Albini Top Knitting Pattern

Albini Top in Rowan Summerlite DK & Kidsilk Haze

What is Being Made

The Albini Top is a knitted garment designed as a lightweight summer top. This pattern offers nine different sizes to fit chest measurements ranging from 28-30cm (71-76cm actual garment chest) up to 60-62cm (165.5cm actual garment chest), making it suitable for a wide range of body sizes. The design features shaped shoulders, a ribbed neckband, and knitted armbands for a finished, polished appearance.

Techniques Used

This beginner-level knitting project employs several fundamental techniques that make it accessible to newer knitters while still producing a professional-looking garment. The construction begins with casting on stitches and working the back and front pieces in a flat knit pattern using straight needles. Shoulder shaping is achieved through strategic cast-off rows at regular intervals, creating a fitted silhouette. The pattern demonstrates proper finishing techniques including mattress stitch for joining shoulder seams, which creates an invisible seam ideal for lightweight garments. The neckband and armbands are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, introducing circular knitting techniques. The pattern also includes proper pressing and finishing methods to ensure a professional result.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the main body of the garment, created by alternating knit and purl rows when working flat
• Ribbed Knit: Used for the neckband construction, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in the round (K1, P1 ribbing pattern)
• Garter Stitch: Applied to the neckband and armbands with four rounds of knit stitch worked in the round, creating a subtle textured edge
• Mattress Stitch: A seaming technique used to join the shoulder seams invisibly

Materials and Tools

The Albini Top is designed to be worked using Rowan Summerlite DK and Rowan Kidsilk Haze held together as one strand throughout the project. The yarn requirements are 456 grams (50gm ball) of Summerlite DK in Cantaloupe and 680 grams (25gm ball) of Kidsilk Haze in Burnt Caramel. This combination of a worsted-weight DK yarn with a delicate mohair-blend yarn creates a lightweight, airy fabric perfect for warm-weather wear. The pattern specifies 4mm (US 6) needles for the main body, with the same size in double-pointed needle format for working the neckband and armbands in the round. Additional notions required include stitch holders for holding stitches during construction and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and round beginnings. The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over the pattern using the specified needles and yarn combination.

Pattern Details

The pattern provides comprehensive shaping instructions with cast-off rows worked at the beginning of consecutive rows to create shaped shoulders. The neckband is constructed by picking up stitches from both the back and front neck holders, then working ribbed and garter stitch rounds before casting off loosely. The armbands follow a similar technique, with stitches picked up evenly around the armhole edge and worked in garter stitch. Side seams are joined using mattress stitch from the hem to a marked stitch position, ensuring a neat, professional finish.