, 150.5)(162, 173, 184.5) cm
  • Recommended ease is + 2 – 6”/5 – 15 cm; sample is shown in Size 3 on a 34”/86.5 cm bust with 6”/15 cm of positive ease.

Yarn

DROPS ALPACA:

  • Solid Colour/Cropped Length: 5 (5, 6, 6)(7, 8, 9)(9, 10, 11) balls total
  • Solid Colour/Full Length: 6 (7, 7, 8)(9, 10, 11)(12, 13, 14) balls total
  • Striped/Yarn 1 (Dark Green): Cropped – 1 (1, 1, 2)(2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2) balls; Full Length – 2 (2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2)(3, 3, 3) balls
  • Striped/Yarns 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 – (Beige, Ochre, Plum, Brick Red, & Grey-Green) IN EACH COLOUR: Cropped – 1 (1, 1, 1)(1, 1, 1)(2, 2, 2) balls; Full Length – 1 (1, 1, 1)(2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2) balls
  • Yarn 4 – (Aqua/Mint) – Cropped – 1 (1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 3) balls; Full Length 2 (2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 3)(3, 3, 3) balls
  • Yarns 8 & 9 – (Yellow & Terracotta) IN EACH COLOUR: Cropped 1 (1, 1, 1)(1, 1, 1)(2, 2, 2) balls; Full Length 1 (1, 1, 1)(1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2) balls

Other Materials

Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge. The Ribbing needle should be 2 sizes smaller than the Main Fabric needle.

A young woman stands on a street, wearing a black and white striped sweater and blue jeans. She holds a brown woven bag and a book while standing in a lively street with people walking in the background.

Olga

The Olga Sweater is worked from the top down in stockinette stitch with stripes. First, the back yoke is worked back and forth with the slope of the shoulders being shaped using short rows and in stripes, which are worked at the same time. Each shoulder is then worked back and forth on a circular needle, and then the shoulders are joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked in the round on a circular needle with stripes. The sleeves are worked down from stitches that are picked up and knitted around the armholes. At the end, a folded neck edge is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the neckline.

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH DROPS ALAPCA

Size

  • XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)
  • Chest circumference: 103 (108) 114 (118) 123 (131) 141 (149) 157 (165) cm OR [40½ (42½) 45 (46½) 48½ (51½) 55½ (58¾) 61¾ (65) inches]

Yarn

Hold 1 strand of DROPS ALPACA and 1 strand of DROPS KID-SILK together:

  • DROPS ALPACA: Color 1 (dark): 3-4 (4) 4 (4) 4 (4-5) 5 (5) 5 (5); Color 2 (light): 3 (3-4) 4 (4) 4 (4) 4 (5) 5 (5) balls
  • DROPS KID-SILK: Color 1 (dark): 3-3 (3) 3 (4) 4 (4-4) 4 (4) 4 (4); Color 2 (light): 3 (3-3) 3 (3) 4 (4) 4 (4) 4 (4) balls

Other Materials

A woman stands in front of a green door, wearing a beige cardigan with black buttons and blue jeans, looking to the side.

Champagne Cardigan

The Champagne Cardigan is worked from the top down with raglan increases on the yoke and a deep V-neck. The neckline of the cardigan is shaped with short rows by raising the back of the neck. The button plackets are worked in double knitting with buttonholes along the right side.

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH DROPS ALAPCA

Size

  • XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL
  • Bust circumference: 113 (117) 121 (128) 134 (146) 157 (167) 173 cm OR [44½ (46) 47¾ (50½) 52¾ (57½) 61¾ (65¾) 68 inches]

Yarn Options

Use 5mm/US8 needles, or check your gauge.

Other Materials

A woman standing outside a store, wearing a light beige knitted sweater with a high neckline and patterned texture, paired with blue jeans. She has short blonde hair and is holding her hair while looking thoughtfully to the side.

