Dawson Shell Top Knitting Pattern

Dawson Shell in Blue Sky Fibers Skinny Cotton

What is Being Made

The Dawson Shell is a women's knitted sleeveless top designed by Vladimira Cmorej. This versatile garment can be worn layered under a jacket or displayed on its own to showcase the attractive back detail and thoughtfully engineered arm shaping. The design is available in five sizes ranging from Women's XS to XL, with finished chest measurements from 30½ inches to 46½ inches, making it suitable for a wide range of body types.

Techniques and Construction Methods

The Dawson Shell employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that create visual interest and structural integrity. The main body is constructed using the stockinette stitch, a fundamental knitting technique that produces a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side. The mock turtleneck features plaited basket stitch, a textured stitch pattern that adds dimension and visual appeal to the neckline area. The garment incorporates strategic body shaping through decreases worked at regular intervals to create a fitted silhouette. Additionally, the pattern includes a back neck opening with a simple crocheted button closure, adding both functional and decorative elements to the design.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch – Used for the main body of the shell, creating a smooth, flat fabric
• Plaited Basket Stitch – Featured in the mock turtleneck to add texture and visual interest
• Decreases (ssk and k2tog) – Applied for body shaping to achieve a fitted silhouette
• Bind Off – Used for armhole shaping and finishing edges
• Single Crochet – Applied for the back button closure

Materials and Tools Required

This pattern is specifically designed for use with Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton Skinny yarn, which is 100% organic cotton. The yarn is available in 65-gram hanks with 150 yards per hank. The color shown in the pattern is No. 314 Gravel. Yardage requirements vary by size: XS and S sizes require 5 hanks each, Medium requires 6 hanks, Large requires 7 hanks, and XL requires 8 hanks, for a total yardage range of 750 to 1200 yards depending on the finished size.

For needles and hooks, the pattern calls for a 24-inch circular needle in size 5 (3.75mm) to be used at gauge, and a size F-5 (3.75mm) crochet hook for the back button closure. The gauge is established at 21 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches when worked in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Additional tools and notions needed include eight 5/8-inch buttons for the back closure, a stitch holder for holding stitches during construction, stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming if necessary.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as Intermediate, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle garment construction with shaping, multiple stitch patterns, and finishing details. The combination of stockinette and textured stitches, along with the armhole and body shaping, requires attention to detail and understanding of how to work decreases and manage multiple stitches simultaneously.