Flighty Top Knitting Pattern

Flighty Knitted Top by Kim Hargreaves

What is Being Made

Flighty is a knitted top designed by Kim Hargreaves, available as a downloadable PDF pattern. This intermediate-level garment features a distinctive chevron pattern construction and is sized to fit bust measurements ranging from 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 142-147 cm (56-58 inches), with actual finished bust measurements from 74 cm to 154 cm. The design incorporates left and right side panels that are worked separately before being joined, creating a structured and visually interesting silhouette.

Techniques Used

The Flighty top employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its design. The garment begins with a garter stitch edging, which provides a stable foundation and neat finish. The main construction uses stockinette stitch as the base fabric, combined with strategic increases and yarn forward stitches to create the signature chevron pattern. The pattern requires careful attention to shaping, with increases worked on alternating rows (every third and fourth row) to expand the width of the side panels while maintaining the chevron motif. Decreases using K2tog (knit two together) and K2tog tbl (knit two together through back loop) are incorporated to shape the garment. The pattern also utilizes yfwd (yarn forward) techniques to create decorative eyelets within the chevron design.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – formed by knitting every row, used for the initial 6-row edging on all pieces
• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the primary fabric created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side
• Knit two together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• Knit two together through back loop (K2tog tbl) – a left-leaning decrease for directional shaping
• Make one (M1) – an increase stitch used to add stitches while maintaining pattern continuity
• Yarn forward (yfwd) – creates eyelets and is essential to the chevron pattern design

Materials

Flighty is designed to be knitted using Rowan Summerlite 4ply yarn, a lightweight four-ply weight yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. The pattern calls for 3 to 5 balls depending on the size being knitted, with the smallest sizes requiring 3 balls and the largest sizes requiring 5 balls. The garment photographed in the pattern is shown in the colorway Blossom 444. Two pairs of needles are required: 2.25mm (US 1) needles for the initial cast-on and garter stitch edging, and 3mm (US 2/3) needles for the main fabric. The pattern tension is established at 28 stitches and 36 rows over 10 centimeters when measured over stockinette stitch using the 3mm needles. Additional notions required include stitch markers for tracking the chevron pattern increases and a stitch holder for temporarily securing stitches during construction.

Pattern Construction Details

The Flighty top is constructed in three main pieces: a left side panel, a right side panel, and a front panel. Each side panel begins with 45 to 101 stitches (depending on size) cast on using the smaller needles, followed by 6 rows of garter stitch for a neat edge. The needles are then changed to the larger size, and stockinette stitch is worked for 2 rows before introducing the chevron pattern. The chevron is created through a combination of yarn forward stitches placed symmetrically around a marked center stitch, paired with strategic decreases at the edges. As the pattern progresses, increases are worked every third and fourth row to expand the panels while the chevron pattern is maintained throughout. The side panels are worked until they measure 15 centimeters from the bottom point of the cast-on chevron. The front panel is cast on with double the stitch count of the side panels and also begins with garter stitch edging before transitioning to the main fabric.