Ingrid

The Ingrid Sweater is worked from the top down in a knit and purl texture pattern. First, the back yoke is worked back and forth and the sloping shoulders are shaped using short rows. Then stitches are picked up and knitted for the shoulder sections, which are also shaped using short rows. The shoulder sections are then joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked straight down in the round. The sleeves are knitted in the round from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the armholes. The Ingrid Sweater is worked in a texture pattern, which consists of three different pattern sections, each one separated by an eyelet section.

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH DROPS ALAPCA

Size

  • XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL
  • Bust circumference: 104 (112) 116 (120) 128 (136) 152 (160) 168 cm OR [41 (44) 45¾ (47¼) 50½ (53½) 63 (66¼) inches]

Materials

Various balls of colorful alpaca yarn displayed together, featuring labeled packaging from DROPS with a cartoon alpaca design.

Join the Berroco Cable Craze Blanket Knitalong

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Logo for the Cable Craze Blanket Knit Along by Berroco, featuring colorful yarn balls and knitting needles, with the text 'Cable Craze Blanket Knit Along Jan-Dec 2026'.

Berroco Cable Craze Blanket Knitalong

About the KAL

The Berroco Design Team has crafted twelve spectacular 16 x 16″ blocks, each showcasing a unique cable arrangement that’s perfect for knitters eager to dive in and master these mesmerizing stitches. Released on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, each block takes you on an exciting journey through the wonderful world of cables—from classic twists to interesting rope patterns and everything in between.

Eagle-eyed knitters may notice that this year’s Knitalong is inspired by Norah Gaughan, Berroco’s original cable queen, and her complex crowd favorite Norah’s Vintage Afghan. This Year’s KAL adapts and updates a selection of squares to make it a little more approachable and accessible to more knitters. Work your way through the collection at your own pace, discovering new techniques and building confidence with each design.

Joining the KAL is free, as are the patterns and instructions. The patterns for the squares are both written and charted, and there’s an excellent support video for each. Each month’s pattern is published on the second Tuesday of the month, both on the Berroco website and on Ravelry (Cable Craze Blanket KAL 2026), which will update each month with the new Block. If you sign up for their newsletter (see bottom of their website) you’ll get reminders too.

Various textured knit patterns in shades of beige and cream, showcasing cable and rib designs.
Blocks One to Five of the Berroco Cable Craze Blanket Knitalong

Blocks

Support: Videos & Group

Prize

At the end of 2026, finished projects added to Ravelry will be entered to win a mystery prize pack worth $1000 full of yarn, tools, and accessories from Berroco and its partner brands. Make sure to tag your project #VintageKAL26.

A graphic showcasing three different color palette suggestions for the Cable Craze Blanket KAL, featuring squares labeled as 'Block' with various color combinations.

Colours

The project was designed with 3 colours (one light, one medium, one dark), but you can do any combination you like. I especially like it monochromatic, or even 3 light neutral shades that are close together.

Size

  • Completed Blanket: Approximately 50½ ” / 128 cm x 66″ / 167.5 cm
  • Each Block: Approximately 15½ ” / 39 cm square

Yarn

Berroco Vintage: 6 skeins Main colour, 5 skeins Colour #2, 5 skeins Colour #3

Other Materials

A woman wrapped in a colorful, knitted patchwork blanket featuring various textures and patterns, standing indoors near a window with a warm atmosphere.

Norah’s Vintage Afghan

This year’s Knitalong is inspired by this FREE pattern, Norah’s Vintage Afghan. If you like your cables a bit spicier, then feel free and dive into this pattern; the cables are GORGEOUS! Like the KAL, Norah’s Vintage Afghan also uses Berroco Vintage, but it’s a bit more complex, using 5 colours and comprising 20 blocks.

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS HERE

Logo for 'Cable Craze Blanket Knit Along' featuring colorful yarn balls and knitting needles, organized by Berroco for Jan-Dec 2026.

Wave Tee Pattern: Fast & Fun Knitting Project

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A woman standing in front of a light-colored wall, wearing a burgundy short-sleeve sweater and dark denim shorts. She has blonde hair and is holding sunglasses in her right hand while a black handbag is slung over her left shoulder.

