Lana Grossa 06 Top Jumper Knitting Pattern

Lana Grossa 06 Top in Alta Moda Cotolana

What is Being Made

The Lana Grossa 06 Top is a classic knitted sleeveless garment designed in two sizes: 36/38 and 40/42. This contemporary top features a fitted silhouette created through strategic armhole shaping and is finished with decorative straps and ribbed armhole bands that provide both structure and visual interest to the neckline area.

Techniques Used

This top is constructed using bottom-up knitting methodology, meaning the garment is worked from the cast-on edge upward toward the shoulders. The pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional row-by-row construction. The finished pieces are then seamed together to create the complete garment. This approach provides excellent control over fit and allows for precise shaping through strategic bind-offs at the armholes.

The armhole shaping employs a graduated bind-off technique, progressively reducing stitches in stages (8 stitches, then 6 stitches, then 4-5 stitches, then 3 stitches, then 2 stitches, and finally 1 stitch at the beginning of successive rows) to create a smooth, curved armhole opening. After the main body pieces are completed and seamed, stitches are picked up along the armhole edges to add decorative ribbed bands and functional straps.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the main body of the garment, created by knitting on the right side rows and purling on the wrong side rows. This produces the classic smooth, V-textured fabric that is the foundation of the top's appearance.
• Rib Pattern (P1, k1): An alternating pattern of one purl stitch followed by one knit stitch, used for the ribbed cuff at the lower edge and for the armhole bands and straps. This elastic stitch pattern provides stretch and recovery, helping the garment maintain its shape.
• Selvage Stitches: Edge stitches worked in purl on both right side and wrong side rows, used at the beginning and end of rows to create neat, finished edges that are easier to seam.

Materials

The Lana Grossa 06 Top requires 200 grams (250 grams for the larger size) of Lana Grossa Alta Moda Cotolana yarn in the colorway Greige (color 8). This premium yarn blend consists of 45% Merino wool, 45% Pima cotton, and 10% polyamide, offering a sophisticated combination of natural fibers with added durability. The yarn is supplied at a weight of 150 meters per 50 grams, providing excellent drape and a refined hand feel suitable for a classic, elegant top.

Construction requires size 3 mm and size 4 mm needles. The smaller needles are used for the initial ribbed cuff and later for picking up stitches along the armholes to create the bands and straps, while the larger needles are used for the main body worked in stockinette stitch. This needle transition is a common technique that allows the ribbed sections to be slightly tighter and more elastic than the main fabric.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 21 stitches and 29 rows measured over 10 x 10 centimeters in stockinette stitch on size 4 mm needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, as the top is designed with specific measurements in mind. The pattern provides instructions for the smaller size with corresponding measurements for the larger size given in parentheses throughout.

Construction Overview

The back and front pieces are worked identically from the cast-on edge. Each piece begins with 87 (95) stitches cast on with size 3 mm needles, then continues in rib pattern for 4 centimeters. Stitches are increased evenly across the final ribbed row to 97 (105) stitches before switching to size 4 mm needles and stockinette stitch. The body is worked straight until reaching 33 centimeters from the cast-on edge, at which point armhole shaping begins through a series of graduated bind-offs. After the front and back pieces are completed and pinned to measurements for blocking, the side seams are sewn together. Finally, stitches are picked up along both armhole edges to create ribbed bands and decorative straps that complete the top's distinctive n