Buffalo Top Knitting Pattern

Buffalo Top in Rowan Cotton Trio

What Is Being Made

The Buffalo Top is a knitted garment designed as an advanced beginner level project. This top is available in nine size options, with finished chest measurements ranging from 80 cm to 161.5 cm (31½ inches to 63½ inches), making it suitable for a wide range of body sizes. The garment features a classic fitted silhouette with shaped armholes and a tailored neckline.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques appropriate for advancing knitters. The construction includes armhole shaping achieved through strategic decreases worked at regular intervals. Neck shaping is incorporated with decreases worked at the neck edge over multiple rows, including single decreases, alternate row decreases, and fourth and sixth row decreases for a gradual, professional finish. Shoulder shaping is created by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows to form sloped shoulders. The pattern uses stockinette stitch as the primary fabric throughout the garment.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The Buffalo Top utilizes fundamental knitting stitches and techniques. Knit stitches (K) form the base fabric in stockinette stitch. Knit two together (K2tog) and slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) are used as right-leaning and left-leaning decreases respectively to create shaping throughout the garment. These decreases are worked consistently to maintain a balanced, symmetrical appearance on both sides of the garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Buffalo Top is designed to be knitted using Rowan Cotton Trio yarn, a cotton blend that provides breathability and structure suitable for a fitted top. The pattern requires between 6 and 9 balls of Cotton Trio, depending on the size being knitted. The sample garment shown was photographed in Lime 116 and Teal 118 colorways.

Two needle sizes are required for this project. 3mm (US 2/3) needles are used for initial cast-on and ribbing sections, while 3¼mm (US 3) needles are used for the main body of the garment worked in stockinette stitch. A 3mm (US 2/3) circular needle no longer than 50 cm is also needed for the neckband finishing.

Tension and Fit

The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 34 rows to 10 centimeters, measured over stockinette stitch using the 3¼mm (US 3) needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for proper garment fit and finished measurements.

Construction Details

The back and front pieces are worked identically from the cast-on through the armhole shaping. The garment begins with a cast-on of between 96 and 194 stitches depending on size. Armhole decreases are worked symmetrically on both sides of the piece. Neck shaping occurs after the armhole reaches its full depth, with the center stitches placed on a holder for the neckband and each shoulder worked separately with graduated decreases at the neck edge. Shoulder shaping is completed by casting off groups of stitches to form sloped shoulders. The pattern includes finishing instructions with pressing guidance to complete the garment professionally.