Yay for fast knits! The Wave Tee is designed with a bulky weight textured yarn similar to Estelle Breeze, so it’s sure to work up fast on 6mm/US10 needles. For a smoother texture try holding 2 strands of Sandnes Garn Line together (you can also leverage this option and hold two different colours together to get a marled look). The pattern is simple and elegant with a boat-neck and unfinished edges, and it works up quickly!

Construction

The Wave Tee is worked seamlessly from the top down with a boat neck. Short rows are worked at the neck to raise the back. The yoke is shaped first with increases for the sleeves and then with raglan increases. The body is worked in the round in stockinette stitch. Sleeves are worked at the end, and instructions for either a short sleeve or a long sleeve are provided.

A knitted short-sleeve top in a deep burgundy color, laid flat on a white surface.

Note on Tension

Cotton yarn stretches when washed and with wear. Make a 5″ x 5″ swatch and wash and dry it before measuring your tension. If your tension is coming out tighter than the pattern’s gauge (for example, you are getting 13 or 14 sts = 4″) then go up a size in the pattern.

A woman with blonde hair standing outdoors, wearing a short-sleeve beige knit top and blue jeans. She holds a navy jacket and a book, while looking off to the side against a backdrop of trees and steps.

Size

  • XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)
  • Finished Bust circumference: 87 (90) 95 (100) 107 (117) 125 (135) 142 (152) cm OR [34¼ (35½) 37½ (39½) 42¼ (46) 49¼ (53¼) 56 (59¾) inches]
  • Length mid back: 43 (44) 45 (49) 52 (54) 56 (57) 58 (60) cm OR [17 (17¼) 17¾ (19¼) 20½ (21¼) 22 (22½) 22¾ (23½) inches]
  • Ease: Designed to have approx. 5-7 cm [2-2¾ inches] of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be approx. 5-7 cm [2-2¾ inches] larger in circumference than your bust measurement.
A knitted short-sleeve sweater in a light beige color, resting on a white bed sheet.

Yarn Options

  • For a slightly NUBBLY texture, try Estelle Breeze: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) skeins (consider choosing one size larger in the pattern to get the best fit with this yarn, and get an extra skein to make longer sleeves)
  • For a SMOOTHER texture, try holding 2 strands of Sandnes Garn Line together: 6(7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 11) balls (plus an extra 2+ balls if you want to add long sleeves).
  • SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH SANDNES GARN LINE
A cropped, brown knitted top laid flat on a white background.

Other Materials

A bright red knitted sweater laid out on a green wooden surface, with a ball of red yarn, knitting needles, a cup of coffee, and two books in the background.

To make a long-sleeved version, purchase at least an extra 100g of yarn.

Nebula Sweater: Perfect for Any Season Knitting

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A woman wearing a bright yellow knitted sweater and light blue striped jeans, smiling while standing outdoors surrounded by greenery and pink flowers.

You don’t have to knit summer sweaters in the summer! Not everyone likes summer tops or summer yarns, and you are absolutely allowed to skip ahead and work on a cooler-weather knit right now (you can even get a head-start on holiday knits if you want). Nebula is a great knit for all seasons, you can make it with long sleeves or short, and in a variety of yarns. I love the little details like the textured detail on the shoulders, the cathered sleeve cuffs and the shaped hem ribbing.

I’ve listed a few yarn options, the first two are super simple and you can knit them single-stranded: Drops Air or Drops Brushed Alapca & Silk. The third option is for a marled look like the long sleeved version in the pictures, holding Cascade Heritage with a lace-weight kid-mohair like Drops Kid-Silk. A fouth option is for a spring/summer version that combines one strand of Sandnes Garn Line with one strand of Sandnes Garn Tynn Line.

