Lili Top MODE Collection Knitting Pattern

Lili Top MODE Collection in Rowan Summerlite DK

What is Being Made

The Lili Top is a striped knitted top designed as part of the MODE Collection. This garment is a pullover-style top available in multiple sizes ranging from 71-76 cm to 152-157 cm chest measurements, making it suitable for various body sizes. The top features a classic crew neckline with shaped shoulders and is constructed using a straightforward knitting approach with strategic shaping at the neck and shoulders.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level project employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished structure. The garment utilizes striping as a primary design element, requiring careful attention to color changes throughout construction. Decreasing stitches is used extensively to shape the neckline and shoulders, creating a fitted silhouette. The pattern involves working separate sections for the front and back pieces, with the front featuring more complex neck shaping than the back. Stitch holders are employed to temporarily hold stitches, particularly at the neckline where stitches are reserved for the neckband. The construction method involves working flat on straight needles and seaming pieces together after completion.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Lili Top is primarily constructed in stockinette stitch (st st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric surface ideal for displaying the striped colorwork. The ribbing at the beginning uses a knit and purl combination in a 2x2 rib pattern (K2, P2), providing elasticity and structure at the cast-on edge. This ribbed section helps the garment maintain its shape and creates a neat, finished edge. The stripe pattern requires maintaining color consistency throughout rows while working in stockinette stitch, adding visual interest without increasing complexity.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This project uses Rowan Summerlite DK, a lightweight double-knitting weight yarn perfect for creating breathable, warm-weather garments. The colorway consists of two colors: Sailor Blue (shade 470) and White (shade 465), which are worked in alternating stripes. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 4 balls of Sailor Blue and 2 balls of White for the smallest size (71-76 cm chest) to 7 balls of Sailor Blue and 4 balls of White for the largest size (152-157 cm chest). The pattern calls for 3¾mm (US 5) needles, a standard size appropriate for DK-weight yarn. The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished garment dimensions.

Pattern Difficulty and Construction Notes

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Lili Top requires knitters to have solid foundational skills. The primary challenge lies in maintaining consistent stripe patterns while simultaneously executing shaping decreases, particularly at the neckline where decreases occur at regular intervals over multiple rows. The back piece is worked first, establishing the basic garment width and length, followed by the front piece which includes more intricate neck shaping. The shoulder shaping on both front and back pieces involves casting off groups of stitches at specific intervals, requiring careful counting and attention to the pattern instructions. The neckband is worked separately using stitches held on a holder, completing the garment with a finished edge.