DETAILS

Oversized and comfy, this drop hem top is perfect for all seasons! You can dress yours up for date night, and then dressing it down for the weekend to snuggle into like a favorite worn-in sweatshirt. You can choose to stick with the short sleeves or go for the longer sleeve version to suit your personal style! This pullover is knit from the bottom up, with a beautiful short-row curved hem and thoughtful shoulder details to accent the crew neck. The body is worked in the round until the divide for the yoke. The remainder is worked flat, and the shoulders are finished using the 3-needle bind off. The sleeves are then picked up from the body and knit in the round.

SEE OUR CURATED LIST OF KNITTING SKILLS HERE

Close-up of a person's arm wearing a vibrant yellow-green knitted sweater with puffy sleeves, showcasing a tattoo on the wrist.

SIZES

  • 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8)
  • Finished Bust Circumference: 40 (46, 52, 58, 64)(70, 74, 78)” OR 101.5 (117, 132, 147.5, 162.5)(178, 188, 198) cm
  • You can really play around with positive ease in this sweater. I think anywhere from 24-10”/61-25.5 cm of positive ease works well.
  • Sample A (grey/short sleeve) shown in size 4 with +23”/58.5 cm ease at the chest; Sample B (green/long-sleeved) shown in size 3 with +18”/46 cm ease at the chest on a woman who is 5’5”/165 cm tall.
A woman wearing a bright green cropped sweater and light blue wide-legged pants stands on a pathway lined with trees. She is smiling and has her hair in a bun.

YARN OPTIONS

There are lots of yarn options for Nebula. The two easiest are Drops Air and Drops Brushed Alapca & Silk – you can work with either of these as single strands, and they’ll match the pattern’s tension perfectly. You can also get the marled effect like the long-sleeved version by holding a fingering-weight yarn like Cascade Heritage with a fingering-weight kid-mohair like Drops Kid-Silk. The third option is a marled look created by holding two strands of yarn together (one fingering and one lace-weight). The fourth option is a summer-weight option, holding a DK weight and a Fingering weight cotton/linen/viscose blend.

OPTION 1: Drops Air

See Projects made with Drops Air

  • Long Sleeve: 6 (7, 7, 8, 9)(9, 10, 10) balls
  • Short Sleeve: 4 (5, 5, 6, 6)(7, 7, 8) balls

OPTION 2: Drops Brushed Alpaca & Silk

See Projects made with Drops Brushed Alpaca & Silk

  • Long Sleeve: 6 (7, 8, 8, 9)(10, 10, 11) balls
  • Short Sleeve: 4 (5, 6, 6, 7)(7, 8, 8) balls

OPTION 3 – Marled: To get a marled effect like in the pictures of the green long-sleeved version, you can also hold a fingering-weight yarn like Cascade Heritage with a lace-weight kid-mohair like Drops Kid-Silk.

Cascade Heritage

  • Long Sleeve: 3 (3, 3, 3, 4)(4, 4, 4) skeins
  • Short Sleeve: 2 (2, 2, 3, 3)(3, 3, 3) skeins

Drops Kid-Silk

  • Long Sleeve: 4 (5, 5, 6, 6)(7, 7, 8) balls
  • Short Sleeve: 3 (4, 4, 5, 5)(5, 6, 6) balls

OPTION 4 – Summer Version: If you want to make a summer version, I think you can combine one strand of Sandnes Garn Line with one strand of Sandnes Garn Tynn Line (check your tension first, it should knit to 18 sts on 5mm/US8 needles). This will come out 5% smaller, but the sweater is oversized so it shouldn’t be too noticeable.

Sandnes Garn Line

  • Long Sleeve: 8 (9, 10, 11, 12)(13, 13, 14) balls
  • Short Sleeve: 6 (7, 7, 8, 9)(10, 10, 11) balls

Sandnes Garn Tynn Line

  • Long Sleeve: 4 (5, 5, 5, 6)(6, 7, 7) balls
  • Short Sleeve: 3 (3, 4, 4, 5)(5, 5, 5) balls

A woman with long, styled hair and tattoos on her arms stands outdoors, wearing a light gray knitted top and striped blue pants, with a blurred background of green foliage and lilac flowers.

OTHER MATERIALS

A woman stands on a porch wearing a lightweight, short-sleeved, gray sweater, with a soft texture and a relaxed fit, paired with high-waisted jeans.
A woman with a bun hairstyle is modeling two different cozy knit tops. On the left, she wears a bright yellow pullover, and on the right, a light gray cropped sweater, surrounded by greenery.

Summer Knitting: Explore the Ranunculus Pullover

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A person wearing a light-colored knitted top with a lace pattern at the neckline, paired with a flowy yellow skirt featuring white floral designs.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus is a great summer knit! It’s made with needles that are a bit larger than the yarn, so it’s a nice, light, open weave. Sandnes Garn Line is the perfect summer yarn, it’s soft, light, washable, and has a little texture to keep things interesting. You can make it with long or short sleeves, whatever makes you happy!

CONSTRUCTION

Ranunculus is a top-down round yoke pullover with lace and textured stitches. The yoke pattern is designed to look like wearing layers of a necklace. Short rows are added between neck ribbing and yoke pattern not only on the back bit also on the front, so that the neckline has a bit of a boat neck shape and the yoke pattern has a necklace look. The round yoke has ample depth, and the finished pullover has cropped length so that you can lay it over dresses or high-waisted skirts and pants. If crops aren’t your style, please adjust the body to your favorite length. You can choose from a smaller or wider neckline, and short sleeves or long puff sleeves with/without a diagonal cuff line.

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH SANDNES GARN LINE

A person wearing a black knitted sweater with a wide neckline and bell sleeves, standing indoors with arms outstretched.

Sizes

  • 1 (2, 3, 4)(5, 6, 7)(8, 9, 10, 11)
  • Finished bust circumference: 117 (123, 129, 134) (140, 146, 151)(157, 166, 174, 180) cm / 46 (48.5, 50.75, 52.75)(55, 57.5, 59.5)(61.75, 65.25, 68.5, 70.75)”
A person smiling and posing in front of a mirror, wearing a bright yellow knitted top and blue jeans, with a cozy home interior in the background.

YARN

Sandnes Garn Line

  • Long sleeve: 5 (5, 6, 6)(6, 7, 7)(8, 8, 8, 8) skeins
  • Short sleeve: 4(4, 4, 4)(5, 5, 5)(6, 6, 6, 6) skeins

OTHER MATERIALS

A person wearing a light beige knitted sweater with a decorative lace pattern around the neckline, paired with blue jeans and a black belt.

Easy Cap Sleeve Tee Pattern for Summer

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A woman smiling while wearing a beige knitted short-sleeve sweater and posing with her hands on her hips in a bright indoor setting.

Long Island Iced Tee

The Long Island Iced Tee is a lightweight, effortlessly chic, semi-cropped, top-down tee. Its elegant cap sleeves, which use compound raglan shaping, feature the Riptide stitch pattern. This stitch pattern is echoed in the delicate hem, keeping the tee light and airy. It knits up super-fast, so you can enjoy making this over a cocktail or two. Shaken or stirred?

We suggest you use Sandnes Garn Tynn Line, a soft, machine washable summer yarn made with cotton, linen and viscose!

A light gray knitted sweater laid flat on a white background, featuring short sleeves and intricate lace detailing along the shoulders and hem.

Construction Notes

The Long Island Iced Tee is worked in one piece, in the round, from the top down. The EOR marker is placed at the back centre. German Short Rows are worked for shaping the neck area of the tee and are worked simultaneously with the raglan shaping. Compound raglan shaping is then worked for the remainder of the yoke. The body is then worked straight to a semi-cropped length but can be lengthened (additional yarn would be required). The cap sleeves are finished with either ribbing or an I-cord bind off. Finally, the neck can be left unfinished with its minimal cast-on edge, or an attached I-cord can be applied. Charts are provided for the sleeve raglan increases on page 15 as a visual aid to the written instructions.

a short-sleeved gray sweater hanging on a white hanger against a white wall

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate.

Video Tutorials

There are several video tutorials linked in this pattern, including:
1) German Short rows
2) 1 x 1 Italian bind off
3) Attached I-cord neckband

Close-up of a smiling woman wearing a beige knitted top with lace details on the sleeves.

Size

  • 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)
  • Finished chest circumference:
  • 84 (92, 99.5, 108, 116.5) (127, 135.5, 144.5, 153)cm
  • 33.5 (36.75, 39.75, 43.25, 46.5) (50.75, 54.25, 57.75, 61.25)”

Suggested fit approx. 5 – 10cm/ 2 – 4” positive ease. Sample shown in size 4 with 5cm/ 2” ease. Finished garment measurements are taken with relaxed fabric after blocking, so please knit and block a gauge swatch.

Close-up of a woman smiling while wearing a light beige knitted sweater with short sleeves and lace detail on the shoulders.

Materials

Please note: if not using Magic Loop for neck, sleeve, or cuffs, then a set of double-pointed needles will also be required.

A handcrafted gray knitted top displayed on a hanger alongside a woman wearing the same top, smiling.

Bea Top Pattern: Easy Boatneck Tank

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A woman standing on a street, wearing a brown sleeveless top and blue wide-legged jeans, holding a woven bag and a denim jacket.

Bea Top

The Bea Top by PetiteKnit is a great simple, summer tank! I love that it has minimal finishing and simple, clean edges. Make it with Sandes Garn Line or Sandnes Garn Tynn Line (two strands together for the latter to get a marled look). This is a great project for newer knitters, since boat-necks require very little shaping.

Construction

The Bea Top is worked from the bottom up. The body is worked in the round in stockinette stitch, and the work is then divided into the front and back yoke which are each worked separately back and forth in stockinette stitch with decreases along both sides. The top is shaped at the top of the yoke by means of short rows to create the boatneck.

Knit a swatch to determine which needle size gives you the correct gauge. Make sure to wash your swatch before taking the gauge measurements, as the recommended yarns might grow with wash and wear. Note that the size of the top will increase by a couple of cm an inch or so with wear after wash and blocking – keep this in mind when choosing which size to knit.

A woman with light blonde hair styled in a bun, wearing a sleeveless brown top, walking down a street lined with shops. She is holding sunglasses and has layered necklaces on.

Size guide
The Bea Top is designed to have approx. 8 cm [3¼ inches] of negative ease, meaning it is designed to be approx. 8 cm [3¼ inches] smaller in circumference than your bust measurement. The sizes XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL) are designed to fit a bust circumference of 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95) 95-100 (100-110) 110-120 (120-130) 130-140 (140-150) cm [29½-31½ (31½-33½) 33½-35½ (35½-37½) 37½-39½ (39½-43¼) 43¼-47¼ (47¼-51¼) 51¼-55 (55-59) inches]. The measurements for the finished top can be found on the front page of the pattern (please note that these measurements only apply if the correct gauge is maintained throughout). Measure yourself before beginning your project to determine which size will fit you the best. For example, if you measure 90 cm [35½ inches] around your bust (or around the widest part of your upper body), you should knit a size S. A top in size S has a bust circumference of 82 cm [32¼ inches] which in the given example would give you 8 cm [3¼ inches] of negative ease.

Schematics can be found here.

The Bea Top in the photos is shown in size xxs.

Sizes:
XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)

Bust circumference:
72 (77) 82 (87) 92 (102) 112 (122) 132 (142) cm
[28¼ (30¼) 32¼ (34¼) 36¼ (40¼) 44 (48) 52 (56) inches]

Total length:
48 (49) 50 (52) 55 (57) 59 (60) 62 (64) cm
[19 (19¼) 19¾ (20½) 21¾ (22½) 23¼ (23½) 24½ (25¼) inches] (measured mid back)

A ribbed brown sleeveless top hanging on a wooden hanger against a pink wall.
Close-up of a brown knitted garment on a white fabric background.

Marled Colour

The marled colour seen in the pictures above is created by working with 2 strands of fingering weight yarn held together. We suggest Sandnes Garn Tynn Line, a soft, machine-washable blend of cotton, linen and viscose.

Yarn Options

Other Materials

A woman stands on a street wearing a brown sleeveless top and blue wide-leg jeans, holding a brown bag and looking to the side.
A woman wearing a brown sleeveless top and high-waisted blue jeans, standing outdoors. She has her hair tied back and is holding sunglasses in one hand, with a brown shoulder bag slung over her arm.

SUMMER STORE HOURS Start THIS WEEKEND!

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Graphic displaying summer store hours: Monday to Saturday from 12 PM to 6 PM, valid from May 20 to September 14. Includes services for in-store shopping, pick-up, shipping, and delivery.

Summer Store Hours

The weather is FINALLY gorgeous, so it’s time to shift to our summer store hours … starting MAY 22nd we will be closed on Sundays:

May 22 to Sept 14, 2024:

Monday to Saturday: 12 pm to 6pm

Chic Lace Provence Top for Spring

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A person holding a bunch of dried lavender while wearing a light purple knitted top with lace detailing and high-waisted white trousers.

Provence Top

The Provence Top is a pretty lace top, perfect for spring and summer! The Provence Top is worked from the bottom up. The body is worked in the round, then it is separated for the front and back, that are worked flat. Then front and back are sewed together on shoulders. Sleeves are worked in the round from armholes.

We suggest using Sandnes Garn Line, a soft, machine-washable blend of cotton, linen and viscose.

SEE PROJECTS MADE WITH SANDNES GARN LINE

A woman wearing a blue knitted top with a lace pattern, standing in front of a plain background. The image showcases her from the back and side, highlighting the top's design.
A woman wearing a light blue knitted sweater with a lace pattern at the shoulders and short sleeves, displaying both front and back views.

Size

  • XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
  • To Fit Bust: 29-33.5 (334-35.5, 36-38, 38.5-40.5, 41-44.5, 45-47)”
  • Finished Bust: 35(38, 41, 44, 47, 50)”
Two women wearing knitted beige sweaters. The woman on the left has straight dark hair and is posing sideways against a striped background. The woman on the right has wavy dark hair, is smiling, and has her hand in her hair while standing against a plain wall.

Materials

A woman wearing a lavender knit top and a straw hat stands in a lavender field, posing playfully while holding her hair back. She wears white shorts and a small handbag, surrounded by vibrant purple lavender flowers.

STORE HOURS Victoria Day Weekend

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Victoria Day Weekend Store Hours

Saturday May 16: 12 to 6 pm

Sunday May 17: CLOSED

Monday May 18: CLOSED

Cover of 'M'dlle Riego's Knitting Book' featuring ornate designs and decorative elements.

Victorian Knitting Manuals

Normally I post a little pattern for you, but I feel like a national celebration of the birthday of a long-dead Monarch (Queen Victoria) deserves something a little more …. today I share the digitized collection of Victorian Knitting Manuals, gratis the Univerity of Southampton’s Knitting Reference Library & JStor (I also found a large collection of vintage patterns from Sirdar, but that’s a story from another era).

Cover of 'The Silkworm Series: Knitting Lessons' featuring illustrated leaves, raspberries, a silkworm, and a butterfly, published by Myra & Son in London.
A page titled 'The Art of Knitting' featuring instructions and abbreviations for knitting techniques.

I like the Silkworm Series: Myra’s Knitting Lessons no.1, it has lots of stitch patterns you can swatch & experiment with. You can also find free old-timey (and more recent) knitting books on the Internet Archive. The Art of Knitting from 1892 (brought to you by the Smithsonian), has a bunch of patterns worth exploring.

Cover of 'Old and New Designs in Crochet Work' by Sophie T. La Croix, featuring intricate crochet patterns.

For my beloved Crocheters, there’s lots of Crochet Resources in the Internet Archive for you too (both old-timey and more recent)!

It just goes to show, you can take the girl out of the library and put her in a store full of yarn, but apparently, you can’t take the library out of the girl!